Bo the Dog

Bo is a Portuguese Water Dog in Ty's Beanie Babies 2.0 line. Ty introduced him in April 2009, the same month the real Bo arrived at the White House. Senator Ted Kennedy had given the dog to the Obama family, and Malia and Sasha Obama picked his name. The popular guess is that his name honors singer Bo Diddley, but it more likely comes from Barack Obama's initials.

Ty released four versions of this Bo, sold only in select stores and in limited numbers. The versions differ in small ways: fur length, nose style, height, and tail shape. Version 1 carries the tush tag name "Beanie Bo"; versions 2 through 4 carry "Bo" instead. The swing tag's birthdate placement, print style, and ribbon colour order also change from version to version. The fourth version is the only one with Bo's name printed on its extra tag.

Ty also made Bo as a Beanie Babies clip (style 40798) and in the Ty Classic line (style 20067).

The real Bo died in May 2021, after more than a decade as the Obama family's dog.