It's official. After reviewing thousands of suggestions sent in by Americans, President Bill Clinton has named his new pet puppy 'Buddy'.

"I finally decided to name the dog after my beloved uncle...," Mr Clinton told a news conference. "I'm going to call the dog 'Buddy.'"

"If you want a friend in Washington, you need to get a dog," he joked.

The three-month-old chocolate Labrador only moved into the White House on Sunday but he has been quick to prove his loyalty to his new master.

As a spokesman revealed, the dog was already "firmly encamped at the foot of the president".

"It's a dog that very much enjoys a tummy scratch," said White House spokesman Mike McCurry. "He's very well behaved and well mannered, and he's firmly encamped at the foot of the president."

The president, whose previous dog, Zeke, was run over and killed when Mr Clinton was governor of Arkansas, has introduced the puppy to the family cat, Socks.

Harmony within the Clinton household was on the verge of being broken when Socks was said to be "unimpressed" by the new family member.

"When the president took the dog out this morning to be walked, he took him over and introduced him to Socks," confided America's First Lady, Hillary Clinton.

"The puppy was very happy to meet Socks, and Socks would just as soon wait a while. So we're working on that, but we have every reason to believe that there will be a peaceful reconciliation during the holiday season here at the White House between Socks and the puppy," she said.

"Anyone who's ever had a puppy knows that we're spending a lot of time playing with him and watching him and taking care of him. We're just happy to have him here."
 

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