The Lorraines, and a visiting T.D., are watching TV, but Martha is bored with them watching the politics channel. The humans, however, want to watch the show, since it's about the new president (Obama). T.D. explains what a president is, then they go for a walk. On said walk, Martha hears Obama on a car's radio saying he wants a dog, so she wonders if she could be his dog. Upon learning that she won't get any say over America's canine population, she decides to instead volunteer a stray puppy named Smudge to be Obama's dog.
She phones the white house to tell them about Smudge, but then Smudge tells Rinty, Cisco, Burt, and John, who show up at the Lorraine house and have Martha volunteer them as well, which then extends to a large pack of dogs. The Lorraines are surprised to find all these dogs, who then watch the politics channel on TV.
Obama says he's looking for a pound dog, so the dogs all run to the pound, but when Martha clears up the situation, Kazuo explains that Obama is only checking the shelters in Washington DC. The dogs all run home, except Smudge, who's homeless, so he stays in a crate.
Then, Obama gets his dog, disappointing Smudge, so the next day, Martha tries to reassure him that you don't need to live in the white house to be happy. However, then, Martha gets a call from the white house, ending part one.
Part two reveals that the white house invited Martha over, saying that they need a talking dog, saying it's for a "secret" reason. Martha thinks that it's to do with stopping secret agent cats, but when they get there, it turns out to be because Obama's dog has lately been very lonely and won't eat her food.
They hire Martha to translate what the neighbourhood animals are saying, and (with the exception of one cat, who's a bit more demanding), all they want is more food. Then, Martha meets Obama's cabinet and talks to them for three hours, and then she plays with his dog for a bit. As the Lorraines are about to leave, Martha is asked to stay to keep Obama's dog company, but she volunteers Smudge to do it instead.
This episode provides examples of
- Animal Jingoism: Martha wants to face up against evil cats.
- Bait-and-Switch: When playing with Obama's dog, Martha says, "What? The president made a law that it's your toy? I guess there's nothing I can do about that... except steal it!".
- Determined Expression: Martha looks determined when she resolves to end Obama's dog's loneliness.
- Fantasy Sequence: Martha has two imagination sequences about being Obama's pet.
- Go-to-Sleep Ending: Martha falls asleep at the end.
- Grows on Trees: Discussed when Martha says she wants a hamburger tree.
- Hates Being Touched: Bob says that one of the times he isn't "gentle" is when someone's touching him.
- Howl of Sorrow: At one point, Obama's dog howls due to loneliness.
- Lilliputian: Discussed when Martha wonders if the president's "cabinet" are called that because they're small enough to fit in one.
- Meaningful Name: Smudge is so named because he has a black smudge over his right eye.
- Mistaken for Related: When Martha sees the photos on the White House walls, she thinks they're all photos of the Obamas.
- No Animals Allowed: Martha asks if a dog can be president, but T.D. says, "I'm pretty sure it's just people."
- Noodle Incident: Martha reveals that Helen has another cousin besides Carolina, a boy from Mexico, who visited once. We never learn what happened, except that he was "a handful".
- Picky Eater: Defied when Smudge encourages Obama to adopt him since he isn't a picky eater.
- Pun: The news lady says that Martha is saying things "right from the horse's mouth... or dog's."
- Race-Name Basis: In Martha's imagination, people address her as "President's dog".
- Slapstick: Kazuo gets knocked over by a pack of dogs.
- Spoiler Title: Martha doesn't go to the White House until part two, but it's evident that she eventually goes there due to the title.
- Status Quo Is God: Several times, the possibility of Obama adopting Martha is raised, but she declines (though, even if the status quo weren't God, Martha is too devoted to the Lorraines to leave).
- Stock Animal Diet: One of the things Obama feeds his dog is steak.
- Too Unhappy to Be Hungry: At one point, Obama's dog is too lonely to eat.
