Chicago ? President-elect Obama promised his daughters a puppy after the election, but finding one is proving a bit of a challenge.

“This is a major issue,” Obama told reporters at his news conference Friday. It’s generated more interest on his Web site than any other topic, he joked.

But 10-year-old daughter Malia has allergies, so the family is looking for a low-allergy dog. The American Kennel Club says there’s a good selection of low-allergy dogs. Poodles, for example, are considered a good choice. So are several terriers. And Portugese water dogs.

Obama said the family would prefer to adopt a puppy from an animal rescue shelter.

“But obviously, a lot of shelter dogs are mutts like me,” said Obama, in an apparent self-deprecating reference to his mixed race heritage.