By Jameel Naqvi, Daily Herald

As President-elect Barack Obama vets candidates for his cabinet, his daughters, Malia and Sasha, may have to make an equally difficult choice.Teams of business students at Community Unit District 300's three high schools are competing to design a collar for the first family's dog.

District 300 business students hope the Obama girls will outfit their new pet in one of the collars designed by the students and produced by Chicago-based pet apparel firm Urban Hund.

"What better way to do this than to bring a piece of Chicago to the White House?" said Kelly Gerst, who runs Urban Hund with her husband, Tom.

Many of the designs took inspiration from the Chicago skyline, the American flag and Obama's message of change.Among the designs were a collar labeled "Top Dog in the White House" and a sports-themed collar created to appeal to Malia and Sasha's interest in sports.

Students are voting on the best design and presentation, but Urban Hund wants all the students to get a shot at designing the First Dog's collar and plans to present all the ideas to Malia and Sasha.