White House staffers have blamed President Joe Biden’s dog Commander’s biting problems on the unfriendly expressions of Secret Service agents.
The 2-year-old German Shepherd reportedly had his 11th bite of one of the president’s key protectors just last week – but is said to be pleasant around West Wing staff.
Secret Service emails obtained by Judicial Watch in July revealed the dog had bitten or threatened at least 10 people, making this the 11th incident involving it.
According to those on Biden’s staff, Commander’s behavior around the Secret Service doesn’t make any sense to them.
Some have suggested that while staffers greet Commander with a smile, Secret Service agents tend to be colder.
‘The White House is just a crazy environment for a dog,’ an ex-White House official said. ‘There are enormous men with guns acting suspiciously hostile everywhere.’
White House staffers blame President Joe Biden’s dog Commander’s biting problems on the supposedly unfriendly faces of Secret Service agents, as they say the First Dog is usually pleasant
‘Everyone loves him,’ said a current member of the staff, who claims that workers are often excited to find time to say hello and scratch Commander behind the ears.
‘He’s always so friendly.’
West Wing staffers told Politico that there was never any sense that Commander was violent and that he’s never shown any anger toward them.
‘It’s shocking that he can be so aggressive,’ said staff member claimed. ‘I’ve never seen him like that.’
Similarly, Biden’s former German shepherd Major was forced to move away from the White House after he was caught biting agents.
Biden’s staff fears the same fate may be dealt to Commander if he continues to show his teeth, with one suggesting the pooch could be sent away by Thanksgiving.
‘We do wonder how much longer they can keep him around. At a certain point, it becomes impossible.’
White House Communications Director Elizabeth Alexander has given a statement on the bites in the past.
‘As we’ve noted before, the White House can be a stressful environment for family pets, and the First Family continues to work on ways to help Commander handle the often unpredictable nature of the White House grounds,’ she said.
According to those on Biden’s staff, Commander’s behavior around the Secret Service doesn’t make any sense to them, with another suggesting that, while staffers greet Commander with a smile, Secret Service agents tend to be a little colder
The 2-year-old German Shepherd reportedly had his 11th bite of one of the president’s key protectors just last week
‘The President and First Lady are incredibly grateful to the Secret Service and Executive Residence staff for all they do to keep them, their family, and the country safe.’
Commander most recently bit an agent on September 25.
‘Yesterday around 8pm, a Secret Service Uniformed Division police officer came in contact with a First Family pet and was bitten,’ USSS chief of communications Anthony Guglielmi said in a statement to DailyMail.com.
‘The officer was treated by medical personnel on complex.’
One agent was sent to a local hospital after the dog bit them on the arm and leg, and one was attacked when Jill Biden let him off his leash.
The agent also had to use a steel shield to fend him off from another attack.
Commander Biden bit a Secret Service agent on Monday night at the White House – above the dog is seen on the South Lawn with groundskeeper Dale Haney in August 2022
Joe and Jill Biden’s former rescue pup Major is spending more time in Delaware as newly revealed emails show he bit more people that the White House previously disclosed – above the dog is seen on the South Lawn in March
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre also blamed stress for the dog’s behavior.
‘As you all know, the White House complex can be unique and very stressful. That is something I’m sure you can all understand,’ Jean-Pierre said in July.
‘It is unique and it is stressful for all of us. So you can imagine what it’s like for a family pet or family pets, more broadly.’
She added that the first family was ‘working through ways to make the situation better for everyone.’
At the time of the released emails in July, the White House said the Bidens were working through new training and leashing protocols for Commander but didn’t detail what they were.
In the batch of emails released in July, Secret Service officers called the dog ‘freaking crazy,’ argued he would have been ‘put down’ if he didn’t belong to the Biden family and said he needed a muzzle.
On November 10, 2022, Jill Biden ‘couldn’t regain control’ of Commander as the dog charged another member of the Secret Service.
The same month, the German Shepherd clamped down on an agent’s arm, resulting in him needing to seek medical treatment.
The 2-year-old German Shepherd has been involved in 11 biting incidents
Commander was a birthday gift to President Biden from his brother James and sister-in-law Sara.
The Biden’s welcomed Commander to the executive residence as a puppy in December 2021.
He was a birthday gift to President Biden from his brother James and sister-in-law Sara.
Commander is not the first pet of the Bidens’ to cause some issues for the first couple.
Another one of the Bidens’ German Shepherds, Major, also bit staff and Secret Service agents.
The dog moved out of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in 2021 and re-homed with ‘family friends’.