A third German shepherd owned by former President Joe Biden attacked security and landscaping staff while he was vice president, the Secret Service has revealed.
“Champ” was so threatening that agents and outdoor staff were warned to stay away from the second family’s yard when the dog was out, and, failing that, they were advised to yell the dog’s name as he charged because he sometimes stopped when called.
What’s more, the attacks became so regular that the family would shut off the automatic doggie door of the residence in the U.S. Naval Observatory facility when security was on the spacious grounds.
The new reports of attacks were released by Judicial Watch on Thursday after it received the Secret Service emails through a Freedom of Information Act request.
The watchdog group had previously charted multiple attacks by two other Biden German shepherds, “Major” and “Commander,” that sometimes drew blood and ripped clothes.
The attacks suggested that the Bidens were poor trainers and custodians of their pets. Judicial Watch had reported that the former president was, at times, cruel to his dogs. In one report, it quoted a source that said Biden “punched and kicked his dogs.”
On Thursday, the group said it received 22 pages of reports on Champ while Biden was former President Barack Obama’s vice president.
“No wonder the Secret Service is a mess. Biden’s dogs terrorized agents and White House personnel for a decade, and nothing was done about it until Judicial Watch exposed the dangerous scandal,” Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said.
The Bidens kept Champ for over a dozen years and brought him to the White House. He died in June 2021 at 13.
At the time, the Bidens also had another, younger German shepherd, “Major,” who was often aggressive around staff and security. He was given to friends after he was involved in attacks.
Major was followed by “Commander,” who also attacked agents 24 times while the Bidens lived in the White House. He was sent away in 2023 after being involved in attacks.
The new reports of Champ’s attacks fit a pattern of aggressiveness for Biden’s dogs.
The documents show that Champ tore clothes and left teeth marks in his attacks.
Judicial Watch said, “In a March 24, 2012, email with the subject ‘Dog attack!!,’ an employee writes: ‘I need a couple of days off! Champ just tried to attack me!’ Later in the exchange, the employee responds to the assistant to the special agent in charge, ‘I need hazard pay!!’”
In another case, said Judicial Watch, “on September 1, 2015, a special agent in the Vice Presidential Protective Division reports a bite on the forearm, requiring a torn jacket to be repaired, and notes that an attack by Champ had occurred on each of the prior three days.”
After so many attacks were recorded, the Bidens and the Secret Service took moves to protect staff and agents.
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In a Secret Service email titled “Family Pets,” the agency issued a warning. It said, “The family pet – ‘Champ – German Sheppard, becoming more aggressive towards people, especially when the Labradoodle – ‘Brother’ is around. Today, ‘Champ’ showed aggression towards a grounds worker. The CP (command post) put out a broadcast for all personnel to avoid playing with or interacting with the family pets. Please make your personnel aware of this issue, and advise the CP to broadcast when the family pets are out on the grounds for the safety of our officers.”
The following day, March 26, 2011, another email went out that said, “‘Champ’ is becoming more protective of the residence. He showed aggression to one of our officers today and a second time to a Greenway employee [redacted]. Sgt. [redacted] spoke with [redacted] (who is a [redacted]), and she will turn off the automatic doggy door for both dogs, which means she will have to let them out herself. Officers on their push are required to call post [redacted] to find out where the dogs are, if they are out, for avoidance.”
