Dog lovers around the world were saddened to hear about the unfortunate incident that occured earlier this month at the White House involving President Biden’s dogs.
Below are all the details known about what went down.
The incident
On March 8th, 2021, reports emerged that Major, President Joe Biden’s youngest dog, was involved in an incident with a member of Biden’s team that ultimately resulted in the dog biting the White House staffer. Thankfully, the bite did not penetrate the skin and only minor medical treatment was required.
As a result of the incident, however, both Major and Champ, President Biden’s other German Shepherd, were removed from the White House and returned to Delware where the rest of the Biden family resides.
What triggered the incident?
Apparently, Major acted out in response to a White House staff member that he was unfamiliar with. After the news broke, several major outlets described Major’s behavior as “aggressive.” However, while no video footage is available at this time, it is more likely based on the description of the incident that Major’s reaction was brought on by feelings of fear or anxiety, as opposed to true aggression.
While this is the first publically known biting incident by either of the Biden dogs, this is not the first time that Major has made headlines. In November 2020, Biden sustained a fractured foot after he tripped on a throw rug while playing with the pup.
Biden's history with Major and Champ
Champ, the oldest of Biden’s two German Shepherds, was acquired as a puppy from a breeder in 2008 after Biden promised his wife, Jill, that he would bring a dog into the family should his then running-mate, Barack Obama win the presidential election. Biden apparently named the dog in honor of his father, who would always encourage him growing up to “get up, champ!” whenever times got tough.
Major, Biden’s three year old German Shepherd at the time of writing, was adopted from the Delaware Humane Association in 2018. Although the origin of his name is unclear, it is speculated that Biden named his youngest dog after his late son, Beau Biden, who was a major in the Delaware National Guard.
German Shepherds are extremely popular, ranking second only to the Labrador Retriever out of 197 total dog breeds according to the American Kennel Club. These dogs are described as noble and intelligent, and are commonly called upon by police departments and military units around the nation to carry out a variety of jobs. However, these dogs can naturally be high-strung, especially in their youth, and can require a fair amount of training and daily exercise to keep their apprehensions at bay.
President Biden has a history of owning, training and showing German Shepherd Dogs since his teenage years.
So what happens next?
According to reports, Champ and Major are both welcome and expected to return to the White House soon. Some reports noted that the relocation of the dogs to the Biden family home in Delware was planned, coinciding with Jill Biden’s temporary absence from the White House due to work. Dr. Jill Biden is currently on tour visiting military bases in Washington and California and is expected back soon.
Champ, now 13 years of age, has naturally slowed down considerably due to his advancing age. Major, the dog in question on the other hand, is still young, spry and full of energy.
While it certainly wouldn’t hurt for the two dogs to engage in a few extra training and obedience sessions, it is also equally important to consider what can be done on the part of White House staff to prevent incidents like this from happening again.
Unfamiliar dogs should always be approached with caution, or not approached at all. In addition, we should all be familiar with and able to recognize the signs that dogs give us to indicate that they are feeling anxious, scared or otherwise uncomfortable. In the end, being cognisant and making simple changes such as these can drastically reduce the ever-growing number of dogs that are euthanized each year in North America due to being deemed “aggressive” in nature and otherwise unfit to be adopted.
The truth is, most dogs who act out are not actually aggressive. Most of the time, they are simply fearful and/or unsure as to how to express their emotions appropriately. Ultimately, it’s up to us as dog owners and animal lovers to train, guide and encourage our four-legged friends to be the best companions they all can and want to be.
