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https://apnews.com/article/biden-dog-secret-service-commander-bite-89448214f0832edabd28940f7a2c8d4c

Biden’s dog Commander has bitten Secret Service officers 10 times in
four months, records show
Secret Service records show that President Joe Biden’s German Shepherd
Dog Commander has bitten agency officers stationed at the White House 10
times between October 2022 and January. At least one biting incident
required a trip to the hospital for the injured officer. (July 25)

BY DARLENE SUPERVILLE
Updated 6:48 PM PDT, July 25, 2023
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WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden ‘s dog Commander bit or otherwise
attacked Secret Service personnel at least 10 times between October 2022
and January, including one incident that required a hospital visit by
the injured law enforcement officer, according to records from the
Department of Homeland Security.

The conservative watchdog group Judicial Watch on Tuesday released
nearly 200 pages of Secret Service records that it obtained through a
Freedom of Information Act lawsuit. The group said it filed suit after
the agency, a division of DHS, “failed to respond adequately” to its
request last December for records about biting incidents involving the
purebred German shepherd. The group said it filed the request after
receiving a tip about Commander’s behavior.

Commander is the second dog of Biden’s to behave aggressively, including
biting Secret Service personnel and White House staff. They eventually
sent the dog, a German shepherd named Major, to live with friends in
Delaware after those incidents.

The White House and the Secret Service appeared to play down the
situation on Tuesday, but the latest incidents raise questions about why
the Bidens brought another German shepherd to the executive mansion and
why the attacks continued.

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Elizabeth Alexander, communications director for first lady Jill Biden,
said in an email that the White House complex is a “unique and often
stressful environment” for family pets and that the Biden family was
“working through ways to make this situation better for everyone.”

Anthony Guglielmi, chief spokesperson for the Secret Service, said in a
separate email that his agency has for the past several presidents
“navigated how best to operate around family pets and these incidents
are no exception. We take the safety and wellbeing of our employees
extremely seriously.”

The Secret Service provides security protection for the president and
his family, and scores of its officers are posted around the executive
mansion and its sprawling grounds.

Biden received Commander in December 2021 as a gift from his brother
James. The records released cover a fraction of his year and a half as a
presidential pet. The family also has a cat, Willow.

On Nov. 3, 2022, a Secret Service official emailed colleagues that
Commander had bitten a uniformed officer twice — on the upper right arm
and thigh. Staff from the White House medical unit treated the officer
and decided to have the individual taken to a hospital.

A captain of the Uniform Division emailed later that day that he had
been advised that Commander was up to date on his vaccinations.

A note the following day added details about the attack, including that
the officer who was bitten used a steel cart to protect himself from
another attack. The officer later was placed on several days of
restricted duty based on doctors’ advice.

Alexander said the Bidens have been working with the Secret Service and
the White House residence staff “on additional leashing protocols and
training” for Commander, as well as establishing designated areas where
he can run around for exercise.

“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,” Alexander added.

Guglielmi said Secret Service employees are encouraged to report
job-related injuries to their immediate supervisors for appropriate
documentation.

“As such, we are aware of past incidents involving first-family pets and
these instances were treated similarly to comparable workplace injuries,
to include with relevant notifications and reporting procedures
followed,” he said.

“While special agents and officers neither care for nor handle the first
family’s pets, we continuously work with all applicable entities to
minimize adverse impacts in an environment that includes pets,”
Guglielmi added.

Commander is often seen being led around by the White House’s chief
groundskeeper.

Sara Amundson, chief government relations officer of the Humane Society
of the United States and president of the Humane Society Legislative
Fund, said dog bites can happen for a variety of reasons and the odds of
it happening can be reduced by understanding the signals a dog sends
when it is in an uncomfortable situation and removing whatever is
causing fear or stress.

But sometimes even changing a dog’s environment may not be enough to
keep them from biting.

“In those situations, seeking out the help of a professional trainer
with experience in dog aggression and who utilizes humane methods is
critical,” Amundson said in an email.

The New York Post was first to report on Commander’s biting incidents.