Column: Loving their dog — and even struggling with their dog's behavior — may make the Bidens relatable. But having a dog that gets to bite people again and again shows they’re not really all that much like us, after all, writes michaelschaffer.
. He has covered national and local politics for over twenty years and spent seven years as editor-in-chief of the. His Capital City column chronicles the inside conversations and big trends shaping Washington politics.
In November, a uniformed division officer was transported to the hospital after Commander, unleashed, bounded down a flight of stairs and charged. One of the White House ushers warned the officer not to back up. Too late. The officer was bitten twice, once on the tricep and once on a leg. The officer used a nearby steel cart as a shield against further attack.
This isn’t the First Family’s first round of bad-dog news. In 2021, early in Biden’s term, another German Shepherd, was rehomed following a separate string of biting incidents. Following the death of Champ, their longtime pet, Commander arrived on the scene that Christmas. In a suitably abashed statement last week, the Bidens said that they were working on new protocols and routines to avoid future bites. Here’s hoping it does the trick. But even if this is the last the nation hears about this particular wayward First Dog, it’s worth pausing on the affair because of what it says about the politics of dogs — and people.
Consider: The most powerful family in the country appeared to sit by as their dog repeatedly menaced scores of anonymous people who work for them. The dog lives in the executive mansion, with all the custodial staff who come with it. He has access to all sorts of training regimens, and, presumably, to doors with pet-proof latches. And yet a frightened secret service agent had to wield a chair like a lion-tamer to protect against yet another bite.
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