Commander, the Biden family’s dog, has left the White House due to several biting incidents. According to a spokeswoman for First Lady Jill Biden, the fate of the two-year-old German Shepherd is still being decided. Recently, the Commander bit a Secret Service agent, marking the 11th incident either at the White House or their Delaware home. The President and First Lady are concerned about the safety of those working at the White House and those protecting them. The Commander is not currently on the White House premises as they assess the next steps, but his current location and potential return are unspecified.
As per the reports, The Commander had been involved in more than the 11 biting incidents acknowledged by the Secret Service, with some requiring hospital treatment and others needing medical attention from on-site staff. The White House press secretary previously attributed the attacks to the stress of living at the residence.
To address the issue, new training techniques were introduced for commanders following the biting incidents, as disclosed by White House officials. Secret Service records obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request shed light on some biting incidents involving the Commander. One incident occurred when First Lady Jill Biden couldn’t control the Commander, resulting in a charging episode. Another officer reported being bitten twice, with colleagues resorting to using a steel cart as a shield during the attack.
Commander is one of the Biden family’s two German Shepherds, and Major, the younger of the two and the first rescue dog to live at the White House, also had several biting incidents with Secret Service agents. In 2021, Major received additional training and was sent to live with Biden family friends away from the White House.
