At least 11 cases of bites have been recorded
The US President’s pet German shepherd Commander was kicked out of the White House after repeatedly biting his owner’s security guard. Exactly what fate awaits the dog is still being decided, as the president’s wife’s spokesperson told the public.
Commander last bit a Secret Service agent last week, which landed the agent in the hospital. The most unpleasant thing for both the president and his guards was that this was already the 11th such case.
Another problem is that Commander is not the first dog in the presidential family to show aggression towards security. For exactly the same transgressions, his predecessor Major was also kicked out of his official residence and sent to Biden’s relatives.
Why are both dogs too aggressive?
It’s hard to say, but dog behavior experts say it’s possible that something in the guard reminded them of an unpleasant experience when they were puppies, and that intolerance of Secret Service personnel took root in their minds.
However, it is possible that some medical problem or genetic feature is to blame. In any case, the behavior of dogs is usually determined by a number of factors that will be carefully considered.
Whatever the reasons for ousting Commander from the White House, the safety of those responsible for the President’s security must come first.
“The president and first lady are serious about ensuring the safety of those who work at the White House and those who protect them every day,” Elizabeth Alexander, a spokeswoman for the first lady, said Wednesday.
“They are grateful for the patience and support of the Secret Service and all parties involved. The commander is no longer in the White House and is still deciding what lies ahead for him,” she added.
True, Alexander did not say exactly where the offending dog is now and whether he will return to the White House. The statement about the biting dog’s fate came after CNN reported that it had bitten the president’s security guard at least 11 times, and possibly more.
Earlier, White House spokeswoman Karin Jean-Pierre said the reason for this was the stress associated with living in the presidential residence.
“As you all know, life in the White House is like no other. It can be stressful for all of us. Now imagine what that does to a pet,” she said in July.
Canine psychology experts say the dog’s behavior may indeed be caused by the stressful situation in the White House. Erin Hecht, an assistant professor of human evolutionary biology at Harvard University who directs the Dog Brain Project, agrees.
“Dogs have personalities, just like people. And like people, they have different reasons to react aggressively or fearfully in different circumstances,” she said.
According to Hecht, those who encounter persistent behavioral problems in dogs, such as in the family of the President of the United States, should first take the animal to a veterinarian to rule out purely physiological problems, and then do a thorough investigation of the causes aggressive behavior to start fighting it.
