Commander, President Biden’s Dog, Temporarily Removed from White House Due to Repeated Biting Incidents

President Biden’s canine, Commander, is currently absent from the White House premises following multiple biting episodes involving White House staff members and agents of the U.S. Secret Service, according to an announcement from the office of First Lady Jill Biden late on Wednesday.

Elizabeth Alexander, Director of Communications for the First Lady, stated that President Biden and Jill Biden are deeply concerned about the well-being of those who work at the White House and the security personnel who safeguard them.

“In light of the incidents, Commander has been temporarily removed from the White House while further steps are being assessed,” Alexander articulated in an electronic communication. She did not disclose the current location of the 2-year-old German shepherd, who was last spotted on an elevated balcony of the White House the previous Saturday.

This official communication came subsequent to inquiries directed to White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre during Wednesday’s routine press briefing about a new claim regarding Commander biting a staff member at the White House. Jean-Pierre redirected the queries to the office of the First Lady, which issued a statement saying that Commander and Dale Haney, the chief groundskeeper at the White House, were engaged in play when the incident occurred. It was noted that the episode did not result in any skin puncture and was captured in a photograph by a tourist, who subsequently shared it with a media outlet that published it online.

The latest incident involving Commander occurred on September 25 when a uniformed Secret Service agent was bitten. Anthony Guglielmi, the Chief of Communications for the United States Secret Service, confirmed that medical treatment was administered on-site. Alexander remarked that the Bidens are making continuous efforts to find ways to assist Commander in adapting to the often volatile conditions of the White House environment.

Records from the Department of Homeland Security indicate that between October 2022 and January, Commander has bitten or attacked Secret Service agents on at least 10 separate occasions, with one case necessitating a hospital visit for the injured law enforcement officer.

Commander is the second German shepherd owned by the Biden family to demonstrate aggressive behavior, including incidents of biting. The first, Major, was ultimately relocated to live with acquaintances in Delaware following similar conduct.

The U.S. Secret Service is tasked with providing security for the President and his family. Numerous agents are stationed around the executive residence and its expansive grounds for this purpose.

Commander was presented to President Biden as a gift from his brother James in December 2021. In addition to Commander, the Biden family also owns a cat named Willow.

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More about Commander biting incidents

• White House Official Announcement on Commander
• U.S. Secret Service Statement on Incidents
• Department of Homeland Security Records
• Previous Incidents Involving Presidential Pets
• Role of the U.S. Secret Service in Presidential Security
• Overview of White House Grounds and Security Measures
• Biography of Elizabeth Alexander, First Lady’s Communications Director
• Information on German Shepherds and Behavior