President Joe Biden and his wife Jill have sent their German Shepherds packing back to the family home in Delaware after the younger of the two dogs allegedly bit a White House security agent, according to CNN and Fox News, Wednesday.
Major, who was adopted by the Bidens from a Delaware animal shelter, is three years old and the more unrestrained of the two canines. Champ is 13.
Major has displayed other "agitated" behavior, including barking and "charging" at staff, people with knowledge of the situation told CNN.
Biden slipped while playing with Major and fractured a bone in his right foot last November, forcing him to wear a boot for several weeks.
"I've had German Shepherds from the time I was a kid," Biden told ABC in a recent interview.
Major is the first rescue dog to have resided in the White House, having moved in after Biden was sworn into office in January.
"Major was surprised by an unfamiliar person and reacted in a way that resulted in a minor injury to the individual, which was handled by the White House medical unit with no further treatment needed," Fox News quoted White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki as saying.
A White House official told NBC News the dogs were with family friends in Delaware while First Lady Jill Biden travels this week.
While the exact condition of the security staff member was not disclosed, the White House has tried to downplay the biting incident with one official saying "they will be back."
In 2008, as former U.S. President George W. Bush was winding down his final term, his Scottish Terrier pet bit the finger of a Reuters reporter who was trying to pet him, the news outlet said.
Biden said he adopted Major in part to be Champ's companion and to keep the older dog active.
