President Joe Biden's dog, Commander, has been relocated from the White House due to a series of biting incidents involving White House staff and U.S. Secret Service officers over the past

year, according to a spokesperson for first lady Jill Biden.

The decision to move Commander came shortly after the dog's 11th known biting incident, in which he bit a Secret Service agent. The first lady's communications director, Elizabeth Alexander, emphasized the Bidens' concern for the safety of White House personnel and thanked the U.S. Secret Service for their patience and support.

The statement did not specify where Commander has been sent or whether he will return to the White House, stating only that "Commander is not presently on the White House campus while next steps are evaluated.”

Commander, a 2-year-old German shepherd, has a history of biting incidents on the White House grounds, with the latest incident occurring on September 25 when he bit a Uniformed Division police officer. Previous records revealed 10 other biting incidents against Secret Service officers, one of which required hospital treatment.

Elizabeth Alexander acknowledged that the White House environment can be stressful for family pets and mentioned the Bidens' efforts to help Commander adapt to the unpredictable nature of the White House grounds, including additional leashing protocols, training, and designated exercise areas.

Before Commander, the Bidens had another German shepherd named Major, who was involved in biting incidents and was eventually sent to live with family friends in Delaware. A third Biden family dog, Champ, passed away in June 2021 at the age of 13. The Bidens also have a cat named Willow. Photo by AgnosticPreachersKid, Wikimedia commons.