Commander
Commander in 2022
BreedGerman Shepherd
SexMale
Born (2021-09-01) September 1, 2021 (age 2)
Known forUnited States presidential and vice presidential pet
TermDecember 20, 2021 – October 5, 2023
PredecessorChamp and Major
OwnerBiden family
Parent(s)Zoltan Vom Windy Ridge

Commander (born September 1, 2021) is a German Shepherd owned by President of the United States Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden.

Commander was a birthday gift to Joe Biden from James and Sara Biden, his brother and sister-in-law.[1] Commander first came to the White House on December 20, 2021.[2][3] That same day, Major, another dog owned by the Biden family, was removed from the White House following several biting incidents.[4][5] On February 13, 2022, Commander made his TV debut in the program Puppy Bowl XVIII.[6]

Records released on July 25, 2023 by Judicial Watch showed that Commander bit or attacked Secret Service agents at least 10 times between October 2022 and July 2023.[7] Commander was involved in an eleventh biting incident on September 26.[8][9] Commander also bit White House superintendent Dale Haney, who has taken responsibility for walking presidential dogs since the presidency of Richard Nixon, on September 13, 2023, in an incident that was photographed by a tourist and subsequently received media attention.[10][11]

On October 5, 2023, it was announced that Commander was moving out of the White House due to the numerous biting incidents.[12]

Commander and President Joe Biden walking on the White House Rose Garden; June 21, 2022.

See also

References

  1. ^ Bennett, Kate (December 20, 2021). "Bidens add to their family with new first puppy". CNN. Archived from the original on December 20, 2021. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  2. ^ "Biden Welcomes Puppy to White House; No Word on Promised Cat". VOA News. Associated Press. December 21, 2021. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  3. ^ Brown, Kristin; Linton, Caroline (December 21, 2021). "Bidens welcome new dog named Commander". CBS News. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  4. ^ Reed, Betsy (December 21, 2021). "Commander in, Major out: White House pet shakeup after biting incidents". The Guardian. Associated Press. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  5. ^ Shear, Michael D.; Rogers, Katie (December 21, 2021). "'Hey, Pal': Biden Welcomes a New Puppy to the White House". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on March 2, 2023. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  6. ^ "Biden dog Commander to make TV debut during 'Puppy Bowl'". NBC News. Associated Press. February 11, 2022. Archived from the original on June 3, 2023. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
  7. ^ Superville, Darlene (July 25, 2023). "Biden's dog Commander has bitten Secret Service officers 10 times in four months, records show". AP News. Archived from the original on October 26, 2023. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  8. ^ Klein, Betsy (September 26, 2023). "Commander Biden bites another Secret Service agent, the 11th known incident". CNN. Archived from the original on September 30, 2023. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
  9. ^ "Herdershond van Biden bijt voor de elfde keer medewerker van Witte Huis". NOS (in Dutch). September 27, 2023. Archived from the original on October 2, 2023. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
  10. ^ Hutzler, Alexandra; Nagle, Molly (October 5, 2023). "Bidens' dog Commander gone from White House after string of biting incidents". ABC News. Archived from the original on November 4, 2023. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  11. ^ Marcia Mallet Anderson (2022). "Fifty Years Devoted to the White House Gardens & Grounds: The Career of Dale Haney, Superintendent of the White House Grounds". White House History Quarterly: 31. Archived from the original on February 26, 2023. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  12. ^ "Biden's dog Commander leaves White House after biting incidents". BBC News. October 5, 2023. Archived from the original on October 10, 2023. Retrieved October 5, 2023.

External links

Honorary titles Preceded byBo and SunnyBarack Obama's Portuguese Water Dogs White House pet dogs December 20, 2021 – present Served alongside: Champ (Until June 19, 2021)Major (Until December 21, 2021)Willow (since January 28, 2022) Incumbent
Joe Biden
Categories