White House Dog Barney Bites Reuters Reporter

The Washington Post's Al Kamen reports:

Reuters television White House correspondent Jon Decker reports that President Bush's dog Barney, going on a walk this morning on the North Lawn, let his reaction to the news show.

He "bit my right index finger this morning -- as I reached down to pet him," Decker said. The bite broke skin and the wound was bleeding enough to prompt White House physician Dr. Richard Tubb to treat Decker with antibiotics. He will also be getting a tetanus shot.

Read more or watch video from NBC Chicago below:

Comments

[Olav-NL]

I think I kind of like Barney. Nothing wrong with biting a few journalists from time to time.

[CaptainVideo]

Barney just acted out what Bush would like to do to the press.

[writer10027]

This is non-news..­. now if the reporter had bitten the dog....

[yngskywlkr]

Hey Barney,

I understand your feelings about the outcome of the elections two nights ago but c'mon It's not so bad.

At least, now you can have all the time you want with your master back in Crawford.

[realitycheck7]

hasn't been the same ever since Bush dropped him on his head

[JerCee]

The dog's handler either intentionally or unintentionally caused the dog to attack the reporter. Watch very closely as the reporter approaches the dog, the handler makes the leash taut (pulls it tight as if he is pulling the dog away); That action alerted the dog, signaling to the dog that he should not allow the reporter to touch him, causing the dog to attack the reporter.

The dog reacted more to his handler's command, (when he tightened the leash) than to the reporter. It certainly appeared to me to be intentionally caused by the dog's handler.

[TheNuff]

ITA. Funny how nobody noticed that. She went to pull Barney away.

[AZ4thatone]

C'mon, it's a dog!

[jacqmac]

Yeah--and DOGS don't 'just know how to act' any more than PEOPLE do. It doesn't matter about the SIZE of the dog or the owner either. This whole incident means that Mr. Dexter needs to volunteer at his local animal shelter and learn how to approach a STRANGE DOG! Unless Mr. Dexter LIVES at the White House, he is NOT a member of Barney's 'pack' and therefore suspect. He was 'further suspect' by reaching out with his hand OVER THE DOG'S HEAD!!

[kgb999]

Frightening how easily some folks' minds operate at dog level.

[rchsod]

barneygate !

it's not the dogs fault he does`t have a master who is properly trained...­...

will bush pardon barney?

[jeffinrr]

Outcome of the Cheney obedience school.

[elakelaiset]

Barney the Dinosaur I would like to kick down a long flight of marble stairs...B­arney the First Dog just acted like a dog when someone jabs their hand at them. Hold out your hand at a safe non-threatening distance and let them sniff you and approve of further moves into their personal boundaries. And oh, the carnage! suck it up, stupid ass who doesn't know how to behave around a dog.

[kasechrist]

This dog should be properly socialized. Obviously it is not. If this happened in my neighborhood the dog would have to be quarantined and possibly put down. Dogs are not supposed to randomly bite people. He didn't even give a warning he just aggresively bit. He sees people everyday, he should be used to it as he lives in the White House.

[Sammy00400]

He approached the dog quicker than he should have unless he already knew him. Dogs are dogs not people, trained or not. Also there is a difference between whether or not the dog sees people around him or if one of those people trys to grab him.

[crispee]

um no - stupid people shouldn't thrust their hand toward a strange dogs face. If that were a pit bull would he have done that? Probably not. People do that kind of thing all the time to my small dog and it is really annoying. If you don't know how to act around animals then keep your hands to yourself.

[jacqmac]

Dear Mr. Dexter:

I own a dog. A very well-socialized COLLIE (Lassie dog). Unfortunately, MY dog would probably have been as DEFENSIVE as Barney was. It is WELL KNOWN that one does NOT approach a strange dog, EVEN a cute little guy like Barney (who didn't pick his owners) with their hands OUT and reaching for the TOP of the dog's head! I saw the video tape at LEAST eight times and also saw your bandaged finger on the Rachel Maddow show on Thursday.
I have only a certain amount of sympathy for you.
Barney was being DEFENSIVE--NOT aggressive and YOU-should really have known better.
In the FUTURE-should you wish to pet the Obama's new dog or any other dog, PLEASE follow these steps.
1. ASK the handler first. *You did THAT right*
2. Then GET DOWN to the DOG'S LEVEL. *You only BENT your knees and were STILL TOWERING over the dog*
3. EXTEND THE BACK OF YOUR HAND to the dog's NOSE!
4. THEN-'chuck' the dog UNDER the CHIN!
5. IF the dog accepts THAT-THEN you can try for the top of the head, but DON'T PAT the dog on the head, particularly if it's a dog that doesn't KNOW YOU! Patting a dog on the head FIRST is a sure way to get a REACTION JUST LIKE THE ONE YOU GOT!

[jacqmac]

What neighborhood do you live in? I need to know this so I don't walk my dog anywhere near you or your neighbors. The reporter was as 'guilty' as Barney was. Just because a dog 'knows' someone doesn't mean he won't bite them. Have you seen dog bite statistics lately? An overwhelming MAJORITY happen when a dog is approached IMPROPERLY. This reporter didn't approach Barney properly--the handler PROBABLY compounded the situation and Barney REACTED DEFENSIVELY.
I have a 75 pound Collie---a real 'love bug'--but he also will NOT accept strangers without proper management from ME. I am CONSTANTLY teaching CHILDREN HOW TO APPROACH MY DOG and with GREAT RESULTS. Barney sees his 'pack' every day-he doesn't see a whole lot of strangers who are making aggressive moves toward him and the reporter was making an aggressive move.

[girl geek]

Are you serious? A dog would possibly be put dpwn in your neighborhood for behaving very normally and predictably like a dog, under those circumstances??? Does your neighborhood think canines are pull toys?? I hope your local Humane Society knows about your neighborhood.

[cleome]

I have a 12-year-old Scottie who is friendly to everyone. He commented on Barney's behavior.

http://cleome.wordpress.com/2008/11/07/barney-bites-elite-media/

[brooklyncitizen]

Poor doggy....u­nderstanda­ble reaction.

[mymatrix]

Wow, so much hostility for the poor man that got bitten. Scarey. "Poor Barney". I like dogs too, but this over-the-top sympathy for Barney makes me wonder how many of you care about how the cow lived that you ate for lunch.
I like dogs, people (unknowing reporters included) and farm animals.

[Bluejay00234]

Gosh, why are Rethugs so angry? lol