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

[springsm]

Good grief, a big to do about nothing. It is obvious the reporter went at Barney in all the wrong ways...it is no wonder the dog acted to protect himself. Good heavens folks..this is a non issue.

[zerotimes10]

Well I kind of thought it funny and not a big issue either until I read that Barbara Bush remarked "oh that's just his (Barney) way of saying he is tired of the paparazzi." Well, uh if one of my dogs bit one of my neighbors and I said Oh well its just his way of saying he doesn't like you... I can assure I would be sued or have my dog put down. And that is no joke. How typical of the Bush's. Even their dogs can bite defenseless people and they think they can get away with actually putting the person down who was harmed. The guy had to get a tetanus shot for Christ's sakes. These pompous good for nothing 'leaders' can leave none too soon for me. Not even an apology. This speaks volumes of who they really are. The smallest things reveal.

[mymatrix]

Dogs that bite at unprovoked behavior can't be trusted around people. Bending down to pet the presidents dog is not provocative behavior.
Dog bites lead to tens of thousands of ER visits per year and children are especially hurt because the bite is often to the childs face (at eye level).

[IzzyCA]

If the dog doesn't know you, and you lean down with your hand out, reaching towards a dog's head, a dog does not know if you are trying to grab him or not.

When approaching a dog you do not know, you put your hand out palm up, below the dog's face.

That dog felt like it was being approached improperly, and it was being approached improperly. So it was not "unprovoked behavior."

[jacqmac]

CHILDREN need to be TAUGHT how to pet a strange dog! Dexter wasn't 'bending down'. He merely flexed his knees and reached out with his hand extended. Barney, like all dogs, has 'his own space' and that 'space' needs to be respected. It wasn't and Dexter got the consequences. This is WHY CHILDREN need to be TAUGHT early on about rushing up to a CUTE DOGGY and trying to KISS them!
Sorry to inform you but the face bites happen because of the IGNORANCE of the child's parents about dogs--EVEN family pets!!

[SeanOcali]

Isn't it known that dogs often take on the emotions of their owner? Does this mean Georgie boy is angry and depressed?

[Quaoar]

He was lucky to get bitten by the dog and not by Cheney. I hear that rabies shots are really painful.

[Promise]

Barney heard that a new puppy is coming to the White House and he's miffed.

[coratho]

Why is everyone acting so supprised because Barney acted like a dog? He's a dog. No one in his right mind would reach out to a dog when the dog doesn't know him. I probally would have bitten him myself.

On Barney's side

[Ramus]

exactly right coratho...when I saw that clip I thought Barney did the natural thing and felt the same way..if I were in Barney's situation I'd have bitten that reporter too. One should not approach a dog that way..even the most mellow dog will react if someone suddenly reaches out for him/her. There are certain manners that apply when introducing oneself to a dog and clearly this reporter did not know how to approach a dog. Also Barney might have also been picking up of the upsetting nature of the day...which might make him grumpy.

[kotipup]

LEAVE BARNEY ALONE!!!!
;)

[walkaway]

OK Barney! Here's the address...

Fox News Channel Studios
1211 Avenue of the Americas,
New York, NY 10036

Go get em boy!!!!

[Jtt]

I donno, a reporter? even the first dog can do a few things right.

[pipetoe]

poetic justice....

[OgreDaddy]

In very general terms, based on 30 years of experience with every breed of dog
on the planet.

Nice people have nice dogs,
Neurotic people have neurotic dogs.

Poor Barney was raised in a madhouse of STRESS, depression, anxiety, greed, hatred and fear.

A well socialized Scotty loves to meet people.

I do agree that Barney may have felt threatened by the paper and the hand reaching over and not open.

He'll have fun chasing critters on the Crawford ranch.

[mcpalin]

I believe I've heard that particular breed of dogs tends to be kinda cranky and bad tempered, anyway.

I'm not particularly good with dogs, much better with cats, but even I know, that was just absolutely the worst way to approach a dog, especially a small mean tempered kind of breed who might feel easily threatened. The only way the reporter could have made it worse would have been to yell or make a lot of noise and lunge even faster at the dog.

Folks, never go at a dog, especially either a small dog or the breeds of dogs large enough to do damage, by sticking your hand straight at the dog. Never offer a strange dog food from your hand. If you want to approach a dog, ask the owner's permission first, they know the dog and how friendly it is or is not, then kneel down, talk nice to the dog, and see if he's interested in coming over and being friendly towards YOU. If he doesn't come over and get friendly with you, don't move towards him, he's not interested, he's not in the mood, leave him alone.

That was a classic blunder by someone ignorant of dogs (although the handler wasn't paying attention and should have interceded before that reporter got anywhere near enough to provoke an incident with the dog.) Its the people's fault, not the dog's.

[doglove]

Agreed, they reflect the disposition of the owner.

I don't think George or Laura like him much. The way they hold him, he appears to be just another prop

[twokidsonecat]

Barney's PO'd that Obama won.

[grizhead63]

This story would have had more legs if it had been 'Reporter Bites Doggy' or 'Reporter Turns Into Doggy' or 'Bush Bites Reporter' or.......

[bembem08]

Hohohoho... I love that 'Bush Bites Reporter'... it would surely make the world's headlines haha... so funny!!!

[grailknight]

Dumb reporter, obviously doesn't know anything about dogs. You don't pet a dog until he gets a satisfactory whiff of you, then give his assent. Keeping a pocketful of treats helps!

[JonW]

My thoughts entirely. The video demonstrates how not to approach a strange dog! lucky the dumb reported didn't do this to a dooby or police dog. He would be one handed after that dumb move!

[HelloooCanada]

they named him "barney"... they make him sit on w's freakin' lap... they're hauling his hairy @$$ back to the desert...

that bite is a cry for help. man, i'd lash out, too.

maybe the bushs will leave him wandering around the white house lawn when they move, like the trailer trash that they are. give him to the obama girls, he'd be in heaven.

FREE BARNEY '08!