White House Dog Bites Reporter

Apparently, earlier today, the White House dog, Barney, WENT ROGUE and attacked Big Media, biting John Decker from Reuters. This created the ultimate cross-platform "Woman Reports On Dog Biting Man Reporter This Is MSNBC, The Place For Dog Bites" story. We are promised that we will be "kept up to date!" Yes, it's all fun and games until Barney, who now has the thirst for journalist blood, strikes again, which will be hopefully soon.

RELATED:
Oh no, not Barney! [Politico]

Comments

[MightyAfrodite]

Obviously that reporter knows nothing about dogs. Barney is the only resident of the White House I'd invite over for a cookout, or to watch a football game.

[neverbeenfooled]

Barney was probably just reflecting the current WH mood.

[grf67]

Good start Barney, reporters and republicans are not to be trusted.

[Bluejay00234]

Why are Rethugs so angry?

[Whinger]

He's lucky he didn't bite a Fox reporter the poor dog would be belly up from poisioning already!

[ladydriver]

Reporters: "Barney, how do you feel about the news that you are to be replaced by a younger pup?"

Barney: "I'll show you how I feel about it.......!"

[yngskywlkr]

The liberal media elite just don't know when to quit hassling "Barney the Terrier"

[MattThorn]

I agree with the person who said Barney was reacting to the action of the person holding the leash, but the reporter also didn't approach Barney the way you should approach a strange dog. You don't just reach to pet a strange dog with your fingers out. You first have to slowly extend your hand, fingers down, and wait for the dog to approach and sniff your hand. Once the dog does so, then you can slowly reach and stroke the dog's back. You don't immediately reach for the muzzle or ears. I thought this was common knowledge. Even if Barney was not in good spirits that day, which seems to be the case, he wouldn't have reacted the way he did if it weren't for the two humans involved. As to the person who said Barney's reaction is that of an abused dog, come on. An abused dog would have cowered, not bitten. Few of us here at HuffPo like W, but he does not have the personality of a pet abuser. If W had treated the country and the world half as well as he treats Barney, we'd all be better off today.

[protagonia]

That is the behavior of an abused animal.

[StringOfLights]

Nah. I have terriers, and they are wired and can be very protective. I'll just go ahead and say it: they're hellions. Barney's body language clearly said "grumpy", he was out of his comfort zone, and he felt cornered.

[auderobinson]

Or a dog reacting to someone not knowing anything about edogs. I.e. how to approach a dog that does not know you.

[NCLulu]

If you watch it in slow motion (like they've been playing it on tv all day), you'll see that the person holding the leash tenses up on the leash and starts to pull Barney back as the reporter approaches the dog. If you subscribe to the Dog Whisperer theories, you have to blame the person holding the leash. The dog senses that person's tension and lashes out at what he perceives as a danger. (Sorry, I just bored myself, too. But I had to cut the reporter some slack.)

[Thinklongterm]

You'd bite someone too if you knew you had to go back to that dusty fake ranch in Crawford.

[kassandranobody]

I HAVE BEEN SAYING FOR YEARS ALL THESE PEOPLE RUNNING THIS COUNTRY,(INTO THE

GROUND) ARE FEAR BITERS, (AND THE WANTABEES LIKE CAIN AND PALIN)

THEY ATTACK WHEN THEY ARE AFRAID

BARNEY IS A DOG WHAT IS THE EXCUSE FOR THE REST OF THEM???

[weatherwaxx]

Good point!

[mlaiuppa]

Dog people will be able to pick up on Barney's body language. The dog wasn't happy and didn't want to be petted.

Didn't Bush own Barney before he was elected. That puts Barney over 8 years old now. Getting old for a dog. And like people, dogs get cranky. Especially if they happen to be in pain. It could be Barney has some arthritis that hasn't been addressed by his Vet. Maybe it's time for a check up and some meds for Barney. Take away the pain and the crankiness goes away too. Barney will be a much happier dog. Although I imagine he is a bit peeved at all of the strangers just thinking they can pet him whenever they want.

[RedDogBear]

I was thinking exactly the same thing. Both about Barney's body language and age. I had a Bichon Frise who was the most friendly little guy you could imagine but toward the end of his life he could barely see and felt very vulnerable. Barney's body language reminded me of my dog toward the end of his life. Of course I cared enough about my dog to not put him in situations where he was surrounded by clueless strangers so he never lashed out at anyone.

[Formeralaskangal]

Barney: "I'm a dog, not a lameduck!"

[SwingVoter]

The dog is only carrying out Bush's feelings about the press.