A MAJOR MOMENT

Major Biden, the German Shepherd rescue dog owned by President and Doctor Jill Biden, had a rocky start in his new digs. Within a month of hanging his leash at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Major nipped a Secret Service agent standing outside the Oval Office. Then, despite being told, “Bad doggie! No bitey!” one week later he bared his fangs at a National Park Services employee while roaming past the Rose Garden.

Evening news shows blasted Major’s “bad behavior.” Newspaper headlines screamed “Major causes minor injury” and “Biden family dog involved in second biting incident.” Bernie Madoff got softer press.

Well, folks, I’m with Major on this, and here’s why. For the first three years of his carefree life, Major romped freely and happily around the Biden estate in Greenville, Delaware, stopping to sniff the grassy lawns while poking around four wooded acres that surround the huge home. If he needed to “do his duty,” he didn’t have to ask permission or be led out on a leash.

During hot summer days, the lucky dog breathed the salty sea air of Rehoboth Beach where the Bidens own a vacation home. Every morning he and brother Champ trotted out to the spacious back yard and spent most of the day chewing rawhide bones.

Then, overnight, on January 20, his owner became the most powerful man in the world, with tough-looking gun-toting ear-microphoned crew-cutted Secret Service guys surrounding him 24/7. If Major walked down the hall into Dad’s office, three agents immediately frisked him. When he needed to pee or poop, squadrons of camera-toting news photographers sprinted across the front law to capture every drop, as it were.

Where’s the doggy dignity? I’d get twitchy too, if that were me.

So they sent Major to an off-site animal rescue facility for “behavior training.”  During those weeks, Major played with cats, napped with Labradors, dined with poodles and joined obedience sessions with trainers, all focused on ways to help him adjust to his new life in the White House.  

Major is now back in residence and getting set to welcome the First Cat. (Yup! Last week Doctor Biden confirmed, “Oh yes, that is true. We are getting a cat and she is currently waiting in the wings.”) I have no doubt that Major will welcome the kitten warmly. He’s smart and he’s been bolstered for better behavior.

Which makes me wonder if we should consider sending others in Washington to an animal  shelter for training in “socialization.” Specifically, those Senators and Congressmen on BOTH sides of the aisle who can’t even agree on the time of day, let alone a desperately-needed infrastructure bill.

If three weeks in Happy Doggy Day Camp worked for Major, think what it could do for the political climate in D.C.