(Editor's note: Yes, this is the second week in a row he has written about dogs. I warned him about alienating fans of felines, but he brushed it aside, saying it was the snake lovers that scared him.)
This past week, President Biden's younger dog, Major, had another "incident." Unlike my house, where an "incident" means someone is grabbing the Spot Shot and opening the windows, Major's incident was of a different variety.
He bit someone.
Well, not so much bit, more of a nip, as I understand it. I mean, there was no growling or gnashing of teeth. Major just made a quick little jab that didn't even break the victim's skin (an unwitting Secret Service Agent).
Unfortunately, this is not the first time Major has nipped at someone. Several weeks ago, Major snapped at a White House employee and handler in a similar and more publicized incident. Afterward, they sent him to off-site training for remediation.
For nipping?
Perhaps things would be different for Major if he were a puppy or a Miniature Schnauzer. People might look upon the situation differently if he were a fluffy Golden Retriever or lumbering Bassett Hound. But he is not. Major, and Champ, are full-fledged German Shepards and look every bit the part.
After the most recent incident, President Biden publicly defended Major, stating, "He is a sweet dog who comes from a tough background."
And despite his ability to pardon, President Joe Biden is sending Major back to the minors for remediation. Really? My first thought is that we should send the agent to remediation school.
Think about the situation from a normal, non–Presidential perspective.
Major is an adult German Shepard, bred to defend and protect. He was in a new and unfamiliar environment, with someone he did not know, with a gun, standing close to his master.
Yes, I am disappointed in Major. Disappointed he didn't take the agent's right arm off!
Isn't that what you would want and expect your dog to do in similar circumstances? Would you send him to obedience school?! That makes no sense to me and would be a waste of money, in my opinion. It seems to me law enforcement pays gobs of money to train German Shepards to do EXACTLY that. Heck, the way I see it, Major already graduated at the top of his class and should have his name changed to Lassie! (Wait, was Lassie a boy?)
Given the breed, circumstances, and the fact that the Bidens rescued Major from a shelter after enduring prolonged trauma, we should not have been surprised or shocked by this; we should have expected and trained staff for this. You don't punish the dog for behaving like a dog. He was doing what he was born to do.
Not sure where I am going with this? Wait for it...
As students return to our classrooms, it's important to remember that they, too, have endured trauma and are predisposed to behave in a self-protective way. A global pandemic changed their world for an entire year. Like Major, your students are in unfamiliar places, dealing with new and different situations, and are interacting with people in very non-traditional ways.
Students will be on edge. Students will be nervous. Students will occasionally snap at you or other people. Given the circumstances, this is not something to be surprised and angered by; we should expect and train for this. The outbursts, mistakes, and poor choices are not to be excused but should not surprise us. These young people have been through trauma that changed them. The world they returned to is not the world they left. As they re-enter, we need to remember that it's not our (emotional) safety we should be concerned with; it's theirs. So try to be patient. Try to be forgiving. Try to remember that they are humans who have been through something considerable, are in a new world, and will act accordingly.
Major? The way I see it, he should take a victory lap down Pennsylvania Avenue to the halls of Congress. There are a few Senators I would like him to take a nip at!
Have a great week!
Scott