WASHINGTON (CNN) - President-elect Barack Obama's daughters have been promised a puppy for the White House - President Bush's dog, Barney, demonstrated his technique for dealing with the media Thursday...sinking his teeth into Reuters TV White House correspondent Jon Decker.
Call it a case of biting the hand that covers you.
First Dog Barney and his handler were out on the front lawn for a walk when Reuters' Decker and another reporter approached.
"He looked very nice and friendly," says Decker. "I bent down to pet him and he just snapped at me."
Decker holds up his right index finger, now sporting two band aids. The First Dog's teeth punctured the skin and Decker started bleeding, so he was sent to see presidential physician, Dr. Richard Tubb. Tubb gave Decker a two- to three-day supply of antibiotics, and told him to come back Friday for a tetanus booster.
"I don't know what he did, but apparently Barney didn't like it," says April Ryan, White House correspondent for American Urban Radio Network, who captured the entire incident on her Flip video camera.
Decker insists he didn't provoke Barney, and that in fact he's good with Scottish terriers. Decker's mother's dog, Fergus, came from the same New Jersey breeder.
"I don't know what set him off," says Decker. "Maybe it was the Republican debacle Tuesday night, the fact that soon he'll be replaced as America's first dog or that I happened to have bacon for breakfast."
President-elect Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, have promised to get their daughters, Malia and Sasha, a puppy when they move into the White House.
Sally McDonough, press secretary to First Lady Laura Bush, points out that Ryan commented the biting incident is very unlike Barney.
"I think it was his way of saying he is done with the paparazzi," says McDonough. "I've talked to Jon and he is being a good sport about it all and well, Barney is in the White House Dog House."
"He was just in a surly mood this morning," surmises Decker.
Adam Goldfarb, an 'Issues Specialist' on dangerous dogs and dog bites, had his own take on the matter after viewing the incriminating video.
'I think what happened is two things were going on– one is that nobody was picking up on the dog's stress. Watching the video, the dog's posture was very tense. Which is a sign that he was stressed out in the situation. The other thing the reporter did wrong was the way he approached Barney. He approached very quickly, and from above. His hand came downward from up high. And that can be very frightening for a dog, especially a small one."
Cox Newspaper White House correspondent and veteran Bush watcher Ken Herman shared the first of many jokes about the First Dog's attack on Decker. "You know what Barney calls a presidential press conference? A buffet."
From CNN Politics
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Wow. Even the dogs believe the liberal media myth.
Dogs take on the mood and emotions of their owners. Barney must be feeling the anxiety Bush feels around reporters.
it should of been obama trying to pet that dog, hahaha, that dog would know an inexperienced empty suit socialist if it ever seen one.
What a ridiculous story. Beat a man while he's down why don't you?
Look Barney was just like all of us....Tired of the Politics and the drama. Thats right Barney...Snap Snap Snap. Everyone needs to go home and take a rest. This Country is tired of the last few months of politics. Give us a break and Barney too.
Hooray for the dog. It's about time someone took a bite out of theses biased Media reporters. They are the direct cause this year of who got elected. They ought to proud of themselves. Namely they destroyed Hillary who should be the 44th President of he United States, You will live to regreat wat had happened.
Why is this news? How about covering the protests at the Los Angeles Mormon Temple?
whoa! someone is mad about leaving the white house
HE NEEDS TO BITE GEORGE W. BUSH FOR THE MESS HE HAS MADE OF OUR COUNTRY.
HE IS A THUG AND SO IS CHENEY.
A GROUP OF US WILL BE IN DC THIS WEEKEND WITH MOVING VANS TO HELP YOU MOVE YOUR SH>>>. WHERE DO YOU WANT IT DUBYA!!!
I wonder wat sasha and malia are gonna name their dog.
The pup does wander far from the master.
I think Barney is yearning for the wide open spaces of Crawford.
take that liberal media! Bush 12'!!!
Well it's about time one of them got bit. Smart little repub dog!
Was it a reporter from a "lefty" rag?
What does the election of Obama mean for Israel?
is that this man will never be held accountable for deliberately misleading US institutions and its people for Personal and Party gains.
We got tooken........tooken to the ranch
He's even trained his dog to kill...
And this is relevant because? Seriously what has CNN come to when it comes to reporting thinks that matter and issues people care about. Give me a break. What's going to be next: Dick Cheney gets bit by an ant.
Decker was undoubtedly a left wing liberal.
Although I feel this story is absurd news not worthy of the Political Ticker and is taking the White House media frenzy too far...I caught the video and I feel the reporter deserved it...any dog person knows that reaching down to a dog you are not familiar with is perceived as a threat to any dog, especially as it appeared the reporter had a bunch of papers in his other hand. This poor dog was obviously surrounded by several people and was out of his comfort zone.
bad dog! haha
This story makes me happy.
funny
Y A W N
Good deal–Next time I hope he bites all the Liberal Obamaites. Barney has good instincts and dogs generally know when people are good or jerks. Way to go Barney !!!
At least the dog is loyal, that's for sure, LOL!!
Hilarious! I don't mean this to be a joke, but it is really great that we finally get to see the personality of a white house dog. I hope Barack adopts Barney so that he can show the ropes to the new puppy that Sasha and Malia are getting..
My vote is for two dogs in the White House!
Thank you God!! Its about time the media got back some of what they are owed! The average, below average and above average americans are sick of you!!!!!!!
Wake up and start giving the news with out bias! Stop twisting the stories to reflec what you want or believe in.....just give us the good and bad and let us decide, instead of you deciding for us!!!
I feel sorry for anyone or anything from Scotland.
Serves Decker right. Any dog person knows not to try to touch a strange dog. They don't like the presumption of humans to manhandle them. If you want to pet a strange dog you put your hand down AWAY from the dog's head and let him come to you. Some will come sniff your fingers, some will not – you have to accept it when a dog doesn't want you to touch them. I have a 10-month old male Scottie and he is being trained to stay away from strangers, bark if someone comes up to my door (I am half deaf) and come inside when I call. He trained himself to use the doggy door into the back yard and I have a great respect for his intelligence. My Seamus seems to have more smarts than Mr. Decker.
Serves the reporter right. Presidents dogs should be off limits when it comes to media coverage.
Barney didn't like him because he voted for Obama.
You moved too fast, mister! Scarey! Heck, if I were Barney, I'd've bitten you too.
Hi,
I agree – not that I am a bush fan, but he did have some bad luck.
great idea–teach Sarah Palin to bite–with lipstick of course
Hehehehehehehe. That's funny. Barney does not want his 15 minutes of fame! Seriously, though, I hope the Obamas get a puppy from the pound. I know a lot of breeders would love to give them a puppy, but getting a dog from a shelter would send a great message.
Something as simple as the cologne or aftershave could had cause the reaction.
Or maybe he wrote a bad piece about his "handler"
Funny! Scotties are not known for their social skills–mine runs out of the desire to meet new people quickly. And they can be irritable with Republicans and Democrats alike.
Barney? Are you feeling okay? I know that dogs and cats are very smart and do sense when there a change coming in their surroundings, especially when they see packing going on. They have a sense about them.
I think the dog just came back from Iraq, he has a post traumatic desorder!
Good doggie!
Is it really that important about what the dog did? Can't we just stop seeing Bush already. He has done enough for the country, thanks.
"Decker holds up his right index finger, now sporting two band aids. The First Dog's teeth punctured the skin and Decker started bleeding, so he was sent to see presidential physician, Dr. Richard Tubb. Tubb gave Decker a two- to three-day supply of antibiotics, and told him to come back Friday for a tetanus booster."
Sheesh, that must've been one helluva bite! Guess that shows the dog is as much bite and bark as its master...
how come Obama don't hire a CNN moderator for his Cabinet ? they certainly know how to delete and Change the News
barney dont wants to leave,
Good. Nobady likes reporters.
nobody
Speaking of dogs, my mom in Ohio had a discussion with a neighbor today, and suggested that Obama should get a shelter dog, but the girls want a labradoodle. The neighbor replied that Obama would never rescue a dog because he's an elitist. The Palin hypocrisy lives on in the small-minded Republican base.
lol – dogs just have a good judgement of humans.
Dogs usually don't bite. Sorry, that it had happened. Normally, you have to say hi to them and only approach them when they tell you to. You cannot just approach them unless they sense that you really love dogs or you are not aggressive within. This is the truth for I don't have problems with any dogs, big or small, on the street. You have to ask them if they allow you to pet them. They will tell you if they don't like to be pet. If you don't do that they will normally bite you!
Cheers,
Maria Loi
Will The Obama Girls come through?
I hope the New 1st dog is a Pitbull named Sarah. It will be truely sweet when they put a skirt & a sweater on it Plus Pink Lipstick.
OMG ! YESSS YESSS !!
THIS JUST SHOWS THAT PRESIDENT BUSH'S PRESIDENCY "BITES" AND EVEN HIS DOG IS AFFECTED!
This is just way too funny. I was sure it was a misplaced article from the Onion.
Apparently Barney never truly acquired a taste for reporters . . . until now!
Make sure the dog gets his shots. We wouldn't want him to get an infection.
Bush is going down in history as the president who attacked a country that didn't attack us... So makes sense his dog would, too.
born and raised with dogs, lesson #1 is never reach for a strange dog, let it come to you. otherwise, the dog has shown more fight in the last 1/2 year than its master.
That is funny. Only Bush's best friend can help him out in such troubling times that still sit at his door for 70 days
Bush is bad and so is his dog.
Maybe that's why he's so mean...
The first dog should have taken the reporters arm off.
the reporter deserved it.
evil owner...evil dog
Even the dogs bite in Bush's White House.
I would be more worried that barny would get sick than the reporter. Better get barny to the vet.
"He looked very nice and friendly," says Decker.
What an idiot. Can't read the dog's body language. It clearly was distressed. Shove your hand and a dog's face who doesn't know you and don't be surprised if you're bit.
I think Barney was having a good time but was distracted.
This is not news. The dog didn't know the reporter and bit him in self defense.
Just goes to show how people never really know how their dog will react, even towards someone who is "good" with dogs. If the President had bitten a reporter there would be serious charges filed. I don't see that letting your dog do the dirty work makes it any less serious.
Barney in 2012?
IT MUST HAVE BEEN HIS OBAMA BUTTON.
Too bad he bit the reporter and not the owner of the dog. 75 more days and I'm counting them down every one
where was that dog when all the liberal media was pounding McCain and Palin this election????????
Barney was the best thing in the Bush administration. Leave him alone.
Maybe Jon Decker is a Democrat or he thought Barney was a pitbull and tried to put lipstick on him...Wait I know...
BARNEY IS GOING ROGUE!!!!!!!!!!
I'd be temperamental if I was leaving the White House after 8 years, as well.
he doesnot want to leave the White House.
Jon Decker is an idiot. The appropriate way to pet a dog is first, sit down to be at their level, second, put your hand out and let the dog approach you to smell, and third, NEVER EVER leap towards the dog and reach for its head the way this idiot did.
I'm not a Bush fan but Barney's approval rating jumped on this one.
its a republican dog what do you expect hehe
What a non-story. But I did see the video, and the guy reached down without letting the dog sniff him.
Absolutely hilarious! I hope someone gave Barney a scooby-snack afterwards! I also hope that Decker doesn't decide to be a jerk and sue or anything. Anyways, he should know better. You should never approach a dog and pet it without knowing it's temperment. Serves Decker right and WTG Barney!
The economy resulted in a down grade of dog food for Barney and he has yet to make the adjustment. He is still upset about the diet change so he lashed out at the reporter in search of real meat again. LOL
That dog was clearly showing signs that he did not want to be bothered and the guy's hand came at him way too fast. This person clearly knows nothing about animal behavior or approaching animals.
was it wearing lipstick?
With comments like that, the reporter (Decker) deserves it!! Just kidding (NO, I'M NOT)
Well at least Barney is still a conservative republican.
""I don't know what set him off," says Decker. "Maybe it was the Republican debacle Tuesday night, the fact that soon he'll be replaced as America's first dog or that I happened to have bacon for breakfast.""
... or perhaps that you approached the dog in a poor way, and maybe should have thought ahead of a way that wouldn't have outright scared it?
On the Job training for Obama has started. He wants to copy George W. Bush by bringing in a puppy.
Like Father, Like Son!!
Barney's reaction was truly Republican: You media guys are nasty and in the tank for Obama, take this!...Barney is a meanie just like G-Dubya! He needs some time with the Dog Whisperer for sure! I demand it!
We have the largest two day post election stock selloff and CNN is concerned about a dog? Amazing.
Good for Barney! As much as the press has savaged his master these last 8 years, the press is lucky he hasn't bitten every last one of them!
I guess Barney must have heard about the new puppy coming to town...
Jon Decker? The same guy who ridiculed Obama's bowling performance? Looks like Barney may stay in the White House, after all.
Now, if that was somebody's dog in the suburbs, wouldn't they get forced to put him down, or put up danger signs. I'm surprised this is laughed off just because it's Bush's dog. Seems like a double standard.
Maybe it was just an honest reaction and let's bite this socialist kissing S.O.B. before he puts the knife in the back of an honest dog.
Look now only the dog bite but after Bush finish his term he going to bite your guy too.......so your guy must award about that.
too bad it wasn't a huge pitbull. I expect Obama will get his girls a real dog instead of another ankle-biter....
I'd love to think that Barney is going to get more attention now that his
'daddy" is through being President.
Then again, I don't think Barney's Dad spent all that much time on that hobby.
The best thing about George W. Bush: he sure knows how to pick out an adorable dog!
Is Jon Decker a democrat?
And we thought only Cheney had a vicious bite
Totally the reporters fault.... You never reach toward a dog that doesn't know you with your palm down, unless you are feeding them.
Barny type dogs have fangs the size of a German shepard.
But the reporter learned his lesson and is gracious enough to let it all slide.
Good lesson to be learned there.
I surely hope Barney has had all his shots. I would hate for him to catch something nasty.
It's probably due to the fact that the media hasn't given President Bush a lick of good press since 9/11. I'd have bit him, too.
first dog bites reporter. maybe revenge for liberal media reporting
Like many dogs, Barney is like a good judge of character. After the way the press corps has handled political reporting recently, journalists have about as much honor left as lawyers. Right on, Barney. Now if only someone could sneak him into a SAG meeting.
Sue Bush on Peoples court...what a bad week W awww..
That is sooo funny!!! A dog can sense when it's master does not like someone (even though it was with the trainer and not GB himself). My sister's dog once snapped at and bit a man whom she was speaking with that she did not particularly care for. Her dog never snapped or growled at anyone else. She was a meek and mild mannered dog. I think what is hilarious is that a reporter got bite by rhe white house dog. That to me is a commical turn of events. Makes one wonder who the real dog is!
A very bad dog!
Dogs are dogs and have individual personalities just like humans do. You cannot expect them to like everyone on any given day but it doesn't mean that dogs are bad. People are what make dogs bad. The reporter probably did something that the dog took offense to. Dogs should be treated with respect and not like stuffed toys. The world seems to have forgotten about animal husbandry which is one reason why we have such issues with dog bites, etc. It doesn't help that the animal rights folks keep pressing their negative agenda towards animals. They aren't here to help but to get rid of all companion animals. Don't let their rhetoric fool you. They are NOT a humane/welfare organization. They are an animal extermination organization.
Hey use guys....that dog should be put to sleep....... both dem dogs.
LOL
You wanna do a good job of reporting the news ?
REPORT WHO IS MAKING MONEY WHILE ALL THE USA SUFFERS !
That would be a scoop LOL.........
:::YAWN:::
Will Mr.Bush and his cronies create a foundation for everybody guilty in Iraq invasion (including everybody voted for Bush) to submit voluntarily money to repay our country damage (and Iraq damage too)?
I also have Scotties and they do give signals as to when one should not bother them. From the footage I saw, the reporter did not pay any attention to the fact that Barney had his ears down and back. Also one does not come down on top of the head to pat any dog, It is considered a threat. Barney considered his actions a threat.
Very nice Barney, keep them all honest.
Okay the dog got better news coverage than the sitting president . . . slow news day?
HAHAHA finally the liberal media gets stood up to by the Bush administration. GOOD DOG!!!!!!!
Don't stop there Barney!!!!
Speaking of dogs, President elect Obama should consider a Tibetan Terrier. This breed is adorable just like my dad's Sammy. A very loyal breed.
bush should have gotten a kennel of dogs and a lot sooner.
the media in this country are a national disgarce.
Figures that Bush's dog would be a biter. Has the man touched anything that has not then gone down the tube?
Well. what would motivate Barney to bite Decker? One can only surmise that Decker is upset with the thumping the Republicans got on Tuesday and did not like being queried about his reactions. Certainly being replaced as the first dog probably did not sit too well with him as well. But in typical Bush fashion, he unilaterally lashed out. Only because this is his reported first offense I would not recommend him being put down, but I trust he will learn manners and cat behavior next time around.
If that had been any other dog it would have been put down.
Decker very sorry cos Barney is angry bcos it wil soon leave white house 4 MALIA & SASHA's pet 2 take over its place. Barney take tins easy cos life continue after white house.
Bush dog bites reporter! Which one – Barbara or Jenna – did the biting?!