© 2025 Connecticut Public

FCC Public Inspection Files:
WEDH · WEDN · WEDW · WEDY
WEDW-FM · WNPR · WPKT · WRLI-FM
Public Files Contact · ATSC 3.0 FAQ
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Dog trainers explain what prompts dogs to bite someone

LEILA FADEL, HOST:

Joe Biden's dog Commander has left the White House. The 2-year-old German shepherd bit a Secret Service agent on Monday. It was the latest of several biting incidents for the first pooch.

NICK WHITE: Obviously, the dog isn't comfortable in that environment.

A MARTÍNEZ, HOST:

That's Nick White. He's a former Secret Service agent and owner of Off Leash K9 Training. White says that White House dogs can deal with hundreds of people a day.

WHITE: Secret Service to White House staff to Navy staff to contractors who are coming in and out.

FADEL: It's a tough place for people, let alone dogs. Author and veteran dog trainer Robin Bennett says it's important to identify the specifics of what triggers a bite.

ROBIN BENNETT: Is it fast-moving objects? Is the dog protecting his bed? Is he scared of people that have sunglasses on?

MARTÍNEZ: Now, if sunglasses are a big fear, it helps if the dog's given a high-value treat by the person wearing sunglasses.

BENNETT: So after a while, the dog says people with glasses are great 'cause I get chicken when I see them.

FADEL: White says the No. 1 reason for aggression in dogs is a lack of socialization at a young age.

WHITE: We're seeing that a lot with what we call the COVID dogs. So those dogs and those people weren't going out to stores with their dogs. They weren't going out to parks.

FADEL: With dogs, you should never assume the problem is going to fix itself.

WHITE: In general in dogs, I would say even like people, behavioral issues are going to get worse over time. They're not going to improve over time.

MARTÍNEZ: So if your dog is biting, White says it's cheaper to get a dog trainer now than to pay for the damage later. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT is an initiative from Connecticut Public, the state’s local NPR and PBS station, to elevate Latino stories and expand programming that uplifts and informs our Latino communities. Visit CTPublic.org/latino for more stories and resources. For updates, sign up for the SOMOS CONNECTICUT newsletter at ctpublic.org/newsletters.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.