Biden's German Shepher Major in dog house

President Joe Biden’s rescue dog Major has nipped an individual on the White House grounds, the second incident involving the younger of his two German Shepherds.

Earlier this month, Major bit a security staff member, according to media reports. The incident caused a “minor injury”, a White House spokeswoman said at the time.

“Major is still adjusting to his new surroundings and he nipped someone while on a walk,” Michael LaRosa, a spokesman for first lady Jill Biden, said of Monday’s incident.

“Out of an abundance of caution, the individual was seen by (the White House medical unit) and then returned to work without injury.”

Following the first incident, the dog had a round of training in Biden’s home state of Delaware to help acclimate him to life at the 7-hectare complex in Washington, where he is surrounded by aides and security officers.

Biden is scheduled to spend the Easter holiday weekend in the more spacious Camp David presidential retreat near Thurmont, Maryland.

The president adopted Major from the Delaware Humane Society in 2018 after serving as vice president under former president Barack Obama.

Biden’s other house pet, Champ, is an old Washington hand, having joined the family in 2008 when Biden was elected vice president.

For the most part, Major is a “sweet dog”, Biden said earlier this month.

The first family is also expected to get a cat.