Photo: Eric Estrada, AFP / Getty Images
After a series of increasingly violent attacks on the former president, the pooch has been banished to a home in the French countryside, the Guardian reports.
The troubled lap dog first garnered headlines in January, when Sumo bit 76-year-old Chirac, causing him to seek outpatient treatment at a Paris hospital, the Daily Mail reported at the time. The dog was being treated for depression, but according to BBC News, the attacks had worsened in recent days. In the latest scuffle, Sumo was reportedly lying quietly on the floor when President Chirac walked into the room and the dog flew into a rage. He bit the statesman on the stomach, drawing blood, BBC News reports.
Chirac's wife, Bernadette, told the press that the little white dog had been "down in the dumps" since leaving the Elysée, where he once played in the presidential gardens with his best canine pal, a golden retriever named Scott, reports the Guardian.
Dogs can certainly suffer depression from a change in surroundings, Dr. Daniel Q. Estep, a certified animal behaviorist with Animal Behavior Associates in Littleton, CO, tells Paw Nation. But depressed dogs are much more likely to be lethargic or anxious rather than aggressive, he says. And, he added, attacks usually follow a specific trigger -- a frightened dog might snap if you reach down to grab his collar, for instance.
"A scenario where the president of France is sitting in his easy chair minding his own business, and the dog runs up and bites him because he's upset about having moved? That's not likely," Estep tells Paw Nation. "My bet is that something else motivated that aggressive response."
According to Estep, owners of aggressive dogs do have options besides banishing their pet. (Besides, he adds, good luck finding a farm willing to take a snarling pooch off your hands. "What farmer wants to have a dog who's biting people or chasing the other animals?" he asks.)
If you have a Sumo-esque biter on your hands, Estep suggests talking to a professional such as a vet, an applied animal behaviorist, or a trainer who has experience working with aggressive dogs. In many cases, he says, "there are behavior modification plans that the expert can put the dog through."
At least Sumo's story seems to have a happy ending. The dog is reportedly happy in his new home, and he hasn't unleashed his teeth since the move, reports BBC News. Still, we doubt any ex-presidents will be lining up to visit him on the farm.
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Lol @ big time! Because that dog is so panic and bite former French President! I never heard of that dog is despression! It must be stupid dog in the world! That dog should go to pets mental illness hosptial and take the medication! lol
That thing would'nt have had a second chance if he bit me .Had a dog bit me 1 time dont know what happened to it either,quess it bit into a load of buckshot,ever. want to watch something funny people trying to stop whaleing,Before some one makes the coment IAM A IDIOUT have you ever seen what a straving deer looks like in the winter,I have and it aint for the weak stomich to watch, How many of the dogs and cats are running around starving all because someone kid wanted a dog our cat and then 2 weeks later thats it and it ends, up on the street I had a 30 year old neighbor used to bury her goldfish in her yard and put crosses out o pop cyle stinks Now come on,
The previous commenters scare me, deeply.
Thanks Patrick! They both terrified me!!!
Sounds like the dog is a good judge of character to me!!
GET RID OF THE DOG!
PEOPLE PLACE PETS TOO HIGH UPON A PEDESTOOL......
IM NOT SAYING ABUSE OR ABANDONMENT, OR THAT ITS OK, JUST RELOCATE THE DOG.......ITS OBVIOUSLY A FAN OF INSANE CLOWN POSSY AND NEEDS TO MELLOW OUT, MAYBE UP IN THE FRENCH ALPS?
BWAHAHAHA
I wonder if Caesar Milan (Dog Whisperer) would be willing to make a trip to France to help this family???
I certainly hope this guy doesn't handle the people he runs into during the duties of his job. Beside's its a dog for cryin out loud!! Who is the master here? Get the dog to a trainer and quit messin around with a dog therapist that is doing nothing more than just taking your money. Or should I say the money of the tax payers that pay your salary. If a dog can manipulate you that way I would hate to think what a human being was able to do.
The smelly piece of sh_t frenchmen no doubt hated the dog and tortured it until it bit him!!! Does he look like a guy that would run out and get a little white dog?? Probably taking out the aggression he suppresses towards his goofy looking goth daughter that he can't control out on the dog?? He's just another piece of owe bamma sheep sh_t that thinks the world revolves around him!! Damn shame it wasn't a pit bull then he would not have been around to complain about it after it bit him!!!!!
The dog was being TREATED for depression???? The chimp that mauled her owners friend recently was also being treated for mood issues. The owner gave him some of her Zan..whatever. What are we thinking giving mental drugs to our animals???? WTF??? Of course the dog was biting him. It was on drugs. Hopefully the people in the country won't drug the little munchkin and it will be ok.
animals are good judges of character.
How about letting the dog stay or visit the presidential palace? Being a pooch with elevated status, that shouldn't be a problem.
Just wondering if they took the pooch to a vet for a checkup. A brain tumor or chemical imbalance will cause a normally placid dog to become violent without provocation. This is NOT a case of depression.
Been there, done that, seen it.
Instead of the dog being put on doggie-downers the owners should look into a vitamin deficiency. There is a thing called 'Sudden Rage' syndrome which can make a perfectly wonderful pet turn into a biter for absolutely no reason at all. They aren't vicious animals by nature but when vitamins and hormones are off balance, strange things can happen.