Defying journalistic convention, the First Dog, the Scottish Terrier Barney bit a reporter today (with video).

And again, the Administration's press people went with a blame-the-media response rather than basic damage control. Laura Bush's spokeswoman Sally McDonough explained to the AP "I think it was his way of saying he was done with the paparazzi."

A better way to soften Barney's fluffy edges--and line him up for lucrative speaking engagements--would be to point to the attributes of the breed. Scotties, while highly intelligent and loyal, are short-legged killers.

Gawker softens the scandal with an adorable Barney restropective.