Biden dogs are in Delaware while Jill Biden travels after Major caused a 'minor injury'

The White House says the Biden family dogs, Major and Champ, are temporarily back in Delaware while the first lady is traveling following an incident Monday in which Major caused a "minor injury" to an undisclosed person.

"Major was surprised by an unfamiliar person and reacted in a way that resulted in a minor injury to the individual, which was handled by the White House Medical Unit with no further treatment needed," White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters Tuesday.

She added: "Champ and Major, the President and First Lady’s dogs – members of the family – are still getting acclimated and accustomed to their new surroundings and new people."

Major and Champ will both return to the White House soon, Psaki added, reiterating claims from earlier in the day that they had previously been scheduled to be out of town for a few days.

"With the first lady traveling for three days, Champ and Major went to Delaware to stay with family friends," Michael LaRosa, the first lady's spokesman, told USA TODAY in an email.

The statements came Tuesday after CNN reported Monday that President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden's two German shepherds returned to their family home in Delaware last week following "aggressive behavior at the White House" involving Major.

Earlier Tuesday, Psaki told MSNBC's "Morning Joe" host Mika Brzezinski, she didn't have "any specifics" or updates on the dogs.

"What I can tell you as a dog lover – I know you are – is that Major and Champ are part of the Biden family," Psaki said. "They're members of the family. They often go to Delaware when the first lady is traveling, and they're adjusting to their new home. I don't have any more on those reports, I just know they're beloved members of the family and of course the White House family too."

The first lady delivered remarks Monday at the State Department’s virtual International Women of Courage Awards ceremony before she hopped on a plane to spend Tuesday and Wednesday visiting U.S. military installations in Washington state and California.

Major and Champ moved in to the White House a few days after inauguration, a return to the decades-long tradition of presidential pets following President Donald Trump's dog-less administration.

First lady Jill Biden's office posted pictures at the time of the two pups frolicking on the South Lawn. "Champ and Major have joined us in the White House!" said the tweet adorned with red hearts and paw prints.

"Champ is enjoying his new dog bed by the fireplace and Major loved running around on the South Lawn," reported LaRosa in an email to USA TODAY.

12-year-old Champ joined the family in 2008. The Bidens adopted Major two years ago after fostering him from a litter of six other German shepherd puppies, who were given "life-saving medical care" after exposure to "something toxic in their home," a Delaware Humane Association news release said at the time of adoption in 2018.

"We are so happy to welcome Major to the Biden family, and we are grateful to the Delaware Humane Association for their work in finding forever homes for Major and countless other animals," Biden told CNN in 2018. (Biden has owned at least three other German Shepherds and had a Great Dane named Governor.)

Previously: Biden dogs Champ and Major are home in the White House, says first lady Jill Biden

Most recently, former President Barack Obama had two first dogs under his administration: Bo and Sunny, Portuguese water dogs. Bo, who was the family's first first dog, made headlines when the Obama family took him in. Sunny joined the Obama family four years later. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt had his beloved terrier Fala. President George H.W. Bush's English springer spaniel Millie was featured on "The Simpsons."

Contributing: Rasha Ali, USA TODAY, and the Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Biden dogs temporarily in Delaware after Major caused 'minor injury'