I would hazard a guess that Dogs, like old pickups & cowboy hats are just props for most politicians. Sad part is, dogs need care & attention, pickups & cowboy hats can be put on a shelf & stored until the next campaign.
I think a roaring business could be developed renting pets, children, pickups, motorcycles, cowboy hats & boots out to politicians. ‘Props are Us’?
Yep. Dogs, especially males and as pack animals, need and seek out the Alpha in their pack. Absent an Alpha, they will assume that that job is then up to them, and behave accordingly. The more poorly socialized they are, the more this will express itself as aggression. This is especially true if said dog is not a natural Alpha. They know this, and freak out with the responsibility they know they cannot fulfill.