Joe Biden’s dogs are the most recent four-legged residents in the White House, and followed many famous US presidents’ dogs.
Many things set President Trump apart from other leaders of the free world, but one peculiarity is his lack of presidential pets. President Trump is one of only three US presidents to forgo sharing the White House with a dog.
President Biden, however, shared the White House with three German Shepherds throughout his tenure, but how much do you know about them? Read on for the lowdown on Joe Biden’s dogs.
Everything we know about Joe Biden’s dogs
1. Joe Biden’s First Dogs are three of a kind
All three of Joe Biden’s dogs, Champ, Major, and Commander Biden, have been German Shepherds. This athletic and intelligent type makes one of the best service dog breeds and can often be found at the heels of police officers and search and rescue teams.
As well as needing plenty of exercise, German Shepherds respond well to positive reinforcement training with the best dog treats. They’re also up there as one of the best family dog breeds, so it’s little wonder the Bidens favor these loyal and loving floofballs.
2. Champ Biden fulfilled a promise
Champ was welcomed into the family in 2008 after President Biden was elected vice president alongside President Barack Obama. It’s well-known that President Obama promised his hopeful daughters, Sasha and Malia, a puppy whether or not he won office. They got Bo, a Portuguese Water Dog, shortly after the win. But did you know that President Biden made a similar vow to his wife Jill?
The future First Lady would only get her new puppy on the condition that the Obama-Biden campaign was successful, and when her husband took office, he made good on his promise. It’s said that she habitually taped up photos of puppies in the campaign plane to remind the then-senator to stick to his word. President Biden went ahead and bought Champ as a puppy from a breeder.
Champ died in June 2021, aged 13. Announcing the death on Twitter, now known as X, President Biden wrote: “Our family lost our loving companion Champ today. I will miss him.”
3. Champ’s name was significant
It’s said that Champ’s name had a touching link to the former President’s father. During his 2008 campaign rallies, he would relay a mantra that Joe Biden Sr often repeated: “Any time you get knocked down, Champ, get up!”
4. Champ was a controversial purchase...
President Biden’s record shows he has some commitment to protecting animals, signing the Big Cat Public Safety and Reducing Animal Testing Acts into law during his term.
However, some of the former Delaware senator’s constituents would have preferred that he had opted for adopting a puppy vs buying from a breeder.
“We are surprised that Sen. Biden chose to purchase a dog from a commercial kennel since he has been a leader on animal-protection issues,” said the Humane Society of the United States in 2008.
5. ... but Major Biden lead the way for shelter dogs
Perhaps taking the Humane Society’s criticisms on board, President Biden adopted his second German Shepherd, Major, from an animal shelter – it’s believed that Major was the first shelter dog in the White House.
The Bidens first fostered Major from the Delaware Humane Association in 2018 after the President’s daughter, Ashley, sent him a link to a post detailing a litter of German Shepherd puppies up for adoption. Vogue reported that Biden dropped in to the shelter on Easter Sunday to meet the puppies.
To mark the adoption, the charity posted on Instagram: “Today is Major's lucky day! Not only did Major find his forever home, but he got adopted by Vice President Joe Biden & Dr Jill Biden! The Bidens have gotten to know Major while fostering him and are now ready to make the adoption official. Best of luck, and thank you for being one of our friends for life!”
6. Major has a famous namesake
President Franklin D Roosevelt also had a German Shepherd called Major. A former police dog, Major, was gifted to Roosevelt by the New York State Police. His tenure as First Dog wasn’t without controversy, as he was known to chase maids, nip officials, and once even tore off the bottom of British Prime Minister Ramsey MacDonald’s pants.
7. Champ and Major featured in Biden’s successful 2020 campaign
Joe Biden’s dogs are no strangers to the limelight. Champ and Major appeared in campaign ads for the 2020 US Presidential election against Donald Trump, who made the White House a pet-free household for the first time in a century.
While on the campaign trail, Mr Biden tweeted: “Some Americans celebrate #NationalCatDay, some celebrate #NationalDogDay...President Trump celebrates neither. It says a lot. It's time we put a pet back in the White House.”
8. Commander Biden was a gift to the President
Joe Biden’s third German Shepherd, Commander Biden, was gifted to the family by the President’s brother and sister-in-law to mark his birthday in November 2021.
However, the same day Commander arrived, the White House announced Major’s removal following several biting incidents and aggressive behavior, with reports that Major had lunged, barked at, and bitten members of White House staff and security.
It wasn’t the first time Joe Biden’s dogs left the White House. Speaking on The Kelly Clarkson Show in early 2021, First Lady Jill Biden explained how she had been “obsessed” with getting Major settled, and subsequent reports detailed how professional trainers had been consulted before both dogs spent time away.
9. Commander’s biting behavior mirrored Major’s
Major wasn’t the only dog biting people in the White House during Biden’s term. Before he was removed in October 2023, it’s reported that Commander Biden bit US Secret Service agents at least 24 times.
Some bites resulted in stitches, and after several attempts to correct Commander’s behavior, he was sent to live a quiet life with Biden's relatives.
10. There was a cat in the mix
Yes, the White House was recently a multi-pet household! Willow the American Shorthair is a former farm cat who caught Jill Biden’s eye when she jumped up onstage on the Pennsylvania leg of her campaign.
Willow was welcomed into the White House in January 2022 and soon made a habit of napping on every available surface – no need for one of the best cat beds!
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Edited by Georgia Guerin and Alexis de Leaver.
