I didn’t realize it last week, but Champ Biden and Major Biden didn’t get to move into the White House on the day of the inauguration, or even the day after. They only got to move in on Sunday!! Who was looking after Champ and Major? My guess is that Ashley Biden or some of the grandkids were probably looking after the dogs. But now Champ and Major are getting some time with mom and dad and they’re exploring their new home. I wonder if they’ll be allowed in the Oval Office? Or will they just hang out in the residence or East Wing, with First Lady Jill?
The first dogs have entered the White House — the Bidens’ two German shepherds, Champ and Major, officially joined the first family in their new residence at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue on Sunday.
“Champ and Major Biden joined the President and the First Lady at the White House on Sunday,” First Lady Jill Biden’s press secretary Michael LaRosa told CNN in a statement Monday. “The First Family wanted to get settled before bringing the dogs down to Washington from Delaware. Champ is enjoying his new dog bed by the fireplace, and Major loved running around on the South Lawn.”
The new canine occupants of the White House mark a return to form. Though there is a long history of Presidential pets, former President Donald Trump and his family did not bring pets to the White House. CNN has previously reported the elder dog, Champ, joined the Biden family during the presidential transition in December 2008, weeks after Biden became vice president-elect. The family later fostered Major from the Delaware Humane Association and made his adoption official in November 2018.
I’m happy for Jill and Joe because their puppies are finally with them, and I’m happy for Champ and Major that they get such a big house to explore and play in. Remember, Dr. Jill also said that if her husband won, she was going to get a cat. My guess is that she’ll wait for kitten season, which is the spring. From what I’ve heard, all the puppies and kittens are being adopted pretty quickly in the pandemic.
This CNN dude went off in a really petty way and I’m here for it.
Very important breaking news: Champ and Major Biden have moved into the White House pic.twitter.com/LiBh8c1qZ9
— Alli Hedges Maser (@AllisonLHedges) January 25, 2021
Look at these good White House dogs!!
Just in: The First Dogs arrived at the @WhiteHouse Sunday, including Major, the first rescue dog ever to live in the White House. According to @FLOTUS' office, "Champ is enjoying his new dog bed by the fireplace and Major loved running around on the South Lawn.” #firstdogs pic.twitter.com/WUdcKZTqXd
— Kenneth Moton (@KennethMoton) January 25, 2021
Photos courtesy of Backgrid, social media.
Thanks so much for this! I am obsessed with Champ and Major. We missed the “Indoguration” they had online last week for the first canines. And yes, as a family who has both a dog and cats, we’re waiting for that WH kitty.
Where is the CAT?? Love all animals but OMG we need that White House cat STAT!
I want her to get an older cat!
Yes. The older ones are the ones who don’t get adopted as much. She would be setting a good example, and it would be easier on the curtains and furniture. I speak from experience, although I love kittens.
THIS is the kind of news I want to hear about the president!!
I am loving the pettiness of the CNN anchor.
OMG that was perfection.
@caroline, me too. It’s so obvious to everyone outside the echo chamber and who doesn’t turn on the TV to form every opinion. One of my favorite quotes originated from an NBC broadcast of a male figure skater whose performance was wonderful and very showy. The quote (which was referring to the skater’s sexuality) was “He knows you know, and he doesn’t care.”
Take it out of the sexuality/figure skating context, and I think this quote is apt here. Everyone knows what’s going on, and many don’t care.
Yes! It’s wonderful, keep pointing out the lunacy of these people.
Me too! His snark was on point, and I love it.
I love that there are pets back in the Whitehouse! And I love that both the Biden dogs are rescues!! I hope they do let the dogs in the Oval office. I can picture Biden scratching their heads while having some meeting, real casual lol Such a nice change!
Is Champ a rescue? They make a point of pointing out that Major is but I’ve never heard them say Champ is also a rescue so he may have come from a breeder.
I think Champ came from a breeder.
Well, one out of two is still something. Both pups are adorable either way 🙂
He did come from a breeder. It was a controversy back when they got him. Remember those kinds of controversies? Tan suits and puppies from breeders?
I congratulate Pres. Biden on his excellent choice in dogs, because there is no better dog than a GSD. However, I want to defend people who buy their GSDs from breeders — like most large dogs, this breed is prone to hip dysplasia if proper research is not done before breeding. A reputable breeder will have the OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) certification and xrays of the dogs they breed, to minimize the chances of passing on the problem. Getting a rescue dog is fine, but you do need responsible breeders in order to keep the breed sound.
@Mrs.Krabapple: Breeders are who destroy once healthy dog breeds. Just look at what happened to so many dog breeds in the past century. Pugs, Shepherds, Bulldogs, Retrievers and so on. They are all sick due to breeders body dysmorphia and greed.
I love how Champ is all “hello yes I am good and handsome boy” and Major is like “Mom I don’t want to hold this stinking flag, we won.” I love expressive pups. I have a Pomeranian and she can throw a side eye with the best of them.
Yes! We have an Australian Shepherd who makes endlessly funny expressions.
The WH needs a kitty! i can just imagine a cat sauntering into the Oval Office and taking a nap on the Resolute desk while Biden signs executive orders lol
I love cat officials – like Larry the Cat, Chief Mouser to the Cabinet (yes, it has an official title) who lives in Downing Street No. 10. Though word is that he isn’t that good a mouser but rather focuses on inspecting the furniture for good resting spots and greeting visitors.
There’s a clip somewhere of Larry having a major face off with another cat and a reporter waiting outside giving commentary on it. That’s the sort of political reporting I’m here for.
Update – I found the link it’s Larry vs Palmerston (from the Foreign Office) https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/election-2017-40263942
That video is great, I love how seriously they took the cats interactions. @SarahCS, thanks for posting the link!
I love that! I also love Larry just napping in the middle of the street. Clearly that’s his turf.
My 2 are currently fighting over the top spot on their cat tower.
Larry and Palmerston were deadly foes! Palmerston even had to be ejected from No. 10 by the police a couple of times after he’d snuck in. Palmerston was a great hunter (even even killed a baby duck in front of the press once). He was a favorite with foreign diplomats. He is now retired.
The Treasury also got a cat they called Gladstone. But he wasn’t allowed out because of Palmerston and Larry’s feud.
There’s a great video of a police man ringing the bell on No. 10 while Larry sat by and waited to be let in.
Larry became a bit of an issue because some people said that David Cameron didn’t like him – thus prompting Cameron to release a pic with Larry sitting on his lap. Rumour has it that larry didn’t like Teresa May.
@sarahcs, this brought me a lot of joy. Thank you for posting!
No self-respecting cat would nap on the desk when there are perfectly comfortable papers that need to be signed available.
The cat will be boss. Our dog—who is full of piss and vinegar towards other dogs, the mailman, etc.—gives our cats a wide berth. They rule and he knows it.
I LOVE Champ and Major and I early await the arrival of First Kitty!
I would imagine (and hope) they’re being really careful about picking the cat. I’m not sure a kitten is the best choice. They would do best working with organizations that have cats and kittens being evaluated in foster homes. The foster parents would be in a good position to provide information on the temperaments of the cats. They can still get a young cat, just not a kitten whose personality is a huge question mark.
Among the kittens we kept, I’ve got two ten month old “teens” who just finished going through their awkward and cranky phase. We are getting a sense of their personalities. My two that are a full year old have gone through major personality changes and are settled into the kind of cats they will be for life. For example, one started as a lap cat but now prefers to drape herself on top of the sofa behind our heads. Both started as chewers but have settled out of that.
Foster parents can also evaluate which cats are naturally amenable to training.
The Bidens’ cat likely will be getting an above average amount of attention so they’re going to want an easygoing cat who also takes instruction well, so they can train him or her to scratch designated scratching posts and not priceless antiques. Yes, such cats exist.
I don’t foster dogs but the dogs I’ve had were rescues. One was fostered and one was not. The dog that had been fostered was definitely easier to integrate into our family.
I was thinking the same. They can’t just walk into the humane society and leave with a cat. Of primary importance, they need a cat who has been dog tested.
It looks like Champ might have some anxiety with the move. It’s a lot of change for an older dog. I hope he gets to hang out with Dad in the Oval until he adapts.
I agree too, I hope they find a cat who is good with dogs, because Major looks…rambunctious! I think he’s going to be tearing around the White House lawn a lot. Champ is an older good boy and looks good for kitty snuggles.
I’m glad they settled in for a few days, I’m sure there was a lot of commotion moving in, switching out everything and getting settled.
My rescue cat is currently sitting on my lap sleeping while I type (his favorite spot). He’s half Maine Coon, half Russian Blue (his mother snuck out of the house one night whilst in heat and the next door neighbour’s Blue found her….). He looks mostly like a Blue but has the wacky teenage personality of a Maine, even though he’s almost 3. Apparently Maines take a long time to mature….I can attest to that. He’s affectionate, funny as hell, talkative, large and very playful! I’m sure the Bidens will find the perfect First Cat to complete their fur family!
Love the CNN commentary! The snark is so spot on.
Welcome first dogs!!! (and, of course, any first kitty to come). That Josh Groban performed for the indoguration makes me love him even more.
Wishing the whole Biden family, two and four-legged alike, all the very best.
D’awwww, that Christmas video! Champ looks like he’s trying SO HARD to be a good boy, but Major already discovered where the presents were hidden and dragged them out, and now he’s worried that they’ll both get in trouble for it.
Also, this seems like an appropriate place to mention that we adopted a kitty over the weekend! Her name, you ask? KAMALA.
So sweet.
You have a big heart giving this lucky kitty a loving home. I hope you all share love for many years to come.
Yay, Kamala! Congrats on your new kitty.
Congrats! What a great choice for a name!
Congratulations on the new addition to your family!
Congratulations on your new kitty!
We were promised a cat! Better be a priority for the first 100 days.
Wait, I thought I saw a tweet that had a picture of the new First Cat? It was a black one.
Jen Psaki did a Q and A yesterday and said that she doesn’t have a firm date on when a cat will arrive. I don’t think one has been chosen yet but she will report on it when that happens.
We got a new puppy Saturday – named him Beau.
Wishing you and your pup many years of unconditional love.
Congratulations! What a sweet name.
That’s great!
Waiting to see if they adopt a kitty too. Hopefully the two dogs will be accepting of the fact that the cat will end up ruling the roost, all 55,000 sq feet of it. It’s not kitty that will have to adjust, it’s Champ and Major.
It’s so nice to see family pets in the people’s house again. That said, it’s nice to see a family that actually loves eachother living in the house again.
First, I do some volunteer work with local rescues and let me say that homes right now are desperately needed for animals. In the first flush of the pandemic many people did foster and/or adopt but, at the same time, programs for spay and neutering were also closed, leading to an absolute explosion of homeless animals in the months that followed. That combined with people losing their homes means that most rescues are absolutely swamped, and with so many folks adopting new pets last March, April and May, in addition to record job loss, demand is down. So, if you’re looking for a new family member, now is a great time.
Second, and unrelated to the above, when I was young worked with a group that was able to take several visits to the White House during the W and Obama years. (Was no longer working with them, but they did decline during Trump’s presidency, which was nice to see.) Anyway Barney, the Bushs’ dog, had the absolute run of the White House. Definitely the king of the castle, and in our admittedly limited interaction with the then-President and First Lady it was clear they both doted on Barney. (Bad President, but not a total monster, unlike Trump.) The Obamas brought their dogs out to meet on request, but they didn’t run around the place like Barney did, from my limited experience (two different day visits), perhaps because they were so much larger. On one of the two occasions we were there, the First Lady brought Bo with her when she did the meet and greet with us, which everyone loved, and on the other occasion we saw both on the lawn with staffers from a distance. Barney was all over the place, with and without the Bushs, on both our visits during that admin, and various staffers would say that no one tells Barney what to do. There are a set of stairs that lead from the residence into a very public part of the White House where they often do meet and greet staging. (Or, at least, it was my experience that they did it there three out of four times.) The guards there would joke they’d shoot you if you tried to go up the stairs (except, you know, they weren’t totally joking), and that Barney was the only one who could come and go at will. He was a very social little guy. Like we were having a meeting with an admin official about what was going to happen, or moving from place to place in the White House and he’d just pop in to say hi, and then dash out again. One of our handlers joked that he had a very full schedule of First Dog duties, but only Barney himself knew the schedule. One of my fondest memories of the second visit was when he walked by us while we were being set up for the photo and Barney just glided through the group carrying a toy that was almost as big as he was and tripped up the stairs with it, totally ignoring everyone giggling at his effort. When the President was taking the group photos a bit later Barney bounded back down the stairs (without the toy), so he’d clearly taken a little visit to see his people in the Residence.
What a great story. I used to love the Barney Christmas videos that the Bush’s would do. I was a fan of Barney as well.
Yes, where is the White House kitty? Jill needs one! My cats are excited to finally have representation in this dog-loving society we live in.
I adopted my two cats in January two years ago as kittens — their mom was adopted out before them and they needed somewhere to go at 10 weeks old. There are adoption events at shelters/stores that you can adopt rescues from every couple of months (kitten season, I think, is March through October), and of course there’s a need year-round for adopting animals of all ages.
Gorgeous dogs! So smart to wait a few days to move them in. It was probably chaos in the White House at first and moving is so stressful. Champ and Major are going to in for a big shock when the cat shows up and takes over, lol.
I am here for ALL THE BIDEN DOGS!!! We have a 10-year-old dog and adopted a puppy in May and they mirror the attitudes of Champ and Major in the Christmas post – one’s just happy to chill on the couch, the other is a 20-lb. terror we call Mrs. Wigglebottom (Miss Wiggs if you’re nasty) because her butt wiggles whenever she runs or jumps and it’s so cute.
Can we just talk about dogs all day?
Enjoyed seeing Dr. Jill wearing her running shoes with her nice coat as she walked Champ into the WH!
Possible they asked the same Delaware Humane Society where they got Major to help them find the right cat…
That cnn report is everything I love him
I am so happy to see pets back in the White House. Those puppers are so cute and as a parent of two rescue cats (and one rescue pup and six rescue cats before them) I am *thrilled* that there is a rescue pup in the WH. I am so excited for a cat in the WH again. Can’t wait to see the First Cat!
They have a book, “How I went from the shelter to the White House.” It just came out, I’m getting it for my nephew, it’s super cute & the proceeds go to animal shelters. They are such an awesome family.
That CNN clip… I admire this level of petty. I aspire to it.