Dogs are officially back in the White House

The Washington Post / Lateshia Beachum and Paulina Firozi /January 25, 2021

Dogs have officially returned to the White House.

Champ relaxes on the White House lawn. He and Major, the Bidens' other dog, 

arrived at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. on Sunday. (Adam Schultz/White House)

The administration released photos of President Biden’s German shepherds, 12-year-old Champ and 2-year-old Major, on the White House grounds.

Champ is enjoying his new dog bed by the fireplace in Washington, and Major is taking in the grass on the South Lawn, which has become his favorite running place for now, according Michael LaRosa, press secretary for first lady Jill Biden.

Major, the first shelter dog to live in the White House, was adopted by the Bidens in 2018.

“Today is Major’s lucky day!” the Delaware Humane Association posted on Facebook at the time. “Not only did Major find his forever home, but he got adopted by Vice President Joe Biden & Dr. Jill Biden!”

President Biden has had German shepherds before, telling reporters on a 2008 campaign plane trip, “I’ve always had a big dog my whole life since I was a kid, big German shepherds and Great Danes and Labs and golden retrievers.”

The presidential pooches are yet another sign of change at the White House now that Biden has moved in. Donald Trump was the first president in a century to not have a pet. He said it was because he didn’t have time.

Dogs can make leaders and their families seem more relatable.

The Obamas were often photographed with their Portuguese water dogs, Sunny and Bo. In 2015, first lady Michelle Obama shared with a group of visiting children that Sunny had a “naughty” habit of sneaking off to poop at the other end of the White House.

After George H.W. Bush died in 2018, his yellow Lab, Sully, was still by his side as the former president lay in state in the Capitol Rotunda.

After the family got Major, Biden was praised in some online circles for choosing to adopt a pet instead of purchasing a designer breed.

In addition to making history with Major’s presence in the White House, the first family will also welcome a cat soon, Jill Biden said.

Several of the most recent presidents brought cats to the White House. Bill Clinton’s tuxedo cat, Socks, was among the most famous, with a dedicated Wikipedia page marking his life’s journey.

The first lady’s office did not confirm whether the cat will be adopted or bought from a breeder.

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