The president and first lady bid farewell with a heavy heart to their dog Champ, who died on Saturday. The Bidens announced Saturday, June 19, that Champ, the family’s older dog, has died at home at the age of 13.

President Joe Biden remembered her first presidential puppy, Champ the Biden, on Instagram on Saturday. Champ, along with his younger canine companion Rambunctious, the cheeky 3-year-old rescue dog Major, was the first dog to settle in the White House since Sunny Bo and Obama moved in in in 2017. Despite his loss, Champ was at Biden’s house for months, helping to bring dog joy into the building.

Major, the Biden family’s youngest shepherd, got plenty of attention during Biden’s time in the White House, but Champ also got her share of the spotlight, as she revealed in a 2015 interview with CBS. Think of Champ as a Secret Service agent, she and Major said while campaigning in Iowa ahead of the 2020 election. Champ helped bring Major into the mix.

The Bidens got Champ from a breeder before Biden was elected vice president in 2008. The Bidens are spending the weekend at home in Wilmington, where they have been given champs by the breeder. The Biden family became champ when Joe Biden was first elected vice president in 2008, when he was a freshly minted senator from Delaware.

Biden’s youngest dog, Major, ran into trouble during his month-long stay at the White House. To be fair, accidents happen, as does bad dog behaviour. During his campaign, Biden signaled a desire to bring another dog to the White House.

On Saturday, President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden announced that one of their shepherd dogs, Champ, has died. Champ, who has been with the family for 13 years, died at home, a White House statement said. Champ has been in the family since 2008, when he was welcomed to Biden’s home on Christmas Day and named after his granddaughter.

Champ, the eldest of the Biden family with two shepherd dogs, has died, the president and first lady announced Saturday. “Champ Biden, one of two shepherd dogs owned by President Biden and his family, has died,” announced President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden late Saturday morning.

The announcement was reminiscent of the two shepherds who belonged to President Biden and his family because they liked to chase golf balls and spend time with the Bidens’ grandchildren at the Naval Observatory. Champ Biden was one of the dogs that were puppies during President Biden’s tenure as vice president during the Obama administration