Joe Biden’s beloved pet dog Champ dies 

President Joe Biden‘s beloved pet dog Champ has died, with First Lady Jill Biden paying tribute to their companion who supported them ‘in our most joyful moments and in our most grief-stricken days’. 

The German Shepherd passed away peacefully aged 13 at his home of the White House. 

First Lady Jill Biden confirmed his death Saturday, tweeting: ‘RIP to our sweet, good boy, Champ. We will miss you always.’ 

The Bidens released a statement paying tribute to Champ, and sharing a photo of the pooch.  

Joe Biden ‘s beloved pet dog Champ has died, First Lady Jill Biden confirmed Saturday

The Bidens released a statement paying tribute to Champ, and sharing a photo of the pooch

‘Our hearts are heavy as we let you all know tat our beloved German Shepherd, Champ, passed away peacefully at home,’ the statement read. 

‘He was our constant, cherished companion during the last 13 years and was adored by the entire Biden family. 

‘Even as Champ’s strength waned in his last months, when we came into a room, he would immediately pull himself up, his tail always wagging, and nuzzle us for an ear scratch or a belly rub. 

‘Wherever we were, he wanted to be, and everything was instantly better when he was next to us. He loved nothing more than curling up at our feet in front of a fire at the end of the day, joining us as a comforting presence in meetings, or sunning himself in the White House garden. 

Joe Biden pets the Biden family dog Champ in the Oval Office of the White House Wednesday

Joe Biden in the Oval Office with dogs Champ and Major in the Oval Office 

‘In his younger days, he was happiest chasing golf balls on the front lawn of the Naval Observatory or racing to catch our grandchildren as they ran around our backyard in Delaware. 

‘In our most joyful moments and in our most grief-stricken days, he was there with us, sensitive to our every unspoken feeling and emotion. We love our sweet, good boy and will miss him always.’

Champ moved to the White House with the Bidens and their other dog Major in January when the president took office, and the two pooches have often been side by the president’s side in the Oval Office. 

The Bidens got Champ as a puppy in 2008 after Joe was elected Barack Obama’s Vice President. 

Champ’s name was chosen by Biden’s grandchildren, in a heart-warming family reference to one of their grandfather’s popular speeches.  

‘Any time you get knocked down, champ, get up!’ Biden recalled his father used to say. 

The name stuck and Champ soon became accustomed to life in Washington DC.

When Obama left office, Champ moved with the family to their home in Delaware. 

This time around in DC Champ was joined by three-year-old Major – the couple’s rescue pup.

Major has had a trickier time settling into life at the White House and was briefly sent away for additional training after he bit two government employees.

The puppy will have a new companion soon, however, as Jill announced in April their female cat is ‘waiting in the wings’ to join the White House menagerie.   

The Bidens dogs Champ (right) and Major (left) are seen with an aide on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, on March 31