Champ and Major

Joe Biden promised his wife he would purchase a dog after the 2008 presidential election should Barack Obama manage to win the race.[8] Jill Biden taped different pictures of dogs on seats of Biden's campaign plane for him to see.[9] He purchased the dog as a puppy from a breeder in Pennsylvania, and it was named Champ (born October 2008) by his granddaughters. Champ's name reminded Biden of advice given to him by his father who said, "Any time you get knocked down, champ, get up!"[5][10] Joe Biden has an affinity for German shepherds, having trained them in the past.[9] Biden would give children small plush toys of Champ during his vice presidency.[7]

Major (born January 2018) was a rescue from a litter that had been exposed to "something toxic" in their home,[2] and their owner was unable to afford the expense of veterinary care for them.[7][5] He was fostered by the Bidens earlier that year from the Delaware Humane Association's shelter and has been with them since late 2018. On the day Joe Biden adopted the dog from the shelter, he stayed "telling stories and taking selfies with staffers" for over an hour.[5] The origin of Major's name is not publicly known, but Beau Biden, Joe Biden's son with his first wife, Neilia Hunter Biden, was a major in the Delaware National Guard.[7][10][11] Major joined several other dogs adopted by world leaders, including French president Emmanuel Macron and his Labrador-Griffon cross Nemo, and Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau and his Portuguese Water Dog Kenzie.[12]

On November 28, 2020, President-elect Biden fractured his foot while playing with Major.[13] Biden said in an interview that Major was waiting to play after the president-elect emerged from a shower: "I’m joking, running after him and grab his tail. And what happened was that he slid on a throw rug. And I tripped on the rug he slid on."[14]

Three days before the Inauguration of Joe Biden, the Delaware Humane Association held an "indoguration" for Major. More than 7,400 people attended via Zoom and it featured a performance by Josh Groban. The event also raised $200,000 in donations for the association.[15]

In July of 2020, Biden's granddaughter, Naomi, posted a tweet showcasing Champ and Major fighting over a Donald Trump chew toy. Though the tweet was subsequently deleted, the photo resurfaced on social media before the 2020 United States presidential election.[16]

Champ and Major both appeared in advertisements for Biden in his 2020 presidential campaign against Donald Trump.[7] During the campaign Biden tweeted that "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".[5]

• 
  Champ with Jill Biden as she delivers a speech at Number One Observatory Circle in 2013.
• 
  Champ and Jill Biden on the porch of Number One Observatory Circle in 2015.
• 
  Champ in August 2015.
• 
  Champ and Jill Biden on the White House lawn in January 2021.
• 
  Champ and Major arrive at the White House in January 2021.
• 
  Major on the White House lawn in January 2021.
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  Major running on the White House lawn in January 2021.

• United States presidential pets