Bidens welcome new puppy, first feline coming in January

Biden tweeted a photo of the dog, which is named Commander and is a male pure-bred German Shepherd puppy, according to the first lady’s spokesman Michael LaRosa. 

The puppy is less than four months old and was a gift from Biden’s brother James Biden and sister-in-law Sara Biden, LaRosa said.

The Bidens are dog lovers and came into the White House at the start of this year with two German Shepherds, Champ and Major. Champ died over the summer at the age of 13.

Both German Shepherds were spotted at the White House on occasion. But Major, the younger of the dogs, underwent additional training earlier this year after biting incidents involving White House staff. LaRosa said Monday that the Bidens have decided to let Major live with family friends for the time being.

“After consulting with dog trainers, animal behaviorists, and veterinarians, the First Family has decided to follow the experts’ collective recommendation that it would be safest for Major to live in a quieter environment with family friends,” LaRosa said. “This is not in reaction to any new or specific incident, but rather a decision reached after several months of deliberation as a family and discussions with experts.”

The Bidens are hardly the first to bring pets with them to the White House, though former President Trump and his wife Melania did not have any pets. Jill Biden said last year that they also planned to adopt a cat, though the first couple has not yet done so. LaRosa said Monday that the cat, who he identified as female, would join the first family in January.

Jill Biden told The New York Times that Major’s biting issues were part of the reason the cat has been delayed. 

“The cat is still being fostered with somebody who loves the cat,” Biden said. “I don’t even know whether I can get the cat back at this point.”

Updated 7:55 p.m.