Bidens' new dog Commander arrives at the White House as Major bids farewell

In what is set to be a week of mixed emotions for the President and First Lady, the Bidens new dog Commander has officially taken up residence at the White House just as two-year-old Major gets set to say goodbye. 

Introducing the newest addition to their family on Twitter, President Joe Biden shared an adorable photo of little German Shepherd pup Commander running through the grass with a tennis ball in his mouth and captioned it with the words “Welcome to the White House, Commander.”

The President also shared a video welcoming the new bundle of fur in which he can be heard saying ‘hey pal, how are you?’ as Commander comes bounding over to him.

• Six pawsome German Shepherd facts
• Five German Shepherd health issues you need to know about
• Rottweiler vs German Shepherd

The latest addition to the Biden family comes just six months after the family shared the sad news that their 13-year-old German Shepherd, Champ, had sadly died.

"Our hearts are heavy today as we let you all know that our beloved German Shepherd, Champ, passed away peacefully at home. He was our constant, cherished companion during the last 13 years and was adored by the entire Biden family," the president and first lady wrote (opens in new tab) in a joint statement that they issued shortly after Champ died.

Alongside Champ’s death, the President and First Lady also struggled with helping Major to settle in, with the young dog having to leave the White House to undergo training following a biting accident.

And while Major did return for a short spell, the happy news of Commander’s arrival is also tinged with sadness as the Biden’s revealed on Monday that Major would be being permanently moved to a new home.

"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," a spokesman for the President 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."

And while that means Commander has free reign of the White House lawn for the time being, he might not want to get too comfortable - word has it that the Biden’s are awaiting the arrival of a new foster cat. Will this kitty and canine duo become inseparable buddies or arch rivals? Only time will tell!