Dr. Jill Biden reveals she is ‘obsessed’ with getting her dogs settled in at White House

Dr. Jill Biden has admitted to Kelly Clarkson she is preoccupied with the White House dogs’ settlement into their new home

WILMINGTON, DELAWARE - SEPTEMBER 01: Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden, gestures during a visit at Evan G. Shortlidge Academy on September 1, 2020 in Wilmington, Delaware. Dr. Biden visited the school and took part in conversations with educators on safely reopening schools. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
(Image credit: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Dr. Jill Biden has opened up about settling her dogs into their plush surroundings at the White House, in a recent interview on The Kelly Clarkson Show. 

The First Lady admitted she’s now fixated on helping the German Shepherds adjust to their new Washington DC home. 

“I’ve just been obsessed with getting our dogs settled because we have an old dog, and we have a very young dog,” she told Kelly. 

Dr. Jill and President Biden’s furry duo, Champ and Major, joined the couple on their move from Delaware to the White House in the New Year and have since been busy enjoying its elegant interiors and spacious gardens. 

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Major, who was adopted into the family as a rescue puppy in 2018, has plenty of energy to explore the sprawling outdoor grounds, while 12-year-old Champ prefers to spend his days resting by the cozy fireplace. Although there's one rule the Biden family's dogs must follow, President Biden has also given the pair special privileges, likely as a reward for their consistently good behavior. 

“They're really good dogs," Jill told People magazine in January. 

“We trained them well from the beginning,” President Biden added.

But while the grandiose property undoubtedly promises a lot of perks for the canine pair, it has also introduced them to a few unfamiliar obstacles. 

“They have to take the elevator. They’re not used to that,” she said. 

Their high-profile residence also means a little less privacy - a reality they’ll have to adapt to over the next few years. 

“They have to go out on the South Lawn with lots of people watching them,” she said. 

“And that’s just rude while you’re trying to do your business,” Kelly joked. “That’s unfortunate.” 

Luckily, Jill knows to let the dogs relieve themselves with dignity. “I turn my head,” she replied. 

The First Lady then took Kelly to meet the famous dogs on the South Lawn, where they were lazing next to each other in the sunlight. "They run all over," Dr. Jill said, pointing to the iconic White House backyard. 

Major seemed immediately interested in their guest, walking over to Kelly to say hello, while Champ remained fixed on the grass. The dogs will likely have a lot more to get used to as coronavirus restrictions lift and the White House once again welcomes the public through its iron gates. 

Emma Dooney
Lifestyle News Writer

Hailing from the lovely city of Dublin, Emma mainly covers the Royal Family and the entertainment world, as well as the occasional health and wellness feature. Always up for a good conversation, she has a passion for interviewing everyone from A-list celebrities to the local GP - or just about anyone who will chat to her, really.


Emma holds an MA in International Journalism from City, University of London, and a BA in English Literature from Trinity College Dublin.