Champ, the elder of President Joe Biden’s two German shepherds, died Saturday at the age of 13, the president announced on Twitter.

“He was our constant, cherished companion during the last 13 years and was adored by the entire Biden family,” Biden and first lady Jill Biden said in a joint statement posted Saturday to the president’s official Twitter account. “Wherever we were, he wanted to be, and everything was instantly better when he was next to us.”

The Bidens are spending the weekend at their home in Wilmington, Del., and the statement noted that Champ died “peacefully at home.”

Champ was adopted by the Bidens shortly after the 2008 election.

The Biden granddaughters chose the name Champ, which was a childhood nickname of the president: His father famously used to encourage him by saying, “Champ, when you get knocked down, get up!”