U.S. lifestyle queen Martha Stewart is in mourning following the death of her beloved dog on Saturday.

The Chow Chow, named Paw Paw, died after a short battle with an undisclosed illness. He was 12 years old.

Writing on her official blog, Stewart recalls the pooch’s "agreeable temperament" and the happy times the pair spent together.

She writes, "Paw Paw was a spectacular chow and an even more spectacular dog. He was always my loyal companion. Paw Paw loved traveling with me and was always a willing model for the camera.

"In addition to taking part in television commercials and several national print ads, he has been part of numerous photo shoots and is a familiar face on my television show, in my magazine, and on this blog.

"Even in his final days, Paw Paw just stopped eating and drifted off to deep sleeps, where he now rests peacefully, and, I’m most confident, quite happily. I will miss him, always."