There is a new rookie in Washington, and this one is learning “sit” before anything else.
Natty, an 8-week-old golden retriever and Labrador retriever mix, will officially join the Washington Nationals on May 15, when he begins training to become a service dog. His debut lines up with the start of the Nationals’ weekend homestand against the Baltimore Orioles.
“(Natty) is really great at taking naps, accepting belly rubs, and spreading joy on his journey to becoming a service dog,” the Nationals told USA TODAY in an email. “He is currently learning basic cues like ‘sit’ and ‘toilet.’”
The Nationals said in a news release that Natty started out in Lake Tahoe, in Northern California, before going through medical evaluations at the headquarters of Canine Companions, which the organization described as the country’s first modern service dog provider.
He then flew to Washington, DC, where he will train with volunteer puppy raisers Jackie and Laura. Natty is the 20th service dog to train with Jackie and Laura, and the first pup to join the Nationals’ roster.
Over 18 months, Jackie and Laura will teach Natty skills including good manners and basic cues. The Nationals said his food will be provided by program partner Eukanuba.
The team said Natty will work on socialization with Nationals staff, players and fans while training at Jackie and Laura’s home in Virginia. He will also appear at various games and community events during the season.
“Eager to begin his big-league career, Natty is already familiarizing himself with bats, baseballs and gloves,” the organization said in a statement.
“We are thrilled to partner with Canine Companions and Eukanuba to welcome the first-ever Team Dog to the Nationals roster this season,” Nationals President of Business Operations Jason Sinnarajah said in a statement. “We are excited to be part of this puppy’s impactful journey to becoming a service dog, and we know our team, fans, community and ballpark will offer a wonderful training environment.”
After his time with the team and with Jackie and Laura, Natty will move into professional training.
Canine Companions said it has placed more than 8,600 dogs since it was founded in 1975 with children, adults and veterans with disabilities, and in healthcare, criminal justice and educational settings.
“We are grateful to the Washington Nationals for partnering with Canine Companions to raise a future service dog, and to our national corporate partner Eukanuba for this generous commitment,” Jeanine Konopelski, chief marketing officer at Canine Companions, said in a statement shared with USA TODAY. “By adding this new teammate to the Nationals roster, they are helping us meet the growing national need for highly trained service dogs. We look forward to the new team puppy and watching it develop into an expertly trained service dog.”
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