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Nationals Debut Natty, Their First Official Team Dog

The puppy joins a Canine Companions program that uses ballpark socialization to prepare future service dogs.

Natty, the team’s first-ever team dog, is training to become a future service animal.
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Overview

  • The club will introduce Natty to fans Friday during the Orioles series opener at Nationals Park.
  • Fans selected the name in a vote that chose Natty over Cherry, Monty and Tater.
  • He is an 8-week-old Golden Retriever–Labrador mix born March 5 near Lake Tahoe in Northern California.
  • He now lives with volunteer puppy raisers, Jackie and Laura, in Northern Virginia for about 18 months to learn basic cues and good manners.
  • As part of the Canine Companions pathway, he will socialize with players, staff and fans at the park before entering professional training to be matched with a person with a disability.