Nationals Team Dog Natty to Debut on Friday, May 15
Natty, an 8-week-old Golden Retriever and Labrador Retriever mix, is gearing up for his Major League debut as the Nationals’ official Team Dog in partnership with Canine Companions® and Eukanuba. The newest (and furriest) member of the Nationals will make his first big-league appearance on Friday, May 15, when the Club hosts the Baltimore Orioles at 6:45 p.m. While it will be a great day to introduce a Team Dog, it’ll be a bad day to be a hot dog at Nationals Park, as the ballpark will enter a full state of glizzy madness for Hot Dog Day. To purchase tickets, visit Nationals.com/Tickets.
Natty earned his name through an online fan vote in March. Born on March 5, 2026, he is one of six brothers and sisters who will be trained for service. Natty began his journey to the Majors in Northern California near Lake Tahoe, eventually earning a promotion to the Canine Companions headquarters in Santa Rosa, Calif., for final medical evaluations. He made the cross-country journey to Washington, D.C., on May 4, where he met his volunteer puppy raisers, Jackie and Laura, for the first time. Natty, Jackie and Laura reside in Virginia, where Natty will learn good manners, basic cues and eat a nutritious diet to prepare for professional training with Canine Companions instructors in 18 months.
Natty will also train alongside Nationals staff, players and fans as he practices his socialization skills and prepares for his future as a service dog. Eager to begin his big-league career, Natty is already familiarizing himself with bats, baseballs and gloves. His highly anticipated introduction on Friday, May 15, will be one of several games and community events where he will appear this season.
Natty joins the Nationals through the Club’s partnership with Eukanuba, supporting Canine Companions as their exclusive dog food partner of more than 35 years. He will be fueled by Eukanuba through every stage of service. After completing time with his puppy raisers, Natty will begin professional training with the goal of becoming a service dog for a person with a disability. Canine Companions provides service dogs to children, adults and veterans with disabilities, as well as facility dogs to individuals in healthcare, criminal justice and educational settings.
Follow Natty’s journey as Team Dog on social media at @NatsPup_on X and @NatsPup on Instagram.
ABOUT CANINE COMPANIONS
National nonprofit Canine Companions is celebrating 50 years of empowering people with disabilities to live with greater independence. Canine Companions invented the concept of the modern service dog in 1975 and has since placed more than 8,600 expertly trained dogs at no cost to clients, entirely supported by donations. Today, as America’s first and largest provider of service dogs, Canine Companions has eight locations and serves adults, children and veterans with disabilities as well as professionals working in health care, law enforcement and educational settings in all 50 states. If you are interested in volunteering, raising a puppy, donating or learning more please visit canine.org.
ABOUT EUKANUBA™
EUKANUBA™ is part of the Royal Canin Division in the Mars, Incorporated group, and a leader in science-based, premium dog nutrition. EUKANUBA™ was founded in 1969 by Paul F. Iams, an animal nutritionist who had a strong focus on developing formulas to address dogs' specific needs. Today, its purpose is to fuel working, sporting and service dogs by supporting their mental and physical capabilities with science-based nutrition, designed to help canine athletes perform to their full potential. We know that reciprocity between dog and owner is the foundation for a lifelong bond. This is achieved by active moments spent together. Our job is to strengthen that bond. Whether they have an active lifestyle with their owner or need to perform in extreme conditions, working, sporting and service dogs need specific nutrition to fuel their performance. EUKANUBA™ delivers a range of tailored solutions to help them train, perform and recover, enabling them to do what they do best, and contribute to create more moments with their owners. EUKANUBA™ provides a concise portfolio of 26 different recipes (19 dry, 7 wet) that help unleash dogs' athletic potential and support their body, mind and energy. To learn more about EUKANUBA™, visit www.eukanuba.com.
ABOUT MARS, INCORPORATED
Mars, Incorporated is driven by the belief that the world we want tomorrow starts with how we do business today. As a $65bn+ family-owned business, our diverse and expanding portfolio of leading pet care products, veterinary services, and quality snacking and food products delight millions of people and support pets all around the world. With the strategic acquisition of Kellanova, we have further enhanced our capabilities and expanded our reach in the global market. We produce some of the world's best-loved brands including ROYAL CANIN®, PEDIGREE®, WHISKAS®, CESAR®, DOVE®, EXTRA®, M&M'S®, SNICKERS®, BEN'S ORIGINAL™, and now, iconic brands from Kellanova including Pringles®, Cheez-It® and Pop-Tarts®. Our international networks of pet hospitals, including BANFIELD™, BLUEPEARL™, VCA™, and ANICURA™, span preventive, general, specialty, and emergency veterinary care, and our global veterinary diagnostics business ANTECH® offers breakthrough capabilities in pet diagnostics. The Mars Five Principles — Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom — inspire our more than 170,000 Associates to act every day to help create a better world for people, pets and the planet. For more information about Mars, please visit www.mars.com. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.