{"id":88366,"date":"2014-01-29T09:58:36","date_gmt":"2014-01-29T14:58:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/?p=88366"},"modified":"2023-06-27T13:12:27","modified_gmt":"2023-06-27T17:12:27","slug":"theres-a-new-dog-on-campus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/2014\/01\/theres-a-new-dog-on-campus\/","title":{"rendered":"There\u2019s a New Dog on Campus"},"content":{"rendered":"

[yframe url=’http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=YiHSknh-Js0′]<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Jonathan XIV is a little guy with a bright future as UConn’s newest mascot. After a careful search for just the right pup by a student committee charged with the task, he arrived on campus during winter break as a nearly nine-week-old puppy. Lucky for him, he\u2019ll be living with his big brother, Jonathan XIII, and getting his basic training from an experienced hand (ummm \u2013 make that \u2013 paw).<\/p>\n

The new Jonathan was one of seven puppies in a litter of five males and two females born on Oct. 5, 2013. The puppy’s outgoing personality immediately made him a standout, and the fact that his markings resemble UConn’s new husky logo<\/a> helped in making him a unanimous choice for the part. He is the first puppy that his proud parents, Rusty and Aurora, have sent off to college.<\/p>\n

A purebred Siberian Husky, Jon is joining a long line of husky mascots dating back to 1935. The original mascot was chosen as a result of a student poll. The name Jonathan was selected because, according to legend, during the American Revolution, none other than George Washington is said to have referred to Connecticut\u2019s then-governor Jonathan Trumbull as \u2018Brother Jonathan.\u2019<\/p>\n

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\"Mascot<\/a><\/div>\n
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\"True<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

A complete history of UConn\u2019s husky can be found in the UConn Yesteryear Archives at History of Jonathan \u2013 Part 1<\/a> and History of Jonathan \u2013 Part 2<\/a><\/p>\n

According to the breed\u2019s official American Kennel Club standard, the Siberian Husky is a medium-sized working dog that is quick and light on its feet and graceful in action, thus enabling these dogs to travel long distances at an effortless trot. Siberians have moderately compact bodies, erect ears, and a brush tail that reflects their Northern heritage.<\/p>\n

Described as being friendly and gentle, the breed is also alert and outgoing. It is intelligent and tractable, with an eager disposition that makes it an agreeable companion and willing worker \u2013 not to mention a fine choice as a school mascot. It should be noted, though, that these dogs are not made to just stand around and look regal.<\/p>\n

Although his student handlers will train Jonathan XIV to willingly pose for pictures with his legions of fans, Siberian Huskies need exercise and they are most happy when on the move. Whether it\u2019s skijoring in winter (a sport in which a dog pulls a person on skis), hiking in the woods during the summer, or playing Frisbee in the backyard with Jonathan XIII, UConn\u2019s newest canine ambassador will need to be kept busy at home when he is not fulfilling his official duties. The 10 members of the mascot committee have promised they’re up to the task of being Jon\u2019s playmates and best friends!<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n
\"Jonathan<\/a>
Jonathan XIV, foreground, will be living with and learning from Jonathan XIII. (Peter Morenus\/UConn Photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

An obvious difference between \u2018XIII\u2019 and \u2018XIV\u2019 is their color. While many people think of Jonathan as being white, the first UConn mascot was a black-and-white dog born in 1934. Another difference that is becoming increasingly obvious is the \u2018little guy\u2019s\u2019 size. He is going to be a big boy (think center in basketball or defensive lineman in football), and it won\u2019t be long before he is towering above his older brother.<\/p>\n

As Jonathan XIV grows through his puppyhood (and yes, puppies do experience the equivalent of the \u2018terrible twos\u2019), he will gradually be introduced to his \u2018public\u2019 at various activities on and off campus.<\/p>\n

When not appearing at UConn events and gatherings, Jon is cared for by students with the guidance of a nearby family that is providing his \u2018forever home\u2019 \u2013 complete with positive training and lots of treats. He will be \u2018mentored\u2019 by Jonathan XIII, who is entering a well-deserved retirement, having served as the University\u2019s mascot since his debut in March 2008.<\/p>\n

Although not making an official speech (unless \u2018woof\u2019 counts), it’s clear that \u2018XIII\u2019 has served the University well for the past six years and his retirement is well-earned. He will spend his time enjoying long car rides, visiting with his friends at local dog parks, and occasionally stopping at his favorite place\u00a0\u2013 UConn’s Dairy Bar<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Welcome, Jonathan XIV! We look forward to watching you grow into your new role as UConn\u2019s fourteenth Husky mascot.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Jonathan XIV, UConn’s newest Husky mascot, arrived in Storrs during winter break.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":88710,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_crdt_document":"","wds_primary_category":0,"wds_primary_series":0,"wds_primary_attribution":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,2234],"tags":[],"magazine-issues":[],"coauthors":[56],"class_list":["post-88366","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","category-university-life"],"pp_statuses_selecting_workflow":false,"pp_workflow_action":"current","pp_status_selection":"publish","acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-04-21 08:57:54","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88366","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=88366"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88366\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":88704,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88366\/revisions\/88704"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/media\/88710"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=88366"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=88366"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=88366"},{"taxonomy":"magazine-issue","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/magazine-issues?post=88366"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=88366"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}