You can say woof again!
Today has officially welcomed its newest member of the team—an 8-week-old Labrador Retriever. Prepare to melt! Just one look into those round brown eyes is all it will take to fall in love with this furry new friend.
He made his grand debut on the show Monday morning from behind a red curtain after a patriotic performance by the West Point band. It was a stylish appearance as the dog arrived with an American flag bandana hanging around his neck.
The four-legged newcomer is the successor to Studio 1A's first puppy with a purpose, Wrangler. In tandem with guide dog mobility instructor Olivia Poff and America's VetDogs, the pup will train for months in order to eventually serve a particular veteran's needs through service behaviors, whether it be opening and closing doors or turning on a light. Throughout his initial training, Poff will lay the foundation by helping him build fundamental skills like retrieving, pushing and tugging that can be expanded upon later.
As for their first puppy with a purpose, the Yellow Labrador Retriever graduated from training in March after more than a year with the show. After a tearful goodbye to the adorable dog, his trainer Saxon Eastman took him for his IFT test, where he was tested on how he responded to loud noises and distractions along a route. Upon passing, he could begin his official guide dog training. For those eager to find out how Wrangler is doing post-Today, the show has promised an update on his progress later in the week.
As for their new handy helper, he still needs a name before he can officially become a member of the Today show family! The show is deciding between three military-inspired options, Sarge, Charlie and Ace. They're enlisting the help of viewers to vote for their favorite title and whichever name gets the most votes will win. The co-hosts will unveil the winner's choice Tuesday morning.
Which name do you prefer? Sound off in the comments!
(E! and NBC are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)