Dog o' Day
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Atlanta United service dog Spike joins team

By Wesley Coburn

ATLANTA, GA - AUGUST 27: Josef Martinez #7 of Atlanta United battles Chase Gasper #77 of Minnesota United for ball control during the U.S. Open Cup Final at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on August 27, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - AUGUST 27: Josef Martinez #7 of Atlanta United battles Chase Gasper #77 of Minnesota United for ball control during the U.S. Open Cup Final at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on August 27, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) /
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The new Atlanta United service dog Spike is ready to learn from his teammates.

Team service dogs are a huge thing right now in the world of professional sports, most notably in the NHL, though the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys have also joined the trend.  And now a soccer dog has joined the party with the arrival of the new Atlanta United service dog.

Named Spike, he is a 12 week old yellow Labrador being trained by America’s VetDogs, and he is the first team service dog of a Major League Soccer club, as far as we are aware of.

(America’s VetDogs is also training the Washington Capitals’ Captain and the New York Islanders’ Tori, who got to meet face to face last weekend.)

Though the Dog O’Day staff doesn’t really keep up with soccer, we do know that Atlanta United, unofficially nicknamed the Five Stripes, are one of the most popular teams in the MLS, and they won the MLS Cup in 2018 after defeating the Portland Timbers.

The team was also avidly followed by the cast of The Gifted during breaks in shooting the short-lived and sadly-missed Fox superhero series.

Spike was introduced to the world on the morning of Thursday, January 23, on the team’s Twitter.

“At the end of the day, our primary objective is to raise a puppy that will be able to give back,” said Catie Griggs, vice president of business operations, in a video posted on the team’s Twitter.  “It is truly an honor and represents what we try to do with the club on a day-in, day-out basis.”

As the Atlanta United service dog, Spike will attend most home matches at Mercedes-Benz Stadium and a variety of events throughout the community as he gets practice in socialization.

Spike can be followed on both Instagram and Twitter at the handle @ATLUTDPup.

Soccer dogs looking to get their kicks can follow the Five Stripes until it’s time for the Olympics and cheering on the US Women’s National Team.

For more information on Spike and the team in general, see their website, which has a helpful section devoted to basic things the general public should know about service dogs, among other helpful information about the upcoming 2020 MLS season.

Atlanta United kicks off the regular season on Saturday, February 29 on the road at Nissan Stadium against Nashville SC.

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For more on Atlanta United and the rest of Major League Soccer, see our FanSided Network sister site MLS Multiplex.

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