Bourbon Debuts as New Boise State Tee Dog
The 7-year-old Labrador retriever took over duties following the tenure of former tee dog Blitz.
Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in Football
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Bourbon, a 7-year-old Labrador retriever, successfully made her debut as the new tee dog for the Boise State University football team. She follows in the footsteps of Blitz, the program's previous tee dog.
Why it matters
The transition required careful adaptation because the team now uses green kicking tees that are difficult for dogs to see. Furthermore, the stadium cannon noise creates a unique challenge by mimicking gunfire for a dog trained in hunting.
Bourbon is a 7-year-old Labrador retriever who previously competed in waterfowl and upland hunting. During training, handlers worked on navigating the field based on specific body language cues.
The players
Bourbon
She is a 7-year-old Labrador retriever and the current tee dog for Boise State University football games.
Blitz
He is the former tee dog for the Boise State University football team who was replaced by Bourbon.
The details
Bourbon previously gained experience during the summer while participating in Boise Hawks baseball games. She completed her first successful tee retrieval on The Blue to mark her official entrance into the college football lineup.
Timeline
Bourbon participated in Boise Hawks baseball games during Summer 2026.
The article detailing her debut was published on October 23, 2026.
Season Trajectory
This transition maintains the continuity of game-day traditions on The Blue at Boise State University. Introducing a new dog keeps the program's signature sideline presence alive during a competitive season.
Fans attending games at Boise State will see a change in field management as Bourbon begins her tenure. Her ability to distinguish the new green kicking tees will determine the efficiency of special teams transitions during home games.
The takeaway
Maintaining specialized traditions like a tee dog requires extensive training sessions to overcome sensory distractions in a loud stadium. Successfully adapting to new equipment ensures the continuation of beloved college football game-day rituals.
Further reading
For more on the latest team updates, visit Boise Football.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Arbiter.
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