Anaheim Ducks: 4 Benefits of Adopting a Team Dog
Should the Anaheim Ducks follow the trend and get their own team dog to start the 2019-20 season?
Everyone loves puppies; they’re soft, cute, and extremely cuddly. It’s no wonder the recent trend in the NHL has been team dogs. During the 2018-19 season, the New York Rangers introduced their newest and most adorable team member, Ranger. However, the trend didn’t really start to take off until the St. Louis Blues introduced their yellow lab, Barclay, to the NHL world. With more and more teams following the trend, is it time for the Anaheim Ducks to get a team dog of their own?
Several of the Anaheim Ducks players already have adorable dogs we have already fallen in love with. Rickard Rakell‘s two dogs, Stella and Heinz, have stolen our hearts on Instagram. How can you not love Hampus Lindholm‘s adorable buddies, Bo and Leo? Moose Manson has also been a big help to Josh Manson and his training regimen.
However, a team dog would offer the team a different sense of responsibility, as it has for several other NHL teams over the past year. The St. Louis Blues have the best story. After adopting Barclay, they went from the worst team in the league to winning the Stanley Cup. Coincidence? I think not!
While a team dog may not lead the Anaheim Ducks to win the Stanley Cup, there are still several benefits to following this trend. Some people may not think the team is ready for this responsibility, but it is quite likely that a dog could change the Anaheim Ducks for the better.
Giving Back to the Community
Every team dog that has been adopted thus far has a purpose, and that is to be a service dog. The respective NHL teams have taken on the responsibility of training their dogs to help people with visual and motor impairment, children and adults on the autism spectrum, and those who have other physical disabilities. Eventually, when their dogs have completed their training, they will go on to aid someone in the community.
Adopting a service dog in training gives the Anaheim Ducks the esteemed opportunity to profoundly change someone’s life in their community for the better. Living with a disability can be a difficult obstacle to overcome.
However, service dogs don’t just act as a guide and mediator for people with disabilities. Service dogs have a special bond with their owners that help to improve self-confidence, motivate those that they work for, and improve both mental and emotional health and well being. Dogs, in general, are also known for helping with the release of endorphins and relieving stress.
The Anaheim Ducks have a huge presence in their community already, and it is something they are often recognized for. The Anaheim Ducks Foundation has been one of the front runners in the NHL for community outreach, and they have taken huge strides in making Orange County a better place through their programs and services. A team dog would take things a step further in a positive direction. Plus, no one else could say that they received a service dog that was raised and trained by the Anaheim Ducks!
Team Unity and a Sense of Responsibility
Last season, the Anaheim Ducks had a huge issue getting on the same page. Most of the players had adopted a losing attitude. However, there were a select few who still wanted to win, but their desire to win was overshadowed by the complete lack of accountability and team unity.
Bringing in a team dog would give them all a common goal to work towards. Training a service dog is a hard job, and the Anaheim Ducks wouldn’t necessarily be responsible for all of it, but they would have a big hand in making sure the dog is socialized and learning how to do their job properly.
However, if the team can learn to work towards a common goal off the ice, imagine how that can help them when they’re playing the game. Not only would it promote team unity and give the entire team a sense of responsibility, but it could improve communication and help them understand one another better. A puppy is a lot like a child, and if the Anaheim Ducks learn to work together as equal partners in this exercise, they can implement those same practices on the ice as well.
It could also go a long way in helping specific players on the team. Nick Ritchie could benefit from having the added responsibility. It could aid him in learning how to control his temper. Plus, as mentioned previously, dogs promote the release of endorphins, which could help him become a much more focused and positive person on the ice.
As players like Troy Terry, Brendan Guhle, and Sam Steel take on more responsibility this season as well, having a team dog could help them become better acquainted with their teammates. They got to know them last season, but with a new coach and new ideas, it will help the veterans and the rookies make a smoother transition together.
Increasing Their Public Image
When people think of hockey, if they live outside of Orange County, the first team that comes to mind isn’t the Anaheim Ducks. They will recognize names like the Toronto Maple Leafs and the New York Rangers. These teams have a much larger market than the Anaheim Ducks, and thus, the Ducks don’t have much of a public image.
Henry and Susan Samueli have been great owners, but they could do a lot better with branding and advertising their team. The 25th Anniversary was a good effort, but it was overshadowed by Randy Carlyle and his dumpster fire. Nevertheless, adopting a team dog could definitely help the team increase their public image.
Their public image may not increase outside of California and Orange County, but the team needs to start somewhere. They have done a great job bringing hockey to the community, but they need to bring in more fans and increase their fan base, and who doesn’t love puppies?
The New York Islanders and St. Louis Blues have both done a great job increasing their public image having Radar and Barclay at home games and practices last season. Socializing their dogs has been very important for their training and it has given fans an extra incentive to come to games.
Wild Wing may be the Anaheim Ducks mascot, but if they adopt a team dog, that dog will be the talk of the town. Fans will want to socialize with the team’s dog because, in a way, they would feel like it was their dog. Fans could feel like they have a hand in the project. It would bring out a more carefree and fun side to the Anaheim Ducks, and after last season, they definitely need a reason to loosen up a little bit.
Meaning and Purpose
The biggest benefit to having any dog, not just a service dog, is that they bring meaning to our lives. They are called man’s best friend for a reason. It has been evident that the Anaheim Ducks have lost their purpose over the past few seasons. Yes, every single NHL team goes through these droughts, but you can visibly see just how hard it has hit players like Ryan Getzlaf and Rickard Rakell.
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Every single benefit listed previously leads us right back to this one. A dog would help them relate to their fans, the community, and more importantly, one another. It would instill joy and create a stronger team bond. Dogs also encourage social interaction which helps their owners to engage in fulfilling relationships; this could help the team to interact more with their fans.
Dogs also promote productivity, which could help the team play harder when they are on the ice. However, what is even more important is that having a team dog will give everyone a purpose. Their purpose will be to raise and train the dog so that in the future, it can go on to help someone in their community. Having a hand is something so special will help motivate the team.
As mentioned previously, if the team is putting this into practice off the ice, imagine how they could use it on the ice as well. It could give the Anaheim Ducks a newfound purpose for playing the game of hockey. Adopting a team dog could, in the end, remind them why they fell in love with the game in the first place.
Naming the Dog
If the Anaheim Ducks were to adopt a dog for the 2019-20 season, what breed of dog should they get and what should they name it? Let us know by leaving a comment down below or on Facebook and Twitter!
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