What is it about animals and dogs in particular that they lend themselves so readily to mascots? I think one reason is the attributes that they possess and those we wish to associate with. Given below are five dog mascots of universities in the U.S.

Southern Illinois University and the saluki

As far as mascots for colleges go, they don’t come any more disconnected than the one for the Southern Illinois University. The university sports team has for its mascot a saluki – a sighthound first domesticated in Egypt some four thousand years ago. How the saluki came to be the mascot of the Dawgs is an interesting tale in itself. The university is located in an area in the Deep South that earned the name “Little Egypt” when, according to state legend it did what Egypt had done for Joseph in the biblical story, it provided it neighboring areas with grain when those areas faced drought.

The saluki is an apt mascot for the dawgs who if their fans are to be believed are always in the hunt for the NCAA basketball tournament title each March.

The saluki is a swift and sleek animal being able to achieve speeds of 40-45 miles per hour. This makes them amongst the fastest dogs of all time. They can also jump up to 20 feet from a standing start. Their Egyptian masters made good use of the dog’s abilities when they took them on gazelle hunts. The salukis would hunt with the horses and move in packs. Salukis are related to greyhounds and Afghan hounds. In the US, the dogs were introduced a mere hundred years back. The good news is that unlike other purebreds, the salukis have a large genetic base and so the population’s health is not under any threat from inbreeding.

University of Connecticut and the husky

The University of Connecticut - UConn – athletic teams are known as the Connecticut Huskies. The major sports at the university are football and men’s and women’s basketball.

The mascot was chosen in 1934 by means of a survey conducted by the student newspaper - The Connecticut Campus. The husky dog topped the results and ever since Jonathan the husky has been the UConn mascot. The present Jonathan is twelfth in line. Go here to learn more about the UConn Husky, read the UConn Husky lyrics and download the music.

The husky is a sled dog and there are several breeds of huskies. The dog is renowned for its strength and stamina and is a popular mascot of sports goods. The dogs are mischievous and strong-willed and yet sociable and gentle with children. Huskies are work dogs and not of much use as guard dogs - they are friendly with most and bark little. On the other hand, they love to howl.

James Madison University and Duke Dog

The James Madison University or JMU has the feisty Duke Dog as its mascot. Dukes is a bulldog and has been the JMU mascot since 1947. The school is nationally recognized for its academics. James Madison University was ranked #17 overall in the nation amongst public colleges and universities, according to the February 2006 issue of Kiplinger Magazine.

The bulldog which has a fascinating history is easily the most popular dog breed to have originated in England. Also called the British bulldog, it has come to signify British pugnacity. The original bulldog, now extinct, was used for bull-baiting, hence the name. Bulldogs were used by butchers in the mistaken belief that harassing bulls before with bulldogs tenderized their meat. The butchers felt that the lactic acid released actually helped make the meat tastier. An excellent piece on the history of the bulldog can be found here.

Yale University and Handsome Dan

Yale holds the record for having the first mascot adopted by a university in America. Handsome Dan, the bulldog, is the Yale athletic team’s, there have been sixteen Dan’s to cheer and motivate Yale athletes, particularly when they take on their arch rivals from Harvard.

Handsome Dan I who started the dynasty was purchased from a local blacksmith for $ 5.00 in 1889. Handsome Dan II didn’t particularly have a very strong sense of loyalty as Harvard students gleefully proved when they kidnapped him and circulated his happy pics with the Harvard gang. Handsome Dan III was retired early as he had a fear of crowds.

This Yale page offers information on all the Handsome Dans till date.

Carnegie Mellon and Scottie

Scottie the Scottish terrier is the official mascot of the CMU athletics team. Carnegie Mellon is perhaps the latest university to adopt a mascot and a Scottish terrier is an apt choice for a university named after the Scot Andrew Carnegie. The drive to get an official mascot gathered steam in the fall of 2006. Athletics Director Susan Bassett had this to say “With all-star athletes, Nobel Prize winners, Broadway stars and pioneers in technology all calling Carnegie Mellon home, our university has a powerful reputation that we’re hoping to capture symbolically.” “We hope to instill pride and spirit, while having fun with the various opportunities a mascot will create.”

A survey in which 400 alumni participated revealed that the overwhelming majority wanted a Scottish terrier to represent them.

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