Football fan-favorite Wonder returns as this year’s tee dog
Watch for Wonder to be back in uniform this Saturday, Sept. 5 for the Border War against the University of Wyoming.
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The CSU Veterinary Health System is excited to announce Wonder’s return as this year’s tee dog for the Colorado State University Kickoff K9 promotion.
Wonder, a five-year-old Labrador, gained popularity last year during her three-game start. By the end of the season, she was a fan favorite earning cheers from the stands during her pre-game walk-on and walk-off and lots of love on social media.
In 2026, Wonder is slated to start in six out of seven home games, taking a week off for a little vacation.
The tee dog plays an important role in fetching the football tee after CSU’s first kickoff during each half of the game. Wonder was on the short list of pups recruited by CSU Veterinary Health System team members last year for the first-year partnership with CSU athletics.
“Partnering with CSU football to sponsor the Kickoff K9/tee dog felt like a perfect fit for the VHS,” said Sheila McMullan, senior associate dean of the CSU Veterinary Health System. “When the opportunity came to us, we worked with our veterinary care team to identify potential candidates for our tee dog.”
During practice sessions, it became clear that Wonder was born to be a CSU tee dog not just because of her drive to fetch and her love of the spotlight, but because her humans are die-hard CSU fans. Wonder’s pet parents are CSU alums Helen and Chris Holmquist-Johnson. Helen holds an M.S.W. and Ph.D. from CSU and recently retired as director of CSU’s Human-Animal Bond in Colorado program. Chris is a triple alum, holding a B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in civil engineering. He works for the United States Geological Survey in Fort Collins. Wonder herself is a patient of the CSU Veterinary Health System, most recently visiting the Primary Care team for her annual wellness exam.
Alongside her family, Wonder has grown up taking daily walks around campus and playing fetch on the intramural fields. As last season progressed, she started gaining recognition off the field during her daily routine and soaked up all the extra attention provided by her newfound celebrity.
“After such an unforgettable season, we’re beyond excited that Wonder has been invited back for the 2026 CSU Rams football season and can’t wait to be there with Rams fans for more games,” said Holmquist-Johnson.
Her teammates are looking forward to her return as well.
“We are excited for the return of Wonder, the kickoff K9 this season,” said John Weber, CSU director of athletics. “She brings great energy and delight to Canvas Stadium every time she is retrieving the tee. Wonder’s run onto the field serves as a visible reminder of the exceptional care, innovation, and expertise of the CSU Veterinary Health System. We are proud to help spotlight their work while enhancing the game-day experience for our fans.”
Watch for Wonder to be back in uniform this Saturday, Sept. 5 for the Border War against the University of Wyoming.