Pupils who play sports at schools and parks across the country have seen their chances of success improved as a result of the adoption of a new breed of canine companions.
In addition to giving the animals a more positive attitude, the dogs have been bred to better fit the needs of their trainers and other players.
The breed, named the spring training puppy, was developed by a British firm and is being offered to children and adults in the United States.
As part of its campaign to help promote the breed, the company is giving the puppies to schoolchildren and pet shops for the purpose of educating them about its benefits and encouraging them to adopt it.
This year, the breed will be offered in baseball parks in Las Vegas and Nashville, Tennessee, and at a number of other venues.
At the baseball stadium in San Diego, the new breed has been given the nickname of the potty training pup.
“The puppies were chosen because they’re very smart, have great personality and are very fun to train,” said Lisa Withers, marketing director for the Spring Training Training Foundation, which owns and operates the San Diego stadium.
Withers said the dogs are designed to help players “get a good grip on their baseballs and learn to be a better pitcher and hitter.”
“It’s a good idea to have some puppies in a park that is not very busy and they are really good at what they do,” she said.
But while the new breeds are proving popular, Witherers said it is important for people to understand the risks associated with adopting them.
She said the puppies are being used in an unregulated way and they can be unpredictable, especially if they get hurt.
It’s important that parents are aware of the potential risks and be sure that they’re using them appropriately,” Witherings said.
The Spring Training Foundation is offering the puppies for adoption in order to raise money for the charity.
To find out more about the puppies, visit springtraining.org and check out the Facebook page for the spring-training training puppy.
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