EWU Athletic Training adds certified therapy and service dog to staff

CHENEY, Wash. — Named after her owner’s love of chips and cheese — and the sandy blond hue of her coat — half yellow Labrador, half golden retriever Queso has officially joined the Eastern Washington Athletics training staff as a Certified Service and Therapy Dog.

The 1.5-year-old pup began formal training in July 2023, starting with basic behavior and training before moving on to official service dog training in late September. She officially passed her qualifying exam earlier this month.

“She brings emotional support for our athletes and boosts the overall mood of the AT room, greeting everyone with positive, contagious energy,” said Associate Athletic Director for Athletic Training Services Hailey Haukeli, head of the Eagle training staff and Queso’s owner. “She is another extension of a support system.”

Haukeli didn’t get Queso with the specific intention of training her to be a service animal. Her pursuit of the certification was born from feedback provided by students after Queso made a few brief appearances as a puppy. Students noted the positive impact she had in just a short span by submitting to RealResponse, a platform the department uses for safe and secure anonymous feedback to administration. 

Unfortunately, without service certification, university policy didn’t allow Queso inside facilities or off a leash. Then Director of Athletics Lynn Hickey saw the student feedback and recognized an opportunity, encouraging Haukeli to pursue the training so Queso could be on-site in an official capacity.

“The hardest part of the training was building trust between both of us,” Haukeli noted. “I had to learn to be able to trust her in completing the tasks asked, and she had to build enough confidence… she had to learn that when the vest is on, it’s ‘work time’ and when the vest is off, it’s ‘play time’ and she’s free to do what she’d like.”

Centrally located within the main Athletics facilities between Reese Court, the fieldhouse, the aquatics center and athletics administrative offices, the recently-renovated Athletic Training Room is a natural gathering place that nearly all of Eastern’s over 300 student-athletes see every day. Queso’s generous spirit adds a little extra joy.

For her part, Queso has already shown a particular knack for emotional support and matching students’ moods. She can be a calming, soothing presence for students who arrive stressed or feeling sad, but also matches the energy of students who come in and want to play or throw a ball to fetch, giving both parties a minute just to let loose.

“Many athletes will greet her with a high-pitched voice or happy gasp. Some bring treats or small snacks throughout the day, or even just say ‘hi’ before they begin and rehab or treatment. Many have mentioned to our staff that coming and seeing Queso has become a bright spot in their day.”

“It provides a unique experience for our student-athletes.”

On Tuesday, Queso took her official staff headshot in the training room, though it took a few attempts. Someone was playing with a ball across the room, so duty called.

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ABOUT EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

Eastern Washington University Athletics sponsors 14 intercollegiate sports, six for men and eight for women, both as learning opportunities for its most athletically talented students and as an enhancement to student and community life. Eastern is affiliated with Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and is a member of the Big Sky Conference, an association of 10 regional schools with comparable enrollments and academic goals.

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