The University of Washington Mascot History: A Tale of Two Huskies and a Sundodger

The University of Washington (UW) boasts a rich history when it comes to its mascots, showcasing a fascinating evolution from a wooden statue to a live Alaskan Malamute and a spirited costumed character. What could be better than having an iconic college football mascot? How about having two? The history of the Washington Huskies mascot is fascinating, not least because the program has had two mascots since 1995, and neither of them is the original mascot from the 1920s. Today, the university utilizes two mascots: Dubs II, the live mascot, and Harry the Husky, the athletic mascot. However, this wasn't always the case. Let's delve into the captivating story of how the UW's mascots came to be.

From Sundodgers to Huskies: The Early Years

Established in 1889, the early Washington college football teams weren’t even called the Huskies. In 1920, there was a vote to make an official mascot for the Washington program, and the “Sundodger” nickname was born. In the early 1920s, the university's mascot journey began with Sunny Boy, a 3-foot-tall (0.91 m), gold-painted statuette. The University of Washington didn’t have a mascot, and this very magazine (then called the Washington Alumnus) championed the name Sundodgers, running an illustration of a little man named Sonny holding an umbrella. A sculptured replica of the happy-faced character Sunny, who appeared in the University’s lusty humor magazine Sun Dodger, in 1919, Sunny Boy was whittled into being by Ballard artist Maurice S. Holcomb to be a symbol of “Joe College,” dressed in a bow tie, holding books under one arm and a football under the other. representing an illustration frequently appearing in Columns, which - at the time - was a student-published campus humor magazine (presently Columns is the title of the University of Washington Alumni Magazine).

The Demise of Sunny Boy and the Rise of the Huskies

However, that name wasn’t to last. Many people took umbrage with the “Sundodger” nickname, taking it to be a derogatory swipe at Washington’s rainy reputation. The Huskies - and their mascot - were born in February 1922. But let’s get real. As a mascot, Sunny was a dud. The public never warmed up to the hunk of wood, and the name Sun Dodger fell out of favor as Northwesterners no longer wanted a name that maligned their climate. So in 1923, the name Sun Dodgers was junked in favor of Huskies.

The Curious Case of Sunny Boy's Travels

Then, for some reason, he became popular. His most popular episode appears to be somewhat disputed. According to one story, he was discovered in the basement of a Laurelhurst rooming house before the 1929 UW-Chicago game and was taken by Husky rooters to Chicago, but he never returned. Another story says fraternity pranksters boxed and shipped the little guy to the Midwest. In any event, he somehow ended up in South Bend, Ind., in the hands of Mr. and Mrs. W.G. Ponader. Not sure what to do with their new visitor, they put him in the back yard, where he spent the next 23 years. It wasn’t always a peaceful coexistence. “Believe me, there were several times when he almost landed in our fireplace,” Mrs.

When R. Bronsdon “Curly” Harris, then executive director of the UW Alumni Association, mentioned the legend of Sunny Boy to a sportswriter before the 1948 UW-Notre Dame game, the story received a lot of play in the papers. Turns out a curious gardener found Sunny in the Ponader yard, did a little research and discovered Sunny’s rich link to UW history. In ceremonies prior to the Notre Dame game, Sunny was returned to Harris, UW President Raymond B. Allen and Athletic Director Harvey Cassill. The UW was thrilled to get him back and the farmer was thrilled to get rid of him. The former mascot came back to his new home in the alumni association offices, where he enjoyed a quiet life for the next four and a half decades. Then, in June 1994, he was stolen by fraternity ne’er-do-wells. For the past three years, though, Sunny has been safe and sound, chained to a railing in the Alumni House, where he stands guard in the lobby.

The Era of Live Mascots: From Huskies to Malamutes

In 1922, the university began using live sled dogs as its mascots, first a non-hereditary line of Siberian Huskies. While reasons behind the use of a dog ranged from it being easy to make into a cartoon logo to it being easy to use in newspaper headlines. The first of the live mascots was Frosty I (1922-30), adopted by the fraternity Sigma Alpha Epsilon. After a mascot committee formed by the ASUW decided on the Huskies, SAE adopted the very first live mascot in UW history, an Alaskan husky puppy named Frosty. He wandered Seattle making friends, occasionally hitching a ride from a local taxi to get back home to the SAE house. Frosty I, the UW’s very first live mascot, strikes a pose. Starting with Frosty I in 1922, there were seven different Siberians used as the Huskies’ mascot. The last of them, King Chinook, took on the role in 1959.

In 1946, an Alaskan malamute named Ricky and a Siberian husky named Psyche had a litter of eight puppies in Fairbanks, Alaska. Psyche was a famous wheel-dog on a racing team. The two traveled with their litter to the UW for the selection of the next live mascot. The eventual inductee was named Wasky, a portmanteau of Washington and husky. The name was submitted by a student named Marie L. Much like Dubs I and Dubs II, Wasky I and Wasky II were both called “Wasky” interchangeably, and to add to the confusion, both were nicknamed “Ski,” which was the name of Wasky II’s successor in 1954. Once again, Sigma Alpha Epsilon adopted Wasky as its own. He became a staple around campus, even meeting the Oregon duck mascot in 1951, which caused a stir with local animal rights advocates.

The Malamute Dynasty Begins

Even when the Huskies mascot switched to the Alaskan malamutes, the character continued. Beginning in 1961, a hereditary line of Alaskan Malamutes, which are a different breed of dog from the husky, became the standard. We’re sometimes asked about the verbiage of our live mascot. Why are we called the Huskies when Dubs II is obviously a malamute? The husky was chosen as a metaphor for Seattle’s reputation as the gateway to Alaska, but all UW mascots for the past 66 years have been Alaskan malamutes. To be clear, a malamute is not a husky. If you’re wondering why Denali doesn’t quite look like a husky, that’s because Alaskan huskies are not bred for their looks. Breeders often mix Siberian huskies with other dog breeds for optimized sled racing, like greyhounds for speed, border collies for intelligence or labradors for friendliness. Denali was the first mascot to move away from Sigma Alpha Epsilon with an official handler, UW professor Harry Cross, who’d continue to care for UW mascots with his family until 2008. We won’t imply it was Denali’s fault the UW Huskies are actually malamutes, but from 1959 until today, Alaskan malamutes have ruled the school as live mascots. There have been 14 different Alaskan malamutes and Siberian huskies used as the Washington Huskies mascot, beginning with Frosty I in 1922 up to Dubs II, who has (purple) reigned since 2018.

Dubs: The Modern Malamute Mascot

Since 2018, Dubs II has been the Huskies’ mascot, the latest in a long line of Alaskan malamutes to fulfill the role. Dubs is the official live mascot of the University of Washington. Since Dubs I's introduction in February 2009, every Dubs has led the football team onto the field during home games. The Washington Huskies have had 14 live mascots since 1922. Dubs II is the 14th official live mascot of the University of Washington.

Born on Jan. 4, 2018, Dubs II was adopted by a local family of UW alumni. He was trained to learn his mascot duties, and began his role as official mascot in 2019. Seattle, WA - October 14, 2023 - Husky Stadium:Dubs II, mascot of the University of Washington Huskies on the set of College GameDay Built by the Home Depot.

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In late September 2008, the University of Washington announced an initiative to search for an appropriate name for its live mascot. A contest was launched online and fans were asked to submit their favorite name for the live Husky dog. More than 1,400 different nominations were received and a committee that consisted of campus and community representatives narrowed the field to a reasonable list of finalists. More than 20,000 votes were received in two rounds of online, with Dubs emerging victorious. In Fall 2018, UW Athletics hosted a “Passing of the Collar” ceremony where UW president Ana Mari Cauce removed the collar from Dubs I and placed it on Dubs II, signifying the official retirement of Dubs I.

Dubs I (2009-18) - Started the Dubs mascot line. An Alaskan Malamute from Burlington, Washington.

Dubs II: A Day in the Life

Since his 2018 debut, Dubs has been winning the hearts of Huskies everywhere (even cat lovers).

All of the UW’s live mascots in the last 66 years have been Alaskan malamutes, like Dubs.
Frosty I, the UW’s first live mascot in the 1920s, was an Alaskan husky.
Although he’s an active dog who loves to play, he’s also a big cuddler (awwwww). He enjoys hanging out with his human, canine and feline siblings.
At football games, look for him when he runs across the field at kickoff and during halftime.5.
“They’re his advocate, making sure he’s set up properly for engaging with different people,” says Knight about these UW ambassadors. Pictured: Dubs and Knight pose with the student handler team for the 2025-26 academic year.
He’s a big fan of string cheese - just the crinkle of the plastic wrap will grab his attention. His handlers give him a variety of dried snacks they call his “trail mix” combined with higher-value treats like chicken or cheese.8.
Dubs is a Capricorn. His birthday is Jan.

Harry the Husky: The Costumed Mascot Era

Due to the size of the animals and other issues around logistics, the live animal Huskies mascot would traditionally only appear at games in Husky Stadium. The Husky Dawg was born. A costume was commissioned that would be worn by a rotating trio of university students at games where the distinctive live animal Huskies mascot couldn’t be in attendance.

Harry the Husky is the athletic mascot for the University of Washington and is one of two mascots utilized by the university, with the other being the live mascot Dubs II. Harry the Husky was the brainchild of Band Director Brad McDavid, former Athletics Director Barbara Hedges and the Husky Fever support group. In 1995, officials in the university's athletic department commissioned a costume and held tryouts for the new mascot. Three student performers were chosen (Lee Harris, Evelyn Ho and Chris MacDonald) and rotated duties to appear as a secondary mascot for use at events at which the live mascot was unable to attend. “The feeling was the live mascots were more associated with the football program,” McDavid told the University of Washington Magazine in 2006. Coincidentally, the mascot had already been referred to by that name during a scene in The 6th Man, a film starring Marlon Wayans about the University of Washington basketball team, that had been released prior to the vote. In 2010, the university unveiled a new Harry the Husky costume and retired the old one. Thirteen years later, the original costume was retired and replaced with a new one that is still used as the Huskies’ mascot to this day.

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Harry has been seen at every football game since his inception, and you can frequently run into him at other sporting events on campus such as basketball, volleyball, baseball, softball, and more. Harry has participated and placed in the Universal Cheerleaders Association's National Championship for mascots. To qualify for a bid to UCA nationals you need to place in the top 10 of all mascots in your division, and while Harry placed in a range from 11th-18th in previous years, he finally broke through in 2019 to make his first UCA appearance in 2019.

Other UW Traditions

Husky spirit can’t be reduced to only one mascot…we have two! After establishing Huskies as the official mascot of the University in 1922, the tradition of appointing a live dog to the position was started. Currently, the 14th live mascot’s name is Dubs II and he can be seen during many athletic and campus events. Harry the Husky is the official mascot in costume and made his first appearance in 1995.

The University of Washington has many traditions, here are a few of them:

Apple Cup

The Apple Cup is the annual rivalry football game between the University of Washington and Washington State University that began in 1900 and continues today. The winning team is presented with the Apple Cup trophy by the current state governor.

ASUW elections

The Associated Students of the University of Washington (ASUW) serves as the undergraduate student government. ASUW, founded in 1906, is funded and supported by student fees, and provides services that directly and indirectly benefit the student body. Every year, students participate in elections to vote for the ASUW Board of Directors who represent and advocate for the student body. Elections are held in the spring and all students are encouraged to vote.

Cherry blossoms

Visiting the famous UW cherry blossoms (Yoshino cherry varietal from Japan) in the Quad is a must-do spring tradition for both local and global communities alike. However, the exact time these beauties bloom fluctuates depending on the weather. Originally from the Washington Park Arboretum, these trees were replanted in the Quad resembling a large W from above. When visiting during their peak bloom, expect large crowds of students, tourists, and people taking wedding photos.

Commencement and Convocation

New Student Convocation is the official UW welcome ceremony for new Huskies and their families. New Student Convocation is one of only two occasions where the University president, the Board of Regents, the deans of the UW schools and colleges and the faculty gather in a formal academic setting focused on students. The other, of course, is the graduation ceremony, Commencement. These two events are the seminal “bookend” events of a college career.

Dawg Daze

Dawg Daze is the UW welcome for new and returning students. Dawg Daze begins before the start of the school year and runs through the first few days of the autumn quarter. It's full of fun and community focused events ranging from concerts to academic workshops. Dawg Daze officially started in 2004.

Drumheller Fountain and Rainier Vista

Drumheller Fountain, traditionally known as Frosh Pond, sits at the center of campus on Rainier Vista. While this fountain is now home to many local ducks and geese, it gets its nickname from early occupants… freshmen students! Though it was originally ignored in the planning of the University, Rainier Vista is arguably the best view on campus on a clear day. As a protected airspace, no one can build anything that may obstruct the view of Mount Rainier from Red Square.

Parent & Family Weekend

Parent & Family Weekend is an annual tradition when the University invites all families to come to campus and spend the weekend with their Huskies. UW families can can enjoy on-campus events, tours and the opportunity to join the UW Family Tailgate Party.

Purple Fridays

Huskies show their pride every week by celebrating Purple Friday! This tradition is easy to participate in: simply wear purple, every Friday of the year.

The Sylvan Grove columns & New Husky Coin

The columns are part of the UW’s first building constructed in 1861 in downtown Seattle. When the UW moved to its current location, only the cedar columns survived demolition. After a few relocations around campus, in 1921 they were moved to their final destination, Sylvan Grove Theater. When first-year students arrive they receive a New Husky Coin and touch the column that represents a value they resonate with when they arrive on campus for the first time while reflecting on their future at the UW. Students touch the columns one more time at their graduation, representing the end of their undergraduate academic journey at the UW.

The wave

The famous wave which can be seen around the world was founded in Husky Stadium in 1981 during a UW football game against Stanford. The UW made the wave famous, and the wave can still be seen in Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium.

UW Homecoming, W Day and Dawg Dash

UW’s Homecoming is a week long celebration which typically ends with a Homecoming football game and the announcement of the UW Alumni Association Homecoming Scholars. Alumni, students and friends come from near and far to celebrate. The week also includes the annual Dawg Dash, a run through campus, and W Day, which is the celebration of the UW’s founding in 1861.

UW cheers

During a lull at a UW athletic event, you may hear the "Go Huskies" cheer. One side of the stadium or arena will yell, "GO!" and the other side will yell, "Huskies!" This will continue back and forth between the two sides until it dies out. There are several other cheers and songs including the official fight song written by Lester Wilson in 1915 as part of a contest. The fight song has had five iterations of its lyrics. The most recent lyrics are available on the sidebar.

Windermere Cup

Now the symbol of Seattle's Opening Day of boating season, the historical Windermere Cup brought the global sport of rowing to Seattle’s Montlake Cut. after the Cold War, Windermere Real Estate founder John Jacobi, in partnership with the UW hosted the first Windermere Cup in 1987. After this first successful competition, an international tradition was born. Now the large event consists of the Windermere Cup Regatta, followed by the Seattle Yacht Clubs’s Opening Day Boat Parade and ends in the men’s and women’s Windermere Cup races.

The "W" photo at Husky Kickoff

The "W" Photo is the annual photo of the incoming students taken at Husky Kickoff during Dawg Daze. Our leather lungs together with a RAH! RAH!

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