Kirk Herbstreit Says His Dog Peter Is 'Making Himself Right at Home' on ESPN Following Death of Golden Retriever Ben

11/16/2024 04:53 PM

Herbstreit announced on Nov. 7 that his family said goodbye to Ben after the animal's cancer had spread

Kirk Herbstreit is bringing a new furry friend along to College GameDay!

More than a week after the death of his beloved golden retriever Ben, the ESPN commentator, 55, introduced his colleagues and fans to his younger pup Peter on Saturday, Nov. 16, as the dog is currently acting as his travel buddy on the road.

Earlier this week, Herbstreit told fans on X (formerly Twitter) that Peter was joining him this week for work and that they would "see how he does." He also revealed that Peter had been in training with Ben and his two other dogs since he moved in with Herbstreit's family in December. Per Sports Illustrated, the dogs came from the same breeder in New Jersey.

"Here he is today getting ready for the game," the analyst wrote alongside a snapshot of the dog in Philadelphia on Nov. 14. "Took him over to the 'Rocky Steps!' "

While in Athens, Georgia, on Saturday, Herbstreit's pup got to hang out with a few of his new friends — including another dog. On Instagram on Nov. 16, the analyst shared a clip of Peter wagging his tale with his legs up on the GameDay table and greeting some of his owner's colleagues.

"Making himself right at home 🤣🤣🤣," he captioned the post.

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At one point during the show, Peter even got to greet a famous fellow canine, as a video circulating on X (formerly Twitter) shows him sniffing the University of Georgia's Bulldog mascot, Uga. He also appeared to have some fun roaming and sniffing around the set while Herbstreit took care of business.

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A post shared by Kirk Herbstreit (@kirkherbstreit)

Related: Kirk Herbstreit Gets Emotional as He Shares Tribute After Dog Ben's Death: 'America's Best Friend'

Peter's appearance on TV comes just days after Herbstreit announced the death of his dog Ben, before later paying tribute to him ahead of the LSU-Alabama football game on Saturday, Nov. 9. In footage shared by ESPN at the time, Herbstreit said he "first started bringing Ben on the road" with him for support, as he needed a "travel companion," and that being with the dog helped him feel like he "was home."

"He made everyone happy, and he did it without even trying," the ESPN personality said. "He'd just wag that tail or nestle up against strangers like they were family, and that's what they became."

Herbstreit added that Ben believed "everyone deserved his love," noting that a dog's "only flaw as a species is that they don't live long enough but the warmth they give us, that never goes away."

"So neither will Ben," he added. "This man's best friend who became America's best friend."

Two days before, Herbstreit — who shares four sons with his wife Alison — announced in a heartfelt Instagram post that his family made the difficult decision to "let [Ben] go" after discovering that the animal's cancer had spread throughout his organs.

"I've had dogs my whole life, but Ben was 1 on 1. He was smart-loving-gentle-patient-inquisitive-and welcoming to all. Always a big smile and a soft tail wag. He and I could communicate. He and I understood each other and had each other's backs. He was with me more than anyone at home and traveling with me for work. Such an easygoing companion," Herbstreit wrote in the post's caption.

"Hard day — but he will live within all of us forever," he concluded his message. "God, please bless his majestic soul, and thank you for putting him in my life for the last 10 years — a true blessing. Love you, Ben. 🙏🏼."