COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- Texas A&M is calling the dogs.

The university is trying to find a canine to replace Reveille VII, a 7-year-old collie who retired at the end of the spring semester as the school’s mascot.

“We are still engaged with a number of training organizations to find the right fit for the next Reveille,” Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs Kevin Jackson said Friday in an e-mail to the Bryan-College Station Eagle.

“We have a couple of strong leads, but do not want to get too optimistic at this stage until we have completed our assessment and have had the opportunity for the student handlers and staff advisers as well as representatives from the Vet School to personally interact with the dogs.”

Jackson said it was too early to say when the next dog would be selected or what breed she would be.

A committee named earlier this year said the next mascot should be an adult dog with a noble look, similar to that of a collie or golden retriever. The committee also said the canine should be a healthy, medium-to-large dog that is outgoing, positively motivated, at ease in large crowds and not highly reactive or afraid of loud noises.

Reveille I came to Texas A&M in January 1931.

Reveille is described on the Texas A&M Web site as “the first

lady of Aggieland, is the official mascot of Texas A&M University.  She is the highest ranking member of the Corps of Cadets, and she is a Five-Star General.”