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What’s higher than the upcoming Super Bowl? The Puppy Bowl, after all! Maybe now not for everybody however maximum can agree that gazing doggies play as a prelude to the large sport makes Super Bowl Sunday even higher. Puppy Bowl XVII this February 7 will turn out to be off the doggone charts.
Last yr will have long past to the canines, so a bit pet love is warranted to start out off 2021 with safe haven doggies from Team Ruff (orange) and Team Fluff (blue) vying for the win in the sweetest sport. Just ask the guy who almost certainly has the easiest process ever. That guy is Dan Schachner who’s in his 10th yr as Puppy Bowl referee, or “rufferee”.
Referee Dan Schachner holds one in every of the doggies on the box. Photo courtesy of discovery+/Animal Planet/Elias Weiss Friedman
Who’s Onboard
Animal Planet already knew Schachner as a bunch of different methods ahead of coming onboard. That, coupled along with his love of animals and his background in sports activities tv, made him an excellent have compatibility to be referee and spokesperson for the animals and the display itself. “It’s a unique, seemingly funny comical position, which has actually turned into a pretty serious mission-driven position,” Schachner mentioned. “You wind up being the voice for these puppies and our mission is to get them adopted.”
“We try to get out their stories, their backstories, where they come from, what their needs might be, and why they might be a good fit for somebody’s home,” Schachner mentioned, including the significance of taking a look past the purebreds and seeing the cute blended breeds to be had. With thousands and thousands of other people tuning in to look at the Puppy Bowl, it has in point of fact turn out to be larger over the years. “We know we’ve made a difference in the animal rescue community.”
Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl has grown over the years and is watched through thousands and thousands. Courtesy of discovery+/Animal Planet
Typically, Puppy Bowl options just about 100 canines up for adoption, however this yr there are 70 pet avid gamers from 22 shelters. It can be hosted through Martha Stewart and Snoop Dog whilst Kristen Bell, Valerie Bertinelli, and Duff Goldman will lend a hand spotlight other doggies. Senior canine tales can be spotlighted right through.
While the display tapes in October, many doggies are followed through airtime, which is the final finish objective of the display. This yr for the first time an “Adoptable Pup” section will come with 11 doggies and 3 kittens who will also be followed on sport day. Any closing doggies are most often followed proper after.
Puppy Bowl History
Puppy Bowl has come a ways and used to be to begin with an afterthought. While no person actually sought after to compete with the Super Bowl, Animal Planet considered striking its personal spin on the day. They didn’t be expecting many audience and skilled a digital camera on a small staff of doggies to peer what would occur. “The very first Puppy Bowl looks ancient,” Schachner mentioned. It includes a very small inexperienced turf and canines simply placing round with some bite toys formed like footballs. There used to be little to no sponsorship.
The subsequent yr they added in the kitten half-time display and sooner or later cheerleaders. “It kind of extends the day and something the entire family can get behind,” Schachner mentioned. “It’s grown every single year in millions and millions of people tuning in.”
Players romp on the box right through Puppy Bowl XVII. Photo courtesy of discovery+/Animal Planet/Elias Weiss Friedman
Puppy Bowl tries to show off other rescues right through the nation, with some from Mexico, Puerto Rico, and South America. With the pandemic and COVID-19 restrictions, canines basically got here from inside riding distance to the place the display used to be filmed in upstate New York. Typically filmed on a New York City soundstage, this yr they shot in a hockey enviornment, giving them more space for distancing functions.
Animal Planet in the past had to succeed in out to shelters however now it’s the wrong way round. They even have relationships with shelters throughout the nation. Dogs should be between three and 6 months outdated, untrained, and up for adoption. The Puppy Bowl workforce then tries to select canines from quite a lot of breeds, mixes, sizes, and backstories.
What’s great is that shelters featured on the Puppy Bowl document a big build up of their adoption inquiries. Plus, pointing out canine used to be an MVP participant on Puppy Bowl doesn’t harm.
Oops They Did It Again
Accidents occur on the box however the display should move on. “If we stopped the show to showcase every pee or poo that happens in the field, we’d never get the Puppy Bowl done,” Schachner mentioned. Other injuries come with canines dozing, noisily snoring, drooling, ingesting from the water bowl, and leaping into the water bowl. A canine would possibly bite up a toy till it’s in 15 items and even devour up the finish zone.
Is there a penalty for chewing a toy on the box? Photo courtesy of discovery+/Animal Planet/Elias Weiss Friedman
Schachner’s largest problem on the box isn’t stepping on the doggies. “When you’re a nearly 6-foot tall human in a small space in a sea of tiny little dogs running around, you can’t step on tails,” he mentioned. ‘It’s a large no-no, and I haven’t carried out it but. It’s additionally vital to not step on the water bowl or one thing worse.”
Meet Some of the Puppy Players
Archer, Ariel, and Athena: 14-week-old Siberian Husky/American Staffordshire Terrier sibling doggies from The Sato Project, Brooklyn, New York. The group rescued their pregnant mother Julietta from a rubbish unload in Puerto Rico in July 2020. Julietta gave start on July 19 to 5 are living doggies. They flew to New York on October 11, 2020, and met their households.
From left, siblings Archer, Ariel, and Athena had been rescued from Puerto Rico through The Sato Project. Photo courtesy of discovery+/Animal Planet
Bananaberry: 17-week-old Australian Cattle Dog/Golden Retriever/Siberian Husky from Operation Paws for Homes (OPH), N. Chesterfield, Virginia. She arrived at OPH from a Mississippi rescue spouse at the side of six siblings and used to be followed through a circle of relatives in Pennsylvania. She loves a just right truck trip and going to paintings along with her human dad.
Bananaberry is all smiles since she’s been followed. Photo courtesy of discovery+/Animal Planet
Jett: 32-week-old Labrador Retriever/German Pointer from Pets with Disabilities in Prince Frederick, Maryland. The runt of his muddle, Jett used to be born with out entrance legs. Supersmart, Jett has in point of fact come alive whilst at the group and can stroll on his hind legs in addition to navigate in his new wheelchair. Joyce Darrell and Michael Dickerson, homeowners of Pets with Disabilities, determined to undertake Jett as their very own.
Jett’s incapacity has proved to be his superpower enabling him to stay alongside of the different doggies. Photo courtesy of discovery+/Animal Planet
Rumor: 20-week-old American Staffordshire Terrier/Australian Cattle Dog from Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland, Westbrook, Maine. Born deaf, Rumor makes sense and picked up hand alerts from her adoptive mother. She initially got here from a rescue staff in Oklahoma that draws canines from high-kill shelters.
Rumor has it that Rumor the canine is doing neatly in her new house at the side of her sibling. Photo courtesy of discovery+/Animal Planet
Marshall: 15-week-old Boston Terrier from Green Dogs Unleashed, Troy, Virginia. His circle of relatives surrendered him after studying he used to be deaf. They beloved him however sought after to make sure he would obtain the care and coaching they might now not supply.
Marshall hasn’t let being deaf get in the approach of him residing an excellent lifestyles. Photo courtesy of discovery+/Animal Planet
Theodore: 13-week-old Great Pyrenees/McNab from Green Dogs Unleashed, Troy, Virginia. Also born deaf, he used to be surrendered through a circle of relatives who sought after him to have the right kind care they couldn’t supply. With excessive intelligence and sharp instincts, he did nice in coaching and used to be followed quickly after Puppy Bowl filmed.
Not handiest is Theodore a looker, he’s were given sharp instincts too! Photo courtesy of discovery+/Animal Planet
Puppy Endings
For Schachner, the easiest a part of the Puppy Bowl is the satisfied finishing. “Every year, every single one of the dogs that we showcase gets adopted, if not by the very end of the Puppy Bowl airing then a day or two later,” he mentioned. “By the time the Puppy Bowl is two days old, every single dog has been adopted.”
Schachner comforts a pet on the box. Photo courtesy of discovery+/Animal Planet/Elias Weiss Friedman
Watch Puppy Bowl XVII on February 7 beginning at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT streaming on discovery+ or airing on Animal Planet.
You can vote and give again in the Pupularity Playoff Sweepstakes through clicking right here and learn about DOGTV!
For additional information on Puppy Bowl XVII click on right here and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok.
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