logo
Meet the woman keeping the adorable pups happy at this year's ‘Puppy Bowl'

Meet the woman keeping the adorable pups happy at this year's ‘Puppy Bowl'

NEW YORK (AP) — If you tune into the 'Puppy Bowl' on Sunday, you'll likely see a key person's influence — even if you don't actually see her.
Victoria Schade is a dog trainer and novelist who's the show's lead puppy trainer and wrangler. She's the one making sure the shelter pups have a conflict-free contest and that they're captured at their most adorable — all from off-camera.
It is Schade who gets the puppies to look up during the 'The Star-Spangled Banner' or run through a tunnel to get to the field for the starting lineups. She's on the lookout for possible conflicts or nervous dogs.
'My responsibilities include ensuring puppy happiness and safety during gameplay,' she says. 'So if there's any moment where a puppy looks like they're overwhelmed or they just need a break, I'll step out and give them a little break on the sideline.'
Schade has been working with the doggies on the Animal Planet show for 19 years and is believed to be the longest serving member of the 'Puppy Bowl' crew. She also works the kitten halftime show and calls filming both her favorite week of the year.
'I think she is one of the most dedicated, hardest working people out there in the business,' says 'Puppy Bowl' referee Dan Schachner, now in his 14th year. 'She doesn't ever seem to run out of energy. She never says no to a request and there's always brightness and sunshine from her with every step.'
Schade has coached hundreds of dogs over the years but never adopted one from the show — until now. She took home Boris — known on the show as Mr. Pickles — from Dallas Dog rescue. 'I saw star quality. So this was the year,' she says.
Treats and funny noises
Early on, Schade was responsible for recruiting and selecting the puppies, a task now that leans on animal rescue groups and shelters throughout the country. These days, she's the lead trainer.
'If you're seeing the puppy looking up at the camera, I'm typically right there with the treat,' she says. 'It's a lot of treats and funny noises. And that does the trick.'
This year, Schade is stepping out from the sidelines and joining Schachner on camera for an hour-long pre-game kickoff show, which features a doggie combine and a draft. Other show highlights include segments with Dan Smyers, from superstar country duo Dan + Shay, and Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi.
Schade has developed some very special animal-related skills over the years, including anticipating when one of the players needs to relieve itself.
'One of my 'Puppy Bowl' skills is reading butts. So I know when a puppy is going to go to the bathroom and I'll typically say like, 'Watch out in the 20-yard-line, we're going to have a deposit' and everyone's ready to go with that cleanup.'
The 'Puppy Bowl' made its debut as counter-programming to the Super Bowl in 2005. Dogs score touchdowns on a gridiron carpet when they cross the goal line — any goal line — with a toy in their mouth.
The show is really just an excuse to spend time watching adorable, clumsy pups play with chew toys, wag their tails furiously and lick the camera. A deeper reason is to encourage animal adoption.
According to the ASPCA, approximately 390,000 shelter dogs are euthanized each year and 2 million shelter dogs are adopted.
Most of the puppies are usually adopted by airtime, since the show was filmed in the fall. But the point is to show that animals just like the ones on the show can be found at any shelter at any time.
This year's three-hour television event this year will feature 142 rescue puppies from 80 shelters across 40 states — and one from Nicaragua, a Chihuahua-German shepherd. There will be 11 special needs dogs.
'That's the most amount we've ever had,' says Schachner. 'Look out for Jolene, who is a pitbull mix that's in a wheelchair. Look out for a three-legged Boston terrier from New York City. And my personal favorite, is Sprinkle, who is a blind and deaf Aussie. So it's just incredible to watch them play.'
The inaugural 'Puppy Bowl' was watched by nearly 6 million viewers. Last year, 12.6 million viewers tuned in. In comparison, this year's Golden Globes attracted 9.3 million.
Practical advice for raising puppies
Schade, whose first book was ' Bonding With Your Dog ' and who then pivoted to writing pet-oriented novels, like 'Life on the Leash' and 'Dog Friendly,' is a wealth of information about our four-legged friends.
She advises dog owners to learn to read the body language of their pet, to try to understand what they're trying to say. Like tail-wagging — how tight? And where is the tail positioned?
Schade is a big advocate for positive reinforcement and science-based training, not the so-called alpha dog approach, which uses intimidation or force.
'There's no need to be the alpha, which has been debunked anyway. You are your dog's ally. You're their friend. You're their No. 1. And it's a relationship based in compassion and understanding.'
That means load up on treats. She advocates keeping them in your pocket and consistently using them as rewards for good behavior, especially when potty training.
'I cannot stress it enough: When you think you're treating enough, treat more because, especially during puppyhood, it is such a critical learning period and every interaction is a chance to teach something.'

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Popular TikTok star leaves US after being detained

time38 minutes ago

Popular TikTok star leaves US after being detained

LAS VEGAS -- LAS VEGAS (AP) — Khaby Lame, the world's most popular TikTok personality with millions of followers, has left the U.S. after being detained by immigration agents in Las Vegas for allegedly overstaying his visa. The Senegalese-Italian influencer, whose legal name is Seringe Khabane Lame, was detained Friday at Harry Reid International Airport but was allowed to leave the country without a deportation order, a spokesperson for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement confirmed in a statement. Lame arrived in the U.S. on April 30 and 'overstayed the terms of his visa,' the ICE spokesperson said. The Associated Press sent a message seeking comment Tuesday to the email address listed on Lame's Instagram account. He has not publicly commented on his detainment. His detainment and voluntary departure from the U.S. comes amid President Donald Trump's escalating crackdown on immigration, including raids in Los Angeles that sparked days of protests against ICE, as the president tests the bounds of his executive authority. A voluntary departure — which was granted to Lame — allows those facing removal from the U.S. to avoid a deportation order on their immigration record, which could prevent them from being allowed back into the U.S. for up to a decade. The 25-year-old rose to international fame during the pandemic without ever saying a word in his videos, which would show him reacting to absurdly complicated 'life hacks." He has over 162 million followers on TikTok alone. The Senegal-born influencer moved to Italy when he was an infant with his working class parents and has Italian citizenship. His internet fame quickly evolved. He signed a multi-year partnership with designer brand Hugo Boss in 2022. In January, he was appointed as a UNICEF goodwill ambassador.

Bills quarterback Josh Allen shows off new ring following marriage to actor Hailee Steinfeld
Bills quarterback Josh Allen shows off new ring following marriage to actor Hailee Steinfeld

Yahoo

time39 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Bills quarterback Josh Allen shows off new ring following marriage to actor Hailee Steinfeld

FILE - Josh Allen, of the Buffalo Bills, and his fiancé, Hailee Steinfeld, pose on the red carpet at the NFL Honors award show ahead of the Super Bowl 59 football game, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, File) FILE - Josh Allen, of the Buffalo Bills, and his fiancé, Hailee Steinfeld, pose on the red carpet at the NFL Honors award show ahead of the Super Bowl 59 football game, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, File) ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Josh Allen's broad grin was familiar. The wedding band on the quarterback's ring finger was brand new. As much as Allen hoped to talk about the Buffalo Bills on Tuesday, the newlywed couldn't escape questions about his headline-grabbing marriage to actor/singer Hailee Steinfeld in Southern California on May 31. Advertisement 'We're back to football,' he said, before pointing to his ring finger. 'Got some hardware now. So, good to go.' Allen was otherwise short on details as part of his longstanding bid to maintain a semblance of privacy, even though pictures from the outdoor wedding were posted on social media mere minutes after the couple exchanged 'I do's.' There were pictures of Steinfeld wearing a strapless white gown walking down the aisle, the couple sharing a kiss, and Allen, in a black tuxedo, posing with friends and Bills teammates. It wasn't until being asked about what the past four months have meant to him — in which Allen was named NFL MVP in February, signed one of the league's richest contracts in March and got married in May — that Allen finally opened up. He called Steinfeld his best friend, and said she makes everything easier. Advertisement 'That was the most important decision I'll make in my life and I made the right one,' Allen said. Western New York and the NFL have a new power couple, both of whom happen to be from California and began dating two years ago. There's the 29-year-old Allen, who in seven seasons has set most of the Bills scoring and passing records. His star has continued to rise while he has transformed the Bills into an AFC power, also building his profile through various national commercials. And then there's Steinfeld, 28, who first gained fame by earning an Oscar nomination for best supporting actress for her role as Mattie Ross in the Coen brothers' 2010 remake of 'True Grit.' She has since enjoyed numerous starring roles, most recently in the movie 'Sinners,' while also branching out into music. Advertisement Amid the buzz, Allen brought the focus back to football as Buffalo opened a three-day mandatory set of practices. The quarterback skipped the team's voluntary sessions last week. Aside from taking his familiar spot leading the offense on the field, Allen spent time after practice being filmed to measure his footwork and mechanics. It's something Allen does several times a year to ensure he's not picking up bad habits. 'Making sure we're staying on top of those things and if there's something that we need to tweak for the better, we are going to try to do it,' he said. The same could be said of Allen's unflinching approach to dealing with the spotlight. Coach Sean McDermott credits the quarterback for staying true to himself. Advertisement 'What I've seen is this truly genuine, authentic person who, yes, is in the limelight, yes, is one of the top players in our league, and maybe the top player in the NFL,' McDermott said. 'But he is so authentic, so down-to-earth, so relatable. I think that's really the connection and the cool piece about Josh is because he is who he is.' And yes, McDermott was among those in attendance at the wedding. 'I was very grateful to be there, No. 1,' McDermott said. 'Two, it was what you would expect of a wedding. Just great to see, and two really special families coming together.' ___ AP NFL:

Aaron Rodgers is off the free agent and dating markets. Steelers QB says he recently got married
Aaron Rodgers is off the free agent and dating markets. Steelers QB says he recently got married

Fox Sports

timean hour ago

  • Fox Sports

Aaron Rodgers is off the free agent and dating markets. Steelers QB says he recently got married

Associated Press PITTSBURGH (AP) — Aaron Rodgers added another ring to his collection before he even signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The four-time NFL MVP quarterback and Super Bowl champion said Tuesday after his first practice with the Steelers that he got married 'a couple months ago." Rodgers was spotted wearing a ring on his left ring finger in a photo the Steelers shared after the 41-year-old signed a one-year deal to join the team for the 2025 season. When asked if the ring was an indication he was married, Rodgers replied, 'Yeah, it's a wedding ring.' He wore the ring on Tuesday while participating in drills with his new team. Rodgers has revealed little about his bride. During an appearance on 'The Pat McAfee Show' last fall, he mentioned he was dating a woman named Brittani but offered no other details. His previous dating history includes long-term relationships with race car driver Danica Patrick and actors Olivia Munn and Shailene Woodley. ___ AP NFL: recommended in this topic

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store