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USA Today
09-02-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Who won Puppy Bowl 2025? Highlights from the fluffiest competition before Super Bowl
Who won Puppy Bowl 2025? Highlights from the fluffiest competition before Super Bowl Show Caption Hide Caption Watch Puppy Bowl drama: Dog Smoosh cries after a ruff call Puppy Bowl XXI referee Dan Schachner had to wipe away dog tears after Smoosh got emotional in Sunday's big game. The Puppy Bowl on Animal Planet, the cutest show before the kickoff of Super Bowl 59, lived up to the undeniable hype as the fluffiest game of the year. Its main purpose is to raise awareness and encourage the adoption of dogs from shelters and rescues. The 21st annual Puppy Bowl was filled with playful energy, featuring 142 puppy athletes, including 11 dogs with special needs. These adorable pups came from 80 shelters and rescues across 40 states and two countries. Representing Team Ruff and Team Fluff, they joyfully raced toward the end zone, all in search of their forever homes, with the Lombarky Trophy toy being an exciting bonus. Many of the puppies had fitting names for the big game, such as Saquon Barkley, the Australian Shepherd-Bernese Mountain Dog, and a pair of Pomeranian siblings named Jason and Travis, after the Kelce brothers. Dee-Bone Samuel, a poodle mix, has already added a trophy toy to their collection after being named this year's Popularity Playoffs champion. The big question remains: Which team won? Was it Team Fluff, featuring the adorable Labrador retriever mix, Abigail, and Smoosh the Pekingese? Or was it Team Ruff, led by Mr. Pickles the pug mix and Demure the Cairn Terrier, who claimed back-to-back Puppy Bowls? Here are the highlights as the action unfolds. Who won Puppy Bowl XXI? Winner will be updated when the Puppy Bowl concludes.
Yahoo
09-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Puppy Bowl 2025: Meet the Adorable Pups Facing Off in the Competition
Originally appeared on E! Online The cuddliest competition of the year is back. That's right: 142 rescue pups from 80 shelters will go head-to-head Feb. 9 in the 21st annual Puppy Bowl, airing at 2 p.m. EST/11 a.m. PST across Animal Planet, Discovery Channel, TBS, truTV, Max and discovery+. And the cuteness overload is worth the tune-in alone. In the three-hour-long television event, more puppies than ever before will compete on either Team Fluff—led by Julep, the first-ever St. Bernard-mix, and Smoosh, the only Pekingese to compete in the games—or Team Ruff—led by Mr. Pickles, a Pug-Chihuahua mix from Dallas, and Tuani, a Chihuahua-German shepherd hailing from Nicaragua—in the call-to-adoption program. "Animal Planet's Puppy Bowl serves as an annual pop culture programming event that continues to expand in reach, awareness and of course, puppies, every year," said Chief Creative Officer of U.S. Networks and President of Discovery Networks Howard Lee. "Win or lose, Puppy Bowl XXI will have the cutest players in the game on Sunday, February 9 and will inspire families across the country to adopt a new furry friend." More from E! Online Inside Saquon Barkley's Winning Romance With Fiancée Anna Congdon Super Bowl 2025: Why Swifties Believe Taylor Swift Already Manifested a Kansas City Chiefs Three-Peat Christy Carlson Romano Hospitalized After Getting Shot in the Eye Viewers can also expect play-by-play commentary from sportscasters Steve Levy and Taylor Rooks throughout the game, as well as a pet DNA test portion where those tuning in can get insight into each player's unique breed. Included in those furry friends are 11 paw-some special needs pups who are proving that their disabilities will never hold them back. Take Jolene, for instance, an American Pit bull terrier-mix competing in a wheelchair. And then there's Sprinkle, a hard of hearing and blind Australian shepherd-mix who is ready to take home the gold. And everyone's favorite segment is sure to warm your heart. Reappearing this year, the adoptable portion will feature the game's pups—as well as a few adorable kittens—who are up for adoption and are finding their fur-ever homes in real time. To meet all the pups competing in this year's Puppy Bowl, keep reading. ZoeyMr. PicklesDoodleColonelRaspberryOrlaBark KentJoleneSmooshPetuniaAliceSkyHuckleberryLex WooferVioletTulaRedBudTravisParkerFelicityLinenMaxxErinMabel For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App
USA Today
07-02-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Can you actually bet on the Puppy Bowl? We tackle the ruff Animal Planet question
Hear this story Longtime Puppy Bowl referee and animal rescue advocate Dan Schachner has one sure-thing bet before Super Sunday: Strangers will drop unsolicited DMs into his Instagram account seeking top dog intel. "It's funny that people ask straight up, 'Who looks good for MVP? Does Smoosh have a shot? Does Team Fluff have a chance of winning?'" Schachner, the human among dogs in 14 Puppy Bowls, tells USA TODAY. "I have to delete every one of them. Because people are somewhere making prop bets on the Puppy Bowl." We are all shocked — shocked! — to discover gambling around the Puppy Bowl, Animal Planet's annual, adorable showcase for pet adoption (simulcast on Animal Planet, Discovery, Discovery+, Max, TBS, and truTV starting at 2 p.m. EST/11 a.m. PST). But can people legally wager on the tail-wagging pups playfully and unknowingly vying for the Lombarky Trophy? It's ruff finding Puppy Bowl action in casinos or American online sportsbooks like BetMGM that don't allow wagers on the TV event. The mutt matchup is filmed over an October week in a dog-sized astroturfed studio stadium before the show is intensively edited for three hours of pre-Super Bowl viewing. Puppy Bowl 2025Meet Mr. Pickles, Sprinkle, Julep and more, and find out how to watch Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. "The short answer: I've never seen betting on the Puppy Bowl in any legal market," says ESPN sports betting writer Doug Greenberg. "This is a pre-taped TV program. It's a known result. That's never allowed in sports betting." Puppy Bowl scores are awarded each time a dog player playfully pushes or carries a chew toy into the end zone. Last year's Puppy Bowl, which featured the first-ever dog assistant referee, ended with a 72-69 score as Team Ruff triumphed over perennial foe Team Fluff. U.S. betting organizations sniff around the field, with sportsbooks posting cheeky odds. But if you need proof that some have attempted to take it further, Colorado's Division of Gaming shot down a Puppy Bowl betting petition (from an unspecified party) in January 2021, according to the agency's official list of "rejected waging requests." (Fun fact: Dominating the state's wager rejection list are variations of "Color of Gatorade poured on the winning coach.") Those looking for real betting action on fake dog football need to move to offshore books like the Costa Rican-based BetUS, which lists wagers including the winning team, MVP, the first letter of MVP's name and predicting the answer to the question: "Will any puppy attempt to mate?" (Fear not concerned parents, betting "no" on the TV mating is the heavy favorite). BetUS spokesperson Andres Vargas told USA TODAY in an email statement that while the event is filmed months in advance, with the results known by at least production teams, "viewers remain unaware of the outcome until the broadcast airs." Vargas added that the Puppy Bowl betting selection is "surprisingly popular" without giving specific betting numbers. BetUS reps threw one bone, saying the site observed 2,700 people searching for Puppy Bowl odds over the last year. Schachner claims he doesn't even know the results. His refereeing duties, which include calling an "excessive licking" penalty in Sunday's event, do not involve keeping track of the score over days of chaotic dog-chasing or post-production. It's only during the editing that the many scores are tabulated. Adding to his blissful ignorance, Schachner says the crew shoots two different endings and 10 MVP award presentations. And, in case you're wondering, the media do not receive advance Puppy Bowl screeners. "It's actually more guarded than you might think," says Schachner. "If you're inclined to make a bet, I wish you well. But honest to God, I don't know the details."
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Puppy Bowl 2025: Meet Mr. Pickles, Sprinkle, Julep and more, and find out how to watch
Woof woof! Puppy Bowl is almost back. The event, which Warner Bros. describes as the "cutest competition of the year" is returning soon for its 21st edition, and will feature 142 rescue puppies from 80 shelters across 40 states and two countries. The annual three-hour event is the "longest running call-to-adoption television event," according to Warner Bros. "With more puppies than ever before, Puppy Bowl XXI will highlight their inspiring journeys from birth to adoption, as well as the tremendous dedication of the rescues and shelters that help find animals their forever homes," Warner Bros. said in a news release. Meet this year's K-9 lineup and find out how to watch. The Puppy Bowl is scheduled to air on Sunday, Feb. 9 at 11 a.m. PT / 2 p.m. ET, and will be simulcast across Animal Planet, Discovery, Discovery+, TBS, truTV, and Max. Team Fluff will face off against Team Ruff to take home the Walmart 'Lombarky' trophy and the MVP (Most Valuable Puppy) title. Among the contestants on Team Fluff is Smoosh, the only Pekingese to compete in the games. Team Ruff has Tuani, a chihuahua-German shepherd from Nicaragua. Longtime Puppy Bowl referee Dan Schachner will return this year, while sportscasters Steve Levy and Taylor Rooks will provide paw-by-paw commentary. Prior to big game, a new segment, "Puppy Bowl XXI Kickoff," will air at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET on Animal Planet. The segment will include 10 puppy prospects from across the country who will "engage in practice drills and show off their moves in the first ever Puppy Combine," Warner Bros. said, adding that each pup will "compete to be selected as the top pick in the Puppy Bowl Draft and join the Team Ruff and Team Fluff rosters." The event will also feature 11 "inspiring special needs dogs" who "will take the field, giving it their all and not letting their disabilities slow them down." Jolene, an American pit bull terrier-mix competing in a wheelchair. She will be among the 11 special needs dogs taking the field. Julep, the first-ever St. Bernard-mix. Sprinkle, a blind and hearing-impaired Australian shepherd-mix. Parsnip, a rescue pit bull-mix trained at the Humane Society of Greater Kansas City by Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi and his girlfriend, Nani. Ladybug, a 10-year-old chihuahua mix, from Pet Helpers in Charleston, South Carolina, looking for her forever home. Mr. Pickles, a pug-chihuahua from Dallas. Tuani, a chihuahua-German shepherd from SOS Animales Nicaragua. He was born at the shelter after his pregnant mother was rescued from the streets of San Juan del Sur. This year's Puppy Bowl will also bring back adoptables segments "featuring puppies - and a few kittens - that will be available for adoption during the game," Warner Bros. said. Audiences can vote for their favorite pup to win the "Pupularity Playoffs" by visiting Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@ and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: When is the 2025 Puppy Bowl? Dogs include Mr. Pickles, Sprinkle, Julep
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Puppy Bowl 2025: Meet participants from Ohio and Kentucky, and find out how to watch
Woof woof! Puppy Bowl is almost back. The event, which Warner Bros. describes as the "cutest competition of the year" is returning soon for its 21st edition, and will feature 142 rescue puppies from 80 shelters across 40 states and two countries. The annual three-hour event is the "longest running call-to-adoption television event," according to Warner Bros. "With more puppies than ever before, Puppy Bowl XXI will highlight their inspiring journeys from birth to adoption, as well as the tremendous dedication of the rescues and shelters that help find animals their forever homes," Warner Bros. said in a news release. Meet this year's K-9 lineup and find out how to watch. The Puppy Bowl is scheduled to air on Sunday, Feb. 9 at 11 a.m. PT / 2 p.m. ET, and will be simulcast across Animal Planet, Discovery, Discovery+, TBS, truTV, and Max. Team Fluff will face off against Team Ruff to take home the Walmart 'Lombarky' trophy and the MVP (Most Valuable Puppy) title. Among the contestants on Team Fluff is Smoosh, the only Pekingese to compete in the games. Team Ruff has Tuani, a chihuahua-German shepherd from Nicaragua. Longtime Puppy Bowl referee Dan Schachner will return this year, while sportscasters Steve Levy and Taylor Rooks will provide paw-by-paw commentary. Prior to big game, a new segment, "Puppy Bowl XXI Kickoff," will air at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET on Animal Planet. The segment will include 10 puppy prospects from across the country who will "engage in practice drills and show off their moves in the first ever Puppy Combine," Warner Bros. said, adding that each pup will "compete to be selected as the top pick in the Puppy Bowl Draft and join the Team Ruff and Team Fluff rosters." The event will also feature 11 "inspiring special needs dogs" who "will take the field, giving it their all and not letting their disabilities slow them down." Jolene, an American pit bull terrier-mix competing in a wheelchair. She will be among the 11 special needs dogs taking the field. Julep, the first-ever St. Bernard-mix. Sprinkle, a blind and hearing-impaired Australian shepherd-mix. Parsnip, a rescue pit bull-mix trained at the Humane Society of Greater Kansas City by Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi and his girlfriend, Nani. Ladybug, a 10-year-old chihuahua mix, from Pet Helpers in Charleston, South Carolina, looking for her forever home. Mr. Pickles, a pug-chihuahua from Dallas. Tuani, a chihuahua-German shepherd from SOS Animales Nicaragua. He was born at the shelter after his pregnant mother was rescued from the streets of San Juan del Sur. This year's Puppy Bowl will also bring back adoptables segments "featuring puppies - and a few kittens - that will be available for adoption during the game," Warner Bros. said. See the adoptees available in Ohio and Kentucky in the gallery below. Audiences can vote for their favorite pup to win the "Pupularity Playoffs" by visiting Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@ and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: When is 2025 Puppy Bowl? Dogs include participants from Ohio, Kentucky
