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Last Updated on February 15, 2021 by Aimee
The biggest day in sports is almost here (and I’m not talking about the Super Bowl). On this Super Bowl Sunday it’s the premiere of the 17th season of the Puppy Bowl 2021 on Animal Planet | Discovery+. For you sports fans, that’s Puppy Bowl XVII 😉
What is the Puppy Bowl?
Each year, Animal Planet airs the three-hour event featuring adoptable dogs from animal shelters and rescues. The show “celebrates adoptable pups in all their cuteness and showcases the incredible shelters and rescues, as well as their staffers, who dedicate their lives to helping animals find their loving homes” according to Discovery.com
Here’s how it works…
The puppies are split into two teams: Team Fluff and Team Ruff. We get to watch these adorable pups running all around the gridiron, playing with toys (and each other) and performing their personal best version of football on Super Bowl Sunday. The winning team receiving the “Lombarky” Trophy.
Puppy Bowl XVII Starting Lineups
Team Fluff
- Aaron Pawgers: Treeing Walker Coonhound/American Staffordshire Terrier
- Ariel: American Staffordshire Terrier/Gordon Terrier
- Aubrey: American Staffordshire Terrier/Australian Terrier
- Bananaberry: Australian Cattle Dog/Golden Retriever
- Beliveau: Golden Retriever
- Bingo: American Staffordshire Terrier/Siberian Husky
- Chip: American Staffordshire Terrier/German Shepherd
- Chunky Monkey: Chow Chow/Irish Red and White Setter
- Erica: Border Collie Mix
- Foxy Cleopatra: Russell Terrier/Bichon Frise
- Fozzie: Norwegian Elkhound Mix
- Ginkgo: American Staffordshire Terrier/Boxer
- Glimmer: Beagle/Bloodhound
- Hank: Dalmatian
- Hanson: Mix Breed
- James: Labrador Retriever/German Shepherd
- Jay: Border Collie/Labrador Retriever
- Jett: Labrador Retriever/German Pointer
- Jiffy: American Staffordshire Terrier
- Marigold: American Staffordshire Terrier/Border Collie
- Marshall: Boston Terrier
- Mary Anne: Boxer/American Staffordshire Terrier
- Michael: Beagle/Labrador Retriever
- Milky Way: American Staffordshire Terrier/Boxer
- Minnie: Boston Terrier/Beagle
- Moo: American Staffordshire Terrier/Akita
- Oliver: Alaskan Malamute/American Staffordshire Terrier
- Pacific: Chihuahua/Miniature Pinscher
- Pippa: Chihuahua/Tree Walker Coonhound
- Ray: American Staffordshire Terrier/Chow Chow
- Sasha: American Staffordshire Terrier/Boxer
- Sonic: American Staffordshire Terrier/American Bulldog
- Theodore: Great Pyrenees/Australian Shepherd
- Tony: American Staffordshire Terrier/Australian Shepherd
- Tucker: Pug Mix
- Yogi: German Shepherd/Siberian Husky
Team Ruff
- Apollo: Treeing Walker Coonhound/Beagle
- Archer: American Staffordshire Terrier
- Argos: Belgian Malinois/American Staffordshire Terrier
- Athena: American Staffordshire Terrier/Chow Chow
- Bluey: American Staffordshire Terrier/Siberian Husky
- Coltrane: Chihuahua/American Staffordshire Terrier
- Comet: American Staffordshire Terrier/Boxer
- Cosmo: Australian Cattle Dog
- Cream: Mix Breed
- Duke: Great Pyrenees/Standard Poodle
- Dwight: Labrador Retriever/American Staffordshire Terrier
- Eclipse: Siberian Husky/Shar-Pei
- Fletcher: American Staffordshire Terrier/Beagle
- Gizmo: Beagle/Shih Tzu
- Gus: Beagle/Cocker Spaniel
- Hashbrown: Mix Breed
- Hope: Beagle/American Fox Hound
- Hunter: American Staffordshire Terrier/Australian Shepherd
- Lee: Labrador Retriever/German Shepherd
- Lionel: American Staffordshire Terrier/Boxer
- Lucy: Beagle/Bluetick Coonhound
- Muffin: Terrier Mix
- Patrick: American Staffordshire Terrier
- Paulie: American Staffordshire Terrier/Dutch Shepherd Dog
- Peaches: American Fox Hound
- Rumor: American Staffordshire Terrier/Australian Cattle Dog
- Spaulding: Hairless Terrier
- Stitch: American Staffordshire Terrier/Treeing Walker Coonhound
- Tank: Rottweiler/Boxer
- Tina: Chihuahua/American Staffordshire Terrier
- Todd Furly: American Staffordshire Terrier/Boxer
- Vinnie: American Staffordshire Terrier/Dachshund
- Xena: American Staffordshire Terrier/Labrador Retriever
Meet the full lineup in PHOTO GALLERY form located here at Discovery.com
Meet the 6 Awesome Special Needs Dogs Competing in the 2021 Puppy Bowl
Jett,Team FLUFF | Shelter: Pets with Disabilities in Maryland
Jett is Labrador retriever/German pointer mix who was born without his two front legs.
Fletcher,Team RUFF | Shelter: Green Dog Unleashed in Virginia
Fletcher is a deaf and vision-impaired American Staffordshire terrier/Beagle mix.
Marshall,Team FLUFF | Shelter: Green Dog Unleashed in Virginia
Marshall is a Boston terrier from the same rescue as Fletcher. Green Dog Unleashed specializes in training and placing special needs dogs.
Rumor,Team RUFF | Shelter: Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland in Maine
This American Staffordshire terrier /Australian cattle dog mix was born deaf and at 20 weeks old is already mastering commands through hand signals.
Hank,Team FLUFF | Shelter: Green Dog Unleashed in Virginia
Hank was born deaf and was surrendered by his previous owner, who didn’t have the time to train him.
Theodore,Team FLUFF |Shelter: Green Dog Unleashed in Virginia
Theodore is a deaf Great Pyrenees/McNab mix.
Who is hosting Puppy Bowl 2021?
This years Puppy Bowl features two very familiar faces!
Martha Stewart and Snoop Dogg! Martha will be supporting Team Ruff and Snoop will be cheering on Team Fluff. The longtime friends will also be sharing their favorite tailgaiting treats with us.
Puppy Cheerleaders?
“Additionally, for the first time ever on the sidelines, our Team Ruff and Team Fluff players will be cheered on by none other than adoptable puppy cheerleaders who will root and howl for their favorite players,” the statement continues. “These cheer leading pups will turn up the volume with cuteness overload by shaking their pom-poms as the Puppy Bowl XVII players make their way down the field!”
Doggie DNA: Who has the advantage?
“With the Wisdom Panel™ dog DNA test, we’ll find out what’s beyond those big puppy-dog eyes and how each dog’s breed mix might give them an advantage on the field,” a statement about the annual event reads. “We’ll see their skills play out in the brand-new GEICO Stadium, where these adoptable players have even more room to rumble and fumble!”
Click the image below to get your own doggie DNA test kit! (*affiliate link). It’s just a simple cheek swab.
How to watch Puppy Bowl 2021 on Animal Planet | Discovery+
Date: Sunday, Feb. 7
Start Time: 2 p.m. ET
TV: Animal Planet or on Discovery +
Do the puppies really all get adopted?
Yes! Over the first 16 editions of the Puppy Bowl, every dog and cat that has been part of the event has gone on to be adopted. Those watching could end up bringing home one of the animals they’ll see on television while watching the Puppy Bowl.
Where is the Puppy Bowl being held this year?
Traditionally taking place in Manhattan, the event was filmed at Cool Insuring Arena in Glen Falls, N.Y. according to Chad Arnold of The Post-Star. This was due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Dr. Biden and first dogs make an appearance
The White House released a statement that First Lady Jill Biden has filmed a public service announcement that will air during the event.
In the video, Dr. Biden along with the family’s two German shepherds, first dogs Champ and Major appear to deliver the message that “for a lot of us during this pandemic, our pets have been such a source of joy and comfort,” she says.
She continues on about how owners owe it to their pets to stay healthy and reinforces the message of staying safe by wearing a mask – especially when out walking your dogs.
Part of the Puppy Bowl’s mission is to spread the word about how amazing shelter pets can be. The Bidens adopted Major from the Delaware Humane Association and is believed to be the first shelter dog to live in the White House! Besides already being detected barking outside windows during video conferences, we can’t wait to see what else they get up to 🙂
You can watch the PSA below.
Puppy Bowl XVII airs Sunday, February 7 at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT as a 3–hour event on both Discovery+ and Animal Planet
Will you be watching? Come back and leave a comment letting us know what you thought. Who was your favorite competitor? 🙂
Traditionally taking place in Manhattan, the event was filmed at Cool Insuring Arena in Glen Falls, N.Y. according to Chad Arnold of The Post-Star. This was due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Post updated on February 6, 2021 to include information regarding Dr. Biden and first dogs appearance on the Puppy Bowl. We’ll also be making updates after game day, so be sure to check back!
