Puppy Bowl referee Dan Schachner brings adoptable dogs to us every week
Puppy bowl “ruffree” Then Schachner is ready for the big game on Sunday, February 11th to become the “puppiest Puppy Bowl ever”.
“We have 131 rescue dogs representing 73 shelters across the country. That is our highest amount ever,” Schachner said exclusively We weekly on Monday, February 5, along with several adorable rescue dogs. “By the time Puppy Bowl finishes airing, they'll all be adopted. That happens every year. We have a one hundred percent adoption rate, but it's really puppies that take over. We have puppies in the control room, puppies on the sidelines with the cheerleaders operating the cameras. They are the cheerleaders. It's pretty incredible.”
Debuting in 2005, the Puppy Bowl recreates the NFL's annual Super Bowl championship and features rescue dogs “competing” in a football game. Dogs are divided into two teams, Ruff vs. Fluff, while scoring touchdowns with pet toys.
This year's broadcast features even more behind-the-scenes footage of the main event, with clips of the dogs entering the stadium and waiting by the water bowl. Additionally, the Temptations Sky Box kittens return along with sports reporters Steve Levy and Taylor Rooks to provide play-by-play commentary. Schachner will also carry a GoPro to provide a close-up camera angle.
Schachner has been the head referee – affectionately known as the “rufferee” – for thirteen years.
Then Schachner.
Paul Zimmerman/WireImage“The way I prepare is by staying alert and in shape and getting a lot of sleep,” he said Us. “Because with 131 dogs you really just have to pay as much attention as possible. You must report the violations!'
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Schachner's work on the Puppy Bowl roster even inspired him to become a dog owner.
“I started [refereeing] 13 years ago, but about 10 years ago, I said, 'I better get into this dog thing,'” he explained. “I didn't want to adopt right away. I wanted to learn, so I've been adopting dogs for ten years and in that time I've adopted over 40 dogs. It's a great way to learn so much.”
All Puppy Bowl participants are rescue dogs, and Schachner brought several pups to the We weekly studio while previewing the game, even mentioning that Mr. Miraculous “did a fantastic job” with Team Fluff. (In addition to Mr. Miraculous, Schachner introduced us to five other puppies—Anelle, Vivi, Adiri, Yan, and Omy—all of whom are available for adoption through New York City's The Sato Project.)
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“He's more wonderful at knowing when dinner time is than anything else,” Schachner joked about Mr. Miraculous. 'He knows exactly what time the dinner bell rings, but he can sit comfortably [and] mate [commands].”
Besides Mr. Miraculously, several Puppy Bowl puppies have been named after athletes competing in the 2024 Super Bowl. (The Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers will play in Super Bowl LVIII on Sunday.)
“Watch out for Bark Purdy because he has a human namesake, but I feel like this guy is a little more athletic and definitely cuter,” Schachner said, referring to the 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy. “No offense to anyone else, you're cute too. I would [also] watch out for Snack Prescott. I'd be looking out for Jared Wolf. I would look out for Patrick Mabones.'
Get those dip recipes ready and get out the sports gear for Super Bowl 2024, which pits the Kansas City Chiefs against the San Francisco 49ers. This year's event, which takes place on Sunday, February 11, will be held at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Usher will headline the iconic Apple Music […]
The Puppy Bowl will also feature the largest dog yet: a 72-pound Great Dane named Levi.
“Since it's Puppy Bowl XX, we have our largest dog ever, Levi the Great Dane, who weighs 70 pounds and is only three months old,” Schachner said. “I mean, he's like three times [of Mr. Miraculous] and our smallest dog ever, Sweet Pea, [who] weighs 1.7 pounds and fits in the palm of your hand.
Puppy Bowl 2024 airs on Animal Planet on Sunday, February 11 at 2pm ET. The TV special will be simulcast on Discovery, Discovery+, Max, TBS and TruTV.
With reporting by Christina Garibaldi