Everything you Need to Know about the 2020 Puppy Bowl

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Super Bowl 54 is almost here, which means so is the Puppy Bowl! Lucky for you, it doesn’t matter if you are a 49er’s or Chiefs fan for this furry showdown. You just have to enjoy watching adorable puppies.

Animal Planet hosts the annual Puppy Bowl during Super Bowl Sunday and the showdown mimics American football, but with a puppy competition.

There’s scouting, drafting, referees and commentators for the big Puppy Bowl matchup. As well as a kitty halftime show while teams Ruff and Tuff battle it out. The goal of the Puppy Bowl is to raise awareness for put adoption throughout the game.

You might want to check out the talent for the 2020 Puppy Bowl and cheer on your MVP.

When is PuppyBowl XVI?

The 16th annual puppy bowl is on Sunday, February 2nd, at 3:00 PM EST on Animal Planet. Don’t forget to check out the pre-game show before the big showdown against teams Ruff and Tuff.

The Lineup

Ranging in age from 12 weeks to 26 weeks old teams Ruff and Tuff have an adorable starting lineup of players.

96 pups overall will be there for the action representing 25 states and 3 international appearances.

And don’t forget all of these pups are up for adoption!

Team Ruff (The Red Team)

Name: Strudel
Breed: Miniature Pinscher 
Adoption Center: Citizens for Animal Protection, TX
Age: 18 weeks

Name: Starla 
Breed: Cocker Spaniel
Adoption Center: Danbury Animal Welfare Society, CT
Age: 19 weeks

Name: Rhubarb 
Breed: Miniature Schnauzer/Shih Tzu
Adoption Center: Rescue Road Trips, OH
Age: 17 weeks

Name: Poppy
Breed: Bichon Frise/Papillon
Adoption Center: Last Chance Animal Rescue, MD
Age: 16 weeks

Name: Mocha
Breed: Australian Cattle Dog/Lacy Dog
Adoption Center: Foster Dogs NYC, NY
Age: 19 weeks

Name: Maverick 
Breed: Miniature Longhair Dachshund 
Adoption Center: Virginia Beach SPCA, VA
Age: 20 weeks

Name: Linus
Breed: Pomeranian/Miniature Poodle
Adoption Center: New Life Animal Rescue, NJ
Age: 14 weeks

Name: Lee
Breed: Alaskan Malamute/White Swiss Shepherd
Adoption Center: Big Fluffy Dogs, TN
Age: 20 weeks

Name: Kenny
Breed: Golden Retriever/Boxer
Adoption Center: Animal Friends, PA
Age: 13 weeks

Name: Jack
Breed: Chihuahua/Miniature Poodle
Adoption Center: Love Leo Rescue, CA
Age: 13 weeks

Name: Huck
Breed: Miniature Poodle/Shih Tzu
Adoption Center: Vanderpump Dogs, CA
Age: 20 weeks

Name: Goldie
Breed: Rottweiler/American Staffordshire Terrier
Adoption Center: Miami-Dade Animal Shelter, FL 
Age: 16 weeks

Name: Gina
Breed: Labrador Retriever/Chow Chow
Adoption Center: Last Chance Animal Rescue, MD
Age: 12 weeks

Name: Filbert
Breed: Shetland Sheepdog/Border Collie
Adoption Center: Double J Dog Ranch, ID
Age: 18 weeks

Name: Ferris
Breed: Labrador Retriever/American Eskimo
Adoption Center: Aheinz57 Pet Rescue, IA
Age: 20 weeks

Name: Daphne
Breed: German Shepherd
Adoption Center: Double J Dog Ranch, ID
Age: 16 weeks

Name: Crumpet 
Breed: American Staffordshire Terrier
Adoption Center: Angel City Pit Bulls, CA
Age: 14 weeks

Name: Candy
Breed: Old English Sheepdog/Boxer
Adoption Center: Texas Old English Sheepdog Rescue, TX
Age: 16 weeks

Name: Cafecito
Breed: Crested/Yorkshire Terrier
Adoption Center: Miami-Dade Animal Services, FL
Age: 15 weeks

Name: Brody
Breed: Chihuahua/Miniature Dachshund
Adoption Center: AHeinz57 Pet Rescue, IA 
Age: 16 weeks

Name: Betty
Breed: Bulldog
Adoption Center: Florida Little Dog Rescue, FL 
Age: 17 weeks

Name: Aspen
Breed: Australian Cattle Dog/Cocker Spaniel
Adoption Center: Rocky Mountain Puppy Rescue, CO
Age: 22 weeks

Team Fluff (The Blue Team)

Name: Wilbur
Breed: Miniature Poodle/Shih Tzu
Adoption Center: Paw Works, CA
Age: 16 weeks

Name: Theodore 
Breed: Pomeranian/Siberian Husky 
Adoption Center: AHeinz57 Pet Rescue, IA
Age: 13 weeks

Name: Spritz
Breed: German Shepard
Adoption Center: Jersey Girls Animal Rescue, NJ 
Age: 18 weeks

Name: Sol
Breed: Chihuahua/Border Collie
Adoption Center: Cartagena Paws, Columbia
Age: 26 weeks

Name: Sadie
Breed: American Staffordshire Terrier/American Bulldog 
Adoption Center: Paws CT, CT
Age: 18 weeks

Name: Rummy 
Breed: Chihuahua/Boston Terrier
Adoption Center: Cruzan Cowgirls, USVI 
Age: 20 weeks

Name: Rooster
Breed: Bulldog/American Staffordshire Terrier 
Adoption Center: Sanctuary Rescue, VA
Age: 14 weeks

Name: Rocky Road
Breed: German Shepard
Adoption Center: Rescue City, NY
Age: 20 weeks

Name: Papaya
Breed: Labrador Retriever/Border Collie
Adoption Center: Shaggy Dog Rescue, TX
Age: 17 weeks

Name: Lucca
Breed: Miniature Pinscher/Chihuahua
Adoption Center: Texas Chihuahua Rescue, TX & Canada
Age: 20 weeks

Name: Kingery
Breed: Boxer/American Staffordshire Terrier 
Adoption Center: Providence Animal Center, PA
Age: 13 weeks

Name: Killian
Breed: Great Dane
Adoption Center: Green Dogs Unleashed, VA
Age: 16 weeks

Name: Granny Smith 
Breed: Catahoula/American Staffordshire Terrier
Adoption Center: Paws Crossed, NY
Age:12 weeks

Name: Duncan
Breed: Collie
Adoption Center: Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland
Age: 20 weeks

Name: Dolly 
Breed: Labrador Retriever/German Shepherd
Adoption Center: Hearts & Bones Rescue, NY
Age: 16 weeks

Name: Darcy
Breed: Chihuahua/Maltese
Adoption Center: Ninna’s Road to Rescue, LA
Age: 17 weeks

Name: Coach
Breed: Treeing Walker Coonhound/Boxer
Adoption Center: Morris Animal Refuge, PA
Age: 18 weeks

Name: Bobby 
Breed: Lhasa Apso/Miniature Poodle
Adoption Center: Helen Woodward Animal Center, CA
Age: 17 weeks

Name: Bert
Breed: Great Pyrenees/Weimaraner
Adoption Center: Rescue Dogs Rock, NYC
Age: 12 weeks

Name: Anise 
Breed: Australian Cattle Dog/Labrador Retriever 
Adoption Center: Last Chance Animal Rescue, MD
Age:19 weeks

UnFURgettable Plays

There have been so many unFURgettable moments throughout the Puppy Bowl years. This video sums all the cuteness up in 3 minutes.

Related: The 9 Best Grain-Free Dog Foods

Looking to Adopt

Did the cuteness get to you? Are you interested in adopting a pet in your area?

Owning a pet is a big commitment and shouldn’t be an impulsive decision. Your pet will be part of your life for a long time, and it’s important to understand the responsibility, financial investment and emotional requirements for owning a pet.

Before you run to the nearest shelter and adopt a pet there are a few things we recommend:

• Take pet selector quiz 
• Narrow down what breeds will fit best with your family
• Decide if you want a puppy or adult dog
• Determine what size and energy level you are comfortable with
• Understand grooming needs
• Create a budget
• Prep your home
• Research veterinarian clinics
• Understand adoption requirements (these vary by location)

THEN stop in at your nearest shelter or check out Petfinder for pets available near you. We want you and your pet to have a long, happy life together and doing your research and fully understanding the commitment is so important.

Fun Furry Facts from the Puppy Bowl

• Animal Planet teamed up with 61 different animal shelters to stack the rosters, which marks the biggest Puppy Bowl in history!
• The halftime show is performed by kittens.
• The 2020 Puppy Bowl will showcase 5 players with special needs.
• In previous Puppy Bowls, 100 percent of the animals were adopted!

So the big question, are you rooting for team Ruff or team Fluff during the 2020 Puppy Bowl?

Either way, both fans will enjoy the puppy-kiss cam, slow-motion replays and the drama that unfolds at the water bowl.

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