The one week countdown to the big game has started and Pet Pals is incredibly excited. This year's game is poised be the biggest and best yet! Additionally, the battle between brother coaches is all everyone is talking about, making what's been dubbed the 'Bowlnese' an epic game before it's even started. That's right, Puppy Bowl IX, the biggest event on all fours is back and less than one week away.
Airing Sunday, Feb 3, @ 3 PM E/P on Animal Planet, this year's show is more creative than ever with all kinds of pets, tons of fun, and lots of cute puppies of course. This year, the teams will be coached by two dogs from the same litter in honor of the two brothers coaching this year's Super Bowl teams. Gunner and Zeus are 14-week-old Bernese Mountain Dog brothers with plenty of puppy experience and will be calling the plays that will most certainly lead to lots of puppy kiss tackles, tug-of-wars, and toys in the end-zones.
In all, there will be 63 puppies in this year's bowl game. Each of the puppies are from shelters or rescues and can be rafted into their forever homes for some well deserved love after their hard work on the field. Animal Planet works with
Petfinder to select the pups and will accept players from any breed or mix.
David Halloway/DCL
Puppies aren't the only pets featured during the Puppy Bowl though, with this year's game including at least;
- a hamster flying the blimp over the stadium,
- a kitten halftime show, including 21 kittens also from shelters and rescues and up for adoption,
- hedgehog cheerleaders,
- and the sideline reporter 'Meep the bird', who can also be followed on game day @MeepTheBird the for the latest news and behind the scenes moments.
Keith Barraclough/Discover
There are also other great game features this year, including;
- the ever popular Cute cam,
- the water bowl cam,
- a tail-gaitting party prior to the game,
- and a puppy hot tub party for the players to relax after the big game.
