While football fans will be awaiting the start of Super Bowl 59 on Sunday, animal lovers will be glued to their screens to watch puppies from across the United States compete in the annual Puppy Bowl.
The Puppy Bowl has two teams and a referee, similar to the actual football game, but is a pre-recorded show and hopes to give dogs a chance to find their home as they are put up for adoption afterward.
Puppy Bowl 21 Schedule, Kickoff Time, and TV Channels
The Puppy Bowl is one of the largest call-to-adoption events in the United States. It will run its 21st show before the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Philadelphia Eagles clash in Super Bowl 59. Per Chief Creative Officer of U.S. Networks and President of Discovery Networks Howard Lee, it “will inspire families across the country to adopt a new furry friend.”
“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,” Lee said in a press release.
“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.”
How To Watch?
The Puppy Bowl 2025 will run from 2-5 p.m. ET on Sunday, Feb. 9. It features a reimagined opening show this year, which premieres an hour before the main game.
- Channel: Animal Planet | Discovery | TBS | truTV
- Stream: Discovery+ | Max | Fubo
For fans without cable, streaming options such as Discovery+ and Fubo provide easy access to all the action. Fubo is currently offering a free trial, allowing viewers to watch without a long-term commitment.
Snuggles, puppy kisses, and water breaks—because greatness starts with the little things. 🏈
Watch #PuppyBowl on Animal Planet Sunday, February 9 at 2p ET | 11a PT pic.twitter.com/qSI4C5lGh8
— Animal Planet (@AnimalPlanet) February 8, 2025
How Is the Game Played?
The Puppy Bowl features two teams — Team Ruff and Team Fluffy — having equal numbers of puppies. The aim for the teams is to score as many points as possible by carrying a chew toy to the end zone. Whichever team scores more after a set number of hours, wins the game.
And guess what? There are MVPs as well — Most Valuable Puppy.
While the Puppy Bowl is recorded months earlier, its puppy game is monitored by a human umpire who calls penalties for acts such as tail pulling.
Where Do the Puppies Come From?
The puppies come from various animal shelters and rescue centers across the USA and a few other countries. The puppies are then put up for adoption.
This year’s event will feature 142 puppies from 80 different shelters.