[barking]
[Taylor Rooks] For 20 years,
four-legged footballers have
...made their mark here at
the Puppy Bowl,
where Team Ruff and Team Fluff
have gone wet-nose to
wet-nose in
a collision of cuteness.
But before any given pup is
ready to play in the big game,
they have to prove themselves
worthy to take the field.
Today, for the first time ever,
10 puppy prospects will strut
their stuff in a test of skills
in the Puppy Bowl Combine.
-There'll be drills and thrills.
Fun and surprises...
-[Victoria] OK!
...as these pups make the jump
from shelter to stardom.
-[barking] [Taylor]
Which pups will win barking rights
as the top pick in
the Puppy Bowl draft?
We're about to find out.
So sit back and settle in
as we get
you ready for Puppy Bowl XXI.
[Steve Levy] Happy Puppy
Bowl Sunday, folks.
Welcome to the all-new
Puppy Bowl XXI kickoff here at
Progressive Stadium.
The big game is less than
an hour away,
...as we get you set for
the biggest and cutest
Puppy Bowl in history.
I'm Steve Levy joined by my
broadcast partner, Taylor Rooks.
[Taylor]
To officially kick things off,
we are going to toss it down to
Dan the Ref, or should I say,
Dan the Scout,
-[whistle blowing]
...who will be pulling...
...double duty,
officiating the game....
Ready, set, go.
...and overseeing our all-new
Puppy Bowl Combine and draft.
Thanks, I am thrilled to be here
kicking off the --
well, the Puppy Bowl XXI
kickoff.
The show is brand-new
and exciting this year, as fresh
as newborn puppy breath.
I have been recruited as
the scout by both Team Ruff
and Team Fluff, and there's
a lot of talent on the field
this year.
[Steve]
Today, 10 lucky pups have
been selected to compete for
the last five spots on both
Team Ruff
and Team Fluff's roster before
the big game starts.
[Taylor] Invited from all over
the country, these prospective
pups will participate in
our Puppy Bowl Combine,
where each one will then be
drafted based on
-[bell dinging]
their performance
and their adorability.
Let's head out to the all-new
Puppy Bowl Practice Field to
meet the draftable pups
who we'll be snuggling up with
over the next hour as they get
ready for the Combine.
[Steve] Up first is Alice,
a curious and fearless
chihuahua mix that isn't afraid
to go down rabbit holes
and pull the ball out
of a pile.
[Taylor]
Then there's Beethoven,
a classically trained
Great Pyrenees mix.
-[Steve] He's got size
and skills.
Beethoven might be primed to
compose a Puppy Bowl
masterpiece today.
[Taylor]
Up next is Belle,
a princess of
a pup who surfed her way here
from lovely
San Diego, California.
[Steve] We also have a purebred
bulldog named Carl.
[Taylor] Carl is as friendly as
he is adorable.
He was born with a condition
called microthalmia,
resulting in vision loss,
but that hasn't stopped him.
He might be out-sniffing all of
his opponents today.
[Steve] Then we have Julep, a
Saint Bernard, Border Collie mix
who comes to us from
Louisville, Kentucky.
[Taylor]
Julep is a bluegrass bundle of
energy and should excel in
the upcoming Combine.
[Steve]
That's quite an impressive
group to start with, Taylor.
Lots of talent and charm on
that practice field.
[Taylor]
It certainly is, Steve.
Here are the next five player
pups, starting with a street
dog named Enrique, who comes to
Puppy Bowl all the way from
Puerto Rico.
Fluent in both English
and Spanish, Enrique has no
problem interpreting play calls
in either language.
[Steve] Like a bolt from Zeus's
hand comes Lightning,
a Husky Terrier mix ready to
show off her high-end speed.
[Taylor]
No question, Lightning has
shown flashes of brilliance
and could be the deep threat
that both teams crave.
[Steve] Here's Foxtrot,
a talented Collie-hound mix
who's rumored to be
choreographing an elaborate
end zone dance.
[Taylor] Up next is Trio,
a Boston Terrier with only
three legs, but a missing limb
has not held him back.
He's full of determination
and paws-itivity [positivity].
[Steve]
Rounding out our ten draftable
puppies is this adorable
Pitty pup named Sarge, who will
be looking to take charge of
this Combine.
To learn how the Puppy Bowl
Combine works, let's go back
down to Dan the Scout,
who will oversee these
doggy drills.
-[Dan] Thanks.
We designed a series of drills
to test their puppy
play-making abilities.
The Three-Bone Drill shows off
change of direction.
The Hurdle showcases
agility and explosiveness.
While the Incline Ramp will
elevate the puppy's confidence.
The Sniff & Find ball pit
will really work their sense
of smell.
The Tire Course will test
their poise and coordination.
Finally, the 40-Yard Dash is,
of course, all about speed.
Now, these pups have been
preparing for the Puppy Bowl
Combine for weeks, so basically
since birth, and they're now
ready to show it off.
[Taylor] When it comes to
preparation, one pup stands out.
Meet Alice.
For more on her story
and how she got ready
for the Puppy Bowl,
let's bring in our field
reporter, Natasha Carter.
All right, well, I'm here with
Laurie from
Florida Little Dog Rescue.
Tell us about Alice.
Alice is a very sweet little
girl, very curious about
everything that goes on
in the world.
That's how she got her name,
from Alice in Wonderland.
Alice arrived at
our rescue with her mom
and her littermates.
She was just under a week old
from a hoarding situation in
rural central Florida.
[Natasha] How's Alice gonna do
in the Combine?
I think she's gonna do great.
She's been working
on her agility skills,
and her foster mom
has an entire
agility course set up, and so
Alice has been able to run
right through it.
She knows the big day is coming,
and she wants to put her best
paw forward,
and Alice is so smart.
She's gonna figure out that
other team's playbook and how
to get right around it,
and she's super small
and super fast.
So she should be able to just
run right around them.
[Steve]
Thanks, Natasha.
It's time to test the skills of
our 10 draftable pups.
Let's go down to Dan the Scout
on the field.
All right, we are ready to kick
off the Combine.
With me is expert animal
trainer, Victoria.
The first event is
the Three-Bone Drill,
a much cuter, much furrier
version of the human
three-cone drill,
which, fun fact,
is played with four cones,
not three.
But here at Puppy Bowl,
we know how to count.
-Exactly.
-Right?
All right, so we're going to
look for accelerating,
changing speed --
what else are we looking for?
[Victoria]
We're looking for agility.
We're looking for their ability
to follow my instruction,
which can be tough because
with the scout watching,
pressure's on.
-Yeah.
[Steve] Up first is
the Wonder Pup, Alice.
-[cheering]
-[Steve] Let's take a peek
inside the Pup Player Lounge
where the shelter reps are
cheering on.
Wow.
[Victoria] Look at that,
cornering like a pro.
Almost there, last little
bit, woo-hoo!
14 seconds.
[Victoria] We need to keep
our eyes on this pup.
[Taylor] An impressive start
by Alice.
[Steve] Next
in the Three-Bone Drill is
Enrique, a high-stepping,
half-bark hopeful.
-All right.
-You ready, Enrique?
-OK.
-[Victoria] Let's go.
-[Dan] This is for
all the glory.
-[Victoria] Fast, fast, fast.
Hydration break,
I respect that.
[Taylor] Whoa, Steve,
a little bit of a detour.
[Victoria] Oh my gosh.
Impressive.
Good.
Weaving, dipping.
[overlapping encouragement]
-[Victoria] The scout.
-[Dan] Turning gracefully.
[Victoria] Beautiful.
Almost done, one more,
one more.
Round it.
There it is, there it is,
bring it home with those
high-steppin' paws.
-[Steve] Enrique crosses
the line.
-Wow.
-[Steve] In 18.5 seconds.
Enrique's from the island of
Puerto Rico, so maybe he just
likes the water.
[Taylor] That could
explain it, Steve.
[Steve] You know, Taylor, this
could be the moment for whom
the bell tolls.
Let's learn more about our next
draftable pup from
Natasha Carter.
So I'm here with Elli-Ana from
the Animal Pad Dog Rescue from
sunny San Diego.
And you brought an amazing pup
with you named Belle.
[Elli-Ana] She actually came to
us in her mom's belly.
So her mom gave birth two days
after we rescued her.
So it's almost like she was
waiting for just a safe,
loving home to have
her babies in.
[Natasha] How did she get that
name, Belle?
[Elli-Ana] Her mom is named
after Princess Aurora.
And then all of the siblings in
the litter are named after
Disney characters.
-So she's a princess too.
Yes, she's Princess Belle.
All right, so tell us,
she seems sweet, but I heard
she has a little bit
of an attitude.
Just a little bit.
When she's playing,
she's definitely playing.
So she seems very quiet and shy
at first, but then when
she gets going,
she's a little rambunctious.
This is Belle.
She's going to run it
like a pro.
Ready?
-Woo-hoo!
-[clapping]
-[cheering]
-Go Belle!
[Victoria] Oh wow, Belle,
you've got this.
She's got the spirit.
She rounded the first two in
record time.
You got it!
Come on!
-[Victoria] Last
little bit, woo-hoo!
-13.2 seconds.
Good job, Belle!
Let's rename her Victory Belle
and draft her ASAP.
[Steve] I agree, Dan.
The Puppy Bowl Combine is off
to a great start.
Here's a look at the top three
finishers in
the Three-Bone Drill.
Coming up, we'll meet our Puppy
Bowl drill sergeant and learn
how not to do the fox trot.
Plus, lots more drama and fun
as our 10 adorable pups try to
catch the eye of Team Ruff
or Team Fluff
when Puppy Bowl XXI
Kickoff continues.
[crowd cheering]
[crowd cheering]
[barking]
[Steve] Welcome back to
Puppy Bowl XXI Kickoff.
I'm Steve Levy with my co-host
Taylor Rooks.
As we get set to continue
the Puppy Bowl Combine,
let's get to know Sarge,
who is looking confident on
the kickoff practice field --
back down to Natasha for more.
That's right, I'm here on
the practice field with
Jennifer from Angel City
Pit Bulls, and she has
an amazing pup named Sarge.
Yeah, so Sarge joined us after
the LA City staff had reached
out, they had a very pregnant
Pit Bull they needed help with.
She delivered five puppies
the following day.
So Sarge and his siblings have
been with us since then.
They've all thrived,
they're great animals,
and they've been doing really
well in their foster home.
[Natasha] Earlier, we saw Sarge
doing his thing on
the practice field.
Tell me, what's gonna make him
stand out?
[Jennifer] He was out here
practicing today.
He would run, grab his toy,
get it, run back to his tunnel,
and he kept doing repeats.
He's working on those skills,
fine-tuning them.
He's kind of a little bit rough
and tumble, but he likes to
make sure he can move quick
when needed.
He sounds like exactly what
we need for the Puppy Bowl.
I cannot wait to see how
he does in the Combine.
-Back to you, Taylor and Steve.
-[Taylor] Thank you, Natasha.
We're all set for our next
Combine drill.
Let's go back down to Dan
for more.
Thank you, guys.
The next drill up
is the hurdles.
Here, the athleticism of
our puppies is gonna be
tested as they hop,
skip, and jump over
this obstacle course.
I, of course, will be relying
on animal expert Victoria to
help me through it, let's go.
-[Steve] Up first is Sarge.
-Ready, set, go.
-[Victoria] All right,
we got it.
What a start.
Let's go.
Come on, you got this, brother.
Yes!
[Dan] This one's about
two inches higher.
-[Victoria] Alright,
this one's tough.
-[Dan] Let's see if he can
do the final one.
[Victoria] You've got
the spirit.
About as tall
as his shoulders.
OK, we're gonna improvise
and go under.
Good recovery, Sarge.
18 seconds.
I didn't tell you this
at the start, but the limbo
is allowed.
-Thank goodness.
Yeah, they just put that rule
in this year.
-Congratulations, Sarge.
-He did amazing.
I salute you.
[Taylor]
After watching Sarge warm up on
the Puppy Bowl practice field,
I knew he would do great.
Our next hurdler is Beethoven.
-Ready, set, go.
-Wait, I wasn't ready.
-I screwed you up.
-[Dan] On your time, Beethoven.
[Victoria] But it's OK,
we're gonna recover.
You ready?
It's up to you.
[Dan] It's a little daunting
for Beethoven.
[Victoria] It is, shockingly,
but let's limbo.
-[Dan] There you go.
-Oh, look at that army crawl.
-He's got more spirit than this.
-Maybe you should demonstrate.
-Maybe you should demonstrate.
-Let's go, Beethoven, let's go.
Ready, one, watch this,
one, two, it's not that hard.
-Want a treat?
-Yeah, yeah.
-Go.
-One, two, three.
[clapping]
-Look at what Scout Dan did.
-Your turn, so easy.
[Victoria]
Give it a toss, come on,
finish, medium.
Guess what, guess what?
-That took about three minutes,
but he follows directions.
-Oh no.
-[Dan] He can be coached.
-[Victoria] He does, exactly.
[Steve]
With that kind of effort,
it looks like Beethoven may
need a nap.
[Taylor] Up next is Foxtrot,
who comes to us all the way
from Minnesota.
For more on his story,
let's bring in Natasha Carter.
Yes, at the Puppy Bowl,
we get pups from all
walks of life.
And this next pup, Foxtrot,
was actually rescued from
an indigenous reservation.
And I'm here with Ashley from
Pet Haven.
What was that environment like?
So he came from a home that had
over 20 dogs in it.
We got his mom, we didn't know
she was pregnant, and she had
a litter of nine puppies,
and Foxtrot was one of them.
[Natasha]
He looks like a Collie,
what do you think he is?
So we know dad was likely
a full Collie and mom is a mix
of Collie,
Shepherd, and probably
some Pointer.
So he has that merle coat,
which is pretty cool.
How do you think he's going to
do in the upcoming Combine?
He's a tall, lanky dude.
I think he could do well in
the hurdles,
if he can figure it out.
-We've got this.
Don't worry.
Watch.
-OK.
-[all] Oh!
Kind of looks like how
I do the foxtrot.
[Steve] Whoa, Foxtrot clips
the first hurdle big time.
-See if we can get
a jump on this last one.
-No, that's too...
-[Victoria] There it is.
-[Dan] Good work.
Back paws.
Back paws.
-Perfect.
-Did it.
-Good job, Foxtrot.
-Love it.
You know, and he finished it
with minimal destruction.
Little bit of trouble in
the start and just clearly
improved along the way.
Foxtrot, that was
a great foxtrot.
Let's see your jazz routine,
your rumba, then your tango.
[Steve] Here's how the pups
finished out.
Sarge earns his stripes as
the Combine Hurdles champion,
followed by Foxtrot,
and Beethoven placed ninth.
With two rounds of the Combine
complete, let's take a first
look at the Puppy Bowl
readiness ratings.
[Taylor] Belle went beast mode
in the Three-Bone Drill with
a record time.
[Steve] And Sarge took command
of the hurdles.
[Taylor]
Now that we've checked
the Puppy Bowl readiness
ratings, let's also take a look
at how one of our current pup
players made it to Puppy Bowl
XXI with help from
Bissell Pet Foundation.
[Cathy Bissell] Recently,
Bissell Pet Foundation traveled
to Northern Michigan to visit
Little Traverse Bay
Humane Society,
one of the partner shelters in
Bissell Pet Foundation's
national network.
They're making a huge
difference for the community
and the pets that they serve.
-Hey, Elise.
-Hey, Cathy.
-How are you?
-Good, how are you doing?
-It's great to see you.
-You too!
-These guys are adorable.
-How's it going?
-[Elise] Good.
Everything's been great.
We've been super busy,
saving a lot of pets.
[Cathy] Well, good.
I can't wait to meet all
the pets you have.
We have brand-new cat kennels
that we just got that I really
want to show you,
all of our amazing babies.
-Aww, it's wonderful, hi!
-Look at Millie.
[Elise]
She came in locally from one of
our transfer partners with two
little babies.
Bissell Pet Foundation was
established to reduce
the number of pets in shelters
and support partners like
Little Traverse Bay
Humane Society.
One way we do this is through
our Empty the Shelters adoption
program, the largest funded pet
adoption event in
North America.
Our nationwide events bring
awareness to adoption and get
people to visit their local
shelter to meet their pets.
[barking]
Since 2016, this program has
found homes for more than
280,000 pets across
the United States and Canada.
It really is amazing.
Cats and dogs of all breeds get
the second chance
that they deserve.
-Hello!
And with every adoption,
space is created in the shelter
to save another pet.
[Elise] Their Empty the Shelters
program reduces the adoption
fees so it's more affordable
for families to bring a pet
into their home.
And every newly adopted furry
friend comes home
vaccinated, microchipped,
and spayed or neutered.
[Cathy]
Sometimes, our partner shelters
struggle to find veterinarians
or lack the funding to spay
and neuter the pets
in their care.
To help solve this problem,
Bissell Pet Foundation started
the Fix the Future initiative.
With over 320 relief
veterinarians, we've served
thousands of pets,
prevented millions of unwanted
litters, and created more
adoption opportunities.
Cathy and her foundation do
so much to help these animals.
Having their support allows us
to continue to do the work
we do, which is to find loving
homes for as many of
these animals as possible.
[Cathy] Oh my gosh, that is
the cutest face ever.
-I mean, they're all cute,
but that little puppy
-Of course.
is adorable.
-[Elise] That's Trixie.
She was an owner surrender with
the rest of her litter.
[Cathy] She's precious.
Come here, girl.
[Elise] Hopefully she will be
adopted next.
[Cathy] We're gonna make that
happen right now.
[Elise] I love it.
OK, come on, Trixie.
Let's go to the Puppy Bowl.
Come on.
[Steve] That's great work
Bissell Pet Foundation does.
And joining us here from Little
Traverse Bay Humane Society
is Trixie.
[Taylor]
She'll be rocking the Bark Blue
bandana for Team Fluff in
the upcoming game while looking
for her forever home.
[Steve]
When the Puppy Bowl XXI Kickoff
continues, we'll climb to new
heights, take a deep dive into
the Puppy Bowl ball pit.
I mean, it looks a lot of fun.
I'm not gonna lie.
I would jump in too.
-[Steve] Welcome back to
the Puppy Bowl XXI kickoff.
-[barking]
A live look at the kickoff
practice field where the pups
are warming up for our next
Combine drill,
the vertigo-challenging A-frame,
or Incline Ramp.
Dan and Victoria,
tell us all about it.
That's right, guys,
the Incline Ramp is not for
the faint of heart.
This is a puppy proving ground
for self-confidence.
Victoria, any insights?
You know, for some pups,
this is a walk in the park.
They excel at it.
For others, more of a struggle.
So I'm gonna be right here
coaching them along,
getting them up and over,
working on that
surefootedness and confidence.
OK, let's get ready to reach
new heights.
[Taylor]
Ready to make the climb is
our Pitty limbo pup, Sarge.
-Reporting for duty.
-OK, sir.
-Let's see what
you've got on the incline.
-Get ready to be impressed.
All right, show him the magic.
Oh my gosh.
That is the heart of a winner.
All right, that was
really good.
-Great job, Sarge.
-[Victoria] Put that in
your notebook.
He doesn't even need me.
Look at this, it's so good.
-Fantastic, Sarge.
-[Taylor] Sarge is in charge.
I'm impressed.
[Steve]
From Buddy's second chance
rescue in Buffalo, New York
comes Lightning.
Beautiful, strong start.
You ready?
Good job, Lightning.
Keep it up.
[Victoria] Those back paws.
There it is.
Nice and slow.
-Clear the top.
-[Victoria] All the way to
the end.
-Nice and clear, very well done.
-Celebrate that victory.
That was so good!
-[Dan] Lightning, nice job.
-[Victoria] Yeah.
-[Steve] Our next
climber is Beethoven.
-[Dan] All right, Beethoven.
[Steve] Maybe ramps are easier
than hurdles for this
gentle giant.
Let's go.
We've been working this.
-Ready, set, go.
-[Victoria] Go.
You've got this.
What do we think?
[Taylor]
Steve, Beethoven either has
stage fright or is positioning
himself to be the best sleeper
pick in the upcoming draft.
Natasha Carter has more.
I'm with Grace, who's with
Beethoven, who was a little
sleepy in the Combine.
-Come on, last little bit.
[Natasha]
But he's clearly saving
it for the big game, right?
[Grace] Yeah, he performs best
with his teammates by his side,
so just wait and see.
-Mm-hmm.
[Natasha] So tell me a little
bit about his journey.
What is his background?
So Beethoven came from
Atlanta, Georgia.
He was a litter of five,
and he came to New York City.
So he's a city dog
at the moment.
[Natasha] So what can we expect
in the Puppy Bowl?
I think he really stands out.
He does his little rabbit hops
to defend and also get around
the other players.
[Natasha] And he was quick on
the practice field.
I have high hopes for him.
Good luck.
Thank you very much.
[Taylor] Here's a look at the
final Incline Ramp results.
Sarge and Lightning finished
one and two, while Beethoven
celebrated his 10th place
finish with
a well-deserved nap.
[Steve] The field is set for our
next Combine drill.
Let's go down to Dan.
[Dan] This is one of my favorite
Combine drills,
the Sniff & Find.
The concept is simple, right?
You've got a beautifully
scented tennis ball that's been
marinating for how long?
Two days in pure dehydrated
chicken, and I'm gonna stick it
in here...
[Dan] Oh, that's pretty deep.
[Taylor] First into the ball pit
is Kentucky's Julep.
Let's learn about her journey
to the Puppy Bowl from
Natasha Carter.
Yes, from the streets of
Kentucky all the way
to Puppy Bowl,
Julep is fluffy, but fearless.
And I'm here with her shelter
rep, Jae from Kentucky
Humane Society.
How you doing?
Good, how are you?
Yes, so give me a little
backstory on the name Julep.
How did you come up with it?
[Jae] We just kind of
want to tie it back to
Kentucky,
just to know where,
you know, home is.
She came in as a stray,
and then she went to
a foster home.
[Natasha]
What has she been like since
you guys rescued her?
[Jae] Oh, energy, energy,
energy.
So she definitely has two
working breeds in her,
the Saint Bernard
and the Collie.
So she definitely has that
stamina that energy, and she
just loves being a puppy
and she's gonna make someone
a very happy family.
-[Natasha] I bet.
-[Dan] All right.
-[Victoria] In you go.
[Dan] Good luck, Julep.
[Victoria] OK.
I like this approach.
This is a full body approach.
Oh yeah, just
submerge yourself, try to...
Yeah.
Displace everything.
...dig it out.
-Yep.
Yes.
Yeah, she's got a blue one
in her mouth.
That's OK.
This is like a warm-up.
She is really going for it.
I mean it looks a lot of fun,
I'm not gonna lie.
I would jump in too
and just hang.
I mean, I've taken
a couple turns.
Another big thing is, in
training, you want to make sure
it's fun, and right now,
she's having a great time.
Yeah,
no question about it.
[Steve] An interesting approach
here by Julep.
-Mm, yellow.
-[Dan] Mm, let me see.
-Not quite white.
-Not the one, but good try.
You got it.
-Thank you.
-[Taylor] She is having
a ball, Steve.
Several hundred,
to be precise.
-[Victoria] There it is!
-Yeah, let's see, let's
see, yes.
-Yay, amazing!
-OK, not too bad!
Good time -- minute and a half.
[Steve]
Coming up, the inspiring story
of our special needs Bulldog
Carl as he takes on
the Sniff & Find.
Plus, we'll steer our pups
through the challenging
Tire Course, when Puppy Bowl XXI
Kickoff continues.
[crowd cheering]
[Steve]
Welcome back to the Puppy Bowl
XXI Kickoff, another live look
at the kickoff practice field as
we get set to continue
the Puppy Bowl Combine.
[Taylor]
You know, Steve, not all
puppies are created equal.
Some of these sweet souls have
had to deal with some early
life obstacles.
Our field reporter,
Natasha Carter,
has more on one such pup.
I'm here with Janet from
Louie's Legacy, and tell us
about Carl.
I understand that Carl's
considered blind.
-[Janet] Right.
-[woman] Where are you?
-Where are you?
-So how does he get around?
He navigates perfectly like
a normal dog.
You would never believe that
he's blind.
Right away,
he learns his commands.
-Eight, nine
weeks old, he was sitting,
-[woman] Come here, baby.
learning multiple commands.
-[woman] Sit.
-[Janet] He's very smart.
-[woman] Good boy.
How's he with his other senses?
His nose is the big thing
because he could smell a treat
from really far away,
and he'll get to it.
-[woman] Boop.
[Steve] I can't wait to see how
this plays out for Carl as
we continue with
the Sniff & Find.
Let's go back down to
Dan and Victoria.
This is Carl.
He has a heightened sense of
smell, and I think you're going
to be super impressed.
Here's a drill you won't see
Travis Kelce doing, right?
-Definitely not.
-Strictly a dog-related
Combine drill.
[Victoria] Carl is already on
the scent.
I'm gonna pop it right
in there.
OK, you ready?
Are you ready to make
this happen?
-One, two, three!
-Clock starts now.
Off you go.
OK, now you see that
he's air scenting.
Right, scanning
the environment.
Exactly.
He might not be able to see,
but he can smell
like a champion.
-And that hearing is
equally acute.
-[cheering]
I believe it.
Makes his approach.
-Come on, Carl.
-[Dan] Zeros in on the target.
-[Victoria] So close.
-[Dan] A lot of determination.
Oh, I think we have a moment.
I think we have it.
[Dan] We have it?
We've got it.
-Victory! Way to go, Carl.
-Wow.
Amazing.
In under a minute.
-I knew he could do it.
-[Steve] What a performance.
Carl sure has a nose for
the ball, setting a new
Combine record.
The rest of the Sniff & Find
results look like this.
Let's go back down to Dan
and Victoria
for their thoughts.
OK, let's break
down Mr. Carl.
Very impressive showing
from him.
I'm so proud, because we worked
really, really hard.
He might not see really well,
but boy, can he pick
up a scent.
You wouldn't know that he had
any different abilities
going in there.
-[Victoria] Exactly.
He dove right in,
a record time, 58 seconds.
And I have to tell you,
this drill is very important,
especially for Puppy Bowl.
-They got to sniff out the chew
toys, and they got to sniff out
-Right.
who's on their team
and who's not.
So I'm so pleased with
how he did.
The pressure was on.
He delivered.
Can't wait to see what happens
during the draft, but I have
a feeling he's gonna be
just fine.
Oh, so happy.
[Steve] As we reset the field
for our next Combine drill,
let's meet another one of
our superstar draftable pups.
For more on Enrique's amazing
journey to Puppy Bowl XXI,
let's once again bring in
Natasha Carter.
Yes, well, I'm here with Marky
from The Sato Project,
and she brought a really
dynamic pup named Enrique.
Where did you find him?
The Sato Project rescued a very
pregnant dog from the sidewalks
of Puerto Rico.
They brought her under
their care, and she had
eight puppies,
and one of them was Enrique.
[Natasha]
What makes him unique,
and why do you think he's going
to be amazing in this year's
Puppy Bowl?
[Marky] Well, he's super smart.
He loves other dogs and people.
He loves to play.
He's very social.
[Natasha] Are strays a big
problem in Puerto Rico?
[Marky] They sure are.
There's over 650,000 stray dogs
on the island of Puerto Rico.
So that's one of the major
things The Sato Project's
trying to do is address
that crisis.
[Natasha]
So we know Enrique is a sato,
which means street dog,
but do you know the breed?
Well, Natasha,
I'm really not certain.
I think there's likely
a little Chihuahua.
He kinda looks a little
like a Rottweiler.
[Taylor]
Each and every one of our star
pups Puppy Bowl XXI will be
getting a Wisdom Panel DNA test
to find out exactly what
they're made of.
[Steve] Looking at Enrique,
I'm not convinced he has any
Rottweiler, but maybe some
German Shepherd.
[Taylor] Well, let's find out as
we welcome in
Dr. Annette Louviere from
Wisdom Panel.
What can you tell us about
the little sato pup?
So, with Enrique,
we detected 28 different breeds
in his DNA.
-[Taylor] Wow, that's amazing.
Yes, it's quite a lot.
Enrique's most prominent breeds
were Miniature Pinscher
and Chihuahua, that 13%.
He's also 11% Chow.
And yes, Steve, Enrique is 5%
German Shepherd, but he's also
3% Rottweiler.
[Steve] It's really hard to
guess a dog's breeds based on
looks alone.
-[Annette] It is, Steve.
There are so many variables
that determine
a dog's appearance.
That's why we DNA test.
Knowing a dog's ancestry can
help you predict canine
behaviors, detect genetic
conditions they may be prone
to, and help provide insight
into the best dietary
and veterinary choices you make
for your pet.
[Taylor] So how does the DNA
process work?
It's quite simple, Taylor.
We collect DNA via cheek swab
from each puppy, then send that
sample to our lab and run it
through our proprietary breed
detection system, which scans
for over 365 breeds.
This helps us pinpoint each
puppy's genetic makeup right
down to the percentage point.
[Steve] Wow, that's some
excellent science.
Thank you for joining
us, Doctor.
You're welcome.
Thank you for having me.
[Taylor] Up next is
the dreaded Tire Course.
Once again, Dan and Victoria
have the deets.
This next drill is
a combination of coordination,
strength, poise, and of
course, cuteness.
So Dan, this is a timed drill
where the puppies have to
navigate their way through
the tire obstacle course.
Now this tests the puppy's
agility and nimbleness, as well
as helping
build their confidence.
And those are skills they're
going to need out on the field.
So let's see how
they're gonna do.
Certainly what Team Ruff
and Team Fluff are looking for.
Let's burn some rubber.
[Steve] Up first is
our 28-breed sato mix.
-Hola, Enrique.
-There it is, you got it.
[Taylor] He certainly is cute,
but seems a bit intimidated
by the course.
-Head over to the next obstacle.
Come back to this one.
I'm not seeing a lot of speed.
I like his technique, though.
What he doesn't have in speed,
he has in charm.
-I mean, come on.
-His jaws move fast.
That's good.
He's a great eater.
Come halftime snack time,
he's gonna
light up the room.
-[Taylor] Next is Belle.
-You've got this.
So brave.
Oh, gracious, you got it.
[Taylor] Who nearly spins out
going into turn one.
-But she stays in high gear.
-[Victoria] Wow.
No hesitation.
[Dan]
I feel like she used the first
two set of tires to warm up,
and then this is
her grand finale.
-[Victoria] That's
exactly right.
-Belle of the ball.
[Taylor]
Wow, Belle looks to be both
a beauty and a beast.
[Steve] Looks like Alice is at
the starting line.
[Victoria] OK, show them how
it's done.
Wow, right out of
the gate.
Super, super impressive.
No fear.
[Dan] Oh, yeah.
She's got a small paw radius,
but she makes up for it
with her footwork.
-[Victoria] Lot of
tenacity here.
Ready?
Now we go through here.
Oh, my gosh.
-Wow!
-[Dan] Yeah.
Through the tires in
1.7 seconds.
[Victoria] I'm really,
really impressed.
You ready?
We're gonna do this one.
-Yay.
-Speedy.
That was so impressive.
No fear.
-Nice job, Alice.
-[Taylor] Wow.
Alice handled that Tire Course
faster than an Indy pit crew.
[Steve] She sure did.
Here is a look at the final
results of the Tire Course.
Alice takes the top spot,
followed by Belle and Enrique.
Let's take a look at
the updated Puppy Bowl
readiness ratings.
[Taylor]
Carl proved a disability didn't
define him, taking first place
in the Sniff & Find.
[Steve] And Alice's agility
training paid dividends.
She dominated the Tire Course.
The Puppy Bowl draft is coming
up, where we'll find out which
pups go to which team.
But first, we'll find out which
puppy is the fastest as
they take on the 40-Yard Dash,
where the Puppy Bowl
Kickoff continues.
[Taylor] Welcome back to
the Puppy Bowl XXI Kickoff.
Before we continue with
the Combine, we have a live
look-in to show you.
[Steve]
Yes, Taylor, the kittens have
arrived backstage where
they are rehearsing for
the upcoming Kitty Halftime
Show presented by Arm & Hammer
HardBall Kitty Litter.
This year's Cat-tacular will
have a special New Orleans
Mardi Gras theme.
-[Taylor] There will be
beads to catch.
[Steve] DJ Cat-led ["Khaled"]
will be scratching the decks.
[Taylor] And of course,
the show-stealing feline
parade float.
[Steve] This new crew is ready
to party, or as they say in
the Big Easy, le c'est le bon
temps rouler.
[Taylor] That's French for
"let the good times roll."
[Steve] Well, we're gonna get
rolling too.
Let's meet another one of
our draft-eligible puppies.
Natasha Carter is standing by.
You know, every pup deserves
a second chance, and our next
pup, Lightning, got that from
Buddy Second Chance Rescue.
And I'm here with Julie,
so tell us all about Lightning.
So Lightning came from
Laredo, Texas, from
an overcrowded shelter.
We brought Lightning with
her two siblings,
Hurricane and Thunder,
along with 20 other dogs to
Buffalo, New York, which is
where we are based.
[Natasha]
I mean, I know her name is
Lightning, so is she fast?
[Julie]
She's lean, she's got long
legs, she can run, and she is
bright and shines
like lightning.
[Natasha] What is
your prediction?
You think she's gonna be
drafted to Team Ruff
or Team Fluff?
I'm thinking Team Ruff's gonna
pick her up.
She looks like she would really
fit in with their team
and their skills
and their athleticism.
I know a lot of people will be
cheering for Lightning.
-I sure know we will be.
-Mm-hmm. Good luck.
[Taylor]
Thanks, Natasha.
With a name like Lightning,
that puppy has gotta be fast.
[Steve]
The field has been cleared
for our final and fastest
Combine drill --
let's go down to Dan.
This is the Combine event that
we've all been waiting for,
the 40-Yard Dash,
a straight line speed test from
one side to the other
that could really shake up
the Puppy Bowl draft.
I'll be at the end with
my trusty stopwatch.
Let's see how fast they can
make it from one end zone
to the other.
Let's go.
[crowd cheering]
[Steve] Up first is,
who else, but Lightning.
OK, Lightning, on your mark,
get set, go.
[Victoria] Let's go, Lightning,
yay!
-Dang, 2.5.
[Victoria] OK!
That's what I'm talking
about, Lightning.
Man, light really does travel
faster than sound.
[Taylor] Another look shows how
supercharged Lightning was to
get out of the blocks.
I haven't seen that fast
a start since Usain Bolt.
-No relation, right, Steve?
-[Steve] No relation, Taylor.
Mustering at the start
is Sarge.
-[Dan] On your mark,
get set, go.
-[Victoria] Let's do this.
Oh, my gosh.
You are looking so...
-[record scratches]
-[crowd] Aw!
-Oh, big stretch.
-Nice.
You got this.
Perfect.
-Yay.
-6.2 seconds.
Respectable.
You minus the pancake he just
pulled at the 50,
he's down at 4.2.
[Taylor] You know, being able to
accelerate, stop,
and start again is something
both Team Ruff and Team Fluff
will be looking for in
the upcoming draft.
[Steve] Next to the line is
Kentucky's Julep.
Julep ready.
Victoria ready.
Unleash the hounds.
No.
[Victoria] Let's go!
Oh, my gosh, that is the spirit
of the champion.
-[Dan] Wow, great work.
-[Victoria] Yeah.
[Dan] She's a great mix.
I don't know what mix she might
be, but I know that half of it
is ball hog and speedster.
[Steve]
Ready to run is Beethoven from
Best Friends Animal Society.
On your mark, get set, go.
[Victoria] Let's see what
you got, brother.
You got this.
Put it into second gear
at least.
I love it.
This is a well thought
out dash.
[Steve]
Getting ready to run next is
Trio, who has just three legs,
but a need for speed.
Natasha has more on
his heartwarming story.
Here at the Puppy Bowl,
we love giving unique
pups a voice.
And right now I'm here with
Julie from Louie's Legacy
Animal Rescue.
And she has a special pup that
dominates the field with only
one hind leg.
How did you meet him?
[Julie] He came to us from
a puppy mill as a survivor.
He was born with a bone
deformity in his front two legs
and the hind leg was bitten
off tragically.
So there's never gonna be
a normal way of
walking for him.
He doesn't know that he's any
different than any of
the other puppies.
[Natasha]
How do you think this is going
to affect his performance?
He's been training since seven
or eight weeks old,
and it's an everyday
experience for him.
This is literally how
he manages the world.
You usually adopt out these
puppies, but tell me why
you decided to keep him.
So despite having, I don't
know, over 75 fosters myself,
he's gonna be the first
foster fail of mine.
He's been a super unique
journey for both me and him.
A constant reminder of why
I started volunteering with
a shelter,
and I can't live without him.
I don't know about everybody
else, but my heart is
certainly warmed.
Thank you for doing the good
work and rescuing our boy.
[Steve] Good to see that Trio
has a loving home.
He's ready at
the starting line.
[Dan] On your mark,
get set, go.
[Victoria clapping] Let's see
what you got.
Oh my gosh.
New record, new record.
You've got this.
I'm so proud of you.
Unbelievable.
5.4 seconds.
[Victoria] You are a superstar.
Trio, I'm gonna show this to
all the young rookies out there
because that is some very
inspirational stuff.
-I'm so proud.
-Get yourself an agent, buddy.
Whoa.
[Steve] Here's a look at the
results from the 40-Yard Dash.
Lightning claims the title of
fastest pup, followed by Julep.
and Trio clocks in sixth with
a truly unforgettable run.
[Taylor] Team Fluff is
officially on the clock.
Who will be the first
pup drafted?
Where will your favorite pup
be picked?
Find out as we bring in
Puppy Bowl statistician,
Cynthia Frelund, to help break
down the data and analyze
the adorability when the Puppy
Bowl Kickoff continues.
[Steve] Welcome back to
the Puppy Bowl XXI Kickoff.
The draft is set to begin.
Team Fluff is officially
on the clock.
[Taylor] As we await their pick,
let's bring in our Puppy Bowl
statistician, Cynthia Frelund,
for a closer look
inside the numbers.
-Thanks, Steve and Taylor.
Just looking at the Combine
results, Foxtrot,
Alice, and Julep have clearly
positioned themselves as draft
frontrunners.
But when adorability and charm
are figured in,
Belle may have an edge here.
[Taylor]
What's the one skill Team Ruff
and Team Fluff are looking for
in a draft pick?
-Speed.
It's something both teams put
a premium on.
and Lightning's 40-Yard Dash
topped out at 18.3 mph.
But more coveted than speed is
cuteness, and Enrique's
pookie factor is off the charts.
[Steve]
All right, Cynthia, which puppy
still has something to prove?
Well, looking into the data,
Beethoven's Combine performance
was anything but an ode to joy.
He wasn't interested in
the hurdles, he didn't put much
effort into the 40-Yard Dash,
but he was voted
Best Snuggle Buddy in
the Puppy Player Lounge.
So we'll have to see what
Team Ruff and Team Fluff think.
Should be an interesting draft.
Back to you guys.
[Steve] Thanks, Cynthia.
All 10 of these pups are
special and will all play in
the upcoming game.
The Puppy Bowl draft works
like this.
Team Ruff and Team Fluff will
draft five pups each over
five rounds.
-[Taylor] On the clock is
Team Fluff.
[Steve] Well, that didn't
take long.
Team Fluff has turned in
their draft card.
With the first pick in
the Puppy Bowl XXI draft,
Team Fluff selects...Julep.
[Taylor]
Wow, what a great first choice.
Julep had an amazing Combine.
[Steve] She finished in the top
five in the Sniff & Find,
the Tire Course,
and the 40-Yard Dash,
a dominant performance
all around.
Julep, you got a lot to be
proud about.
Number one overall draft pick.
And I might add, heaviest pup
of the entire Combine.
You've earned it, pal.
Congratulations.
Yes, I'll take a kiss.
OK, OK.
[Steve] With their first pick in
the Puppy Bowl draft, Team Ruff
selects...Foxtrot.
[Taylor]
Foxtrot's a multi-paws-ition pup
who can play running back
or middle linebarker.
[Steve] With their second pick,
Team Fluff drafts Alice from
Florida Little Dog Rescue.
With their second pick,
Team Ruff takes Trio.
Moving into the third round,
Team Fluff enlists Sarge.
Ruff follows that up by
selecting the spunky
sato pup, Enrique.
[Steve]
In the fourth round, Team Fluff
takes San Diego's Belle.
[Taylor]
In need of a game-changing deep
threat, Team Ruff strikes
fast, taking Lightning with
their fourth pick.
[Steve]
In the fifth round, Team Fluff
picks fan favorite Carl with
their final pick.
[Taylor] Team Ruff closes out
their draft taking the best pup
available and a true sleeper
pick, Beethoven.
Let's go down to Dan.
That concludes this year's
Puppy Bowl XXI Draft.
All 10 puppies are ready to
meet their new teammates in
the Puppy Bowl locker room
and go over any
last-minute game plans.
There are a record number of
pups suited up for
Puppy Bowl XXI,
and each one has very
special talents.
Now speaking of suiting up,
it's time for me to get changed
into my referee outfit.
Let's go.
[Taylor]
We're counting down to
the start of the biggest
and cutest Puppy Bowl ever.
I'm so ready.
[Steve] Me too, Taylor.
Special thanks to our animal
expert, Victoria,
field reporter Natasha Carter,
Our Puppy Bowl statistician,
Cynthia Frelund,
and of course, Dan the ref,
who has changed into
his familiar stripes.
The moment we've been working
for all year is finally here.
You can feel the excitement in
the air for Puppy Bowl XXI.
[cheering]
Yes!
The adorable cuteness overload
is off the charts.
I'm ready.
Are the pups ready?
-Oh yeah!
-The fans are ready.
Let's do this!
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Puppy Bowl XXI (2025)
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