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Entry 726Filed under Breeding

Meet 2026 Puppy Bowl adorable doggy players

Puppy Bowl XXII featured 150 shelter dogs, including notable Team Ruff and Team Fluff players, special-needs dogs, and a senior-dog exhibition. Discovery’s official galleries list player details and confirm selected adoptions.
5-minute read By Animalso Team

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Puppy Bowl XXII, the 2026 edition, aired on February 8, 2026, with a record 150 dogs from 72 shelters across the United States, Puerto Rico, and the British Virgin Islands. The players competed for Team Ruff and Team Fluff, and the program also featured 15 dogs with special needs and a senior-dog halftime exhibition. Discovery’s official galleries list featured players and confirm specific adoptions, but do not provide a complete adoption record for all 150 dogs.

What was Puppy Bowl XXII?

Puppy Bowl XXII aired at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT on February 8, 2026. It was simulcast on Animal Planet, Discovery, TBS, truTV, HBO Max, and discovery+. Discovery reported the event’s record 150 dogs from 72 shelters across the United States, Puerto Rico, and the British Virgin Islands.

Discovery’s official Meet the Players gallery includes 137 photos and identifies players by name, team, sex, breed or mix, and rescue organization when available. That photo count is not the roster size: Discovery advertised 150 dogs for the event. The program also included dogs who were not young puppies, including a separate senior-dog matchup.

Notable Team Fluff players

Player Breed or mix Rescue organization What makes them memorable
Benito Siberian Husky–Chihuahua mix The Sato Project, New York and Puerto Rico Named in honor of Bad Bunny
Showgirl Chow Chow–Rottweiler mix Kentucky Humane Society, Louisville, Kentucky A mixed-breed player with a big personality
Chappell Bone Pembroke Welsh Corgi Florida Little Dog Rescue, St. Cloud, Florida A short-legged player built for the turf
Wynonna Three-legged Miniature American Shepherd–Shih Tzu mix Kentucky Humane Society One of the event’s special-needs players
Cheesecake Shih Tzu–Miniature Schnauzer mix Humane Society of Missouri, St. Louis A small mixed-breed competitor with a memorable name
Fudge Pomeranian–Chihuahua mix spcaLA, Los Angeles A tiny player representing a Los Angeles rescue
Rhett Basset Hound Homeward Bound, Mishawaka, Indiana Long ears and short legs made him easy to spot

Wynonna deserves particular attention. Her three legs did not keep her from joining the game, and she was among the 15 dogs with special needs included in the 2026 program, according to the Warner Bros. Discovery press release.

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Notable Team Ruff players

Player Breed or mix Rescue organization What makes them memorable
Lobster Roll Bulldog–Border Collie mix Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland, Westbrook, Maine A distinctive name for an energetic mixed-breed player
Brûlée Boston Terrier–French Bulldog mix Green Dogs Unleashed, Troy, Virginia A compact mix with a dessert-inspired name
Miso American Cattle Dog–Beagle mix Not specified in Discovery’s highlighted announcement One of Discovery’s featured Team Ruff players
Carrie Pawshaw Elkhound–American Eskimo mix Paws Across Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania A playful name paired with a distinctive northern-breed mix
Oscar Toy Poodle Phoenix Animal Rescue, West Chester, Pennsylvania A small purebred player from a Pennsylvania rescue

Discovery described Brûlée as a Boston Terrier–French Bulldog mix. Use that listed breed description rather than guessing from appearance, since rescue dogs can have complex or uncertain breed backgrounds.

Special-needs dogs in the 2026 Puppy Bowl

Puppy Bowl XXII included 15 dogs with special needs, according to the Warner Bros. Discovery press release. Wynonna, the three-legged Miniature American Shepherd–Shih Tzu mix, was one of them. Another was Eleanor, who is deaf and vision-impaired.

Including dogs with disabilities gives viewers a chance to see them as individual animals rather than reducing them to a diagnosis. Any dog adopted from a shelter should be assessed as an individual, but dogs with disabilities may need additional planning around mobility, communication, home layout, veterinary care, and introductions to other pets.

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The senior-dog halftime exhibition

Puppy Bowl XXII introduced the Pro-Dog Halftime Showdown, a senior-dog exhibition featuring Team Oldies and Team Goldies. The Warner Bros. Discovery press release describes this separate showcase; not every participant in the event was a puppy.

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The official gallery lists senior participants including:

  • Boomer
  • Caddie
  • Charlotte
  • Daisy
  • Emmie
  • Gazpacho
  • Jodi
  • Matthew
  • Melvin
  • Moonie
  • Pugsley
  • Starlight
  • Tiki
  • Willie

The senior showcase is a reminder that older shelter dogs can still be playful, social, and camera-ready. They may also suit adopters seeking a calmer companion and a more predictable adult temperament.

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Which 2026 Puppy Bowl players were adopted?

Discovery’s separate Puppy Bowl XXII Forever Homes gallery confirms adoptions for featured players including:

Benito, Boba, Brooke, Brûlée, Button, Carrie Pawshaw, Cheesecake, Gold Nugget, Litchi, Lobster Roll, Moonie, Mutt Snifford, Oscar, Pickles, Queso, Remy, Slugger, Strawberry, Summer, Truffle, and Wynonna.

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This is a confirmed list of featured adoptions, not proof that every dog in the 150-dog field was adopted. Discovery’s public Forever Homes page does not establish a complete status record for every participant.

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How to look up the complete player gallery

  1. Open Discovery’s Puppy Bowl XXII: Meet the Players gallery.
  2. Use the player photos to find a dog by name, team, breed or mix, sex, or rescue organization.
  3. Check the separate Forever Homes gallery for adoption information.
  4. Contact the listed shelter or rescue directly for current adoption status, since a television feature does not replace the organization’s own records.

The gallery also identifies 16 Starting Line Up players who competed in the Walmart and PEDIGREE® Pupularity Playoffs for the “Most Pupular” title. Check the official gallery for those players and roster details.

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Why the rescue details matter

The appeal of Puppy Bowl players goes beyond their names and costumes. Each dog represents a shelter or rescue organization that helped prepare the animal for adoption and connected the production with its wider rescue network.

If a particular player catches your eye, consider supporting that dog’s rescue, looking at other animals available through the same organization, or adopting locally. A dog does not need to appear on television to be a great companion. Consider breed mix, age, energy level, health, and behavior before adoption—not just a photogenic face or clever name.

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  • DURABLE RUBBER BALL: Built tough for revolutionary fetch games, our rugged dog toy features a textured surface and a thick rubber core that can withstand rough play. It's soft on your dog's mouth, but no toy is truly indestructible and not intended as a chew toy or for aggressive chewers
  • SIZING MATTERS: The large Ultra Ball is 3 inches in diameter and best suited for breeds weighing 60-100lbs. Dog balls should always be small enough for your pet to carry but large enough that the ball cannot completely fit in their mouth. When in doubt, buy a size up.
  • MAKE FETCH HAPPEN: Chuckit! toys make the best gifts for pet lovers. The Ultra Ball is just one of many indoor and outdoor interactive dog toy options we offer, including tumblers, tennis balls, and more. As the #1 stocking stuffers, Chuckit! toys have something for every pet.
  • CHUCKIT!: For 20 years, Chuckit! has been leading the game of fetch. The special connection between pets and owners is at the heart of every toy we make. With iconic shapes and vibrant colors, Chuckit! toys elevate every adventure, strengthening the bond between you and your furry friend.

FAQ

How many dogs were in the 2026 Puppy Bowl?

Discovery reported that Puppy Bowl XXII featured a record 150 dogs from 72 shelters across the United States, Puerto Rico, and the British Virgin Islands. The event also included a separate senior-dog exhibition.

Who was Wynonna in Puppy Bowl XXII?

Wynonna was a three-legged Miniature American Shepherd–Shih Tzu mix on Team Fluff from the Kentucky Humane Society. Discovery’s Forever Homes gallery confirms that she was adopted.

Which 2026 Puppy Bowl players were adopted?

Discovery confirms adoptions for featured players including Benito, Brûlée, Carrie Pawshaw, Cheesecake, Lobster Roll, Moonie, Oscar, Remy, Truffle, and Wynonna, among others. This featured-adoption list is not a complete adoption record for all 150 dogs.

Were all of the 2026 Puppy Bowl participants puppies?

No. Puppy Bowl XXII also included the Pro-Dog Halftime Showdown, a senior-dog exhibition with Team Oldies and Team Goldies. The official gallery lists participants including Boomer, Caddie, Charlotte, Daisy, Emmie, Gazpacho, Jodi, Matthew, Melvin, Moonie, Pugsley, Starlight, Tiki, and Willie.

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The Bottom Line

Puppy Bowl XXII brought together 150 shelter dogs, including standout players such as Benito, Wynonna, Lobster Roll, Brûlée, Carrie Pawshaw, and Oscar. The event also included 15 dogs with special needs and a senior-dog halftime game. For player details and confirmed adoption information, consult Discovery’s official Meet the Players and Forever Homes galleries.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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