ANIMAL PLANET and streaming service discovery+ have scheduled a lineup of new Puppy Bowl programming leading up to “Puppy Bowl XVII,” which airs annually on the same day as the Super Bowl.

“Puppy Bowl XVII” will be available for streaming Sunday, Feb. 7, on discovery+ and air at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT on Animal Planet the same day.

Leading up to the matchup between Team Ruff and Team Fluff will be a slate of “Puppy Bowl Presents” specials.

The programming includes “Puppy Bowl Presents: The Dog Games,” hosted by Kym Whitley which streams exclusively on discovery+. The hourlong special will pit four pairs of dogs and amateur trainers against one another to show which dog (and trainer) has the best tricks and talent.

The pairs move through three different rounds of increasing competition while being judged by pro dog trainer Travis Brorsen and style judge Crystal Powell, and one pair is eliminated in each round. The two best teams move on to the final round to see who wins game and US$5,000 to donate to the charity of their choice.

Meanwhile, two other specials — “Puppy Bowl XVII Presents: Best in Show” and “Puppy Bowl XVII Presents: Puppy Bowl Nation” — will stream on discovery+ and premiere on Animal Planet.

“Best in Show” will reunite some of the “top dogs” of the past 16 years of “Puppy Bowl” to reveal what their lives have been like since their big TV moments. One will be named “Best in Show.”

“Puppy Bowl Nation” will take viewers across the U.S. country to catch up with some other former players.

“The Dog Games” is produced for Animal Planet by Lionsgate’s Pilgrim Media Group is association with Half Yard. with Craig Piligian, Melodie Calvert, Dirk Hoogstra, and Nicole Sorrenti serving as executive producers. For Animal Planet, Keith Hoffman is executive producer with Sarah Russell as supervising producer.

“Best in Show” is produced for Animal Planet by Bright Spot Content, an All3Media America company. Colby Hartburg is executive producer and showrunner with Cindy Kain and Sandy Varo Jarrell also serving as executive producers.

For Animal Planet, Pat Dempsey serves as Supervising Producer and Marissa Donovan is production coordinator.

“Puppy Bowl Nation” is produced for Animal Planet by Bright Spot Content, an All3Media America company. Colby Hartburg is executive producer and showrunner with Cindy Kain and Sandy Varo Jarrell also serving as executive producers.

For Animal Planet, Pat Dempsey serves as supervising producer and Marissa Donovan is production coordinator.

(SD-Agencies)