Oldies vs. Goldies: The Puppy Bowl’s First-Ever Senior Dog Faceoff Is too Cute to Miss
Older dogs get their moment to shine in this year's adorable halftime game. Here's what to know
If you love the annual Puppy Bowl just as much—if not more so—than the Super Bowl, there’s yet another reason to tune in this year: senior dogs! For the first time, older animals will also be taking their place on the field, and fans are excited by the addition. Wondering what to expect? Find out more about the senior pups that will be appearing in the 2026 Puppy Bowl and how you can watch all of the action for yourself. It’s sure to be a doggone good time!
What is the Puppy Bowl senior dog halftime show?
Since it first aired in 2005, Animal Planet’s beloved Puppy Bowl has captured hearts everywhere thanks to its adorable line-up of canine competitors. Though the young and energetic puppies continue to be the star of the show, this year’s event will also shine a spotlight on a new group of animals: senior dogs.
The 2026 Puppy Bowl will feature a halftime game between two new teams, Team Oldies and Team Goldies, in what promises to be a truly special showdown.
“They bring a different energy to the field,” Victoria Schade, the show’s lead dog trainer and wrangler, told the Associated Press. “With the puppies, we have that unbridled puppyhood enthusiasm, whereas the senior dogs, they’ve got a playbook. They’ve been through a lot and they’re going to strategize a little harder than those puppies are.”
Like years before it, the annual event will continue to spread the message about the benefits of animal adoption by featuring dogs from 72 shelters across the United States, Puerto Rico and the British Virgin Islands. But with the inclusion of senior pups, the hope is that people will consider taking an older dog into their home too.
So who are these special senior stars? Let’s meet them!
A look at the senior dogs competing in the 2026 Puppy Bowl
Discovery has teased the Puppy Bowl XII line-up ahead of the pre-recorded event, including the adorable senior dogs! Each dog will be sporting either a black or gold bandana so you can keep track of which team—Team Oldies or Team Goldies—that you’re rooting for this year.
It’s hard to say who might be the MVP of the new “Pro-Dog Halftime Show” with so many promising contenders. Could it be Willie the beagle who leads his team to victory, or will Moonie the chihuahua step up to the plate?
However, they might be facing some tough competition with Tiki the Shiba Inu or the terrier Starlight. When fans watch this weekend, they could be following a pawsitively intense game!
Here’s a list of the senior dogs you can cheer on this Sunday:
Team Oldies
- Willie
- Pugsley
- Moonie
- Melvin
- Emmie
- Daisy
- Boomer
Team Goldies
- Tiki
- Starlight
- Matthew
- Jodi
- Gazpacho
- Charlotte
- Caddie
How to watch Puppy Bowl 2026
Ready to enjoy all of the four-legged fun? Tune into Animal Planet, Discovery, TBS or trueTV on Sunday, Feb. 8 at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT. If you don’t have cable, you’re not out of luck! The event will also stream on HBO Max and discovery+ as well.
Even more good news: The show will air on a loop throughout the day, so you can re-watch your favorite moments or catch any plays you missed the first time.
Here’s hoping the 2026 Puppy Bowl will be an experience the dogs—and viewers—won’t soon fur-get!
Conversation
All comments are subject to our Community Guidelines. Woman's World does not endorse the opinions and views shared by our readers in our comment sections. Our comments section is a place where readers can engage in healthy, productive, lively, and respectful discussions. Offensive language, hate speech, personal attacks, and/or defamatory statements are not permitted. Advertising or spam is also prohibited.
