Schade is the lead animal wrangler for Animal Planet’s extremely popular “Puppy Bowl,” which this year will pit Team Fluff versus Team Ruff as lovable puppies “play” football inside Puppy Bowl Stadium for the “Lombarky” Trophy.
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“The Super Bowl this year is obviously going to be a big draw. But there’s nothing cuter than puppies having fun together on a football field. It’s the cutest show you could watch,” said Schade, who participated in the taping of this year’s program last October in Glens Falls, New York.
“It’s basically football with puppies. They are scoring touchdowns. We’ll have puppies napping on the field. They play with each other. They give cute little facial expressions. It’s just an adorable spectacle,” she said.
(Animal Planet Puppy Bowl image)
The objective behind the program, said Schade, is to bring awareness to the adoption and rescue of dogs and puppies.
“The message is foster, rescue, adoption – all the things we can do to get these puppies into wonderful homes,” she said.
More than 120 adoptable puppies from 67 shelters and saves will be taking part in this year’s program, consisting of a variety of unique requirements dogs,” she said. “They are provided by 34 shelters from across the United States.
“There are so many different types of dogs available through the rescue system,” said Schade. “It’s a great way to open peoples’ eyes to the types of dogs that are out there.”
Working behind the scenes on the program, Schade assists manage what Animal Planet refers to as a “fur-tastic battle” that happens on the grand stadium of Puppy Bowl Stadium.
“Any of the directed action that we require to catch, 9 times out of 10 I’m the one who is choreographing it and making it take place,” said Schade. “And these are inexperienced animals, mind you. It’s not like they are bringing trained, set-wise animals. I’m dealing with these small little puppies who have no hint what’s going on. So I’ll utilize my techniques of the trade to coax efficiencies from them.”
For example, she said when the video game opens they’ll play the National Anthem and audiences will see the animals searching for at the flag.
(Animal Planet Puppy Bowl)
“They are actually looking up at me with my little treats,” she said.
There’s likewise a scene at the end where 2 puppies are resting on either side of the Lombarky Trophy.
“Again, these are untrained puppies so I have to use all of my tricks to get them to sit, stay for a good 30 seconds, which is not easy,” she said.
“Then there’s the starting lineups. Before play begins, they introduce the players to the field and they come running out of this tunnel and there’s dry ice and smoke and it’s very dramatic. And I am kneeling across the field going ‘come to me, come to me.’
“It’s overwhelming because they get to the edge of that tunnel and they’re like, ‘Oh my gosh. There are lights and people.’ But then they hear me calling and realize I’ve got treats and it’s a safe place for them to go,” she said. “And they run across the field to me.
“I’m basically on set the entire time,” she said. “It’s a lot of fun. And it’s my favorite week of the year.”
Schade, who has actually been training dogs for twenty years, initially got included with the Puppy Bowl 17 years back after a cameraman she was dealing with to produce among her training videos asked if she’d like to get associated with the program.
“That was back before anyone ever heard of the show,” she said. “Today, it’s my claim to fame.”
Schade is likewise an accomplished author and author, penning 2 dog training books, “Bonding with Your Dog” and “Secrets of a Dog Trainer.”
She has actually likewise authored 4 books, “Life on the Leash,” “Who Rescued Who,” “Lost, Found, and Forever” and “Dog Friendly” with a 5th book to be launched in September entitled “Unleashed Holiday.”
Schade makes use of her experience with a canine cast to establish her characters. All of her books consist of popular pups that win over the heart.
Longtime Doylestown homeowners may keep in mind Schade from her 42 East State Street shop. She run “Life On the Leash” for 6 years in Doylestown Borough.
She resides in Doylestown with her other half, Tom; her dogs Millie, a smooth Brussels griffon; Olive, a combined breed dog; and the periodic foster puppy.
The Puppy Bowl starts with a pregame program at 1 p.m. followed by the video game at 2 p.m. The Puppy Bowl will air on 3 networks – Animal Planet, TBS and the Discovery Channel – and 2 streaming platforms – discovery+ and HBO Max.
