He surprised on Team Ruff as a young gun, then got here again to teach a Puppy Bowl participant — now Maddux is one in all 4 gamers set to be inducted into the Puppy Bowl Hall of Fame on Sunday.
Maddux, whose title was Bubba when he performed in Puppy Bowl XI, discovered his perpetually home the day Puppy Bowl 2015 was being filmed. This yr’s Puppy Bowl will function 131 adoptable puppies from 73 shelters and rescues.
From a shelter to the Puppy Bowl
Maddux/Bubba had initially been discovered deserted in an condominium alongside together with his brothers and sisters, proprietor Michelle Maskaly stated. She met him when she volunteered to assist Florida Little Dog Rescue in the course of the taping of 2015’s Puppy Bowl.
“I pulled this one canine, which ended up being Bubba, out of his crate that morning and I used to be like ‘oh my gosh – this canine is simply cute. I really like him,'” Maskaly stated.
He shined on the Puppy Bowl discipline, scoring a number of touchdowns. He was additionally nice as a defensive participant, Maskaly stated. She adopted him on the day of the Puppy Bowl and renamed him Maddux, after baseball Hall of Famer Greg Maddux. The chihuahua-terrier combine, now 9, remains to be energetic — he likes to run and play on agility tools.
Michelle Maskaly
“He’s an exquisite snuggler,” Maskaly stated. “He’s very empathetic and he is very intuitive.”
Maddux is trying ahead to consuming soccer formed pupcakes on the day of the Puppy Bowl.
Preparing for the Puppy Bowl
Florida Little Dog Rescue, the place Maddux is from, has participated within the Puppy Bowl for years, rescue director Laurie Johnson stated. Ahead of the massive sport, a coach works with puppies from the rescue to verify they’re comfy with lights and sounds.
“We need the puppies to have a good time once they go, so we work arduous with them upfront to make it possible for they’re desensitized to that,” Johnson stated.
While they are not specializing in tips on how to rating touchdowns, which occurs when puppies convey toys into the tip zone, one pup from Florida Little Dog Rescue has discovered a soccer trick. Taylor, a Shih Tzu in her Puppy Bowl period, has discovered to ring a bell when she hears “landing!”
Laurie Johnson
The pup, one in all seven from Florida Little Dog Rescue taking part on this yr’s sport, is called for Taylor Swift. She even has a Chiefs jersey.
What it is best to know concerning the 2024 Puppy Bowl
This yr’s Puppy Bowl, airing Feb. 11 at 2 p.m., is Puppy Bowl XX. The puppies are split into two teams: Team Fluff and Team Ruff. “Fur-ocious” gamers on this yr’s sport vary in dimension from Sweetpea, at 1.7 kilos, as much as Levi, a 70-pound Great Dane.
Players compete to win the “Lombarky” trophy and, every year, a pup is topped MVP — Most Valuable Puppy. Referee Dan Schachner can be joined by puppy assistant Whistle, a “ruff-eree” who will assist Schachner bark the performs and fumbles.
The present airs on Animal Planet, Discovery, TBS, truTV, Max and discovery+ earlier than the Super Bowl. Some names may appear acquainted to followers of San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes; Chihuahua combine Bark Purdy can be enjoying on Team Ruff this yr whereas Patrick Mabones, a hound combine, performs for Team Fluff.
Penalties might be known as for “pointless rrruff-ness” and “paws interference.” Johnson recalled one pup, Mr. Wigglesworth, bought a penalty for extreme slumber on the sphere.
It’s a day of cute viewing for followers and enjoyable for the dogs.
“They view it as ‘oh my gosh, it is an enormous playgroup, we will have a lot enjoyable,'” Johnson stated. “It’s sort of like taking your child to Chuck E. Cheese.”
Adoption and the Puppy Bowl
Viewers are capable of be taught extra about puppies at shelters and rescues throughout the nation, all whereas seeing “pup-tastic” performs. Animal rescue staff say the occasion exposes potential adopters to the wide range of dogs searching for perpetually houses.
“They attempt to present you may get a golden retriever, you may get a corgi, you will discover a chihuahua combine, you will discover a lab combine, you will discover a beagle, you will discover a Great Dane,” Johnson stated. “You can discover all types of canine breeds — purebred, combine, designer — in rescue. You simply need to be affected person.”
Laurie Johnson
Johnson’s corgi, Clara, performed in Puppy Bowl XV, throughout which she had an “extreme quantity of enjoyable with the water bowl,” Johnson stated. She was fostering Clara, however ended up adopting her. Clara can also be set to be inducted into the Puppy Bowl Hall of Fame this yr.
Maskaly views Maddux as an envoy. She stated individuals typically cease her to ask about Maddux and are stunned to listen to he is a rescue. Maskaly has continued to volunteer serving to out on the Puppy Bowl. It principally includes selecting up canine poop on the day of the sport, however Maskaly stated she loves with the ability to convey consideration to dogs in want of houses.
“Being capable of play a tiny little half in that, to assist convey consideration to them, is what I like greatest about it,” she stated.
