--- title: How to Referee the Puppy Bowl | TIME description: The Puppy Bowl Is the largest competitor to the Super Bowl for non-humans, but how does one referee it? canonical: https://time.com/video/ODNnE8bX/ og:title: How to Referee the Puppy Bowl og:description: The Puppy Bowl Is the largest competitor to the Super Bowl for non-humans, but how does one referee it? og:url: https://time.com/video/ODNnE8bX/ og:image: https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/ODNnE8bX/poster.jpg?width=720 og:type: video.other twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: How to Referee the Puppy Bowl twitter:description: The Puppy Bowl Is the largest competitor to the Super Bowl for non-humans, but how does one referee it? twitter:image: https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/ODNnE8bX/poster.jpg?width=720 --- # How to Referee the Puppy Bowl > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. 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They are at time.com/newsletters and are separate from a paid subscription. ## Video: How to Referee the Puppy Bowl [Watch (HLS stream): How to Referee the Puppy Bowl](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/ODNnE8bX.m3u8) (2:05)  _Published 2014-01-31. The Puppy Bowl Is the largest competitor to the Super Bowl for non-humans, but how does one referee it?_ --- Jul 27, 2023 4:09 PM UTC --- ## More From This Series [All Videos](https://time.com/video/) [Dog-Gone Facts About the Puppy Bowl](/video/X6jU845V/) ### Dog-Gone Facts About the Puppy Bowl [WATCH GoDaddy Super Bowl 2015 Puppy Ad Go Daddy XLIX Puppy Commercial Ad - VIDEO](/video/lM4wvJUH/) ### WATCH GoDaddy Super Bowl 2015 Puppy Ad Go Daddy XLIX Puppy Commercial Ad - VIDEO [Behind the Scenes at Puppy Bowl 2013](/video/LDgqb9Wr/) ### Behind the Scenes at Puppy Bowl 2013 --- ## Transcript >> It's that time of the year again, the 10th Annual Puppy Bowl where dogs were touchdowns by dragging chew toys into the end zone. TIME chatted with the referee about how he runs the show. >> So, what's your game plan for the Puppy Bowl? >> My game plan is the same as it is every year. I just have to organize the chaos. I'm basically the only human-- Touchdown! I have no help. It's just me. >> How do you get them to focus during the game? Do you have any tricks or tips? >> Yes. I have a A pocket full of bacon bits that I used liberally as needed. So, we have a pre- game ritual. We talked it into the locker room and we get them excited. We just get them-- We told them that this is like the biggest game of their lives and they've got to do it up and usually they comply. >> Do you demonstrate some of the calls you have to make as a ref like what sort of frequently? >> So, instead of like pass interference, we have pause interference so I'll blow the whistle or throw a flag for that, illegal " fur" mation, we have rough sides, intentional growling, illegal bathing, excessive cuteness, excessive napping, premature watering in the lawn- that happens a lot too. >> Who has the most potential of what you've seen this week, any particular breed or-- >> I would say the smaller the breed, the more deceptive they can be so don't let size fool you when it comes to, you know, potential because the biggest dogs can be tricked and fooled and run underneath from and, you know, these things can be snatched out in your hands- excuse me, they're paws. Two years ago, there was something that I won't go down in history as the event that never occurred. It was a famous double touchdown. >> It's a Puppy Bowl first simultaneous scored. >> And that was my favorite moment because I even didn't know that could occur. >> What is their offseason? >> Offseason includes a lot of napping, snacking. My offseason is not like that. I'm just in constant training. I go to New York City Dog Parks and I run scrimmages with the puppies that are their even if they don't want me there. >> How do you teach a dog to play football? >> You don't. It's gonna be sloppy. There's gonna be accidents. There's gonna be mishaps. 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