11 Athletic Puppies with Special Needs Are Part of the 2025 Puppy Bowl Lineup

Eleven dogs with special needs are part of the record-breaking 2025 Puppy Bowl lineup.

Puppy Bowl XXI is set to feature the most puppies ever, with 142 dogs from 80 shelters and rescues participating in the most important dog football game of the year. All dogs will get court time during the big game on Team Ruff or Team Fluff.

The annual dog show, the longest-running televised adoption event, now in its 21st year, has always opened its field to all kinds of puppy rescues, including young dogs with special needs.

The 11 special needs dogs competing in this year’s Puppy Bowl are excited, athletic and eager football stars ready to play hard and win the “Lombarky” trophy.

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Get to know this talented group of pups before the Super Bowl game on Sunday, February 9, by checking out their bios below. To see photos of all the puppies appearing in Puppy Bowl XXI, visit puppybowl.com.

The Puppy Bowl returns Sunday, February 9 at 2:00 PM ET/ 11:00 AM PT, simulcast on Animal Planet, Discovery, TBS, truTV, Max and Discovery+.

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Trio

A trio of rescue dogs.

Animal Planet

The trio is on Team Ruff and has limb differences on their front legs. The dog also had to have one of his back legs amputated, but that didn’t stop him from traveling from Louie’s Legacy Animal Rescue in New York to pursue his Puppy Bowl dreams.

Winston

Winston the rescue puppy.

Animal Planet

Winston, a young player from Phoenix Animal Rescue, is blind in one eye. He will play on Team Fluff, which goes well with his luxurious fur.

Trevor

Trevor, the dog in Puppy Bowl XXI Team Ruff.

Animal Planet

Trevor, who is deaf, took a break from looking for a forever home in Green Dogs Unleashed to play on Team Ruff in Puppy Bowl XXI.

Hunter

Hunter, the dog who competes in Puppy Bowl XXI.

Animal Planet

Like Trevor, Hunter is deaf and from Green Dogs Unleashed. The rescue dog is also one of the visually impaired dogs on Team Fluff.

Mindy

Mindy, the 2025 Puppy Bowl player with special needs.

Animal Planet

Adorable Mindy is a visually impaired dog who plays for Team Ruff. She is from the Brandywine Valley SPCA in Pennsylvania.

Hewett

Hewett, a rescue dog from MatchDog Rescue in New Jersey.

Animal Planet

Hewett of MatchDog Rescue in New Jersey is missing an eye. Look for him to huddle with Team Fluff during Puppy Bowl XXI.

Jolene

Jolene, the 2025 Puppy Bowl player who uses a wheelchair.

Animal Planet

This Jolene, a wheelchair user from Ohio’s Humane Society of Greater Dayton, is here to win the Puppy Bowl for Team Ruff, not take your human away.

Carl

Carl, a rescue dog from Louie’s Legacy Animal Rescue.

Animal Planet

Carl is blind but has no problem playing football and is ready to impress Team Fluff. He is from Louie’s Legacy Animal Rescue in New York.

Sprinkle

Sprinkle the rescue puppy.

Animal Planet

Sprinkle, an Australian shepherd mix who is blind and hearing impaired, will be cheered on by her friends from the Danbury Animal Welfare Society as she plays for Team Ruff during the Puppy Bowl.

Rocky

Rocky, a player at the 2025 Puppy Bowl.

Animal Planet

Rocky, a puppy born with limb differences, is ready to bring home a win for Team Ruff and Pets with Disabilities, a rescue service in Maryland.

Max

Max the rescue dog.

Animal Planet

Maxx had to have his front leg amputated early in his life, so he is ready to do on three legs what most dogs can only do on four. The talented dog is from the Nevada SPCA in Las Vegas.

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Source: HIS Education