Puppy Bowl X 2014: Best Videos from Last 9 Years

The 10th annual Puppy Bowl will be taking place on Sunday, and it’s an event you simply cannot afford to miss.

This yearly celebration of puppy cuteness will be kicking off over three hours ahead of the Super Bowl, starting at 3 p.m. EST. That means fans have no excuses for not having it on the TV, at least until the big game between the Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos gets underway at 6:30 p.m. EST.

Some viewers may even elect to keep it tuned to Animal Planet for the entire evening, considering this spectacular show will be going on for over six hours and isn’t slated to end until 9 p.m. EST.

With fans able to get involved more than ever before due to a new fantasy football doggie draft, this edition of the Puppy Bowl promises to be the best yet.

Here’s a look at some of the best moments in Puppy Bowl history to get you excited ahead of Sunday’s marquee matchup.

Last year’s Puppy Bowl was one of the most successful and cute events, largely due to the sheer amount of different spectacles that Animal Planet packed into the game.

As you can see in the video, there was a blimp flown by hamsters, a tailgate and the always-popular “Kitty Halftime Show.” Factor in hedgehog cheerleaders and you are looking at a recipe for a hit program.

Most sporting events in the United States start off with a rendition of the nation’s national anthem, the “Star Spangled Banner,” and the Puppy Bowl is no different.

Very special guest Pepper the Parrot was on hand to perform a beautiful take on Francis Scott Key’s classic ode to the Battle of Fort McHenry during the War of 1812. The first pooch punt took place shortly after and the game got underway with the pups clearly inspired by this act of patriotism.

The starting lineup of the sixth Puppy Bowl was simply awesome, featuring the likes of Sir Winston the Cavalier King Charles, Fava the Cattle Dog Mix, Sage the Labrador Mix and my personal favorite, Jersey Boy the Yorkie Mix, among many others.

You’ll definitely want to tune in to the 10th annual game to check out this year’s starting lineups, one of the best highlights of the entire show.

The aforementioned Kitty Halftime Show is a Puppy Bowl staple and sure to be a hit again this year.

Much like the superstar performers who take the stage at the Super Bowl, these kittens put on a song and dance for viewers. It’s absolutely adorable.

The late, great Harry Kalas used to do work for the Puppy Bowl—one of the many esteemed positions the voice of the Philadelphia Phillies held before tragically passing in 2009.

You can hear the legendary announcer in many of the highlights from 2005 through 2009, including this segment that shows some of the best clips from the fourth annual event.

It’s always interesting and informative to get a glimpse of behind-the-scenes action on television sets, especially when it involves puppies, kittens and hedgehogs.

This clip shows all the hard-working people who work tirelessly throughout Super Bowl Sunday to put forth the most adorable special on television.

For those curious about how the Puppy Bowl actually works, here’s a look at some of the “plays” from the game.

You can see the ref making calls, watch how a touchdown is scored, observe some “aww”-inspiring hits and much more in this two-minute video.

This hilarious parody spot riffs on the commercials for what was, at the time, Apple’s latest product,  the iPad.

The Puppy Bowl referee explains that while the puppies cannot pay your bills remotely, check the weather around the world, record a voice memo, surf the web or use social media, they can look really “friggin’ cute.”

Take a look and have a laugh, it’s worth a minute of your time.

This is one of the most hilarious Puppy Bowl videos out there. It doubles as a time piece parody mirroring the NFL lockout and also serves as a grandiose recap of the eighth annual Puppy Bowl.

The announcer noted the Puppy Bowl lockout was a “period of uncertainty for all associated with the nation’s biggest sporting event played by domesticated animals” due to soaring revenues, salaries and stadium demands.

Instead of working for free, the puppies asked for unlimited tummy rubs and received them. It seems that the NFL’s union leaders could take a tip from these canine negotiators.

It’s not a true sports spectacle unless at least one streaker is involved.

The Puppy Bowl hasn’t been devoid of this issue, as a “puppy streaker” emerged from the tunnel and came onto the field.

The animals in the game were all intrigued and went after the shaved puppy, while onlookers covered their eyes and the refs tried to stop the madness.

Fortunately, she was retrieved, covered up and extracted before anything else could happen.