SOUTH BEND — As sports fans debate whether the Seattle Seahawks or the New England Patriots will win Super Bowl LX on Feb. 8, another athletic competition has its own important questions left to be answered, particularly for local dog lovers: Will Rhett bring a win — and the Lombarky Trophy — home for Team Fluff?
The puppy from Mishawaka is playing in the 22nd annual Animal Planet Puppy Bowl, which airs at 2 p.m. Sunday on Animal Planet, Discovery, TBS, truTV, HBO Max and discovery+.
An 8-month-old basset hound at Homeward Bound, Rhett is also a top-two contender in the Animal Planet Pupularity Playoffs. He’s just shy of 50 pounds and has floppy ears that can be tied to the top of his head.
According to his handler, Jen Schwartz, Rhett is unserious, funny and likes all things that aren’t toys.
“I just think basset hounds are endearing to people,” Schwartz said. “It’s hard not to be attracted to these ears.”
What is Rhett like on the field?
Rhett got to show off his skills to a referee and a dog trainer prior to the game. He jumped over poles, through hoops and stepped on his ears only a couple times.
“He’s just a nut,” Schwartz said. “He would just pick up toys and walk up to dogs, and he’s very outgoing.”
According to Schwartz, Rhett’s curiosity worked for him, which could have played into his popularity.
“Nothing fazed him; it didn’t matter what people were on the field,” Schwartz said.
“That’s an important thing with Puppy Bowl, is any of the people that take dogs there [aren’t] going to take a dog that’s scared or nippy,” Schwartz said. “You’re going to take a dog that can handle some adversity.”
Although Rhett may have been his silliest self out there on the field, Schwartz says Rhett is very sweet when he’s not letting his nose lead him around.
Behind the scenes
Filming for the Puppy Bowl took place back in early October 2025. The game hosted 150 dogs from 72 shelters from across the United States, Puerto Rico and the British Virgin Islands.
Puppy Bowl began in 2005 as a call-to-adoption event and counter-programming to the Super Bowl. According to People, the event was proposed to Warner Bros. Discovery as a joke, but it caught on and has become a popular annual event. According to The Wrap, for instance, the 2025 Puppy Bowl drew a record 12.8 million viewers.
Homeward Bound participated virtually in Puppy Bowl XXI in 2025, which was filmed in 2024. They were invited back in-person for the upcoming game in 2026. Schwartz drove six dogs to New York for filming. Rhett, according to Schwartz, was a great traveler.
Of all six dogs Homeward Bound brought to the Puppy Bowl, Rhett is the only one left unadopted.
“When we start looking for a home for him, I definitely want somebody with basset experience,” Schwartz said. “He is definitely not for everyone; he is not going to be an obedience dog.”
Over three days of filming, Rhett sat for countless photos, participated in the big game and other events, and even had the event staff completely enamored, according to Schwartz.
Rhett is going head-to-head with Rupaw in the Pupularity Playoffs. She is a Boston terrier from Smyrna, Georgia. Rhett is leading the Pupularity Playoffs, but final votes will be tallied and announced Saturday, Feb 7.
Voting ends Thursday, Feb. 5. To vote, go to discovery.com/shows/puppy-bowl/vote.
The Playoffs began with 16 total contestants from both teams; Team Fluff and Team Ruff. Through a tournament-style contest and over the course of four voting periods, a winner will be determined.
“All the rescues are absolutely wonderful and very deserving. No rescue is more deserving than the other,” Schwartz said. “It’s just a matter of who showed best and who everybody thought was cute.”
How to watch
Watch Rhett play live at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 8, on the following streaming channels:
● Animal Planet
● Discovery
● TBS
● truTV
● HBO Max
● discovery+
Email Tribune staff writer Juliane Balog at jbalog@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: A South Bend area shelter dog plays for Puppy Bowl’s Lombarky Trophy
Reporting by Juliane Balog , South Bend Tribune / South Bend Tribune
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
