PUPPY BOWL REFEREE BIOGRAPHY

Dan Schachner is a television host, actor and announcer celebrating his fourth year as the PUPPY BOWL referee. Riding high from the success of last year’s record-breaking event, Dan is even more assured that he has the skills and stamina to officiate the biggest game in animal sports. Dan lives in Manhattan and has two boys, ages six and eight, who might just be PUPPY BOWL’s biggest fans. Below, find out all you need to know about the only human face in puppy football.

Name: Dan Schachner aka “The Ref”

Hometown: Oceanside, NY

How You Became “The Ref”: I am a huge dog lover. When I first found out Animal Planet was on the hunt for a new PUPPY BOWL ref, I knew my true calling in life had come. I grabbed my iPhone and sent in an audition video showcasing my puppy refereeing skills and my heartfelt campaign speech. There may have also been some begging - and I don't mean the dogs. Thankfully, they “bit,” and now I’m calling the most important game of my life for the fourth year in a row!

Responsibilities of the Puppy Bowl Ref: My job is to make sure the puppies play a safe, clean game. I call puppy penalties, which can lead to expulsion if necessary, and I also call the touchdowns – just like a football referee. And, of course, there are always puppy “messes” to clean up.

Favorite Penalties to Call: “Illegal Bathing,” “Excessive Cuteness,” "Paws Interference," "Terrorizing the Ref," "Ruff-sides."

Most Looking Forward to This Year: One word: Goats!! Enjoy Most About Being the Ref: Besides being in the middle of an on-field puppy-pile up, I love promoting the event. I'm like the Puppy Bowl ambassador, or better yet, the Mascot. Human sports leagues have animal mascots; it only makes sense that it work the other way around. 

Why Did You Come Back for Another Year?: Good question. After the enormous success of last year's 10th Anniversary Puppy Bowl (aka PBX), I honestly thought, “I've hit my peak. There's no way I can top this. Time to retire.” Then I saw this year's starting lineup! 

Other Places to See (and Hear) Dan: Guest-starring roles on various TV shows, panelist on Animal Planet's "America's Cutest," voice of “Extreme Engineering” on Discovery Family, Spike TV's primetime original programming lineup, Showtime network, Subway Breakfast commercials and Puffs Tissues, and host of "Brain Candy TV."

Interests: Officiating animal sports, sports trivia (human and non-human), voiceover work, my family, running, cycling, pop culture, music and fostering dogs.