Puppy bowl ref dan schachner birthday

Before adopting Puppy Bowl 2024's assistant referee, Whistle the poodle mix, Dan Schachner fostered 40 dogs

Puppy Bowl 2024 is almost here, and this year, the referee of the big game has someone special helping him call the shots.

Dan Schachner has been the referee for the Puppy Bowl for over a decade.

"This is my 13th year," Schachner, who will be the ref for the upcoming Puppy Bowl XX, tells PEOPLE.

"This is Puppy Bowl 20.

It just continues to grow and grow, and this year will be no exception," he says of the 2024's big Puppy Bowl anniversary, adding, "I'm psyched."

Related: Shelter Dog Excitedly Wags Tail While Watching Her New Mom Fill Out Adoption Papers — Watch!

"There's dogs that are working the cameras. There are dogs in the control rooms.

Who is Puppy Bowl referee Dan Schachner? | The US Sun

There are dogs on the red carpet. Cheerleaders, coaches, you name it, they're everywhere," Schachner says of the upcoming event.

Another new dog on the field for Puppy Bowl 2024 is Whistle, the canine sporting event's first assista Puppy Bowl turns 20: Meet the pups and the 'rufferee' making ... SAP