Dogs of Instagram ready for 2019 Canadian Football League season

The sports fans among the dogs of Instagram are very excited about the kickoff of the 2019 Canadian Football League season.

The 2019 Canadian Football League season is kicking off Thursday, June 13, and the sports fans among the dogs of Instagram are very excited, wearing their favourite team gear to prove it.

Canadian football is slightly different – the field is 110 yards long, there are 12 players on a side, and teams only have three downs to ensure another possession. It’s also safer, since there’s a full yard of distance at the line of scrimmage.

Teams can also score a single point (called a “rouge”) for touchbacks. For more information, see the CFL’s website.

The British Columbia Lions squeaked into the playoffs last season with a 9-9 record, then were destroyed in the first round. They’ll seek to improve that result as they protect Vancouver’s BC Place.

This Labrador was mainly there at a preseason game for the cheerleaders, which is fine, too.

The Calgary Stampeders won the Grey Cup (the equivalent of Lombardi Trophy or the Stanley Cup) with a 27-16 win over Ottawa. They’re looking to repeat as they welcome opponents to McMahon Stadium.

Calgary will host the 107th Grey Cup on November 24, which fits these puppers just fine.

The Edmonton Eskimos narrowly missed the 2018 playoffs after going 9-9 and losing a tiebreaker, but look to improve that result for fans at The Brick Field at Commonwealth Stadium.

Bronco the Australian Shepherd makes sure to wear his Esks bandanna on game days.

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats (yes, that’s their real name, the result of two teams merging in the 1940s) made it to the Division Finals last year in a season that involved former quarterback Johnny Manziel. Hopefully things will be less dramatic around Tim Hortons Field this season.

Ozzie Pawsbourne looks very snazzy in his Ticats bandanna, which always matches his fur.

The Montreal Alouettes lost their head coach just before the season started, and are plagued by financial problems (the league is operating the franchise at the moment), but on the other hand, they have new uniforms this season, so that’s a positive, right? Things aren’t looking great at Percival Molson Memorial Stadium, as the team posted a 5-13 record last season.

In the nation’s capital, the Ottawa Redblacks won the East Division last season with an 11-7 record, and they look to repeat that performance whenever opponents come into TD Place Stadium this year.

Beau the Basset Hound is proudly repping his favourite team with his new collar.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders fell in the first round of the playoffs last season to their arch rivals from Winnipeg. The Riders hope to do better this season when opponents come into Regina’s Mosaic Stadium.

The Toronto Argonauts had a rough season last year with a record of 4-14, but they look to rebound as they seek to defend BMO Field.

Fitzgerald the Bernese Mountain Dog looks like he could be the brother of Bunsen the Science Dog, and his Argos hat looks great.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers made it to the Division Finals in 2018, but look to improve on last season’s 10-8 regular season performance. Manitoba’s team plays its home games at IG Field.

Vader is ready for the season to kick off, and wearing his Bombers bandanna to prove it.

British Columbia, Hamilton, Montreal, Saskatchewan and Toronto all have new head coaches this season.

For fans in Canada, games are broadcast in English on TSN and in French on RDS, while US fans can watch contests during the 2019 Canadian Football League season on various ESPN channels.