NAT GEO WILD'S THIRD ANNUAL BARKFEST WEEKEND IS A CELEBRATION OF MAN'S BEST FRIEND

The Third Annual BarkFest Premieres on Friday, April 14, 2017, on Nat Geo WILD

Includes Premieres of New Specials "Puppies vs. The World," and "Hell Hounds"(wt), and Special Episodes of New Series "Cesar Millan's Dog Nation," and Returning Series "Pet Talk" and "The Incredible Dr. Pol"

(WASHINGTON, D.C. & PASADENA, CA. - Jan. 13, 2017) Nat Geo WILD's third annual BarkFest weekend is a celebration of our furever friends. We turn up the cuteness factor with new specials Puppies vs. The World, and Hell Hounds(wt), and are serving up fun dog-focused episodes of Cesar Millan's Dog Nation, Pet Talk and The Incredible Dr. Pol. The third annual BarkFest premieres on Friday, April 14, on Nat Geo WILD. For more information, visit our press website at natgeotvpressroom.com or follow us on Twitter using @NGC_PR.

"I double dog dare you not to turn to mush watching Puppies vs. The World," said Geoff Daniels, executive vice president and general manager, Nat Geo WILD. BarkFest is always the highlight of our year because it's such a fun and inspiring celebration of man's best friend. Sometimes it's adorable, sometimes a tearjerker, always warm and fuzzy. I paw-mise."

Highlights include:

Puppies vs. The World

For puppies, it's a brand-new world out there, full of obstacles, setbacks and amazing new experiences. We challenge puppies to do the simplest tasks like drink water, climb stairs and escape the clutches of a toddler, and the outcome is uproarious misadventure. Along the way, we include quick and fascinating facts about puppy development and peek in on The Puppy House, which is just what is sounds like: a house full of puppies!

Hell Hounds(wt)

As one of Los Angeles' top dog trainers, Stevo Henderson is on a mission to help dog owners achieve their perfect dog through his innovative training methods and uncanny understanding of canine behavior. Stevo doesn't just train dogs - he saves relationships through his coaching and assured leadership. Watch Stevo work through struggles with owners, help dogs that others have given up on and ultimately celebrate small and large victories together.

BarkFest also features special episodes of Cesar Millan's Dog Nation, The Incredible Dr. Pol: Deja Moo!: Dog-a-POL-ooza and a special dog-focused Pet Talk.

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National Geographic Partners LLC (NGP), a joint venture between National Geographic and 21st Century Fox, is committed to bringing the world premium science, adventure and exploration content across an unrivaled portfolio of media assets. NGP combines the global National Geographic television channels (National Geographic Channel, Nat Geo WILD, Nat Geo MUNDO, Nat Geo PEOPLE) with National Geographic's media and consumer-oriented assets, including National Geographic magazines; National Geographic studios; related digital and social media platforms; books; maps; children's media; and ancillary activities that include travel, global experiences and events, archival sales, licensing and e-commerce businesses. Furthering knowledge and understanding of our world has been the core purpose of National Geographic for 128 years, and now we are committed to going deeper, pushing boundaries, going further for our consumers ... and reaching over 730 million people around the world in 172 countries and 43 languages every month as we do it. NGP returns 27 percent of our proceeds to the nonprofit National Geographic Society to fund work in the areas of science, exploration, conservation and education. For more information visit natgeowild.com or nationalgeographic.com, or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+, YouTube, LinkedIn and Pinterest.