Adopt Disney’s ‘Santa Buddies’ today

Who could resist Budderball in 'Santa Buddies: The Legend of Santa Paws'? (Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment photo)

The puppies of Air Bud, Disney’s popular Golden retriever, return today in Santa Buddies: The Legend of Santa Paws. Even though this a direct-to-DVD movie, it has been eagerly anticipated at our house.

This is the fourth adventure of the Buddies — Budderball, B-Dawg, Rosebud, Buddha and Mudbud. Disney describes it this way: “When Puppy Paws, the fun-loving son of Santa Paws, gets tired of the North Pole, he finds Budderball on Santa’s naughty list and figures he’s just the dog to show him how to be an ordinary pup. But when the magical Christmas Icicle starts to melt and the world begins to forget the true meaning of the season, it’s up to Puppy Paws and his newfound Buddies to save Christmas.”

Watching the Buddies movies with my children is fun on many levels. C and L laugh and laugh at the puppies’ antics, which makes me chuckle at their silliness. I have always been partial to Golden retrievers, so staring at the cute puppies is no chore, unlike some kids’ movies I have willingly endured. And C and L always seem to have a renewed interest and kindness for our Golden, Sunshine, after watching Air Bud and the pups.

Last year, three of the Buddies made an appearance at the Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade to promote their movie, Space Buddies. See how adorable they were in their spacesuits here. We are keeping our fingers crossed for a return visit this year.

A tip: Disney Movie Rewards members can collect two free plush Buddies with the purchase of Santa Buddies and Snow White on DVD. Carrying cases for the pups can be purchased, and something tells me Santa will be putting those under our tree.

To see four movie clips, play games, take a poll and more, visit the Santa Buddies site here.