Article: Dog-gone fun

By MELODY L. GOH

Twelve dogs and their owners are charming their way into our hearts.

REALITY television shows are becoming a bore. Shows like American Idol, America’s Next Top Model, The Apprentice and The Amazing Race may still be popular these days but really, they’ve run their course.

Does the slight change in format really make the latest season of American Idol more interesting? Does the inclusion of a “weird-eyed” girl in the line-up of America’s Next Top Model’s 12th season make it any different from the other 11 seasons? Not really. Unfortunately, most people still tune in to watch these shows because the alternatives are few and far between.

Precious pooches: The owners and their dogs in the reality TV show, Greatest American Dog.

So, when a show like Greatest American Dog comes around, you can’t help but be a little blase about it. However, since I love dogs and we don’t get many dog-themed shows on TV, it was only right to give the show a chance.

Basically, Greatest American Dog is a reality show created last year that pits 12 dogs and their owners against one another through challenges that show off both man and dog’s abilities. The winning pair wins US$250,000 (RM875,000).

The dogs are Leroy the Border Collie (owner, Teresa Hanula); Preston the pure-bred Pomeranian (Laura Nativo); Presley the Boxer (Travis Brorsen); Bella Starlet the Mutt (Beth Joy Knutsen); Tillman the English Bull Dog (Ron Davis); Star the pure-bred Britanny (Bill McFarlin); Galaxy the English Pointer and Border Collie mix (J.D. Platt); Andrew the Maltese (Laurie Williams); Beacon the miniature Schnauzer (Brandy Yant); Elvis the Parson Russell Terrier (David Best); Kenji the pure-bred Giant Schnauzer (Elan Hagen); and Esmeralda aka Ezzie the Boston Terrier (Michael Piper Younie).

It is interesting to note that within the group there’s an Elvis and a Presley, a Galaxy and a Star, and several hoity-toity names like Beacon and Preston! However, the owners themselves are down-to-earth and some don’t even bother to dress up during the judging sessions.

The group stays in a big house called the K9 Academy, where dog and owner sleep together in the rooms.

There’s also a Doggie Suite, a penthouse-like room that’s filled with toys, cushions, a giant-sized bed and other wonderful things a dog and dog lover would like.

On the other end of the spectrum is a Dog House, a large kennel fitted with a mattress and blanket. In the first episodes, the dog-owner pair that wins the weekly challenge, called Dog Bone Challenge, gets to stay in the Doggie Suite, and nominates another pair to sleep in the Dog House.

The show is hosted by zoologist Jarod Miller, and judged by internationally-acclaimed dog and animal experts Allan Reznik, Wendy Diamond and Victoria Stilwell. These guys are pretty dull, although they do give very good advice and their observations of how the owners handle their dogs are always spot on.

In last week’s episode, Diamond and Stilwell got into a very heated argument over Platt’s training styles, which shocked everyone. Stilwell even cried! Who knew a dog show would have such drama?

Each week, in addition to the Dog Bone Challenge, contestants are put through Best in Show events, too.

The first few Best in Show themes were pretty easy, but as the weeks go by, they seem to get more difficult. One of the more memorable themes is the dancing event, where dog and owner have to perform a minute-long dance routine.

So far, seven pairs have been kicked out of K9 Academy (the eighth one will be out today). One of the few grouses I have about the show is that you can actually guess which pair would get eliminated because there’s always too much focus on that pair that week.

For example, in the episode where Yant and Beacon were eliminated, the camera seemed to be on them all the time.

Sure, Yant was very frustrated that week because Beacon was “ignoring” her, but the show would be more interesting to audiences if they weren’t given such obvious hints as to who would be out.

Apart from that, though, Greatest American Dog is an entertaining programme to watch, especially if you’re a dog lover.

There are lots of things you can learn from the show, not just from the judges’ comments, but from watching the contestants too.

Platt, McFarlin, Hanula and Brorsen are not only wonderful owners but are excellent trainers as well. The relationship and interaction they have with their pets – Galaxy, Star, Leroy and Presley – is so commendable it even impresses the judges.

These few dogs are not only obedient, but highly intelligent, loyal and receptive, too. While the other dogs are also quite smart, it is their owners’ constant praising and overly high expectations of them that make them unimpressive.

If you haven’t already been following the show, do try and catch an episode of Greatest American Dog, if not for the challenges and comments, then at least for the cute, lovable canines.

Greatest American Dog airs every Wednesday at 10pm, on Star World (Astro channel 711).

This article was taken from: The Star Online: Entertainment: Tv & Radio: News & Feature 18 March 2009