Comments on: ‘Greatest American Dog,’ you are dead to me now

By: Terre Hall

Terre Hall — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 20:47:48 +0000

Who on earth comes up with these challenges? Any dog owner that cares anything about their dog would not do something so stupid as to put their loving companion to such a test just to win a challenge. The people who decided to test (stress) these canines to their limit by using an elephant (which most of these dogs have probably NEVER in their life seen) should have to swim in shark infested waters with “trained” sharks and see how they like it! I have been training dogs for many years and this is by far the dumbest stunt I have ever seen. Wonder what the dogs did that night…..Shame on the producers and judges of this show…I certainly will no longer watch such a spectacle. It does prove one thing however….that dogs have an unconditional love, trust and loyalty to their human companions.

By: Shannon Watts

Shannon Watts — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 17:24:02 +0000

I haven’t watched GAD but last night stumbled upon Dogtown showing a group of the Michael Vick dogs that was refreshing. Anyone else catch it?

By: Cheryl

Cheryl — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 09:37:45 +0000

There is absolutely NO WAY I would make my dog sit there with an elephant coming up. That’s insane! I don’t care how old it was—they are wild animals and it would just take one swipe of a trunk to have a tragedy. If anything this episode doesn’t prove loyalty or bravery, it proved which dogs were the stupidest. These are not trained circus dogs. No dog with any sense is going to jump off on a zip line into mid-air. They certainly could have found more reasonable, real-life challenge.

And then they get rid of Bill and Starr because he didn’t “challenge” his dog. Yet the other week they complained that he was “pushing” Starr too much. Starr has more common sense than all 3 judges put together. I’ve had it with Stilwell after her staged catfight over Cesar Milan’s name being mentioned the other week. You can bet he wouldn’t be caught doing a stupid show like this.

I feel especially bad for Bill—he must have felt like a fish out of water with these kooks. I hope he got some monies out of this so he can help his diabetic wife. :-(

By: Jim

Jim — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:56:08 +0000

The show is rigged! I agree with Ann’s comments; they treated Starr wrong. I have never seen anyone love a dog as much as Bill did that dog and that dog was sooo goood. I know they said he was an older dog; but I don’t remember his age,isn’t Galazy 9 years old? As for Preston, his owner was kind of silly, but the dog was smart.
Why did they pick Pressley this week? I think the dog is cute; but the dog didn’t pass the challenge; isn’t that why they let Starr go? Give me a break! This show is rigged!

By: Ann

Ann — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:46:30 +0000

The show is set-up! Does no one realize that the stunts or “elimination challenges” seem to be created each week to get rid of who they want to get rid of? I wasn’t crazy about Teresa, the owner of Leroy, but come on, the dog was GREAT! They reward a dog who is so stuck to it’s owner that will not do anything but stand at a door when she is not around.

As for Bill and Star, this is what really upset me. They knew the dog was tired and older—so what did they do—make challenges so Star couldn’t complete them. But they praise Laurie for Andrew and punish Bill — who just the week before was fussed at because he pushed his dog. The man and the dog couldn’t win—no matter what they did. It’s a set-up.

You know they wanted to keep Laurie and Andrew, so they made a challenge they knew this dog would win.

I liked Preston, but they sent him home because his owner “didn’t create a great painting”. What does that have to do with a dog.

Watch—I really think they want Travis and Pressley to win—after all that is the dog they show in the commerical jumping through the title is it not? I like Pressley, but he is in no way as great a dog as Galazy, Preston and Star.

The show is a set up and I too am not watching any more. In addition, I am not longer watching “It’s me or my dog, because I think Victoria Stilwell is full of #$%^&*. I think that Wendy Diamond seems to be fair and Allan Reznik goes with the wind.

By: Rebecca Walters

Rebecca Walters — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 21:31:56 +0000

The show, which had potential at first, by doing normal doggy things, has really gone to pandering the lowest common denominator of American viewership. And after last week’s episode, I’m very concerned about what message the show, and all these so called “expert” judges are sending to the average dog owners community.

Bill who use good judgement by choosing a ramp level appropriate to Star’s age (Star isn’t a youngster from the look of her) was penalized while Galalxy (age 9) was rewarded for over doing it so much so that she became lame. From the angle they showed, it appeared there was a lot of strenuous shoulder muscle activity in that climb. These are not conditioned athletic dogs, they are pets. Also, to echo another person’s comments, the owners who are concerned about their dog’s stress level are penalized. Asking dogs to do a death leap is not about courage, it’s about poor judgement and TV ratings.

Again, what message is this show now sending out to America’s dog owners? Shame on CBS for letting this episode air. Personally, I’m glad Star is out of it, this way at least we know she is safe and I applaud Bill on his judgement. A best friend is worth a lot more than the prize money of this show.

By: Christie Keith

Christie Keith — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 21:12:23 +0000

Susan, I have no experience with this kind of show. I watched because it had dogs on it. I didn’t even know it was a reality TV show until I saw the first episode.

I have recapped Design Star and Project Runway for AfterElton.com (I’m a contributing writer for them as well), but I’ve been told by those more TV-savvy than I that they’re true “meritocracies,” and not at all typical of reality television. But those two, plus GAD, are the only examples I have of the genre.

I’m pretty sure I’m not alone in that. I think lots of dog people tuned in because there were dogs involved, who don’t otherwise watch this kind of television.

By: Kat G

Kat G — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 20:47:08 +0000

Not only were the stunts ridiculous and dangerous (even with the extra time to acclimate) but personally I don’t find a dog that will sit still while an elephant charges it’s owner’s back as brave and I’m not sure why the creators of the show would either. A dog willing to do that is lacking in guardian instinct and is in no way brave… more like obedient to a fault which would border on lack of intelligence. Then again I own a herding breed with guardian instincts so maybe other breeds are deemed brave if they can just sit there.

By: Susan Fox

Susan Fox — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 10:41:53 +0000

Why on earth would anyone for a nanosecond ever have believed that a show like this would have been anything other than what it has turned out to be, a staged rip-off, no different than any of the other reality shows, except with the addition of dogs?

What possible reason was there think that because it involved dogs that somehow something different, special and “educational” would be going on. On American network TV? Please.

Wake up, people. Even taking the time to post all these sincere, well-thought out comments gives the show more legitimacy than it deserves.

By: Sheila

Sheila — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 22:38:31 +0000

This show has become a big disappointment to me. I love Victoria Stillwell and I think she is a very good, gifted positive trainer. She sure lowered herself for a buck by being on this show though.