This week’s theme was loyalty. And with that in mind, we’ve chosen to picture JD and Galaxy. You’ll recall that the English Border Collie strained her right front shoulder muscle last episode, presumably from the 32-FT. DROP, 50-FT. LONG ZIPLINE she completed in the "Stunt Dog" competition. How sweet was JD when he carried Galaxy to her doggy bed? How sweet was Galaxy when she gave JD kisses as he tried to make her more comfortable? If the judges had seen that, they wouldn’t call Galaxy robotic.
Luckily, Galaxy recovered overnight, and the final four resumed competition with a Survivor-esque Dog Bone Challenge. The owner who could keep his or her dog sitting or standing on a stump the longest won. Maltese Andrew was disqualified first for lying down. Next, Galaxy pooped out. Travis, seeing that his Boxer, Presley, was looking miserable, tried to negotiate a treaty with Teresa that said he would let her win if they could share the leg-up. Very Survivor-esque! But Travis showed too much weakness, and Teresa resisted. Just under 18 minutes in, Travis called Presley off, and Teresa and her Border Collie Leroy retired to the Dog Bone Suite, where they also got to make a video call to her boyfriend.
The Best in Show Challenge was another simple but suspense-filled task: Each owner spent an hour with each of the other owner’s dogs. The goal was to bond, so that they could get that other owner’s dog to come to them instead of obeying his or her owner’s orders to stay. We all knew Andrew was going to win this, and he did. Even better then watching the other owners try to tempt him with toys and treats during the actual competition — as he yawned — was watching his "bonding" time with Travis and JD. He could not have cared less about them, which he proved to JD when he escaped from the house and ran off to find Laurie who was working outside.
After the jump, this week’s training controversy.
Though Presley was the only dog tempted to leave his owner during the "Me or Them" challenge, the only pair that was safe from elimination was Laurie and Andrew. The judges felt that Teresa and JD used aggressive stances and vocal commands to get their dogs to stay out of fear. That’s obedience not loyalty, and the bullying angered Victoria Stilwell. Wendy Diamond, meanwhile, thought Travis and Presley should go home because his puppy lacked focus — though she acknowledged that Travis always earned it back through love and respect. In the end, the judges sent Teresa and Leroy packing, probably because she still hadn’t gotten him to stop barking. Let’s be honest.
Who do you think should — and/or will — take home the $250,000 prize in next week’s season’s finale? Where do you fall on the Galaxy debate: well-trained or over-trained to the point that she lacks any spontaneity?
This blog post is dedicated to Nittany Bierly, my parents’ Chow/Border Collie mix, who passed away yesterday at the age of 15. You will be missed, Nitters. Say hi to Pappy Groninger for us when he picks you up in the Four Wheeler, okay? He’ll be there.
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I think JD and Galaxy will win it all. Galaxy is the most talented dog on the show. Presly is too young and does lack focus, and Andrew has no personality at all.
I hope JD and Galaxy win it. Galaxy seems like a great American dog. If any dog is robotic, it’s Andrew. That was almost freakish with the separation anxiety he had without Laurie.
I thought my husband’s head was going to explode over the parsing of loyalty vs. obedience. Obviously Andrew was the most loyal – the freaking dog escaped the house to find his owner – they deserved to win. I think the challenge could have been set up better if they really wanted to prove loyalty without any commands (which makes it obedience training). I pray that this show does not come back next summer. They couldn’t come up with good challenges this year, what the heck would the do next year: Which dog will walk on water, through a fire, while drawing a picture of their favority toy, while blindfolded?
I was disappointed to see Leroy and Teresa go home. He completed his task and I didn’t think Teresa was being intimidating. Judges are just stupid and inconsistent. Last week they sent Bill & Star home because Star wouldn’t jump off the friggin’ platform? Presley got off the circle and he was safe? HUH??? I agree w/one blogger – Andrew lacks personality. I hope he doesn’t win. I don’t like JD because he’s arrogant – but I so adore Galaxy. She is SWEET!! Can’t wait for the reunion next week so I can see Tillman again!!
I respected Travis for pulling Presley out of the dog bone challenge. When I heard the loyalty theme, I knew Andrew would probably win and I find it odd they saved this Best in Show challenge to the final 4. Surely the producers have been editing past footage and knew Andrew would have the “leg up”. Now, I do like Laurie and Andrew and I do think he has a personality, albeit lowkey. Of all the dogs left, Presley shows the most personality. It amazes me when the camera pans to him how his expressions are so consistent with the situation. I really don’t care who wins…I just enjoyed the dogs and didn’t take it seriously.
Galaxy is far and away the most well-trained dog on the show, so if that makes for a “great American dog,” Galaxy/JD are hands-down winners. Andrew is tuned into his owner to the exclusion of everyone else, not necessarily a good trait.
Victoria is a moron, most likely an Obama supporter (though thankfully, she can’t vote). JD clearly loves that dog and would never harm her. I suppose Victoria thinks the government should get involved to offer Galaxy therapy and make sure her rights are protected. Perhaps some kind of grant would be in order. Just because his training methods differ from her so-called expertise doesn’t mean he shouldn’t win.
Bubba, don’t turn this into a political discussion. That Obama comment was uncalled for and has nothing to do with anything on this blog.
The general public is clueless about what a well trained dog is. No wonder thousands of dogs end up euthanized every year. Dogs need strong, benevolent leaders. Andrew has that in Laurie. To describe His devotion as “separation anxiety” is one of the most ignorant statements I’ve ever read. To the person who wrote that, where did you get your degree in animal behavior? Oh, you don’t have one? Imagine that. Separation anxiety is a serious behavior problem in dogs which usually manifests in self mutilation, stress and destructive behavior. Andrew was looking for Laurie but like she said, he wasn’t stressing about it. He wasn’t barking frantically or scratching and clawing at the door. He wasn’t pacing back and forth and freaking out. He was merely looking for and waiting for her. This is what your dog SHOULD do. I was surprised of JD’s limitations as a trainer. His inability to get Andrew’s interest showed he can only train dogs that want to chase balls and catch frisbees.
Lacks personality? Since when is bad behavior and personality the same thing? Andrew has a great personality. He is very chipper and animated and always looks like he has a smile on his face. He is a therapy dog and is very social. He participates in a reading program at our local library. My kids have read books to Andrew on many occasions. He is so good at sitting quietly when they read to and pet him. I couldn’t see any of the other dogs left doing that, especially Presley. Dogs have different strengths. What Andrew brings to the table is very special in its own right. Not all dogs were meant to jump around like crazy dogs!
Since when did this become a personality contest? I thought it was looking for the strongest bond between owner and dog. Um, Laurie and Andrew, without question.
Please, one doesn’t need a degree in animal behavior to understand dogs. In my view, a degree in animal behavior would be a prime example of one who talks a good game but is ineffective in practice. Remind you of anyone?
To Katya – thanks for Andrew’s back story. Andrew does community volunteer work!
I love Andrew’s personality. And, he is definitely devoted to Laurie. It was annoying to hear the other owners complaining that he was neurotic. I have a small dog that is very social but if she can see me or hear my voice, it’s all about me!
I did not agree with the obstacle course challenge last week. Honestly who would rig their dog into a harness and then ask the poor dog to jump?!?! I can’t believe the judges approved of such a thing.
I think all the dogs on this show were great. Too bad the show itself stinks. The judges are inconsistent and the challenges make no sense. Flying Dogs? Painting with your dog? But don’t put clothing on your dog! Total nonsense.
I noticed that neither of the lady judges were very happy with anyone except Laurie and Andrew during the elimination challenge. They were frowning the whole time. I thought they were going to say that they had been too aggressive in tempting the other dogs.
Teresa seemed to have the best chance of getting Andrew to move- probably because she’s a woman. Some dogs just respond better to men or women.
I would really like to see JD and Galaxy win, with Travis and Presley running a close second. Andrew is very well trained, but given how attached he is to Laurie, its hard to think he would do anything that anyone else asked him. The tasks that they have been given the dogs lately are all things that stunt dogs would do, and I hardly think that Andrew would be up for obeying anyone as a stunt dog.
What a boring recap! Are all the other writers on vacation? Mandi Bierly needs to read some of the other great TV recaps, like Ugly Betty, Amazing Race and Survivor. She shows absolutely no personality.
Patty — Love your final comment; you are hilarious! PRESLEY TO WIN, guys! He is a beautiful, lively, expressive champion devoted to Travis beyond all measure. He trembled as the elephant advanced and stayed right up to the last moment because of his devotion to Travis, and he would have stayed on that stupid log a lot longer. I LOVED that Travis took him off, and no other owner has been willing to sacrifice “winning” for the sake of his dog. That Travis couldn’t watch Presley suffer made Travis & Presley the winner in my eyes. They REALLY love each other and show it rather than say “this is the love of my life” blah blah blah. Presley, you have captured this old girl’s heart. Good doggie. Woof!
P. S. Mandi, I am so sorry at the loss of your family’s beloved dog. I hope your grandfather is taking him for a run right now.
I am sure it sounded hilarious on paper.
P,P,S. Hated the Survivor knock-off. Humans have free will. Those dogs, except for Presley who has an owner not willing to throw him under the bus for a leg-up, had none.
So sorry to hear about Nittany, but I’ll be it was 15 great years.
I mean I’ll BET is was 15 great years. I hate that you can’t correct typos on this site. Also, JD and Galaxy deserve to win. How can you call a fun-loving Border Mix robotic. She’s a fabulous dog.
I think STAR is the most beatuiful dog i have ever seen.
They were calling Galaxy robotic even though they couldn’t see her face. She was totally engaged with her environment & watched everything going on around her. If she were afraid of JD, she wouldn’t have taken her eyes off HIM, anymore than we would take our eyes off a threat. That’s why so many victims of violent crime are such bad eyewitnesses. They can’t take their eyes off that gun or knife long enough to look at the predator.
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Those judges are lunatics!
Loved Leroy but couldn’t stand Theresa. She put an irritant in her dog’s face, used snarl bands and was always telling him to “Shut Up” exhibiting that she could not keep HER cool. The remaining three teams deserve to be there and I agree with the judges that Presley has great bond with Travis. Even when Theresa & Leroy won the dog bone challenge Leroy ran away from her! Galaxy is not robotic just very well trained and obviously loves JD. Theresa is Andrews world and I think he would pine away if she ever left him. All three remaining dogs have distinct personalities but the shot of Presley looking sad next to Travis was very touching. Presleys “face” is so expressive!! Laurie did not force Andrew to jump from the zip line and Travis did not force Presley to sit uncomfortably on that stump longer than he had to. Kudos to both owners and really to all 3 teams remaining in spite of dangerous and/or silly challenges.
Correction: Laurie is Andrews world.
So sorry to hear about Nittany; you never, ever forget a good dog.
I love Laurie’s bond with Andrew, and I find them enchanting to watch. I appreciate that Laurie took the time at Best in Show to distinguish between loyalty and separation anxiety. Andrew is loyal indeed, and Wendy was right; most dog owners can only dream of such a bond.
I can easily see Travis and Presley being a surprise win, actually. Presley’s youth and exuberance do seem to be taken into fair consideration and I love Travis’s eager, engaging style of training.
I think JD does the best he can with what he knows; he DOES use body language to engage and intimidate, but that’s something he likely doesn’t even realise. He certainly doesn’t seem to understand the impact it has on his dog, and I believe that he was right, he would never KNOWINGLY threaten the love of his life. Galaxy is a sweet, lovely, well trained dog, but I don’t think JD understands the full impact of the training methods he employs.
Librarygal — no need to be rude. You can’t exactly compare GAD to any of those other shows with their built-in humor. It’s not like the doglets are cracking one liners that writers can respond to. Additionally, Mandi had to write a dogshow re-cap a day after her family’s dog died. Sheesh. Get your nose out of a book & go shop for a heart somewhere.
GO GALAXY!!!!!! You and J.D. are the most deserving team, and I pray that you win.
Next season, the show should find better judges. Victoria needs to go!!
I think Presley should win — love his joy and exuberance. It’s Greatest American Dog. The other 2 have had the life trained out of them. They are sweet but BORING compared to Presley. GO PRESLEY!!!!!!!!!