I had a sneaking suspicion that Boxer Presley was gonna take this title when Laura, owner of Pomeranian Preston, invited me to the finale party she was co-hosting with Presley’s owner, Travis. I’m in NYC, and the party was in LA, or you would so be reading about that right now…
So we all knew that JD was gonna finish third after his interview with the judges. Saying you didn’t learn a thing at Canine Academy — just observed the other owners’ problems — is not the kind of answer you give. Ever. (And if English Border Collie Galaxy’s bathing habits, or lack thereof, was such a problem that Wendy Diamond called JD out on it, why hadn’t we heard of it before?)
Laurie handled herself beautifully in her Final Three interview. She stuck to her talking points: JD intimidates Galaxy; Travis and Presley are newlyweds. And she was honest when she said that this competition isn’t for her Maltese Andrew, it’s for her. He just wants to be a dog and indulges her. I’ll admit that I rewound twice to watch Wendy’s dog Lucky chase almost social Andrew around the Best in Show Arena, because nothing is funnier to me than Andrew hauling ass. Also because I can’t believe Lucky finally got off Wendy’s lap and did something. (KIDDING.)
After Travis nailed his interview (he’s all about the learning and the bonding), judge Victoria Stilwell proved how smart Presley really is when she got him to do the leave-the-food-on-your-paw-trick. (I’d pay to see her try that with Tillman — I was happiest to see his return last night. You?) JD officially got the boot, and please, tell me he didn’t realize how offensive it would look when he raised Galaxy’s hind legs and applauded with them? Showing your dog’s butt to the judges is not pageant protocol.
The final portion of the competition consisted of one serious obstacle course and yet another interview. Presley killed the course, until it came time to RETRIEVE HIS TOY FROM UNDER AN ELEPHANT. Travis finally had to lead Presley under the elephant himself, which is worth the $250,000 grand prize right there. Andrew had a tougher time on the course, but I can’t blame him. He had farther to fall than Presley. (Were my small dog walking a tilting beam, I, too, would be standing close enough to catch him, so I don’t blame Laurie for her smothering mothering either.*) Fearless little Andrew had no problem running under the elephant — twice — so he redeemed himself.
In the end, either Andrew or Presley would have worn the Greatest American Dog title well, but I agree with the judges’ decision to crown young Presley. He’s well-trained but relatable. You feel like your dog could be as good of a boy as Poopers. And you still feel like he’s a dog — playful, imperfect, independent but loyal.
Do you agree with the judges?
*She DOES, however, need to acknowledge that Andrew’s attachment to her isn’t 100 percent healthy.
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Tillman RULES!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yay Presley! I’m so glad the judges rewarded one of the owners who allowed his dog to be a dog. I still think Bill & Star got screwed though. And if Laurie didn’t know Andrew had separation anxiety then she clearly has never left him alone. Either way it isn’t healthy. As a boxer rescue volunteer, I’m just hoping this doesn’t lead to impulse purchases of boxers that get dumped in shelters 6 months from now when the owner can’t handle them.
I agree with the final results completely. I’m still amazed though at how Andrew is so NOT afraid of that elephant!
We have a boxer puppy, so I might be a bit biased but I just loved Presley!
I still can’t believe that this show had a quarter-million-dollar prize. (Project Runway, for instance, where contestants are worked like sweat shop inmates for weeks, offers a paltry hundred thousand.) Travis should consider himself the luckiest game show contestant ever.
What about the burning question: did Travis and Laura start dating after the show??????
Presley has the fewest “issues.” Poor Galaxy (great dog but no personality) was doomed because JD is such an arrogant jerk. Little Andrew is amazing but Stepford-like in his devotion to Laurie. Presley is the least neurotic of the final three (of course, he’s also by far the youngest so give him time). I wanted Bill & Star to win but, of the final 3, as long as JD didn’t win I was okay with either Presley or Andrew, neither is America’s Greatest Dog, but each has many fine qualities. I’m sure this show won’t be coming back but if it does, I certainly hope the producers come up with more appropriate challenges. I thought the original obstacle course with the huge drop down the zip line and the elephant stunt were waaayyyy out of line. Maybe that’s okay for professional stunt dogs, but not for normal pets. What were they thinking!?
My 3 favs were Presley, Andrew and Star. Would have been happy with any of them winning but I did think Presley was a good choice because Travis embraced the spirit of the show and used the opportunity to learn more about his relationship with his dog and how to handle his dog. The end result showed the improvement in Presley’s behavior, while Andrew and Star came into the show well-trained.
Re: JD – his closing comments that the judges didn’t see the gentleness in Galaxy were so off-base. Continually, the judges and other contestants praised the nature of Galaxy. From the beginning, all the contestants could see the egomanical nature of JD’s personality. And, he thinks so much of himself that to the very end, he could not hear the judges critique of his behavior!! He may love his dog like crazy, but he DOES use intimidation to control a sweet and gentle dog and for that 3rd place was too good for him.
After all that Andrew should have gotten something for second place.
You go Travis and Presley! You deserved to win, did wish it would of been you and Bill and Star at the end. But, loved the show and congrats to you two!!!
Yay, Presley and Travis!
They learned a lot, and really deserved to win.
Boxers are awesome dogs.
I hope this show comes back!
Excellent point, Danielle, no one should rush out and get a breed simply because it made it to the finals of a TV show, whether’s it a Boxer or a Maltese or any breed. Each dog, like its owner, is unique. EW readers are smart enough to know this but sometimes ya wonder about the public in general.
Nevertheless, congratulations to Presley and his human, Travis. Guy’s looking for the right woman? Bless his young and naive heart, with $250K, his own good looks and a celebrity dog, they’ll be lining up at his door. Hmmm, this could finally bring out the cougar in me.
Bill & Star were my first choice. When it came down to the last three I was really worried that JD & Galaxy were going to win until I heard his interview. I loved Travis & Presley! Travis kind of reminds me of a big puppy too so I think that’s why they have such a great relationship. I got such a kick out of Andrew but he is a mama’s boy although he has a really nice mommy.
If Laurie wasn’t so horrible, I might have liked Andrew better. It was difficult to separate the two. I have no respect for anyone who believes that if you don’t agree with their opinion – or their methods – you must be wrong. Arggg, I disliked her from day one. Thankfully, the right dog won. Presley is a doll and Travis was honest when he admitted he had a lot to learn. As opposed to Laurie who already thinks she knows everything. How can she not realize her dog has separation anxiety? But the $64,000 question is did Travis and Laura hook up??? Did she forgive him for taking Beth Joy’s side in the episode where she got booted? I’m guessing they are together since they co-hosted the party.
This show had everything: No real criteria to win, caustic and opinionated judges, stupid stunts, a dangerous stunt, an elephant (twice!), and a very large prize. Good riddance!
Did you people not see the intro to the show, Presley was the dog running through the credits, he was on the logo, it said ” Greatest American Dog “. I knew since the first episode he would win. And yes, I do own a boxer.
About half-way through the season, I noticed that Travis/Presley’s credit shot was different from everyone else. Everyone else simply posed with their dog, and Travis and Presley were playing. Also, the dog that jumps through the “O” in the Greatest American Dog is a boxer.
I personally felt that both JD and Laurie were arrogant. Both felt that their training methods were correct and that others are wrong. Travis, being a newbie, sees pluses and minuses in both approaches.
In the Dog Swap, Laurie called herself “the quintessential dog lover”. But she didn’t really want to play with the bigger dogs. She just wanted to sit and pet them. That’s not a dog lover.
I hope the JD has watched the show and realizes that he did come across as a little distant- even with Galaxy. The only time he seemed to show any genuine emotion was when Galaxy was hurt. That did demonstrate that he truly loved Galaxy, but I hope that he sees that he didn’t display much affection.
JD and Galaxy should have totally won. He wasn’t arrogant – he’s a phenomenal dog trainer and Galaxy is an awesome dog. I have a boxer and still think Galaxy should have won.
I’m surprised no one mentioned the cutaways to Brandy crying and crossing her fingers. I seriously hope her fiance realized she had such a crush on Travis.
Not true Diane, Not all the dogs were featured in the opening credits, but some were. Galaxy, Preston, Beacon, Tillman
Woof woof! Why were all the other dogs barking at me like that?
I loved Andrew! He was just too cute, but have to agree Laurie was a bit… uhhh.. opinionated.
I just couldn’t believe that JD only bathes poor Galaxy “once or twice” a year!!!! And.. when the judges gave him a chance to admit he’d learned to be a bit less stern, he just dug himself in deeper with his comment about “noticing what the other owner’s did wrong..” Shaking my head((..))
The thing I loved about Travis is when he got out of the “loyalty” competion because he didn’t like seeing Presley suffer. To me- he should have won right then!!
But little Andrew sure wasn’t scared og that big ole elephant!
One more thing. I felt a lot of the competions weren’t fair to the small dogs. Maybe they should have separate competions when it comes to the physical challenges.
Like someone else said, a small dog could have really gotten hurt falling off that balance beam, and I think Laurie was smart for sticking so close.
Does anybody know who does the song that is played during the opening credits? I really like the song and when I try to read the closing credits to find out, they go by so fast!!
I believe my boxer owns ME.
I also believe Travis/Presley were going to win given the criteria, and the judges. I also loved watching the dogs, but didn’t really see the point in stressing those dogs out so badly. Star was more than ready to go home by the end, and “proving” loyalty and courage by having a dog run a course is really missing the point. The show proves only that the owner who follows a particular training path is rewarded. And I knew it would be Travis/Presley simply because they would sell more magazines. Marketing 101…
I am very happy Travis and Presley won. I also agree with Danielle and pray people do not rush out and buy and boxer just because of the show. I have had 3 and just rescued number 4 from a shelter. The shelter told me the hardest part of adopting out boxers is that people DO NOT know the breed and don’t do their research before they get one.
I thought all the dogs were special in their own right. But can’t say I am disappointed Presley won after all he is just a baby! He is only 16 months and well on his way to being an amazing dog.
I truly believe that of the final 3, that Travis is the only one hands down that “listened” to what the judges said & learned. JD was to cocky & Laurie was to blind to see that her dog, no matter how cute he is, does not interact with others ~~ human or other animals. The best dog won!
I thought it was so cool that Travis won since he was the one person that didn’t seem to harbor any adverse feelings about anyone but was into good old healthy competition! I thought it was great that they had a wide range of dogs! Andrew proved that little dogs can compete with the big dogs. I thoroughly enjoyed this show much more than any of the other reality shows! I hope they bring it back next season!
I was thrilled to see Tillman again – if only they let Tillman skateboard. I’m glad Presley and Travis won – they deserve it. Laurie – nah – she’s as cocky as JD!! Love Galaxy – she’s a sweet & obedient dog. Andrew is cute too, but not a toy dog person. TILLMAN all the way!! I also love Star.
I WAS SO HAPPY TO SEE TRAVIS AND PRESLEY WIN. I HAVE BEEN A BIG FAN OF THERES SINCE I FIRST STARTED WATCHING THE SHOW. OF COURSE IM A LITTLE PARTIAL SINCE I HAVE A BRINDLE BULLBOXER. BUT TRAVIS WAS WONDERFUL WITH PRESLEY AND I WAS IMPRESSED THAT HE DIDNT PRESSURE HIM TO STAY ON THAT STUMP DURING THE LOYALTY COMPETITION. ROCK ON PRESLEY.