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'Greatest American Dog' recap: What the F@&%?

Aug 28, 2008, 04:27 PM | by Mandi Bierly

Categories: 'Greatest American Dog', Animals, Mini TV Watch, Reality TV, Television

Greatestamericandog_l I know I'm late filing my Greatest American Dog recap, and that the 15 20 of you who still read it could be angry. But I have the best excuse ever: Mark-Paul Gosselaar just stopped by our office. (See him meet Annie here.) On to the show...

So last night's theme was courage. Or, how to scare your dog s---less.

The Dog Bone Challenge involved an elephant. AN ELEPHANT. One-by-one, the dogs were seated in a circle and asked to stay put while a 9,000-lb. elephant walked toward them. The one who stayed in the circle the longest, while his or her owner yelled, " Stay! Stay! Focus!", won. Only Maltese Andrew (pictured) and Boxer Presley (a.k.a. Poopers) had enough courage to let the elephant get close enough to grab a banana that also sat inside the circle. For the tie-breaker, Andrew and Presley both sat in the circle, while their owners, Laurie and Travis, stood in between the charging trotting elephant and them — with their backs turned to the elephant. Now frankly, I think the Dog Bone Suite should have gone to the dog that was the first to tell their owner to get the h--- out of the way. (D---, this show is making me swear a lot this week.) But it went to Andrew, who stayed in the circle the longest. That Maltese has nerves of steel. Or does he?...

The Best in Show Challenge, "Stunt Dog," was the most difficult and insane task to date. (Remember when we started this series with musical doggy chairs? Those were not good, but at least safe, times.) The dogs had to complete a three-part stunt course, while wearing a safety harness: An incline ramp, a balance beam, and a 32-FT. DROP, 50-FT. LONG ZIPLINE. Bill was surprisingly psyched to see his orange dog, Star, fly. But the ol' Brittany wouldn't do it. (They'd eventually get the boot.) Andrew also didn't have the cojones to make the leap, which actually made me happy: That dog seems too devoted to Laurie — I want to know that he can think for himself. Border Collie Leroy took the plunge after much begging from owner Teresa — and barking. Presley also went airborne, as did English Border Collie Galaxy. Galaxy appeared fine after the jump, but later, started limping. At the judges' panel, Victoria Stilwell asked how Galaxy strained the muscle in her front right shoulder. I'm only guessing here, but I'm gonna blame the harness and the 32-FT. DROP, 50-FT. LONG ZIPLINE.

And P.S. I trust that the show's animal experts wouldn't do something that they thought could harm the dogs, but is it smart to teach them to jump off a 32-ft. high platform? My parents yell at their younger Dachshunds, Sophie (a.k.a. La Luche) and Charles (a.k.a. Chuck E. Cheese's) for jumping off the bed. (Their older Dachshund, Madison, a.k.a. Sony Baiul, knows better.) What if a dog doesn't realize it didn't die only because it was wearing wires and tries it again?

Lori Thu, Sep 4, 2008 at 09:41 PM EST

Ariel,
Regarding inaccuracy, YOU brought the elephant into the conversation when it was not part of my post.
Regarding inaccuracy, I apparently missed the pup Andrew got through. I apologize to Andrew.
That is still just 50% of Star's achievement. The judges ripped Bill for stressing Star; Bill said he wanted to challenge her. The next week when Star wouldn't jump, they ripped Bill for not challenging Star; Bill said he didn't want to stress her. Then they kicked him out.
Andrew did NO BETTER than Star, & they should've had a tie-breaker.
`
-cont. below

Lori Thu, Sep 4, 2008 at 09:41 PM EST

-cont. from above
`
Ariel,
Andrew is a precious dog, beautiful, & well-trained. I give Laurie credit for that, but I detest her arrogance, she called the other contestants "idiots," stated she would never help another contestant, starts arguments, & last night she cost JD precious time by not revealing where her dog was. Travis had to tell him because he understands fair play. All these are within her rights, I guess, but it's why I loathe her & want her to lose.
Last night, the judges Honorably Mentioned her again, but separation anxiety does not a Greatest American Dog make.

Mallory Thu, Sep 4, 2008 at 10:12 AM EST

I know I'm late to the party here, but I think it was an absolute mistake to send Bill and Star home. I also think it was quite hypocritical of the judges to blast him the week before for pushing Star too far, and then blast him in this episode for not pushing his dog. It's like there's no winning with them- no matter what you do, it's not good enough.

abbyyyyy Wed, Sep 3, 2008 at 09:47 PM EST

I LOVE THIS SHOW
but i think bill and star should of stayed
its clear the smart dogs DIDNT jump
i mean really what do u think they are thinking...they dont find thrill in jumping off stuff like humans LOL

Ariel Tue, Sep 2, 2008 at 10:58 PM EST

Lori, passive aggressive much? You already were hateful in your first post about Laurie and Andrew. And not only were you hateful, but you were also inaccurate. And now that you've been called on it you want to get all high and mighty. The bottom line is this LAURIE AND ANDREW ARE STILL THERE. :) There is nothing you can do about it and though that may really get your gourd, you'll just have to learn to deal with it. And please try to remember that this is just a silly reality show competition and what you see is more than likely inaccurate. Then you won't get so crazy about it. Toodles.

Chris Tue, Sep 2, 2008 at 12:34 AM EST

Does anyone know where to send e-mails to protest animal treatment on this show? I refuse to watch this anymore, and I think the owners need to look past the prize money and see what they're putting their so called "loved" pets through.

Stacy Sun, Aug 31, 2008 at 09:17 PM EST

I will no longer watch this show. This is cruel and inhumane. Obviously, the producers don't have dogs of their own. No one who has ever truly loved a pet would ever come up with insane tests like these. Stop the madness - NOW! If we all stop watching, maybe they'll go away?

DuAnn Davis Sun, Aug 31, 2008 at 12:42 PM EST

I will so miss Bill and Star. What a gentleman, what a sweet orange dog. We're seriously considering not watching the show anymore. To go from chastising him last week for pushing her to hard to criticizing because he wouldn't make her JUMP OFF A 3 STORY PLATFORM is the most inconsistent and insane thing I've heard.

okiegirl Sun, Aug 31, 2008 at 05:34 AM EST

I still get teary when I think of beautiful Presley shaking while the elephant came toward him but looking at Travis and remaining obediant until the final seconds. I wanted Travis to rescue his shaking friend. The show lost its humor when it lost the lovable Tillman, and it lost its soul when it vanquished our shining Star. Beautiful Presley with his expressive face, at least, remains. Send Presley home and this show is dead. Get well, Galaxie, or I will cry again. Go, Presley! The boxer to win. Woof!

Mu-shoo Sat, Aug 30, 2008 at 03:18 PM EST

Wow.

Lori Sat, Aug 30, 2008 at 03:10 PM EST

Ariel,
-
Do you know how to communicate without alienating people?
-
My problem isn't with Andrew, it is with Andrew's owner. Reread my post. Andrew is very cute. His owner is arrogant, puts down other contestants, & argues with them.
I was impressed when Andrew faced down the elephant, but that competition was for the Dog Bone Suite. The competition he did poorly in & that counted as far as being sent home was the Ramp, Log Walk, Zip Line Competition. The judges were judging THAT competition & the elephant had nothing to do with it. They have not stated (to my knowledge) that the Dog Bone Competition influences the final judging. They should've had a tie breaker between Star & Andrew.
-
I do know how & have successfully trained my dogs, one of whom is a dachshund I treat like a queen.
-
You were wrong in every assumption you made about me. I could easily be just as hateful about you in return, but have chosen not to gut you. You need to learn how to read before you write.

Ariel Sat, Aug 30, 2008 at 09:10 AM EST

Lori, Andrew did get a puppy through the maze... a puppy that was BIGGER than him, by the way. Your obvious bias against him (and likely all small dogs) damages your credibility greatly. Andrew did a PHENOMENAL job the last episode. For anyone who knows anything about obedience training (which clearly you don't), it is very customary for trainers to practice stays around all kinds of distractions such as loud noises, live animals running by, squeaking toys, dropping food, etc. To a dog an elephant is just like any other distraction. JD commented on how Galaxy would do well because she is used to being around all kinds of farm animals. While an elephant is unusual and certainly isn't readily available to practice around, the objective of a dog remaining in a stay is the same. A good stay is ESSENTIAL in dog training because it could save a dog's life. Andrew was brilliant! Give the little guy his props for God's sakes.

Lori Sat, Aug 30, 2008 at 02:36 AM EST

It became obvious to me the winners would be Laurie & Andrew back when they had the dance contest. She called the others idiots for not choosing ragtime & received high praise when Andrew followed her around the arena. My personal favorite was the hiphop dance - JD & Galaxy, I think. Many were better than Laurie & Andrew.

What really burned me was last week when Bill got 2/3 pups through & Laurie got 0/3 pups through, but Bill wound up in the bottom three!

This week I felt Andrew & Star performed the same; Andrew is small & Star is old. If they weren't willing to do a tie breaker, they should have dumped Laurie based on her negativity & arrogance. She gets praise far beyond what she deserves.

I've rooted for Bill from the beginning. A nice guy.

Rieko Fri, Aug 29, 2008 at 03:15 PM EST

Mandi makes a really good point at the end of her recap. If a dog learns that a jump is safe, then it may not look the next time. My aunt's dog got into the bad habit of jumping off the sea wall behind our house to play on the beach. (If the dogs had permission to go to the beach, the gate would be opened for them.)

We knew that eventually the season and the tide would change and the sand level would drop so we scolded the dogs each time but they all thought that it was great fun to "run away" to play on the beach.

The season did change and the sand level dropped by 2 feet, exposing the stone steps in front of the beach gate. My aunt's dog landed on a step that had previously been buried and badly sprained her front leg. A painful lesson for all of us.

kat Fri, Aug 29, 2008 at 12:57 PM EST

What an amazing amount of trust and loyalty these dogs displayed! The producers need to rethink their future trials and not violate animal cruelty morals/ideals -- if not laws. IMHO I certainly understand Mandi's parents letting the dogs on the bed. I let my dogs up because it is MY bed, and they are MY companions, who are loyal and trust worthy. Where other humans sleep has no relevance to what choices one makes about their own bed/home. I imagine that CDV would'nt have a bunch of strangers sharing his/her bed if they do not happen to have one of their own... but maybe I'm mistaken.

Dana Fri, Aug 29, 2008 at 12:06 PM EST

This challenge was horrible. Why would you want anyone to encourage any animal to jump from a height that could kill them if they were not harnessed? Who's to say one of these dogs might not think that they can do it again in the future and will kill or hurt themselves? The animals who were smart enough not to jump should have been praised. Sad to see Bill and Star gone Bill is awesome, nice to see someone so honest and just an all around good person :) I think the producers lost what he focus of this show should have been about, the strength of person's bond/relationship with their dog.

Eli Fri, Aug 29, 2008 at 10:30 AM EST

If you watch the first five minutes of this show you immediately know who is getting voted off.

To Mandi Fri, Aug 29, 2008 at 10:15 AM EST

First off your parents yell at their dogs for jumping OFF the bed? It's OK to let these mutts ON the bed???? ARe you harkin' kidding me! There's a million people in this country sleeping in a car or on the streets and these mutts get a place in your folks bed? Yikes! These people should be arrested! CDV

Cruella DeVille Fri, Aug 29, 2008 at 09:54 AM EST

Cut the whining about jumping off a platform! These are DOGS for crying out loud, make em toughen up! Tired of seeing these spoiled and pampered mutts being primadonnas and their obnoxious owners cooing over them like they're 6 month old babies who just said ga-ga-goo-goo! This show is WORSE than Kid Nation! Didn't think that was possible.

Bev Fri, Aug 29, 2008 at 09:36 AM EST

Will miss Bill and Star...Think Andrew and Star were the smartest dogs not to jump. Hope the dogs that did jump dont think they could jump off of a 3 story building and not get hurt.

J Fri, Aug 29, 2008 at 09:30 AM EST

What I found so frustrating about this episode was the contradictory nature of those ridiculous judges. Last week, they chastised Bill for pushing Star. This week, they criticized him for knowing and respecting Star's limits. And I don't know about anyone else, but I thought that the obstacle course bordered on cruelty. And, clearly, I loved Bill and Star. Star is a great dog, but that has nothing to do with winning. It appears that the judges are looking for the Greatest American Dog Trainer.

JohnT Fri, Aug 29, 2008 at 09:16 AM EST

I agree with MsDaisy: where is PETA, the Humane Society and the rest of the animal cops? I'd rather have seen the ridiculous judges harness up and try the zip line. What's next? This show is a disaster waiting to happen and, rather than posting here, it might be better to write to the sponsors of this travesty.

madmadmad Fri, Aug 29, 2008 at 09:12 AM EST

What a disgusting episode! The judges have made comments all season about stressing the dogs and then they sit there are bless this?! Dogs know not to jump off cliffs or from high places. That is a survival instinct. This episode had nothing to do with training. It had to do with recklessness and cruelty. And then the judges feel they have to criticize the dogs for showing stress or hesitating, and dumping a dog smart enough not to jump! Shame on them! Victoria may not like Caesar Milan's method, but he never asked a dog to jump from a dangerous height. And poor Galaxy! For being obedient, he now has to be in pain. Push these judges off the ledge with no zip cord!

Barbara Fri, Aug 29, 2008 at 08:28 AM EST

I was sorry to see Bill and Star go and Bill was one of the nicer humans in this show. None of the women contestants have impressed me and most are too annoying. I'm rooting for Travis and Presley now and if they get sent home, I'll probably lose interest and won't really care who wins. I also thought all of the challenges were incredibly stupid and the moron that thought of it must not even like dogs. Also was sorry to see Galaxy hurt and why isn't there a vet there at all times?

no-idol Fri, Aug 29, 2008 at 08:24 AM EST

was my first opportunity to catch the whole show and I was amazed that the dogs "dumb" enough to jump were the ones rewarded (and not save/alert the owners from the elephant). Granted a dog can be trained to put itself at risk, and a very obedient dog (Galaxy) will follow its owners orders out of trust. But that challenge was foul. You could tell the Brit spaniel assesed the danger of the situation and would not jump. She couldn't understand she was harnessed, same with the Maltese.

DogPound Fri, Aug 29, 2008 at 07:07 AM EST

Terrible episode. The producers should be ashamed. And the judges! The bond between Bill and Star (and Ron's bond to Tillman) should have been the focus of the show and the ultimate criteria the judges used to send a team home. The best 2 teams are no longer there, and the show is rapidly heading down the tubes!

BeaglesRule Fri, Aug 29, 2008 at 01:39 AM EST

Everyone's already touched on the utter stupidity and recklessness of making the dogs jump off the platform, but what about poor Galaxy and her hurt leg? Watching her walk was killing me. IMHO, they should have allowed Galaxy to remain seated in the final segment of the show when the judges announced their decision. Instead they made JD walk his poor injured doggy to the "safe zone". Just let her rest! At least there was no Beth Joy this time. Now all I have to do is wait for Laurie to get the boot and all will be right with the universe.

littleozzie Thu, Aug 28, 2008 at 11:40 PM EST

This is the most ridiculous and stupid challenge(s) of them all!!! I HATE the judges -- they have to go. Wendy- what a b%^&%$, Victoria - tell her to go back to England. They are inconsistent and full of contradictions. They're full of sh&* and they say the dumbest things. I hope CBS honchos will sack all 3 if they decide to renew this show for another season. I STILL MISS TILLMAN!!! So sad to see Bill and Star go. They were a great pair!!

Brooke Thu, Aug 28, 2008 at 08:54 PM EST

I miss Bill and Star. They were such a great pair. So loyal and bonded together, and Bill is such a nice guy, always helping Travis, Teresa, and others. Go Travis and Presley!

Mia Thu, Aug 28, 2008 at 06:20 PM EST

WHAT?!?!?!
Make your dog jump off a 32 ft platform? That is like a 3 story building. What idiot producer thought this stupid thing up?
And the judges had the nerve to say the snarl band was cruel (during the photo shoot a few weeks back)
and had no problems with this challenge????
I am glad I stopped watching this stupid and dangerous (for the dogs)
show.
This show could have been great.
Who doesn't want to watch cute dogs doing CUTE things?
The producers blew it BIG TIME!

Penny Raile Thu, Aug 28, 2008 at 06:14 PM EST

I think the judges and the producers should be sent home. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. If my dog sees an elephant coming (walking, trotting or charging), I want it to leave immediately. And never do I want him to jump from that height.

MsDaisy Thu, Aug 28, 2008 at 06:12 PM EST

Where are the Animal Cops to put a stop to this animal abuse?

Jill Thu, Aug 28, 2008 at 04:50 PM EST

I am still hurting that Tillman is gone, but doubt that he could have competed these last couple of weeks. I agree with the hating on the judges. Shouldn't having the courage to realize that your dog won't do the challenge stand for something? Star is up there in years, and was smart enough to realize how stupid this was. And why penalize Star when Andrew didn't do it either? I am sad that Bill is gone. Unlike most reality TV personalities, he seemed caring and helpful and he will be missed.

Patty Thu, Aug 28, 2008 at 04:03 PM EST

watched accidently for the first time last night - sadly for me I liked Bill and orange dog best

Debra Thu, Aug 28, 2008 at 03:57 PM EST

My favorite a-hole moment of a night that was filled with them (let's start with the show's producers and move downwards) was Victoria primly noting that "Andrew was showing stress reactions" when Laurie asked him to jump. No s-t. I could not believe they were teaching dogs to jump off a high platform. What an incredibly stupid and abusive idea. Love the dogs. Hate the producers.

Dog Watcher Thu, Aug 28, 2008 at 03:54 PM EST

20 commenters - 40 readers. I have no idea why I watch this show. I can't help myself. I hoped that they would have given Bill credit for seeing his dog's distress and calling it off since they yelled at him for it during the puppy challenge. Now it's only Travis & P**pers that I have to root for.

Melanie Thu, Aug 28, 2008 at 03:43 PM EST

I suspect Galaxy actually hurt her shoulder going up the ramp, but with her adrenalin pumping, she didn't start to feel the pain until much later.

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