Greatest American Dog, July 10th

[Shmee]

I'm guessing they wanted a mix of owners and breeds and levels of training. It does say in the beginning intro of the show that the dogs and their owners had to exhibit a variety of different tasks to qualify.
As far as Elvis goes? As a Jack owner, I was partial to him, BUT, no he can't be considered as a "greatest dog" when he bites. Bad temperament. As far as the teeter manuever was concerned? He would have been fine on leash if his owner would have slacked off on the friggin lead. He was basically being hung by the neck the entire time he was walking the teeter. A good handler can mask little things like holding a lead if it's done properly.

All in all, I too am alittle disappointed in the show. I'm also pretty sure that Kaytee and I could blow many of those other dogs out of the water when it comes to many of the tasks.

The funniest part of last nite was the line we were all waiting to hear.....

"Elvis has left the building!"
I Love that stuff!!
-Shmee

[c0_re]

Originally Posted by Shmee

I'm guessing they wanted a mix of owners and breeds and levels of training. It does say in the beginning intro of the show that the dogs and their owners had to exhibit a variety of different tasks to qualify.

Yep understood and agreed, but I still would have enjoyed it if the owners and dogs were at more similure levels of ability and experience.

Originally Posted by Shmee

As far as Elvis goes? As a Jack owner, I was partial to him, BUT, no he can't be considered as a "greatest dog" when he bites. Bad temperament. As far as the teeter manuever was concerned? He would have been fine on leash if his owner would have slacked off on the friggin lead. He was basically being hung by the neck the entire time he was walking the teeter. A good handler can mask little things like holding a lead if it's done properly.

Yep I place on teh blame on his hadler\trainer it was painfully obvios he needed to give Elvis some more slack\room to do it himself. With a different handler Elvis would have probably been absolutly perfect.

As far as the biting thing I think that was blown a little out of porportion, it was one incedent, elvis was playing fine with the bulldog before and then in last nights episode Elvis was playing with multiple dogs just fine.

Originally Posted by Shmee

All in all, I too am alittle disappointed in the show. I'm also pretty sure that Kaytee and I could blow many of those other dogs out of the water when it comes to many of the tasks.

Yep I'm not sure if me and either of my guys would ahve "blown them away" but we certainly could ahve done better than the bulk of the contestants.

Originally Posted by Shmee

The funniest part of last nite was the line we were all waiting to hear.....



"Elvis has left the building!"
I Love that stuff!!
-Shmee

ha ha yea that was good I can't believe I didn't see it comming. :-)

[Jamila]

I like the show but most of the owners annoy the crap outta me. I agree with the whole Elvis on the lead thing. They didn't even give him a chance to be off leash for that and he wound up off leash for the maze and did excellent. I think you gotta have faith in your dog.
Im ready for them to get rid of that high pitched squealing chick. I bet her dogs ear drums are about blown out LOL

Still though I like the show it not just to see how other people react to and handle their dogs from all over.

[Doglover1988]

I love the show. My favorites to win are the boxer and his hot owner. hehe

[Jamila]

yeah that boxers owner is nice to look at and he seems super sweet to his dog

[Ritz459]

Yep, I'm pulling for the Boxer and his owner. The guy isn't crazy, he's cute, and he has a Boxer for crying out loud. What's not to love? I haven't seen the show since it first aired (been too busy), but I hope he wins.

[c0_re]

I liked this weeks episode much better as they made JD not look like so much of a jerk(for gods sake someone do somthing about that goofy man laugh though)

I thought he had an obvious advantage though all he had to do was point at the object(any object anywhere) and Galaxy would have brought it back, this is very basic any sporting dog should have learned this skill, although it was pretty obvious in the photo shoot that the level of communication and bond between them is pretty impressive.

Overall it was I thought the best episode so far, I was quite sad to see the bully go but his handler(He seemed like a pretty cool guy) just didn't seem to take things very seriously and the judges picked up on that right away. Come on they could have easily done better in the photo shoot.

I like the guy with the Boxer too but he's just a little to metro for my taste, but he's obviouly in love with his beautiful dog and thats all that matters to me.

[dogownsemeline]

I haven't seen it yet! Ack! I just want to see what it's like, but I just haven't seen it yet!
I LOVE Victoria Stilwell too
Maybe I'll eventually see it. I wonder what I'll think of it...

[Shmee]

Ok, so I caught up on last week's episode (gotta love that DVR!) and I was quite sad to see Tillman and owner go home. He could have single handedly aced that photoshoot with Tillman if he would have simply put him on a sofa with a bag'ochips and a beer bottle, rolling him over on his back and that would have nailed it. But, o'well.
I just want to take this time right now to thank Brandi and Beacon for LEAVING I so could not stand her, or her poor dog that has to suffer through it's miserable life with this poor excuse for a person that would literally fill a psychiatric handbook on mental issues. Her ballet outfit and makeup looked like it was something from a Tim Burton movie. Simply horrifying.
Kudo's to oldman Bill and Starr for acing (in my opinion) the dance contest. The malt was a close 2nd. Bill's got lots of tv appeal as does his dog and they will most likely end up in the final round. I originally predicted that the young girl with the giant shnauzer would do well and I guess I put the kybosh on her chances.
Next week's loser should be Border Collie Leroy and his owner (I cant recall her name). I was whincing with the tactics used when she was trying to get Leroy to snarl on command and I'm pretty sure if she would have used a wider band on his mouth that wasnt so constricting, she'd have had a better time of the whole mess. I actually have a command with Peety, where I use a hand command in a downward 'C' and I simultaneously tell him to "smile" and he'll show his teeth. Would have fit the bill for the pic.

Ah well, awaiting next week's epi...
-Shmee

[c0_re]

Originally Posted by Shmee

I just want to take this time right now to thank Brandi and Beacon for LEAVING I so could not stand her, or her poor dog that has to suffer through it's miserable life with this poor excuse for a person that would literally fill a psychiatric handbook on mental issues. Her ballet outfit and makeup looked like it was something from a Tim Burton movie. Simply horrifying.

OMG I couldn't agtree more, that woman made me crazy(coudl image being her boyfried, "please kill me"

Originally Posted by Shmee

Kudo's to oldman Bill and Starr for acing (in my opinion) the dance contest. The malt was a close 2nd. Bill's got lots of tv appeal as does his dog and they will most likely end up in the final round. I originally predicted that the young girl with the giant shnauzer would do well and I guess I put the kybosh on her chances.

As far as the Dancing from a techical standpoint I thought Bill and Star and JD and Galaxy did the best by a long shot followed by the Malt and her owner. I wasn't quite as impressed with them as you(and the judges) but then again I hold all these dogs to the same standard and potential but it seems they judge based on the base capabuilites of the dog not the final product.

Originally Posted by Shmee

Next week's loser should be Border Collie Leroy and his owner (I cant recall her name). I was whincing with the tactics used when she was trying to get Leroy to snarl on command and I'm pretty sure if she would have used a wider band on his mouth that wasnt so constricting, she'd have had a better time of the whole mess. I actually have a command with Peety, where I use a hand command in a downward 'C' and I simultaneously tell him to "smile" and he'll show his teeth. Would have fit the bill for the pic.

I'll have to disagree with you here, while I agree the snarl bands were a bad judgment choice by her she was given the bands by the other woman(prestons owner) like it was no big deal to use them. These bands ARE commonly used with dogs in the movies and as long as it's only a single brief moment and the dog ins't harmed I guess I can live with it.

I mean she did an "OK" dance and gave up her first place spot(and the leg up) to Bill so he could see his family, I though was rather selfless of her. That and from a pure obedience and skills standpoint I'd say Leroy near the top of the pack.

I'd much rather see Bella star and her goofy owner go home, I coud pick any random owner and dog at the park that would perform much much better than her.

[Shmee]

Yeah, True dat C0Re... Bella's owner is quite nauseating, and yes, Leroy's owner, Theresa (after abit of searching) did give the spot away to Bill, so I guess she isn't all that bad, but spraying your dog in his mugg with grapefuit juice and sticking a vaccuum cleaner nozzle in his face for no reason except to get a rise out of him?? Kinda harsh no? I would have bitten her too.
I'll go ahead and ammend my choice for the vote off doggy island for next week... Bella and BethJoy would be next on the hit parade. Lookslike the only thing Bella can do is hop on her hindlegs and rub her paws together. Seems BethJoy isn't using the knowledge base of these other people in the house. She couldnt have taught the dog atleast one more trick in the time she's been there? Furthermore, I didn't like how BethJoy was elevating her dog above the other mutts in the house. She was concerned that Bella would be "harmed" by the other dogs.
As far as the JD guy and Galaxy are concerned? I get a distinct feeling that JD DEMANDS that Galaxy performs like a robot. I think he might be a bit too hard on his dog in what he expects it to do for him. Maybe im off base here, but the feeling of fear vs. acceptance is looming, that if the dog doesn't do what's asked, he/she's going to be reprimanded in some way, shape or form. Just my opinion for what it's worth..

-Shmee

[c0_re]

Originally Posted by Shmee

Yeah, True dat C0Re... Bella's owner is quite nauseating, and yes, Leroy's owner, Theresa (after abit of searching) did give the spot away to Bill, so I guess she isn't all that bad, but spraying your dog in his mugg with grapefuit juice and sticking a vaccuum cleaner nozzle in his face for no reason except to get a rise out of him?? Kinda harsh no? I would have bitten her too.

Agreed, to be honest I was in shocked when she did that. The photographer could have easily gotten a mid bark(god knows it would been easy with Leroy) picture that would have been just fine for an "angry" shot. I have many shots like this with my 2 and their ntoi angry in the least.

Originally Posted by Shmee

I'll go ahead and ammend my choice for the vote off doggy island for next week... Bella and BethJoy would be next on the hit parade. Lookslike the only thing Bella can do is hop on her hindlegs and rub her paws together. Seems BethJoy isn't using the knowledge base of these other people in the house. She couldnt have taught the dog atleast one more trick in the time she's been there? Furthermore, I didn't like how BethJoy was elevating her dog above the other mutts in the house. She was concerned that Bella would be "harmed" by the other dogs.

I know that woman(and people like her) make me crazy, to be honest I really just feel bad for her dog having to put up with her non-sence. Also like you said she didn't want to hear any advice from anyone else either so yea tough.

Originally Posted by Shmee

As far as the JD guy and Galaxy are concerned? I get a distinct feeling that JD DEMANDS that Galaxy performs like a robot. I think he might be a bit too hard on his dog in what he expects it to do for him. Maybe im off base here, but the feeling of fear vs. acceptance is looming, that if the dog doesn't do what's asked, he/she's going to be reprimanded in some way, shape or form. Just my opinion for what it's worth..
-Shmee

Ya I know I get that same vibe from him(did you see how angry red his face got when Galaxy fell off the bar!) but I have yet to see him really correct or be negative to her on the show so I don't want to be too quick to assume I know whats going on there. From what I understand it's nearly impossible to train a Frisbee dog with intimidation and fear and she seems pretty good at it. To me the jury remains out on JD

Galaxy on the other hand seems like your old school working\hunting dog where her entire life revolves her "master" and their job together. They obviously share some other interests(tricks friebee ect) but that’s probably the role she plays. I have mixed feeling about dogs that lead this kind of life(think highly valued and loved employee not companion or equal) but normally they are very well balanced, healthy, love their work and lead very fulfilling lives(from a dogs POV)

I could personally never raise a dog this way and it's difficult for people like us to understand it but I hesitate to pass judgment on people who raise and train sled, champion gun\water and army\police\protection dogs. I can appreciate these finely tuned animals working in concert with their human counterparts useing their god given genetic abilities to do some very impressive and sometimes amazing feats.

Anyways thanks for helping me keep the thread alive, nice to actually have someone to talk with about it.

[Jamila]

anyone still watching this show?

[Doglover1988]

I am. I was upset that the little pom went home he was adorable and so smart. I don't think it's fair to make them paint like that.

[Shmee]

The Pom smart?? Ummm yeah... I guess.. I'm quite upset by the show's outcome myself. The only hottie on the show's now history. Granted, it was abit much to see her snuggle and oodle the boxer while the kid in the other bed is like, "hey honey, if you think the dog is sumthin' you should check this out!" But apparently, this kid's nard's are the equivalent of 2 chickpeas in a caesar's salad. (Visualize folks, visualize). Oh and can BethJoy please cry on demand yet one more time??? I dont know what the Vegas over-under is for BethJoy giving us one more over-the-top, over-dramatic, obnoxious dialogue, but my money's on the HEAVY over here.
I realize the show's now running out idea's when they have contestants tying sponges to their dogs feet and then coaxing them into walking across a canvas to produce art. Please guys, tell me none of you have attempted this? Please? Simply pathetic.
I still enjoy old man Bill and Starr and they are my hopeful's to take the whole show. Otherwise, I don't think it's going to see a 2nd season.

-Shmee