Greatest American Dog

Really? That is interesting. Because I do think of "anger" as being an emotion, a visceral sort of thing, that animals can display. What seemed a bit unusual to me is "sneaky." That is a concept that animals can't understand. Animals don't think in concepts (maybe if they had said stealth). I think I would have been more upset with them including something that is unnatural to animals rather than something that is a basic part of nature.

But why would you want your dog to display anger?

I asked myself what would I have done if I was on the show. I would not have used the bands, nor would I have used the spray in his face.

I thought I would just hope that Fenway was showing his underbite. Some people see him with his underbite and they think he's mad and growling.

I just wouldn't subject Fenway to that trauma just for a photoshoot. The money's not worth it.

I think the producers could have used some other words other than anger. There are dozens of words I would have rather seen them use - silly, adorable, cute, funny.

Anger's just too mean and I don't have a mean dog.

Just my thoughts.

Not trying to be argumentative, I don't really have a strong feeling one way or the other, but this is a talent show. They are looking to see who can get their dogs to perform in certain ways. Sometimes in doing a photo shoot or commercial something like anger may be needed for the shoot. Would I have wanted to have drawn that word, absolutely not, but I don't think the inclusion of it would make me stop watching the show.

I can't wait for Brandy to be kicked off, I LOVED LOVED LOVED Travis' comment to her right after the judging. "sure we can talk about you - it might be your last day here" I LOVED IT!
Beth Joy - I wanna smack her - she just looks like a spoiled child.
Whats-her-name with Leroy, - just ICK - I don't think the bands were a bad thing- they use them in the movies so I didn't think they were inhumane. I felt bad for the girl (preston's mom) who suggested it but wonder if there is an ulterior motive?
interesting.
I LOVED Presley's picture - I thought it was a good one. I thought they were a bit harsh in their judgement of Tillman's pics.

I had a Shiz Tzu/terrier mix that I was teaching to bare his teeth.

I was trying to get him to go on the command "SMILE".

They were trying to get the impression of the emotion- not the real thing.
That would be plain stupid.:rolleyes:

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The human reality shows are much better. You get to see the real animals in action.

I was sad to see Tillman go, though I'm sure there were much better pictures taken, and his owner just made a poor choice.

I think Brandy has a crush on Travis, so was jealous that he and the other woman were getting along well. Brandy seems to be very self-centered, though maybe that is just the editing.

I was so glad Bill and Star got good marks for her photo, she's just such a sweetie, and he obviously just loves her to bits, that I was worried they wouldn't do well because he said he wasn't creative.

I agree - they shouldn't have chosen "anger" as one of the words, that was just unfair.

Karen, I agree with you 100%. You know, I don't know a lot, but one thing I know is that it is not hard to make an English Bulldog look lazy! LOL!! I have tons of lazy pictures of Mack, in fact, those are about the only pictures I have of Mack. The guy could have picked a better pose of Tillman for sure. But Mack and I were ticked off when Tillman was let go. I don't even know these human names, but I love all the dogs. I was most annoyed with the Schnauzer's human and the human belonging to Leroy. I will agree, too, that "angry" is not an emotion that one wants to force in their dog! OMG, I have enough of problem with that at home, trying to control it with my two boys. Why in the world would anyone want to make their dog look angry?? Just the tactics of the owner were enough for me to want to boot her off and steal her dog. :eek:

I dunno - it was suggested by Preston's owner for her to use them, ultimately her decision of course. But was it underhanded for her to suggest them? Was there an ulterior motive? Who knows?!
Anger probably wasn't the greatest emotion to use, but all I would have to do is withhold a tennis ball from Keegan to get her to show it when she is barking rapidly at me. I thought Leroy's owner deserved the bite she got - I don't think the photographer was thrilled with her either. But will I stop watching it b/c of that choice, no, I don't stop watching ER b/c they hang xrays upside down and I know better.;)

You know... although it's easy for me to say since I have nothing at stake... but if I got "Angry" as my word I would have just taken regular pictures of my dogs being themselves and when they asked me to explain I would simply tell them that ANGER is not a display I encourage in my dogs and even though it might cost me the contest I will not compromise my dog or my belief that he has NO NEED to display anger. I would tell them that while my dog is very obedient ANGER is not something I teach him to display unless it is a natural feeling that he experiences and I will NOT cause that real feeling to occur.

Now if I could get Beezer barking I could get the picture but it is not something I want to encourage. the contest is only for a few weeks. making my dog FEEL REAL anger to show it in a picture could last forever.

My dogs used to look angry when I would brush the hair between their eyes the wrong way. I would have tried that. A dog can look angry without snarling, like ears back, barking etc. I would bite any one who came at me with a vacuum cleaner hose too!!! :(

Did you guys watch last night?

AWWWWWWWW did anyone else tear up when Theresa gave up her win so that Bill could have the dogbone suite and have pictures of his wife and children and grandchildren? That was so incredibly sweet and selfless.

I just love bill and Star. they are by far my favorites. He just seems like such a good man. He seems like the type of guy who has never met a stranger :) and his dance was so funny. they were great

I am SOOOOOOOOOO glad Brandy is gone. THANK THE LORD because I really am not sure I could have stood one more week of her "woe is me" act lol

JD is starting to get on my nerves too. I mean yes his dog is VERY obedient and they obviously have an amazing bond but does anyone else get the feeling that it's more about JD himself than his dog? he just gives off the impression that he's the best and while he is definitely better than most I don't think he is that far ahead of some of the other competition. he just seems so arrogant and I don't like that.

That one judge too with the dog drives me nuts. It's like she is trying to be the Simon cowell of dogs hahaha. Rarely do I ever hear her say anything constructive. she just finds the silliest little things to pick on. I like that male judge though lol he makes me laugh sometimes

I agree with your entire post!!! ;):)
You summed up how I felt about the entire show rather nicely! How did you get into my brain? :D

I do feel sorry for the dog Beacon though. Poor thing has to go home with Brandy! :(

I think Beacon does love Brandy, but likes her better when she's not in stressed-out training mode. Brandy just isn't a good dog trainer, but she does love Beacon, even if she doesn't understand her, poor thing. I am glad for both of their sakes that they went home. And I thought that Bill and Star and JD and Galaxy had better routines than Andy and his owner. I liked Teresa a whole lot more after she gave the Dog Bone Suite to Bill.

I love this show. My fave is, of course Bill from Texas, with Star. He totally gets it and it shows with the bond he has with Star.

Of the performances last night, Bill and Star's rock-a-billy and JD and Galaxy's hip hop, were my faves, but I understood why they gave the win to the Maltese. I wonder why they didn't give the same consideration to training difficulties with the Jack Russell. Apparently they've never had terriers. :)

As to the photoshoot from the previous week, I think there's some misunderstanding of what was expected. They weren't suppose to be doing things to the dog to make the dog feel the emotion they were given, i.e. rile the dog up until he's angry. They were suppose to be creative and train the dog to do something that would represent the emotion. Star wasn't being "stubborn", she was actually being obedient. Bill put her in a sit-stay, while he tugged on the leash and she stayed sitting, like he asked, but it looks like "stubborn" in the photograph.

Personally I would have hated to get word "lazy" having Collies. To get them to not be alert in that type of situation would have been really hard. I would have wanted the word "love" I think. I would have chosen a red background, then I would have had Oz balancing a Hershey's Kiss on his nose. :)

Par...

LOL Momoffuzzyfaces... I can't tell you how I got in... but can you tell me how to get out? :D hehe

Great minds just think alike I guess haha.

Yeah they couldn't really give the special mention to Bill since he had the choreographer and it was obvious he wasn't the one going home anyway lol.

I liked JD's routine but it just seems more and more that it's about HIM and not the dog. "I used to be a Michael Jackson impersonator. Dance is a big part of MY life. I go to clubs and dance all the time" did he even mention Galaxy at all? lol And did he seem kind of angry at first when Galaxy didn't make it across the balance beam or was that just me?

Yeah I think Brandy and Beacon will be better off being at home back to normal. Beacon was REALLY not responding well to Brandy's stress levels. Man if she put half as much effort into GOOD training as she did into whining and crying she would be a GREAT trainer.

LOL BTW did anyone notice that dress that Preston's owner was wearing? it looked great on her but she almost showed her "business" to the entire nation when she got down on her knees and leaned back in it lol