Greatest American Dog

[shais_mom]

I actually have to disagree with this. If you had said this several weeks ago, Karen, I would have agreed with you, but now you have to look at the competition as a whole. In order to get this far, the dog would have already had to go through other tests that were not so much in the nature of their breed of dog. For example, I thought that many of the earlier tests were geared toward the bigger dogs and quite challenging for the smaller dogs. The fact that the smaller dogs got through them (Preston and Andrew) was quite and accomplishment. If the tests are now geared toward dogs more of his temperment than the others, so be it. They have to overcome their natural instincts to win, just the way he did in some of the earlier contests. It all works out in the end for those who last that long.

I do agree that the judging is subjective, but all judging is subjective. Not much different from the conformation ring really, where they have more easily identifiable criteria to consider.

I agree - I disagree with Karen. I feel that JD WAS threatening towards Galaxy BUT in a situation at a park - where that dog MAY be in danger if the dog takes off - YOU want that dog in that position.
That said - My dog SUCKS at a sit stay. She will not do it. If you ask her to stick to my leg like glue she's right there. She would have never sat in the circle for me to walk away from her to begin with!
more to say - but late for work!

[Ginger's Mom]

I have been thinking this all along, it is just that last night was really the most blatant example. I think the "get the puppies through the maze" was geared toward the herding types, for example. Presley did fine - zipped through the maze, but it probably never occurred to him to bring the puppies with him. And how was a dog like Andrew supposed to be able to "herd" things bigger than him? Duh - the two border collies did the best with that one. Surprise? No.

I think this means we agree(?) Each test is geared toward a certain trait that some of the dogs may excel at and some do not. Therefore, each test is fundamentally "unfair" to a certain dog or dog in the competition. But if you get through the ones that you are not only expected to excel at but also the others, you have accomplished more than any other dog there. Whether that is, in fact, what qualifies as America's Greatest Dog is another debate for another time.

[Karen]

Yeah, another example of unfair - last night they did give Andrew a slightly smaller stump than the others, but none of the other dogs had a stump big enough to lie down on even if they wanted to!

One would think supposed "dog experts" would be smarter in setting up the challenges.

[sparks19]

Andrew used to play with Elvis all the time before he left the show.

I think if his attachment to Laurie was obsessive he would become panicked when left without her. Sur ehe looked for her but he wasn't frantic or panicing. I'm willing to bet that when they are at home and she goes out that he doesn't search the house for her. He's in a new place and may not be totally comfortable there without her. I can understand that. He also didn't seem too concerned with finding Laurie when Teresa was snuggling him. I think Travis and JD just bored him LOL.

As for Loyalty... I think that is Presley all over. I think he is definitely the most LOYAL. He runs and plays and acts like a puppy but when his daddy calls him he can't wait to get to him. I loved Travis' line last night "this challenge is about loyalty. He sat on that stump for 20 minutes showing his loyalty to me... what about my loyalty to him" Loved that.

[shais_mom]

Andrew used to play with Elvis all the time before he left the show.

I think if his attachment to Laurie was obsessive he would become panicked when left without her. Sur ehe looked for her but he wasn't frantic or panicing. I'm willing to bet that when they are at home and she goes out that he doesn't search the house for her. He's in a new place and may not be totally comfortable there without her. I can understand that. He also didn't seem too concerned with finding Laurie when Teresa was snuggling him. I think Travis and JD just bored him LOL.

As for Loyalty... I think that is Presley all over. I think he is definitely the most LOYAL. He runs and plays and acts like a puppy but when his daddy calls him he can't wait to get to him. I loved Travis' line last night "this challenge is about loyalty. He sat on that stump for 20 minutes showing his loyalty to me... what about my loyalty to him" Loved that.

I agree - and I LOVED LOVED LOVED the how Presley leaned against Travis during the final moments of judging and Travis held him tenderly. It brought tears to my eyes.
I think JD's parting shot to Victoria really hit a nerve with her - you could see it on her face. She was peeved. Not sure it was warranted or not - his parting shot to her was very similiar to someone having to have the last word and proving themselves right. In some of the challenges I've seen JD handle himself better with Galaxy than others. There were times I wasn't even sure he cared for her but he was very attentive and sweet to her when she was hurt. Ask any of us whose dogs scream for us at the dog park or pine for us when we are on the outside of the fence about loyalty. Loyalty my dog has - obedience she does not. Which point in case - the reason we aren't on the show!

[momoffuzzyfaces]

Just a reminder: Tonight is the finale!!!
Everyone root for your favorites!!!!

[sparks19]

What? tonight?

I checked my guide just to make sure and it didn't list it. Tomorrow is wednesday. I hope I didn't miss it