Greatest American Dog

[4 Dog Mother]

Ginger's mom, you can watch the episodes right on your computer if you miss any. I didn't get to see the first half last week and that is what I did. I missed a little last night and am going back to watch it later.

I was a little irritated that the judges told Bill last week that he pushed Star too hard and this week when he tried to figure out what was best for her, they told him he should have had her go up the red ramp. Like one time he should know what his dog can do and not do but then he's told he didn't know his dog well enough and she could have gone up the red ramp. And they are definitely against Travis and Presley. Presley is doing amazing for a young dog, amazing! And yet they jumped on him because he didn't stay back until Travis called him at the beginning and then Travis "endangered" him by letting him jump up when they got to the top. I also felt that this week's challenge was again a little slanted against some of the dogs. I was surprised when Andrew went up the ramp and then when he went across that walk. To even think that a small dog like him would actually jump from that height was ridiculous. And as I saw the way Galaxy was floundering around, I wondered how safe that was for any dog - that they might injure their back. Actually I think Presley was the only one who seemed to just go and not try to fight it.

I don't know who thought up these "challenges" but I am not really sure they have anything to do with being the "Greatest American Dog". Personally in my mind, Bill and Star and Travis and Presley should be the winners. To have a trainer like JD be a part of this I think is unfair. I want to see normal people and how they train and act with their dogs not some trainer who does it as a profession. The elephant thing was ridiculous too - but since it was just about getting the "Dog Bone Suite" I guess it was okay.

Travis said during part of the program that Presley was not able to do a lot of what he did before coming to the Camp. I think that says a lot for both Travis and Presley that they took to heart and watched and learned from the others. Snoopy would probably be the closest in relationship to any of those dogs with me. He would have jumped off just so he could be with me and because he trusted me not to do anything to hurt him. (I can't see him staying and letting an elephant charge at him though). Again, I think Travis and Presley and Bill and Starr are the ones I consider to be what I would want from the Greatest American Dog.

[Cincy'sMom]

I was a little irritated that the judges told Bill last week that he pushed Star too hard and this week when he tried to figure out what was best for her, they told him he should have had her go up the red ramp. Like one time he should know what his dog can do and not do but then he's told he didn't know his dog well enough and she could have gone up the red ramp.

I thought the same thing. It is like no matter what he choose, it was going to be wrong.

I also had a different take on Travis getting Presley excited before jumping. He was using a toy, to keep it light and keep Presely relaxed. Okay, so maybe it was getting abit rowdy considering the height, but I think Presely would have tensed up if Travis did and keeping it light helped them both. I didn't think it was that different from the way JD tried to keep it light and fun with Galaxy (except that being 9 years old, she was more restrained).

[sparks19]

Anyone watch tonight?

I think they m ade the right choice sending teresa and Leroy home. Yes Presley left the circle all together but I think Leroy was more out of control as a whole.

I also like how Travis decided to forfeit the dog bone challenge because it was obvious that Presley was uncomfortable and not having a good time. Good for him.

I am so glad Galaxy is OK

Also... I know Laurie hasn't always come across in a good lighting but WOW... does she understand her dog and vice versa. What a performance in the best in show. Andrew did not faulter at ALL.

[Karen]

I am so annoyed at the judging in this show. Both the judging and the challenges lately have been completely unfair.

Andrew only wants to be with Laurie. Anyone with an ounce of sense knew he'd excell at paying attention only to her. It would have been more of a challenge for him TO pay attention to commands from someone else. Whereas Leroy - the dog's a Border Collie for goodness sake. It is in his genes and his breeding to pay attention to moving objects. That Victoria called Teresa's body language toward him - and JD's toward Galaxy "threatening" was just plain stupid. There is no way either of those dogs felt threatened, not one bit. They are both herding dogs by breed, and needed extra effort from their owners to not move off their mark.

I truly believe each and every owner there now loves their dogs. But they are all VERY different in ages, breeds, and inclinations. A stuffed animal could have done every bit as good as Andrew in this week's challenge - does that make it more loyal, or a better dog? No.

The judges are taking into consideration only what THEY want to focus on, not the dog's breed, age, temperament or anything. Which is just plain ignorant, and unfair.

It's not often that I say this, but I think I would be a better judge than either of the women there, and they either edited out all of his stuff, or the guy didn't make many comments, so I am not sure about him.

[MoonandBean]

I agree. I have only watched the show twice now but both times, I thought the judging was ridiculous and very subjective. I thought both LeRoy and Galaxy did amazing jobs of ignoring temptations and obeying their commands. It seems that the judges are more interested in judging the people than the dogs.

[Ginger's Mom]

I am so annoyed at the judging in this show. Both the judging and the challenges lately have been completely unfair.

Andrew only wants to be with Laurie. Anyone with an ounce of sense knew he'd excell at paying attention only to her. It would have been more of a challenge for him TO pay attention to commands from someone else. Whereas Leroy - the dog's a Border Collie for goodness sake. It is in his genes and his breeding to pay attention to moving objects. That Victoria called Teresa's body language toward him - and JD's toward Galaxy "threatening" was just plain stupid. There is no way either of those dogs felt threatened, not one bit. They are both herding dogs by breed, and needed extra effort from their owners to not move off their mark.

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.

[momoffuzzyfaces]

I think Andrew is just too stinkin cute!!! He loves his mommy. Can't blame him for that!

Galaxy just doesn't look like she is enjoying anything.

[4 Dog Mother]

Having had a velcro dog - although I think anyone could have lured Snoopy away from me if they offered food - I don't think Laurie is that great of a trainer. She has taught Andrew to completely rely on her - is that loyalty or obsessiveness. I would say Presley showed more loyalty than any of the dogs because even though he broke the rule, he came back to Travis when Travis told him too. Did you notice that LeRoy wanted nothing to do with Teresa after the challenge? He totally ignored her as he did with the dog bone challenge when she left him there forever on the stump. I saw Galaxy and Leroy as "obedient" dogs, Andrew as a obsessed dog ( maybe I am wroing and need to go back and look at some of the tapes but I don't think I have ever seen Andrew playing with any other dog or any other person than Laurie - is that what kind dog you would want to represent the Greatest American Dog?) and Travis as the only truly "loyal" dog which is what the challenge is all about. (I think Andrew sitting there with an elephant charging him proves that point - what small dog is going to let an animal that size come at him and sit and not even make a sound or look at his mother like do you see what the heck is happening here?) What Travis has been able to do with Presley as young as he is says alot. If the judges don't think he has the attention span to do these challenges than he never should have been given a chance - there should be an age clause. I don't know very many dogs as young as Presley is who would have come through as well as Presley has.

And I do have to say that the challenges have been ridiculous to show the greatest American dog. I still think Bill and Star should be in it as I see Star as being one of the most loyal, loving dog there is on the show. Star and Bill were a team. I have to agree with Karen - you cannot train all dogs by only a gentle reminder and I also know that some people seem more harsh with their dogs but that is in someone else's perception. I didn't really think that LeRoy looked like he was scared of what she would do if he disobeyed. Nor did I think that Galaxay looked scared but I also think that at 9 years old Galaxy already nows what will happen if he does or doesn't obey. I thought J.D came off looking gentler than in other challenges.

[Karen]

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.

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.

[momoffuzzyfaces]

I still think it was funny that Andrew showed JD he couldn't train 'any' dog like he claimed he could.

[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!