Greatest American Dog Show

It all happened so fast - hard to process all of my reactions to this show! So I had to watch it again (available on the CBS website: View Here for all of you who couldn’t get enough).

First of all, we are now getting to understand that all of the dogs on the show are awesome - it’s the people that are really competing. As one judge said (I paraphrase here): the owner sets the tone and controls the dynamics of the interaction. Couldn’t agree more!

Just a note for all of you fellow mutt-nuts out there, I use the term “owner” as a substitute for the more preferred term “companion” because that is the reference used on the show. If you don’t get the difference, you need to read about a law that recently passed in Boulder, CO. View Article Owner versus Companion.

After my 2nd viewing of the show, I thought the small group performance was a perfect way to test the animal-owner relationship in action. You could tell immediately which contestants have a true bond and which ones force their own egos upon their poor pets, regardless of how lame the tasks were. I still think all of the weak links in this regard were correctly ID’d (sorry Brandy, Michael & Beth Joy), but I have reconsidered my thoughts on the team that was ousted. 

Favorite judge comment: “The show is called Great American Dog, not Great American Michael.” Not to pick on Michael, but every other word out of your mouth was “Sush!”  How can you be interacting if you don’t allow your animal to speak?  Communication is a 2-way street.  Another on-target judge comment (again, paraphrased): If your dog is “cowering” in the presence of your inflated persona, you might want to release all that hot air.  Michael, I’m sure your relationship with Ezzie is “amazing” to you… Perhaps you have reformed since the taping of the show. If so, we’d love to hear from you.  Now that I’ve slept on the matter, Michael & Ezzie were the right ones to go.

Also uncomfortable to watch was Brandy.  I am not sure what I make of her at this point except, are you kidding?  Brandy, if Beacon refuses to fulfill your slighted request, perhaps there’s not enough of a reward in it for him.  I can imagine Beacon thinking, “If I wag for this cheer, I might get praise, but I’ll still have to put on that dorky plaid vest later.”  I thought about writing something like: maybe Brandy should go into fashion design, but that is what she already does, so this is way beyond a Barbie & Ken dress-up fantasy.  My more thoughtful suggestion to Brandy would be to look up the history of the Miniature Schnauzer breed.  These dogs were originally created to hunt and track rats and other vermin.  If Brandy could accept and find an outlet for this aspect of Beacon’s inherent personality, then he might be willing to model a few outfits now and then - and wag upon command.  Love Travis’ comment upon meeting Brandy and Beacon: “Tell your Mommy to take those shoes off you right now!”  I think Beacon has been trying to say that for years - only no one is listening.

I have to make a confession for the benefit of Brandy.  I have dressed up my own dog.  Last Halloween, I made Andy a shark costume, which was later destroyed while he played with other dogs BEFORE the judges arrived to award a $500 prize.  And most recently I actually sewed him an Army uniform in support of a friend going into officer training school, a photo of which will be included in the 1st care package.  But I also find off-leash opportunities for him to herd other animlas, roll in the mud, chase squirrels and rabbits, and dig (where appropriate).

OK then.  I have much more sympathy at this point for Beth Joy and Bella Starlett than I had before.  Under stress, stick with what you know, and that’s exactly what Bella (for short) did.  I don’t have a problem with that.  Unique as you are Beth Joy, keep it up.

Although we’ve seen only 1 episode, personalities of the contestants have begun to reveal themselves.  Some of the people/dog teams I would enjoy meeting at the dog park are:

JD & Galaxy - Someone is having fun in there.  I think I saw JD perform at an NBA half-time show.  If that was you, you and your dogs were more entertaining than the game I paid an outrageous amount of money to see (not mentioning teams).  What an obvious threat you are to the others.

Teresa & Elry - Who wants to go skinny dipping?  Elroy knows how to start a party.  Fun dog.  People tend to pick pets just like themselves, so Teresa is interesting by association.

Travis & Presley - Another pool party attendee.  Travis has a nice down-home personality (and is easy on the eyes for the ladies in the audience).  Coming in with the least amount of training, they are not over-confident like some of the others, which is an advantage. 

Ron & Tillman - You’re so laid back, Ron.  You’d be fun to hang out with for sure. Tillman’s skateboarding talent - apparently picked up merely as a form of immitation - is amazing and entertaining.  Is Tillman a 1-trick pony though?

Bill & Star - I just like you, Bill.  Was that a painted-on mohawk?

David & Elvis - Don’t know what it is about these two, but I think they are going to win.

Laura & Preston - Laura is down to earth and according to me the epitome of a person connected to her animal.  These two might win if I had to hedge on my original prediction above.  She has already distracted Ron (probably not a difficult thing to do) with her beauty and style.

As for the others, Elan & Kenji (fabulous disco dancers) and Laurie & Andrew (thank you, this means so much tears - I’ve got to know more about what is going on with that!), I didn’t see enough of you to get a good introduction.  Hope next week’s show highlights both of these solidly performing teams more.

Moral of the episode?  The bond that results in obedience and the enjoyment that comes with it is based on mutual respect between person and dog.  The competition clearly demonstated that it can’t be a 1-way relationship.  As animal owners/companions, we must learn to observe and listen before we command.  Rather than blindly imposing our will, we must provide opportunities for our dogs to express themselves.  Then we can steer their natural inclinations in a desired direction.  (This probably works equally well with parenting.)

Andy is at doggie daycare today, but when he comes home, I’m going to sit quietly and hear what he has to say.

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