Greatest American Dog Show

I was dissapointed in the overall outcome. Travis and Presley wasnt a bad choice but Presley was not the Greatest American Dog. I dont think the Judges were the best suited to Judge a competition of this kind, mabey an AKC show, but not this one. I’m done with this show…. if it returns for another season.

Travis & Presley is the combination of a young！

It is also the most fortunate combination!

This last episode was a great disappointment for me, I thought all the dogs behaved as they were supposed to have behaved. As for washing the dog twice a year I thought was okay, so what was their problem.

The obstacle course was a tie.

The appearance of the elephant, yet again, bothered me. I am totally against any form of elephant training (sorry this has bothered me for years). Andrew, naturally ignores this humongous creature and cheerfully collects his toy. Gotta love that dog.

Obviously “Reality Shows” are getting more publicity (cheaper to produce). However, leave animals out of this.

On that note I still wanted either Star or Andrew to win. They were by far the best trained dogs there.

To all those pet owners out there. Just give you own pet the love he/she give you. The rewards are twofold.

T

CONGRATULATIONS Travis & Presley!!!!! I got my boxer (Ozzy) from a guy named Travis when he was only a few months old. My guy is now 8 years old! I was so happy to see a boxer win!!!

Thank you Travis & Presley

Sharon Watson-Wehrli

WOW! I am so glad Travis and Presley won! I have rooted for those two from the start. Even though I was a huge fan of those two, I will admit that it wasn’t entirely fair. Even though I didn’t particularly like or dislike Teresa and Leroy, if the show was completely fair they would have stayed instead of Presley. But not that I’m complaining! I also thought it was crazy what they said to JD. Galaxy loved him so much! You could tell she was NOT afraid or intimidated by him at all. She just loved him. The judges were very weird, the way one day they would tell Bill he pushed Star too much, then the next episode he got eliminated because he didn’t push her enough? Or when they told JD that they thought he was rough on Galaxy the way he trained her, and then the next episod they “love how you train her! It is like one big game with you two!” huh? LOL. But I am really glad those two won! Travis was by far one of the most likeable owners there (and he was cute too!) and I’m sorry, Andrew was a cute little dog, but Laurie got on my LAST NERVE!

I’m SOOOOO ticked off!!

It’s not ‘Great American Dog OWNER’….it’s ‘Greatest American D.O.G.!!!!!!’

Travis kissed the judges’ butts and won that thing. They just could not get past J.D.’s training methods which were fine in my opinion.

Galaxy was far and away the best dog of those 3. I’m sorry, but, that show is cool…BUT, they need to seriously figure out exactly what they want from the contestants and implement it from the beginning. They can’t just base their decisions on how they’re feeling that week and lay their little judgments on the owners. It should be based on the DOG’S performance….PERIOD!!!!!!!

We love you GALAXY!!!

I was totally disappointed with this show. I think that it was a total cheat that Andrew or Star didn’t win. I will not be watching this if it ever shows again. The judges were a total waste of air time as were many of the “tests” that the dogs were forced to endure. What a crock! CBS you are truly disappointing!

I loved this show, but the last few weeks showed just how much of a sham the show really was. There was no objectivitiy to how the challenges were judged. They kicked Leroy off even though he did the challenge. The first best in show challenge of the finale was engineered so there would be no clear winner. That was the only way they could get rid of Galaxy!

Think about it. The judges head magazines that promote purebred dogs, and they work with celebrities. There was no way they were going to let a mutt win. They picked the dog/owner combo that would look the best on their magazine covers.

Leroy, Galaxy, and Star were my faves!

congratulations to Presley and his owner, - liked them both but in the final Andrew should have won - it would have been a tribute to all the little dogs out there.

All- while I read the comments from everyone, some positive about Travis and Presley’s win and some not so positive, I think many of you are missing the point. If the purpose of being named the “Greatest American Dog” is to go on the road and be an example for other dog owners (or potential dog owners), you have to look at the big picture? Between Andrew and Presely, who is going to have more fun at a dog event? Mix with the adults, kids and other dogs? Andrew? I don’t think so? Lori seemed nice and all, but would you really want to sit and listen to a lecture? I personally think the judges got it right when you look at the big picture.

I normally do not watch reality TV but I do enjoy dog shows
I did not understand why the judges did as as they did in some cases. I do think Presley is a Very talented dog- he really came a long way for the begining. I do think the public should be able to vote on this as well- Elvis and Presley make a great team- and they look good for the American Eye-which does sell the magizines. Being a puppy only 16 mo old I can only imagin what he will be doing 2 years from now. All of the dogs and owners deserve something
Great Show- I will watch again if another season appears.

Gordonsville, VA

J.D. is a poor sport. Galaxy was probably the most amazing dog there, but J.D. was so determined to prove she was great because HE trained her.

That dog would have done 90% of those same tricks with anybody else. (I’ve seen a similar mix, and they’re unbelievably smart).

Congratulations to Travis & Presley!

I still think Bill and Star should have won.
BILL AND STAR WE LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!
Galaxy should not have been kicked off that early what was the reason?? im sorry but there was no fear in Galaxy in any part of that show. the only thing that Galaxy showed was respect for her owner. The dog was already trained so how do they really know what J.D.’s training methods were??? they never witnessed him training her from the beginning?? he was motivational and that dog has respect for him. yes he is a dominant leader and person and there is nothing wrong with that at all, there are a lot of breeds that require a dominant strong, experienced handler. That is just his personality. As far as bathing the dog twice a year and the one snorky judge telling him a dog should be bathed once a month?? hello?? that is NOT true, especially with a lot of herding breeds you NEVER bath them that often that is just asking for skin breakdown. JUst tells you are inexperienced the judges are.

Victoria and the whole leave it think with presley? duh? what was that all about?? i agree this whole last night was nothing but a big joke. it was disorganized and a little confusing.
it was also stupid, it was a competition for the greatest american dog and there was no competition on the last show??
Andrew should have lost to presley on the last obstacle course as he was too slow even with Lori “hovering” over him. His separation anxiety is due to her overprotectiveness. then when she told the judges how she left him in a bunch of sit stays to prove to herself that he did not have the separation anxiety and he was fine??lol did she forget she was being filmed? i had to laugh at that one..seeing andrew break the stay and run for the door EVERY time.
granted Andrew is such a cutie pie and i am glad they did make it as far as they did, its an example to all the small out of control dogs’ owners!!
i have seen plenty of small dogs obedience trained so this was no big deal, its just a matter of training the dog and not carrying it around and letting it do whatever it wants, its still a dog. this didnt make her any better of a trainer as she believes. just a responsible dog owner.
I’m sorry but travis and presley should not have won, i agree there was no competition on this last show it was just a bunch of crap and interviews. i think the judges were very biased and i also did not feel they were qualified to judge this competition. “snorky” judge should not have even been there she has no experience or real knowledge of dog grooming, or behavior. Victoria again, needs to refer back to doggie body language 101 and study hard because she just does not get it.
I still say BILL AND STAR are the winners!! Star is the greatest american dog and America loves her and Bill..
victoria and snorky..you suck!
Travis should not have even been in that final 3 he should have been eliminated when his dog failed to complete last weeks task.
Producers: you need to rethink the guidelines of the show and have written rules and judging points, obviously you just thought this up and made up the rules as the show went along, very disappointing.
one week the judges judged the dogs, the next the owners. was this the greatest american owner? or dog?
Star is the true winner!!
her bond with Bill was so very visable. Presley doesnt have that with Travis, nor does he even have total respect, trust or focus. that is what this competition should have been based on not the bs they judged on.

I liked the show, loved Travis and Presley. I cannot stand Gloria Stillwell. She thinks she is the end all of dog training. I have 2 rescues at home. Personality wise they are as different as night and day. They require different types of training. One needs a much firmer type of discipline. We always joke and say she is a reincarnated 10 year old boy. The other a 5 year old girl. I think Gloria needs to get off her high horse and act more civilized.

Althought there were SEVERAL wonderful dogs, and owners….I have to say that I was rooting for the home team the whole time…..WAY TO BRING IT HOME TRAVIS AND PRESLEY!!!!!! For as young as Presley is he did a wonderful job….I could only wish that my two boxer’s had half of the talent that Presley showed. Especially when he was tested with the treats, and when he left it sitting on his paw. It is definitly a chore to train a 16 month old puppy…so I have all the respect in the world for Travis, and his amazing relationship with the love of his life. I could only wish that there were more people out there is this world that loved and treated their animals as good as he did. Awesome job……makes me so proud to be a momma to two beautiful, loving boxers myself !!!!

Bill and Star are the true winners in my book. Love you guys!! Last nite was a BIG disappointment. What a joke. Only Presley was tested at the end. Andrew is cute and I am a lover of little dogs. My mom has a Pom who is very attatched to he but he loves to play with anyone and goes to anyone. I was a little taken aback that none of the judges mentioned that in the outdoor competition Lori picked Andrew up and put him on the platform on the last leg rather than have him climb the steps. Victoria looked surprised when Lori did that yet didn’t mention it in the judging. Galaxy did not show any fear of JD. He is a well trained dog and loves his owner. If this show comes back the producers need to have better, more competent judges. The one with the dog attached to her arm was the worst..not that any of them got my vote. Victoria is a joke too. She says one thing one day and changes her mind the next. Her show on Animal Planet is a joke too. Some of the things she criticized on Greatest Dog are the things she teaches on her show ! This could be a good show if they change a lot of the things this blog is bringing up.

WOW - I agree with serveral of thes comments….but mostly with Julie’s post at 8:43 AM on 09/11/08. Andrew may have been better trained….but with the level of separation anxiety he has when Lori is not around, this would not have been a good title for him. And here is another thing…I could not have chosen between Lori & Andrew OR J.D. & Galaxy because they both think THIER way is the ONLY way to train. JD was a great trainer and Galaaxy loved him as much as Andrew loved Lori….but Galaxy was the better dog of the two. And yes - the show is “supposed to be” about the dog….but you REALLY do have to consider the owners as well. I think JD and Lori are both “control freaks”. Travis is more open minded and wants to learn just as Presley does….neither of them think they know it all. Having said that, I still think Bill and Star should have won…BUT I don’t know that Bill would have wanted to be gone from his family much longer and it appears there will be traveling and promotions involved for the winner…so it may be a blessing in disguise that he did not win. I also like Teresa and Leroy but the judges could not get past Leroy’s barking…HELLO - he IS a dog!!!!

These judges were just INSANE about some things. I just don’t know where the thinking was with this elephant thing. I can’t get past that.

All in all, I think Presley and Travis were very deserving. They had the best progress. Travis was a sponge and soaked up everything he could. THEY WILL BOTH REPRESENT WELL!!!!!!!!!! I’ve actually very proud of both!!!!

First thing -I will more than likelly watch the show again if it returns because I love dogs - all animals really.In my opinion, Star and Bill should have been the winning team. Their bond was so evident there should have been no question about it. Bill was such a responsible trainer that he gave tips to the other less experienced dog owners. I liked Travis and Presley, though and am glad they won. I do think the judges were too hard on JD and Galaxy and not hard enough on Laurie and Andrew. Though I grumbled becaused the Judges didn’t agree with me and I do think Victoria Stillwell is just too full of herself and her techniques, I found myself watching every show.

Andrew should’ve won. He was BY FAR the best.

I completely agree with Terry. NO ELEPHANTS! Leave the poor things alone. Isn’t it bad enough that we ripped them from their families?

It’s immoral and unethical to put an Elephant in this show with the dogs.

SHAME ON THOSE WHO DECIDED THAT. Bad Bad Move!

Way to go Travis and Presley!!!!! Presley was absolutely the most beautiful dog in this competition. And, while maybe he wasn’t the best trained, he was, in my opinion the smartest dog in the competition. He is absolutely beautiful!! I love boxers, they are so loyal and happy. I’ve had my boxer for about a year, and before this, had no idea how loving they were. I believe Travis and Presley will very well represent this title. Way to go guys!!!

travis is the only winner. not presley. travis is an aspiring actor who was trying to further his career by coming on the show. what a selfish person. im sure he wont spend the money on anything but himself. jd and laurie would have spent the money on dog stuff or just smarter things in general. travis was complaining to laura about how having a dog sometimes gets in the way. well now he can pay someone to take care of presley so he wont have to deal with him.

Congrats Presley, But I was a big Fan of Bill & Star. Please get some REAL DOG judges if you bring this show back. Poor Leroy was condemmed for being the HIgh Drive Border Collie that he is. (That’s why they are great at agility competition). Bill was comdemmed one week for pushing his dog too far and then not far enough the next week. What a JOKE.

travis and presly were my favorite!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Did anyone see Travis yank Presley so hard that his front paws were almost a foot off the ground? This happened immediately after Travis and Presley were announced the winners and Presley jumped down and then about 1-2 seconds later he gets yanked HARD!!! Oh well good show til this final episode. JD/Galaxy should’ve won.
b

Presley and Travis wins,that’s just ok to me. I don’t like Travis very much. But Presley is just a baby dog, it learns very fast. I love that.
I love Bill and Star. They love each other soooo deeply.
I just hope I will have a dog like Star or Galaxy.

Reading these comments makes me sad. Travis and Presley went on and competed absolutely amazing. They were very successful, and Travis showed that he had nothing but love for Presley and had only his best interests at heart (anybody who doubts that, remember the tree stump challenge). It just goes to show that someone and their dog can go, set a great example, be a kind, likeable person, and do an amazing job, but there will still be people in this world that are jealous and can’t just say congratulations. I mean, all the dogs and owners had faults, and so did the judges. One dog shouldn’t win just because it is a little dog, an old dog, a young dog, or a specific breed. I think that everything was taken into account, and like it or not, deserving or not (in my opinion VERY) Travis and Presley won. Saying rude things isn’t going to change that, so you might as well just be okay with that and hope that your favorite wins next season. It is just a TV show People!!! If you take into account everythign that happened you will see that all dogs did some things very well, and very bad. All dogs had their faults, but also had some very good qualities. All in all, the greatest american dog was chosen and that is that. You might as well just be happy that there are people out there that love their dogs as much as Travis loves Presley. I think it is absurd to comment that Travis will use the money on himself, and that Laurie and JD wouldn’t. I mean, do you really think if Laurie had won, she would have baught nothing but dog related things. I mean, yes, she probably would end up buying more than Travis will, but that is because she has a career with dogs. All three of them would have baught stuff for themselves, and some of the money would go to the dogs. It just goes to show how amazing Travis and Presley really were considering that Laurie has a career with dogs, knows a lot more, and Travis is just a guy with his pet. Be honest with yourselves, you know darn well that no one who won would invest all the money in animals. Just face it, Travis and Presley won. If you don’t like it, better luck next time!

Bill and Star should have won. The judges sucked. This is not how you find the Greatest American Dog. The competition was not fair. The dogs were of all different ages and some weren’t able to tolerate the challenges. When the dogs had to lead those puppies through the maze, it was obvious that Star was not comfortable around little puppies. She is an older dog, just like my Maggie.(Maggie is a Border Collie mix like Leroy, and she barks at everything that moves). She does not want puppies jumping on her or in her face. They need to judge on the overall relationship the dogs and owners have. BILL & STAR were amazing. He got her to do things I never thought an older dog would do. Maybe someone will offer Bill & Star their own show.
Again, I can not stress enough that these judges sucked. I thought there was going to be a chick fight a few weeks ago between Victoria and whats her name! How childish they were.

way to go presley… i had a boxer who just passed away 8 mths ago he was my best friend other then my husband they are the best dods .. presley is too too cute…. im so glad he won… best dog to have as a loyal companion my boxer was just 9 when he passed and thers not 1 day that goes by that i dont miss him or think about the crazy things he did…

I miss Bill and Star but when it came down to andrew and Presley Im glad Presley won. I love Star and Presley! O and Bill and Travis!! Travis your soooo HOTT

Someone posted: “If the purpose of being named the “Greatest American Dog” is to go on the road and be an example for other dog owners (or potential dog owners), you have to look at the big picture”. Oh. Was that the purpose of being name Greatest American Dog? Are they going on the road to represent Dogs in general. I think the purpose was to give the owner a quarter of a million dollars.
It seemed to me that they were putting too much judgement of the contest on the owner.
For example, JD never appeared to be mean or stern with his dog. I never saw the dog coweror appear fearful. Different breeds of dogs have different types of personalities and his dog was just not the “bubbly” type. I felt Leroy and owner were cheated because that dog did not leave the circle in the stay while being distracted test. Presley failed the test. Sure…Stillwell said it was so wonderful that he sat back down after he broke (was it loyaty or a loud command?)….but ultimately he failed and ran straight to JD.
This show should have made clearer the criteria of what exactly The Greatest American Dog must be. I feel they picked Travis and Presley because, as someone else mentioned…they will make a beautiful cover shot on one of the magazines and look good on a dog food commercial.
They should have called the show…the Most Photogenic American Dog and Owner.
Travis was obviously the most handsome of the finalist owners…and his appearance was well matched to the boxer…right down to the owners puppy look an his brown eyes.
Regarding traini ng…a puppy is generally considered a dog under one year of age…..16 months is not a puppy.
I felt the best trained dog was Galaxy. Also Leroy was very even though he barked allot. But…leroy was a herding dog. Theses are full of energy and probably it’s their nature to bark when excited if they can get out and have a great deal of free exercise.
The whole show was not well judged. If you’ve ever watched Gloria Stilwell/s show from the BBC…you’d see that she also gies stern looks and commands when needed.
It was surprising to see her snotty attitude surface in one of the shows.
And also to see her defend the boxer over Leroy when they judged the test of the dog’s ability to stay dring distraction.
Of course Andrew was amazing…especially with the elephant. Andrew was very attached to his owner…but…he did not whine and protest when he was separated from her. He was the picture of loyalty.

I am sick of reality shows that reward the most improved not the best. It was very clear from day one that the best trained dog was galaxy.
Really doesn’t matter that the trainer was not the most likable , that was not the name of the show.
Presley should have been cut the week before when his dog broke.
I do have to agree that the judges were really foolish, esp the women.

Agreed! Travis was HOT!!! And he loves his dog… sigh…. love him!

I loved that a boxer was recognized as the greatest american dog!! They are loving, loyal, smart…I could go on and on. I grew up with boxers my whole life and have a 6 year old now that I obtained from a rescue. I was not a fan of JD. Galaxy was a whole ‘nother dog when she had to go with the others. When she’s around JD she has no personality of her own. I think he does intimidate her quite a bit and I thought his attitude stunk, especially when he lifted up her legs and clapped them together when he was leaving. What a weirdo!

Though there were some critical flaws throughout the procession of the show, I admittedly watched every single episode religiously. I will say that there was some stroke of luck and timing at getting Presley to the final three… but I’m so glad they made it! Along with many popular opinions I felt that Bill & Star and JD & Galaxy would have made fabulous finalists (and the finale a bit trickier!). However, I do believe that in spite of whatever “changing” criteria the judges seemed to have when evaluating these dogs, they did ultimately choose the right pair. The compassion and love Travis showed for Presley, and the openness he displayed toward absorbing others’ techniques proved that they were the best fit for the title. The show was called the Greatest American Dog, but without one of the best owners, the concept loses all meaning. So for all of the smartness and obedience of Galaxy, JD’s arrogance soured. For all of Andrew’s courage and fortitude, Laurie’s overprotective nature negated. It’s hard to say anything negative about Bill & Star’s relationship; but you could tell that Bill is not meant for a promotional trip of any length away from home (and he also did get Star to jump.. Ep. 1. 4 min, which seemed to be his biggest achievement). Overall, with all of their faults, Travis and Presley are the best fit for the title with their significant progress throughout the duration of the show. And the idea that Presley was “yanked” off the ground by his neck at the season finale; I almost had the same impression until I considered the reaction of my own boxer to the swift confrontation of a jack russell and decided that Travis most likely didn’t want his dog to be considered a spectacle after just receiving such an honor. And the idea that Travis loves his dog less, or is any less committed to being a wonderful owner because he is an aspiring actor, who, by the way, was approached by one of the show’s producer’s while taking Presley for a walk, is RIDICULOUS!

“And the idea that Travis loves his dog less, or is any less committed to being a wonderful owner because he is an aspiring actor, who, by the way, was approached by one of the show’s producer’s while taking Presley for a walk, is RIDICULOUS!”

Bingo!!! A ringer from the start. Just sayin’.

Seriously, of course all of the owners were committed to and loved their dogs. If that is the sole criteria, then they were all winners.

With respect to Bill & Star being ready for a promotional trip, they all ready do that, but on a much smaller scope. And given what advances have been made in travel these days (I do believe we are beyond traveling via wagon train), they would have no problem traveling.

In my eyes, Bill & Star are the whole package. They are well-trained, they have a great dog/owner relationship and they are well-mannered. They also have tons of experience with large crowds of people. Visit their website and decide for yourself.

The biggest problem with Star leaving, would be that she is an able Assistance Dog for Bill’s wife who is diabetic. Star is able to detect low blood sugar events, thus saving Bill’s wife from a life threatening situation. My son is an insulin-dependent diabetic, so I can speak from experience; our family is well-educated with regard to diabetes.

Yet, do not misunderstand about why I would choose Bill & Star. I watched this show in its entirety, even though it rapidly became clear that the basis of the verdicts were not even-handed and the playing field was skewed, because I loved watching the dogs. I have owned various dogs throughout my life, have a degree in Animal Husbandry, and have worked with all sorts of animals, including dogs. My decision is based solely upon the evidence that this televised portion of the contest provided.

Very respectfully,

H. Potter

8 seconds into the vid you see what i was talking about for those that didn’t tape the show. so here is travis yanking and holding presley off the ground on the final show. how natural looking.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFi6×0UU7-A

never seen JD do that to galaxy or any of JD’s abusive training methods. JD was defensive of his training methods that the judges NEVER saw ever, yet commented on!!!! snort… again JD and galaxy were the best. this coming from a shih-tzu owner.

b

Every dog has its day, now it’s you and your dog’s turn! Were you a fan of Travis Brorsen and his dog Presley on the CBS network show “Greatest American Dog”? Ever wonder what it would be like to spend some time with this cute couple? Now your dreams can become a reality!

One winner and their pet will win a double date with Travis Brorsen and his dog Presley. All parties will attend the Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Los Angeles Freedom Walk during the day. Then, at night, all will be reunited for a delicious and fabulous feast at The Colony Cafe. Transportation to and from events will be provided by EZ Limo. A gift package filled with goodies for both owner and pet will be provided as well!

Head to http://www.starrymag.com/contests.asp to enter for your chance to win!

I was disgusted how the show ended. I felt they sent JD away too early or too late - either he scares Galaxy to death all the time, in which case get rid of him weeks ago, or he is a great trainer with a fabulous dog and should have won. What a ridiculous crock. $250,000 is still a lot of money and the judges played favorites in the end.

The judges made fools of themselves, im my opinion and I totally lost respect for the show, unfortunately too late in having watched most episodes this summer. I have a puppy, heinz 57, and would have liked to heard some decent training tips at least. This was a muddy mix of reality shows. There was certainly no need to sequester the contestants! What a joke.

Worst though, the judges. They look like idiots, at least to me. Have a clear, fair contest, and sorry, but Presley isn’t doing to win that. Lovey dog and owner though.

I would have thought the show should have been about dogs with great abilities - tricks, acrobatics and such - fun things that people teach their dogs. I would hope my dog can hold a candle some day to Galaxy.

Again, judges SUCKED.

My take is that there was a bit of “marketing” influence on the decision. When the expectation is to have the winners attend functions, do photo ops, and promote sponsors … the young, eligible bachelor kinda guy brings more $$$

The final show was lame .. why didn’t we get the usual banter of kicked out contestants like other reality shows?

So what is the consensus, Season Two?

I saw that a stand alone North American version of Dogs Trust will be developed next year according to dogstrust.com and Mrs Barrack Obama has been asked to be the Patron.

Dogs trust in the UK has HRH the Queen as patron and has a history going back 100 years.
Not sure how advanced they are but I do like the idea of The White House Palace connection as it would send out the message to children re animal welfare

Here are some tips to keep your dog well behaved:
1.You’ve to start training your dog as early as possible
2,Be firm but gentle when you train your dog
3,By observing the behavior of your dog inside the house you’ll realize how it will respond outside
4.You should not lose your temper
5.Timing is always important especially when you’re correcting your dog