Season 1
Greatest American Dog is an American reality competition television show produced by Magic Molehill Productions in which teams of dogs and their owners compete in weekly challenges until one team is left and claims the $250,000 grand prize and the title of "Greatest American Dog".
The series premiered in the USA on CBS on 10 July, 2008. There are 10 hour-long episodes in the first season.
Greatest American Dog premiered in South Africa on DStv's M-Net Series channel on Friday 3 April 2009, at 21h00.
Repeats
Saturdays: 03h00, 09h00, 15h00
Synopsis
On this reality competition series, dogs and their owners vie for the grand prize of $250,000 and title of "Greatest American Dog". The series is hosted by zoologist Jarod Miller.
After a nationwide search, 12 competitors and their dogs travel from all over the United States. The canines’ training range from very skilled to merely house-trained.
The group live in “Canine Academy” together while competing in challenges that test the owners’ abilities to handle their pets.
The first challenge of each episode — the “Dog Bone Challenge” — pits puppy owners against one another to win a night in the luxury suite. The winner also gets to decide which team’s (literally) in the doghouse and is banished outside.
In the second challenge — the elimination challenge — pets and their owners must perform in front of three judges; Wendy Diamond, founder and editor of Animal Fair magazine, Allan Reznik, Editor-at-large of Dog Fancy and Dog World, and Victoria Stilwell, dog trainer and host of television series It’s Me or the Dog.
Each week, one owner and pooch is sent packing until only one is left standing — on all fours.
The 12 teams competing on Greatest American Dog are:
Beth Joy, an acting manager from New York City, and Bella Starlet, a 10-year-old Chihuahua, Labrador Retriever, Shih-Tzu, Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever and Pomeranian mix
Bill, a building maintenance employee from Flint, TX, and Star, a 7-year-old Brittany
Brandy, a fashion designer from Orange County, CA, and Beacon, a 1-year-old Miniature Schnauzer
David, a doctor from New York City, and Elvis, a 2-year-old Parson Russell Terrier
Elan, an aspiring dog salon owner from Portland, OR, and Kenji, a 1-year-old Giant Schnauzer
J.D., a dog entertainer from Bend, OR, and Galaxy, a 9-year-old English Pointer Border Collie and Labrador mix
Laura, a film producer from Los Angeles, CA, and Preston, a 5-year-old Pomeranian
Laurie, a doggy day care owner from Stafford, VA, and Andrew, a 5-year-old Maltese
Michael, an aspiring comic from Los Angeles, CA, and Ezzie, a 2-year-old Boston Terrier
Ron, a construction manager from Oxnard, CA, and Tillman, a 3-year-old English Bull Dog
Teresa, a dog sitter from Fairfax, VA, and Leroy, a 5-year-old Border Collie
Travis, a bartender from Los Angeles, CA, and Presley, a 1-year-old Boxer