Who Gets The Dog?

[Kbob]

Has anyone heard about this new upcoming TV reality show on Animal Planet called "Who Gets The Dog"? In a nutshell...they pull a dog out of a shelter and shuffle it around for 3 days with 3 families for 24 hours each. Somehow the dog is supposed to "choose" which family it wants to live with. The family members must not have been convicted of any crime including animal abuse and they must be willing to adopt and care for the dog involved.

Can you believe the craziness of this? I had already thought that reality TV has gone over the top but this is ridiculously over the top! Is this what it's come to for "entertainment purposes"? What happens after the show is over? What happens to the dog after the novelty wears off? Can you just imagine what kinds of behaviour problems this will cause in the dog?

This kind of thing would never happen with a foster child....why would it be called "entertainment" for something like this to happen to the dog.

[RD]

Are you kidding me?! That's one of the lamest things I've ever heard.. Reality TV is ridiculous.

That dog will be stressed to the max... After coming out of a shelter, a very stressful environment, and dropped into 3 different houses in 3 days, all with different people and different environments... I fail to see the entertainment in there...

[Renee750il]

I would have looked for better from a network devoted to animals. If they want to make a 'quick buck' they should do a documentary on deer! (Sorry, that was a bad one . . . ;))

[Brattina88]

HaHaHa, good one Renee! :p
Animal Planet used to be my favorite channel, I watched it religously, it was all that was ever on at my house. With me trying to learn and know everything I can about animals, esp. dogs, the shows are driving me crazy. I'm one of those people who yell at the TV ("don't go in the basement you idiot!" lol), I believe its genetic ;) The day before yesterday I watched That's My Baby, and a Chow was having puppies. They drag it out - and when the first puppy comes out and the owner's cleaning it and rubbing it while the momma eats the afterbirth or whatever, and starts to choke. The dogs panicing, choking, I'm screaming at the TV, the owner is yelling at the dog to be gentle with the puppy. Finally the dog sort of convulses and then keels over. Not Breathing. Only then does the owner freak out, yelling at her daughter who hadn't got up from her chair the whole time to call the vet. She's screaming "OMG she died, she just died!" over and over, and then starts hitting the dogs side.
Anyone seen it?
I was horrified, and I still wonder why no one filming could put the camera or the mike or whatever stupid equipment down and help.
Well, because the owner was thumping the dogs side it became unlodged from the dogs airway and she started to breath. Still dazed the chow then began to have her puppies again...
They didn't realized she choked until way after, and then the owner wouldn't let the mom even lick her wet puppies or anything.
Where does animal planet find these 'breeders'? Most of them didn't seem like very good ones, and I for one don't think the channel should promote 'backyard breeding.'

[RD]

Brattina: I noticed the same thing with that show.. I see people breeding mutts that they found on the street just because 'she's really cute'. I've seen a couple good breeders on there, that actually know what they're doing, but most just seem to be devoted owners who think 'it'd be fun' to have their dog or cat have babies. :rolleyes:

[Renee750il]

I hope you guys have registered your very valid points with the network, either by letter or by e-mail. It's very possible no one there has even thought about it from our perspective.

Animal Planet has been one of the things I've missed since being out here in the boondocks with no cable. Along with being stuck with molasses slow dial up internet! We can't even get DSL, ISDN or any of the other hook-ups! It makes me very sad that Animal Planet is airing such tripe. :(

And, yeah, I talk back to the TV too. I guess the comment I make most regularly is " . . . and these idiots are eventually going to breed!" We watch too many news programs . . . ;)

[RD]

" . . . and these idiots are eventually going to breed!" ROFLMAO


Actually I haven't written to Animal Planet about that show.. I probably should before school starts and I forget all about it.

[chazhound]

They need to let the animals run the network for awhile. I think they would do a better job :)

No dsl :eek:
I would be doomed...

Chazhound

[RD]

No dsl
I would be doomed...

Ditto

[Renee750il]

No dsl
I would be doomed...

Ditto

I'm the world's only redhead with documented patience. ;)

[Debi]

Ok...just a little different perspective here...what IF the producers screened families very carefully.........found that they really, really wanted a pup and were going to get one from the rescue....what if this family were sincere. Yes...there might be some jitters from the pup being passed around. BUT...if these families were truly sincere...and the pup held a bond with just one and found a home..........wouldn't that be something good?? Think about it...the pup is in rescue anyway.........what harm could there be IF....IF...IF....it did find a home where it would be welcomed and loved?? OK....tacky on TV....but still it could be something ok. Just a thought. I figure pups in rescue don't have much of a chance anyway....anything might be a hope.

[Renee750il]

One would hope that the impetus behind a show like this would be to create interest in adopting a shelter dog, but yeesh, the lack of responsibility in the way it's being done. Wouldn't it be better to show three different families, adopting three different dogs from three different shelters or rescues and follow their progress?

Why does even the adoption of a family pet have to devolve into a competition?

[agilitydobemom]

I quit watching Animal Planet along time ago they make me so darn made I just want to climb in the tv and choke the people on the shows I will never forget one of the episodes on thats my baby where the people were breeding their cats they had gotten from the animal shelter (and they were suppose to be nerutered) because they wanted their children to experience it what idiots:( I think this channel is utterly ridiculous anymore and as for this new show what are they thinking?????

[Brattina88]

I seriously used to watch Animal Planet religously, but now, maybe because I've taken more knowledge in about animals, or because I've watched it So much everything on there just frustrates me. I only occasionally watch Breed All About It (which I find sometimes judgmental and unfair to certain breeds, but at the sametime informative and interesting :confused: ) or Animal Precenct. I Can't watch any of the Animal Cops because they immeadiatly put down the Pits regardless of temperment, Adoption Tales, any of those crazy shoes. I know nobodys perfect, but sometimes I think the match (of dogs w/the ppl) is very wrong.
Basically, exept for Law and Order Specail Victims Unit (which I do watch religously :o ) I don't watch much TV. I've made my life my own animal planet that revolves around *guess who* and the kids at the day care :D

[dawnell]

I personally love the Animal Planet network. I've watched the, "Who gets the Dog", show three or four times now and have found nothing wrong with it. There is a lot of discussion about the basics of training, what to do and what not to do, what to expect from adopting a new dog, etc. I think it's very informative and gets people more interested in adopting from a pound instead of buying from a breeder or *gasp* a pet store.

My true heros in life are the folks on the Animal Cops show. I watch it an cringe but am pleased that there is this kind of exposure of what's going on all around us.

And what about Emergency Vets? C'mon guys...

[Rose's Gal]

I watch Animal Planet whenever I can. I don't care for some of the shows they have going, but I do like the dog shows, the Animal Miracles, Emergancy Vets, Animal Cops, Animal Precient(sp?), and stuff like that. I do NOT care for the 'That's my baby' show, and I've never seen the "Who gets the Dog". At first glance, it seems like a very bad show that would just confuse the dog to no end, but I've never seen it so I can't judge.

[becca_4321]

I watch who gets the dog, most the time its not that bad. They mainly are watching the people, how well they interact with the dog. Watch for any kind of warning signs that says maybe this isnt the right person for this dog. Most of the dogs seem to take their adventures well, but I've seen a couple dogs now that act scared and unsure of what is going on. Those are sad to watch.

[joce]

I thought it would be horrible but I watched it and while it was sad it was not as bad as I expected. I thought the one evaluater lady was a bit nuts though! I think it is good because there are people that don't know you can get a good dog at a shelter and if they see people trying hard to get one maybe it will make them think about it.

I've started to hate most of the animal cop shows though. The new york is ok but al the other ones seem to automatically put pits down and make some really dumb comments.

But if anyone saw the one with the lady adopting the blind horse the lady that got them is like five houses down the street from me. I thought some of the stuff they did on there was pretty dumb and sometimes there pasture has literally 30 horses in it so I'm not sure if they were the best people for that. Some times there isn't a single one out though so I'm clueless as to where they go.

[Love4Pits]

I hate this show and here's a big reason why. Remember Stella the staffie cross that was adopted out on that show? Check this out.

A follow-up on Stella:

Quote:
In her episode, Stella, a Pointer-Greyhound-Stratfordshire Terrier mix, chose Arsineh, Craig and their dog Charlie as her perfect family. All was well until a trip to the dog park, where park goers mislabeled her a vicious pit bull. While nothing could be farther from the truth about Stella's breeding or personality, the stereotype stuck and her new family decided not to take the chance. The reality is, not all pet adoptions are a match made in pooch heaven. So, a member of the Who Gets the Dog? crew, with his own animal menagerie, chose Stella instead. Read her happily-ever-after story, as told by her new owner, Ted.

[BigDog2191]

I feel bad...I liked the show but I mainly watched it for the dogs and that animal behaviorist woman; I learn a lot from her and she doesn't look so bad either ;) .

[BigDog2191]

I hate this show and here's a big reason why. Remember Stella the staffie cross that was adopted out on that show? Check this out.

A follow-up on Stella:

Quote:
In her episode, Stella, a Pointer-Greyhound-Stratfordshire Terrier mix, chose Arsineh, Craig and their dog Charlie as her perfect family. All was well until a trip to the dog park, where park goers mislabeled her a vicious pit bull. While nothing could be farther from the truth about Stella's breeding or personality, the stereotype stuck and her new family decided not to take the chance. The reality is, not all pet adoptions are a match made in pooch heaven. So, a member of the Who Gets the Dog? crew, with his own animal menagerie, chose Stella instead. Read her happily-ever-after story, as told by her new owner, Ted.

Wait, what happened? Was she euthanized or somethin'? Didn't really understand. :rolleyes:

[Renee750il]

Looks like she's got a new owner. From the post, one of the Animal Planet crew members took her home.

I don't have cable out here in the Styx so I haven't seen any animal planet in a long time, but the animal cop program idea reminded me - so I'll throw it out there for you to gnaw on: ;) I used to think police dogs and dogs (and other animals) working with the armed services was just so neat and so great, but as I've gained years and perspective (and worked around a lot of law enforcement) I'm coming more and more to the conclusion that I really don't like this on an ethical or moral level. While these creatures are willing to throw their lives in front of ours, animals don't commit crimes or start wars. We do that. It's not right that they stand in front of us in the way of danger and pay the ultimate price for our inabilities to do the right thing. That's not a disloyalty to our good people who put on uniforms and put themselves in harm's way every day, but these things are human problems, and humans should bear the responsibility. But, that's just my personal epiphany.

[tl_ashmore]

I watch animal planet when my dogs aren't there. I can't really watch it with Beulah in the room with me because if a dog starts barking on the tv, she will bark as loud as she can and run around the house. I watch animal cops houston as much as I can. From what I've seen, they have been really good with pit bulls. I watched one episode where they busted these two boys that were fighting pits. After they took the dogs, they found out that these dogs loved people. They were the friendliest dogs. I've never seen an episode where they put down a pit. I take that back, there was one time, but the dog was dying and there was nothing else they could do for it. I applaud the people on animal cops. It's nice to see animals taken out of bad homes and put in a good environment.

[Renee750il]

ROFL! I can just see Beulah getting all worked up over the dogs on TV. Bimmer used to love to watch that show they had where the dogs competed in teams. He would sit and watch, wide-eyed, when he was a pup, lol!

Oh, gotta share this . . . Shiva wants to nap, but Kharma wants to play. Shiva's laying on her side on the floor in front of the heater and Kharma's on the sofa above her, reaching down with her two front paws - about the size of dessert plates, lol - putting them all over Shiva's head, covering Shiva's eye, mushing her nose, flipping her ear making funny little noises at her.

[bonster]

Although I haven't seen the program, what I don't get is why this is so-called reality (if you really want a dog is this the way to do it?), and how the 'competitive' (best of 3) nature can be entertaining. I accept that some people might learn from watching, but there are better ways to do it and I doubt in a TV-scenario whether everyones thoughts are really on what's best for the animal (e.g. from how-do-I-look to schedules to ratings). I guess its just the way of the world that a lot of people just accept (even re-enforce) what the media passes to them... (....thinking of what I've read on here about the 'bad rap breeds' problem in Canada and elsewhere)

Interesting thoughts Renee - made me think of how I felt of when I learned about the US Navy Dolphin Programs when in FLA some years back... I guess with dogs its much better if they are allowed to be 'smart' (like sniffers, trackers) rather than being lined up to pay the ultimate price (border guards, police dogs used at riots etc....)

[becca_4321]

One thing I liked about Who gets the dog is there has been a couple of kind of shy dogs. Although this is tough on the dog to go thru this, what would his chances have been of finding a good home without this? It may not be the best way but I think the hole idea is to try to get people to look into going thru shelters to get pets. I do think they mean well.

[dawnell]

Looks like she's got a new owner. From the post, one of the Animal Planet crew members took her home.

I don't have cable out here in the Styx so I haven't seen any animal planet in a long time, but the animal cop program idea reminded me - so I'll throw it out there for you to gnaw on: ;) I used to think police dogs and dogs (and other animals..(epiphany.

Did you know that the Animal Cops show is all about the Humane Society in whatever area they are in and they go and rescue neglected/abused animals?

****
I HATE the idea of using dolphins for military purposes or ANY animal for that matter. Makes me :mad:

[Love4Pits]

I think she meant that the name Animal Cops reminded her of police dogs

[Renee750il]

Thanks, Pits! That's exactly the case. I haven't seen cable TV in so long I have no idea what's on any of the networks anymore, lol!

[smkie]

i am sitting here trying to picture in my mind what the dog would be thinking..first thank god I am out of the shelter..oh boy these people are great, why am I leaving,
ok these people are nice, i am a bit stressed, oh crap..why am I leaving..i think i am tired, ok, i am stressed too..maybe these people are great but oh gee, i will probably be leaving. Think he would have post stress enough from leaving the shelter? Now he will have bonding issues as well.

[Renee750il]

Interesting thoughts Renee - made me think of how I felt of when I learned about the US Navy Dolphin Programs when in FLA some years back... I guess with dogs its much better if they are allowed to be 'smart' (like sniffers, trackers) rather than being lined up to pay the ultimate price (border guards, police dogs used at riots etc....)

Like you, Bonster, I don't have any real qualms about the dogs having jobs out of the line of fire; dogs love to have work to do and it also helps keep us aware of that fact.

I read a story somewhere about a Jack Russell that was being trained for U.S. Customs work, sniffing contraband in luggage. He was doing everything right, except they couldn't find his "thing" - the particular contraband he was particularly keen on. The finally found it . . . cheese! Now, who would have thought there was a problem of illegal cheese coming into the U.S.? There must be, 'cause this little guy was so good at it and found so much that there were actually death threats sent in against him! :eek:

LOL! Just file that one in the "Weird World" drawer . . . :D

[milo]

omg what silly people to do that though!!!I feel sorry for the poor dog!!i would'nt blame him if he bit someone coz he didnt know them!!

[CreatureTeacher]

The problem I have with "Who Gets the Dog?" is that here are 3 families competing for one dog. Now I don't know how other humane societies are, but while volunteering four or five times a week at mine, I notice several dogs that need homes!! And I fall completely in love with several of them. While these morons are wasting their time and loving their 15 minutes, any number of unwanted dogs are put to sleep. If they would just say, "Geez, I want a dog. Let's try to suppress our desperate desire to be on TV and just go adopt one!" I would be happier. It shames me that people are so ignorant that it doesn't occur to them that there are thousands of wonderful dogs out there who need loving homes and are being destroyed while they fight over one little dog who's obviously going to get adopted anyway. :rolleyes:

I guess I'm still wishing people were more like dogs.

[Renee750il]

I think you've hit the nail on the head, Emma! ;)

[CreatureTeacher]

That's not the only thing I want to hit on the head... lol

[Doberluv]

That's not the only thing I want to hit on the head... lol

You know....I was thinking the same thing while watching that show. Why do they care about that one little dog. Why don't two of the people just go adopt a dog from a shelther and let one have this one? And hurry up before more get pts!

[Doberluv]

And another thing that's irritating is that they make such a big issue out of who "relates" the best to the dog or who was better at teaching it in 5 minutes how to jump through a hoop. Who cares? As long as the people are nice and won't abuse the dog, have some idea how to care for one, it's better than a life sitting in some shelter or being wasted.

[becca_4321]

I agree with that. Some of the things they tell these people they have to do I'm sitting there thinking THOSE POOR PEOPLE! Its intersting hearing the lady trainer tell how she "would have done it". The dog doesnt really understand, goes to someones house, doesnt know them at all yet he's to learn in a few mins to do certain things on comand then go to someone elses house and learn their comands. Then they also have the hole family working to get the dog to do something. I've always worked one on one with mine to learn the basic, sit, stay, laydown, maybe catch treats. Its just to distracting to have more than one person at the same time saying "sit", "stay" while trying to teach them. That part bothers me. And I think how I love animals, have all my life and have never negelted a animal. It wouldnt matter if I had one pet or 100, I'd see to it each had the love and care they needed but if I was on that show trying for a pet and they gave me some of those task I'd fail and most likely not get the dog. I've had Princess for a year now and she still doesnt jump thru hoops or jump over things! Although, I wish I knew how to teach different tricks because I think she has the talent to do some neat stuff if I only knew how to teach them!

[Love4Pits]

speaking of the stupid tricks they try and get these people to train their dogs. im going back to Stella when the male couple tried to teach her to chase her trail by tieing a pink bandana to her tail.... Is'nt chasing their tail something you want to usually stop your dog from doing?

[gaddylovesdogs]

Yep, I've heard of it.

[bogolove]

I saw it yesterday and they had a little dog on there and one of the "tricks" to teach him was to jump over hurdles that were taller than he was. This was a small dog like a bichon frise or a shih tzu (spelling?) and it did not look at all interested in learning how to jump 4 hurdles that were taller than he was.

And who are these judges? Half the time they sound like they barely know what they are talking about.

[homelessdog]

Hmm, now I don't have cable tv and have never seen this show, but I did hear about it and thought it sounded like a good show. As someone who interviews potential adopters at our animal shelter, the premise of the show appealed to me.

[tl_ashmore]

I saw this show for the first time last night, and most of these people on here are really only worried about the well being of the dog. They talk to the families that didn't get the dog, and just about all of them were crying and saying that they are happy knowing the dog will have a loving family. It seems like the families are pretty sincere. I don't know.....

[bogolove]

Yeah they do seem like that, I agree, I just don't know why they pick those dumb tricks that do not make any sense. Teaching them to sit is one thing, but teaching a bichon to jump hurdles made no sense to me.

The families did seem to care for the dog very much though, I just thought the judges were a bit odd.

[snookums]

It sounds like it would be very confusing to the dog and make adjustment take longer.

HOWEVER. Look at the greater good. If glamourizing the process of adopting a dog from a shelter find more dogs homes and saves more dog's lives, than the show is worth it.

[Andre]

Has anyone heard about this new upcoming TV reality show on Animal Planet called "Who Gets The Dog"? In a nutshell...they pull a dog out of a shelter and shuffle it around for 3 days with 3 families for 24 hours each. Somehow the dog is supposed to "choose" which family it wants to live with. The family members must not have been convicted of any crime including animal abuse and they must be willing to adopt and care for the dog involved.

Can you believe the craziness of this? I had already thought that reality TV has gone over the top but this is ridiculously over the top! Is this what it's come to for "entertainment purposes"? What happens after the show is over? What happens to the dog after the novelty wears off? Can you just imagine what kinds of behaviour problems this will cause in the dog?

This kind of thing would never happen with a foster child....why would it be called "entertainment" for something like this to happen to the dog.

Well, this is ridiculous (at least)... first, how can you expect a dog to get to know his environment and the people in one day, and all the stress about switching homes and production crew, overexcited families... I mean, if the dog had some issues when he got to the shelter, wait to see what happens after the show its over... on the other hand he might get movie deals and become a huge movie star!!!!! :D No, seriously, I haven't seen it but for what everybody here is saying, Its not only lame but also some kind of animal abuse!!!

[smkie]

i agree..think we should all let the network know how wrong it just is,