Greatest American Dog - TV-PG

Competition shows off talented and pampered pups.

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Common Sense rates it
3
Seen the show?
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details
  • TV Rating: TV-PG
  • Network: CBS
  • Cast: Jarod Miller
  • Genre: Reality TV
  • >Available On: Download

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that this dog competition has none of the usual catty reality show behavior, making it age-appropriate viewing for younger audiences. But there's still a lot of excess on display: The competition takes place at a mansion, and one of the rewards is a lavish suite filled with dog toys and other items. Also, the line between spoiling a dog (as in treating it like a human being) and appropriately rewarding good behavior gets mighty fuzzy at times.

Families can talk about why competition shows seem to follow the same format: competitors living together, elimination, three judges, big cash prizes. Ask kids why they think people go on these kinds of shows and what they think the producers are doing to make the competition seem more intense than it is. Also, who's your favorite dog? Do you think he or she will win?

Message

Social Behavior:

Clearly advocates the love of dogs and responsible pet ownership, including discipline.

Consumerism:

A few brand names, including Corona beer. Plus so many dog toys and accessories that younger viewers with dogs might get the "gimmies" on the next trip to the pet store.

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

The competitors toast the beginning of the competition with champagne, and there's beer and wine drinking (the glasses and bottles are visible, but actual drinking isn't often seen).

Violence

One of the dogs swipes another's skateboard, but there's no biting of people or other aggressive behavior.

Sex

Language

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Anne Louise Bannon

GREATEST AMERICAN DOG is basically Survivor with dogs. OK, instead of a buggy beach, everyone is camped out in a luxury mansion -- except for one unlucky pair that will get stuck in the Dog House each week (a nice but small cabin that only a New Yorker would call roughing it). But it's still your standard competition show with folks trying to prove something -- in this case that they've got great dogs -- while vying for money by engaging in a variety of stunts that should show off their dogs' skills but mostly just look silly.

Is it any good?

3
As these kinds of shows go, this ain't bad. The competing dogs make up for a lot -- especially the skateboarding bull dog, Tillman. Even the foo-foo doggies have more to show for themselves than mere cuteness. But the owners will probably make you nuts -- seriously, matching shoes for a dog?! A Bark-Mitzvah?! In fact, the dogs that generally do the best are the ones whose owners remember that these are dogs. And certainly the dogs are the best reason to watch the show. Actually, they're the only reason to watch the show.
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Parents and kids say

All Reviews

There are 2 reviews.

0

Posted on 07/13/08 by Anonymous Adult contributor

Change the channel

I was really looking forward to this show, but it's just another abysmal reality show. The "tricks" were stupid; the owners, for the most part, vapid; and the judges awful. The pets were cute, though I think pet clothing and hair dying are silly. I'd rather see dogs doing things they enjoy, things like chasing Frisbees, fetching, swimming, and even skateboarding. Similar dogs should compete against one another. This show is a complete waste of time and will hopefully disappear after this season, if not before. Too bad.
3


Posted on 07/10/08 by gospurs57 Adult contributor

I hope they don't pull this show

Thursday nights on CBS are now home for a wholesome reality show all about dogs. There's nothing highly objectionable in the show, except for drinking. Watch out for commercials for CBS shows which may not be suitable for children. This may be the cause of the TV-PG L rating. I personally didn't see any language in the show itself. I would've rated the show TV-PG for the brief drinking scenes and objectionable commercials for CBS shows.

Adult Reviews

There are 2 reviews.

0

Posted on 07/13/08 by Anonymous Adult contributor

Change the channel

I was really looking forward to this show, but it's just another abysmal reality show. The "tricks" were stupid; the owners, for the most part, vapid; and the judges awful. The pets were cute, though I think pet clothing and hair dying are silly. I'd rather see dogs doing things they enjoy, things like chasing Frisbees, fetching, swimming, and even skateboarding. Similar dogs should compete against one another. This show is a complete waste of time and will hopefully disappear after this season, if not before. Too bad.
3


Posted on 07/10/08 by gospurs57 Adult contributor

I hope they don't pull this show

Thursday nights on CBS are now home for a wholesome reality show all about dogs. There's nothing highly objectionable in the show, except for drinking. Watch out for commercials for CBS shows which may not be suitable for children. This may be the cause of the TV-PG L rating. I personally didn't see any language in the show itself. I would've rated the show TV-PG for the brief drinking scenes and objectionable commercials for CBS shows.

Kids Reviews

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There are no kids reviews.

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