Cat vs. Dog
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Cat vs. Dog is a reality show in which a cat expert and a dog expert each teach owners how they can have cats and dogs that live peacefully together in one house. There's lots of information on different cat and dog breeds, what they need to be healthy and happy, and tips on how to train them. The people featured in this series care a lot about their pets and are willing to do a lot of work to try to make their lives happier. There are stories of dogs and cats fighting and sometimes hurting each other. An owner cries as she tells the story of her dog crushing her cat's head in his jaw and putting the cat in the ICU for three days. There's discussion of post-traumatic stress in both animals and people.
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What's the Story?
CAT VS. DOG asks what happens when cats and dogs live under the same roof. Sometimes they make friends, but other times an expert's help is required. Join Jackson Galaxy and Zoe Sandor as they assess the conflict between cats, dogs, and the humans they live with.
Is It Any Good?
This is a family-friendly reality show that will get dog and cat owners thinking and talking. Each week on Cat vs. Dog a few new pet families, and their issues, are introduced; what at first glance seems like fluffy reality TV is quickly revealed to be surprisingly educational. Tension is created by the antagonistic, and sometimes traumatic, relationship of the animals, plus a slight sense of competition between the dog and cat professionals. But both are willing to concede and compromise and do an impressive job of walking families through their issues to reach their goals. It's gratifying to see the progress and accomplishments made by the pets and also a good lesson that there's a lot of responsibility that goes along with pet ownership. Though it might get tiresome eventually, the show will provide a lot of t. discussion between family members of all ages.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about if they've learned anything from Cat vs. Dog. Can TV be a good way to learn other things?
How does the show do a better job of teaching than other kinds of reality TV shows? Is the emphasis of this show more on helping or creating conflict for entertainment?
Is this the kind of show you would want to watch often? Why or why not?
TV Details
- Premiere date: July 1, 2022
- Cast: Jackson Galaxy
- Network: Discovery+
- Genre: Reality TV
- Topics: Cats, Dogs, and Mice
- Character Strengths: Compassion, Teamwork
- TV rating: NR
- Last updated: August 1, 2022
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