Greatest American Dog - The Finale (Episode 109)

The only reason I watched this show. Oh, and the dog's cute too. (Photo: CBS)It's down to the final three - cocky JD and Galaxy, the very tightly-bonded Laurie and Andrew and Travis and Presley (the rookie.) The remaining teams head back to Canine Academy after elimination. Travis couldn't believe how angry JD got when Victoria said he was "threatening" Galaxy. Laurie said he could be firm without sounding mean. JD said that there were so many distractions at the last challenge that he needed to bring on the intensity - and claims he "caught himself" - after the judges' critique, of course. Laurie again stressed that he could have been kinder. JD said the word "threatening" just "triggered my ass." Whatever that means. Laurie thought the judges were "dead on" in their assesment of JD's training technique and says Galaxy is fearful of her owner. Her relationship with Andrew is based on trust and love, not fear. Laurie and Travis seem to be on the same page about JD.

The next morning, the dogs get a morning workout and Andrew gets (yet another) bath. If this show was called "Cleanest American Dog," Andrew would have locked up a victory already. The competitors gather in the Best in Show arena with Jarod and the judges. This week, there will be two "Best in Show" challenges. The first is composed of an "intense" interview with the judges and an impromptu challenge for the pooches. The first pair taking this "exam" is Laurie and Andrew. Victoria asks Laurie how she's pushed Andrew in the competition. Laurie said she didn't think many of the challenges were designed for small dogs, but she just did it. That's a lame answer. Wendy asked that if (God forbid!) anything happened to her, would Andrew's world fall apart? Laurie says that he'd be fine, but he does prefer her because she raised him. Wendy asked how Presley differed from Andrew. She said Travis and Presley were in "the honeymoon stage" of their relationship and she and Andrew were the old married couple. Victoria asked Laurie if the contest is about her happiness or Andrew's (kind of a dumb question!) Laurie said Andrew would be just as happy at home on the couch (well, duh...dogs have no need for $250K.) She tears up saying that everything she's asked the dog to do, he's done and this has made their relationship stronger. She concludes that she is doing this for all dogs and their owners, to show that one can have a good dog without "using any aversive methods" (a not-so-indirect slam at JD). Wendy then checks out Andrew up close and tests Andrew on his socialization with other dogs - without Laurie in the room. Laurie went to the green room and the minute Wendy put Andrew down, he made a beeline for Mama. Wendy retreived the dog and he and Wendy's dog, Lucky, enjoyed a bit of butt sniffing before eventually playing for a moment - until Andrew once again headed for the green room.

Next up are JD and Galaxy. Victoria asked what new thing Galaxy has learned since arriving at Canine Academy. JD said he opened his mind to a lot of techniques. Wendy asked him what he learned from the others, and he said he didn't learn "a ton" but "observed where their problems were with their dogs." Victoria looks on disapprovingly. She tells him to describe his training techniques. JD says his tone of voice is "very stern" and he means what he says - so that's all he has to do. Allan asks why Galaxy would make the Greatest American Dog. JD says her tricks paired with her obedience make her more than just a frisbee dog. Wendy checks Galaxy out up close and asks about her grooming. JD says he bathes her "once in a while" and when prodded by Wendy confesses that she gets cleaned up "a couple of times a year." Ewww! JD claims she "cleans herself naturally" in the river. Wendy says dogs should be bathed once a month and have clean teeth. I think JD and his "dirty dawg" may have reached the end of the line.

My personal favorites, Travis and Presley, are up last. Wendy asks Travis what he's done right and he tells her that watching the other owners and teaching Presley based on what they did was most beneficial. Allan asked what surprised him most about Presley and Travis said he never realized how what's going on with him affected his pooch. Victoria asked why they were in the competition. I was hoping Travos would just be honest and say "For the money!", but he said the games have "opened new doors" in his and Presley's relationship. Presley has shown he's got a lot of potential over the past weeks, even though he may not be as well-trained as the other dogs. Victoria goes to check him out (and the dog too...wakka wakka!) She tests the dog on the "Victoria leave it", where she allows the dog to see and smell the treat first in her hand, then on the floor and lastly on his paw. Presley passes with flying colors.

Before Jarod tells us which pair is being expelled, the judges get their final say. Victoria is still convinced that JD and Galaxy's relationship is based on control and domination rather than cooperation. Allan says Presley is an incredibly bright dog with loads of potential but isn't sure he (or Travis) has what it takes to win. Wendy tells Laurie her love for Andrew is reflected in his spirit but he does have separation anxiety. And...the pair heading home is JD and Galaxy. Called it! JD said it was "mindblowing" that he was sent home. Could his head be any bigger?   

When Laurie and Travis return to the house, they find it decorated with pictures of all 12 dogs and their owners (including the cutest puppy pictures of Star and Elvis.) The final two share a champagne toast and Laurie said that just beating JD was a victory enough - feeling that the best training method won out. Travis said the competition has boiled down to the relationship between the dog and the owner.

Next morning, Travis tried to work on Presley's focus, which has been problematic, by jostling around some pots and pans in the kitchen and throwing toys around him in the yard. I hope this is helping. He's taking full advantage of his time before the final challenge. Laurie worked to reinforce that Andrew doesn't have separation anxiety, but every time she leaves the room, Andrew follows. She thinks Andrew is "the most ready" to hold the title of Greatest American Dog.

It's time for the final Best in Show challenge. It's a massive, multi-stage course designed to test the skills the dogs have learned while at Canine Academy. In the first stage, the dog has to push a button, navigate a maze and cross a series of teeter totters. In stage two, the dogs have to cross a narrow beam that tilts from side to side, and in stage three, the dogs have to jump across a series of platforms. And since tonight is a "greatest hits" course, the "biggest challenge" of the season is back - yep, the elephant. This time, the dogs must retrieve a toy placed under the pachyderm. The teams will be judged on the owner's use of commands, owner's proximity to the dog, overall performance and overall progress. Of course, this is only the outdoor part of the challenge - part two is in the arena later that night.

Travis and Presley take on the course first. Presley pushed the button immediately and quickly makes it through the maze and teeter totters. He also crosses the beam and jumps the platforms with ease. Presley has a more difficult time getting the toy from underneath the elephant. Travis has to get under the animal with the dog for him to finally grab the toy (although it looked like Travis and Presley brought the toy out together.) Not bad overall.

Andrew also hit the button quickly and made it through the maze without hesitation. He had a bit more trouble on the teeter totters and wobbly balance beam. Laurie picked up Andrew and put him up on the platform instead of making him go up the stairs, which I (and Victoria, judging by the look on her face) thought was a weird thing to do. She told Andrew to wait until she got to the other side of the platforms and he complied. He them quickly jumped the platforms. And this little dog had no fear around the elephant, grabbing the toy in an instant. It's a close one!

That evening in the arena, there's a "surprise" for Travis and Laurie - all of the eliminated contestants. (Brandy looked adoringly at Travis - I'm sure that wasn't creative editing.) They are serving as a special audience for the final exam. The judges weigh in on the dogs' performance on the obstacle course. Victoria says Presley showed tenacity and looked like he was enjoying himself, but mentioned that Travis may have made it a little harder for Presley to go under the elephant because his squeaking of the toy distressed the elephant. Allan was impressed by Presley's "athleticism," but noted he looked "distracted" at times. Wendy thohgt they had great rhythm wih the elephant and thought it was smart of Travis to go under the elephant with the dog. As for Laurie, Victoria said she would have rather seen her stand a little farther back from Andrew during the challenge but said "it was a beautiful thing to watch" the dog leap across the platforms. Allan thought it was a great performance and after a bit of trepidation, Andrew was powerful and physical and "ended with a bang." Wendy said she felt she and Andrew were way too close at times, but was tremendously impressed at Andrew's dealings with the elephant.

Jarod says that the final part of the challenge is (another) interview. Victoria asked Laurie how could the Greatest American Dog title go to an "over-mothered" dog like Andrew. She responded that Andrew's not "clingy" and did a lot of out-of-the-house stays to prove to herself that the dog doesn't have separation anxiety. She's just proud that she's proved that small breed, "foo-foo" dogs can compete with the big dogs. Victoria told Travis that Laurie has called he and Presley "newlyweds" and asked why they should declare a puppy the winner. Travis said that the "learning by playing" he experienced during the season opened his eyes and their relationship made the great American dog. He compared his relationship to Presley like his relationship to women (quick cuts to Brandy and Laura here) - saying he's been waiting for the right one. He adds that Presley is "the right dog" and will stay with him forever. Awww. He even made Brandy cry. Well, she cries at anything.

The judges started their final deliberation. Victoria said it was a shame they had to choose just one dog to win, because they both would be great "ambassadors". Wendy said the academy was about the relationships between dogs and owners. Allan liked Laurie's analogy and said it was truly newlyweds versus the long-standing marriage. He said Laurie was a great role model for dog owners. Victoria asserts that Travis and Presley's relationship "defines what dog ownership is all about." She adds that dogs aren't perfect. Oooh, I'm so nervous - who's it going to be?

And...the winners are...Travis and Presley! Yay! We probably should have known, as his image is in the show's logo, huh? I hope this means we'll see more of Travis in the future. Oh yea, and Presley too. And so, the first (and probably only) season of "Greatest American Dog" comes to a close. I'm going to go hug my dog now.