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Greatest American Dog

(Rated TV-PG, Reality TV, Starring Jarod Miller, Where to watch: CBS, Online)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 2, age appropriate for kids over 5; suggested age 5.

  • Is it any good?

    3.0

  • Common Sense says

    Competition shows off talented and pampered pups.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 5 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

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

What to watch out for

  • Violence & scariness:

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

  • Sexy stuff:

    Not an issue.

  • Language:

    Not an issue.

  • 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.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    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).
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Greatest American Dog

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.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • 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?
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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Adult Reviewer
    The JP Show
    Lives in Florida
    I rate this title on for age 5 and give it 5.0

    Good Show

    This should be like TV-Y instead of TV-PG.

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  2. Adult Reviewer
    bettycarole
    Lives in Washington
    I rate this title off for age 8 and give it 0.0

    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.

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
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  3. Adult Reviewer
    gospurs57
    Lives in Texas
    I rate this title on for age 5 and give it 3.0

    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.

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate

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