Without the help of choreographers or voice coaches, Leroy, Andrew and 10 other contestants have been preparing for stardom on a new reality show. They're intensely training by running, jumping, fetching and just looking adorable.
The doggy dozen will vie for the title of Greatest American Dog at 8 p.m. Thursdays on CBS. Hosted by pet expert-zoologist Jarod Miller, the weekly series offers a grand prize of $250,000 for the winning dog-and-human team.
''Leroy has been getting ready for a show like this since he was a baby,'' said Teresa Hanula, a former high school Latin teacher whose border collie is poised for his close-up. Leroy, a 5-year-old with mismatched ears, is ''obsessed with Frisbee and loves swimming,'' Hanula said.
Laurie Williams, a dog trainer, said Andrew, her purebred Maltese, has a calming effect on other dogs. At the dog day-care center she runs, Andrew ''will walk among larger, more active dogs, and it's the coolest thing in the world,'' she said.
Like some human reality shows, Greatest American Dog requires the participants, both four- and two-legged, to live together during the competition. R.J. Cutler, the show's executive producer, described the ''canine academy'' as a shared situation that is fun for the dogs and homelike for the people.
'But you also find there are issues, not just with dogs eating others' food and playing with their toys,'' Cutler said. ``You have 12 different approaches to training dogs, with 12 people who are certain theirs is the best way to have a relationship with a dog. And you'll see how the dogs work and perform beyond what anyone could ask.''
The weekly challenges go beyond high-flying tricks and standard obedience commands. Each episode tests a specific quality, such as loyalty, courage or intelligence, Cutler said.
Taping a show with animals requires a production balancing act, Cutler said. ''You can't work them too hard or too long; you have to make sure they've got lots of time for rest and relaxation in addition to competition.'' The American Humane Association oversaw production and a veterinarian was on site 24 hours a day, he said.
Cutler is counting on animal attraction for ratings, citing the millions of dog owners in the United States. ''People are passionate about their dogs for good reasons,'' he said. ``They're great souls, fun to watch, and they make great TV.''
