The Underdog Show-2008

Poacher turned Gamekeeper, that’s me.

Last year I was the winning trainer on The Underdog Show, this year, Judge.

Get this; I get to have my very own seat, I never get voted off and I get to wear a suit; Oh beating heart!

The Dog World’s answer to Simon Cowell; Simon Growl, if you will.

Currently being shown on Living, 10 celebrities have been paired with 10 untrained rescue dogs from The Dogs Trust, the teams must then compete weekly (not weakly..well, some maybe..) in agility, doggy dancing, obedience plus a few unusual tasks along the way to reach The Grand Final, and an opportunity to become The Underdog Champion 2008.

Allow me to introduce my fellow Judges:-

Donelda Guy; Doggy Dancing expert and full time disputer of anything I say! Donelda versus Steve. Some viewers already see it as old school versus new, I prefer to see it as wrong versus right, evil versus good, that sort of thing. Only kidding, no seriously I mean it, not really. But I do. You decide.

Brendan Cole; Professional Dancer, our resident layman.From feedback so far it’s good to know that not every viewer at home is a Dog Training Instructor, snuggled up on the couch nibbling from a packet of Good Boy Choco Drops, seventeen border collies at their feet, remote control in one hand, clicker in the other. From his observations on the show so far, Brendan appreciates commitment to training, timing, body language, in fact, all the essentials of what makes both a good dancer or a good dog handler; the ability to compliment your partner in competition, not compete. From Strictly Come Dancing he also knows first hand what it’s like to handle a novice on camera (and off!)

In fact Brendan’s doing such a good job on the show that I wonder what exactly I’VE been doing with my life! If only I’d listened at school, (Music & Movement class), I could have been The Bad Boy of Ballroom, I could have worn a suit EVERY day! Dhoh!

Anyway, the competition is hotting up and the early rounds have separated the Shirkers from the Workers, the dogs are loving it and the teams are putting in astounding rounds, the standard is fantastic.

Who’s going to handle the pressure? Who’s going to be The Underdog Show’s 2008 Champion?

Watch this space…

The Underdog Show- 2007 

Now the dust has finally settled on the Show, I like to take this opportunity to thank Splash Media for being brave enough to put on a live show that managed to not only promote the thousands of dogs put into rescue each year, but also to compile an entertaining show that for a change concentrated on the positive aspects of dog ownership.

Training Chump and Selina Scott was a real pleasure and for a couple who on the surface of it were real chalk and cheese, they managed somehow to compliment and bring the best out in each other.

“..all you need to do is a heelwork pattern with the commentator calling the turns..”they said to me, Fantastic I thought, we’d put so much work into Chump’s heelwork that I was so glad he’d have a chance to shine…

“.. oh, and there’ll be some doughnuts and cheese on a table in the middle of the ring for you to heelwork around…” they added, as though it wasn’t even relevant but thought they’d mention it anyway, you know what these trainers are like, so pedantic about the minor details like DOUGHNUTS & CHEESE!!! 

The above is typical of the battles myself, Selina and Chump faced on a daily basis for the 8 weeks we worked together for the Underdog Show, for those of you that didn’t see it, Where were you?!! 

I first met Selina Scott at the Dogs Trust two weeks before the show went to air and to be honest didn’t know whether to bow or curtsey, me not being shall we say the most polished of gentlemen, however, I had no need to worry, she swore and smoked like a docker, only kidding, but we did get on very well and I’m proud to say we still do. 

Now, I may be a little rough round the edges compared to the elegant Ms. Scott, Chump however was something else. After persuading Selina (off camera) to go for Chump as opposed to one of the other dogs, (the one with the thousand yard stare, you know the one I mean) we released Chump from his kennel to meet him in the flesh. He came out of his kennel with the speed of poo from a goose; a mess of legs, beard, tail and slobbler all running around the yard we had set up for our introduction, “Chump” we called…nothing, “Chump”…. Nothing. 

So, this is the dog we’re going to train to do agility, heelwork, scent work, retrieves, rollovers etc in front on a live studio audience in a few weeks to beat 8 other contestants to take the Underdog  Trophy, oh, and just a spot of Heelwork to Music while we’re at it, just to stay busy!!

Heelwork to Music, Doggy Bloody Dancing as they insist on calling it in TV land, arghhh my nemesis. don’t worry I told myself, you only have to do it if you get to the final and that ain`t gonna happen is it?  

First week…survived.

Second week… survived

Third week.. (my original target) survived..just

Fourth week..done well, survived “doggy dancing’s gonna get ya..”

Fifth week,semi finals…done it, we’ve made the final , fantasti..oh..DOGGY DANCING… bugger.

The Final…I love doggy dancing, I love doggy dancing….. 

We won, I was so proud to be part of a team that never, ever used anything remotely negative in our training, I worked with two colleagues that had an awesome attitude to training and enjoying each others company (same thing in my book) and worked with a fantastic crew of people from Splash Media that should be applauded for putting on such a positive show; it’s the easiest thing in the world to sit in the stalls and criticise, its another thing to put up and produce a show that done so well in promoting dogs.

What I loved about the show is that it demonstrated getting your dog to DO something, all the other programmes seem to focus on how to get your dog to NOT DO stuff. 

Anyway, show over, the dust has settled and life goes on. 

Chump; his life has just started in essence, he lives with a lovely couple in a beautiful part of Cornwall where he has acres and acres of space to do what Chump does best, go nuts. 

Selina; she’s back working as a plumber on the London Underground, she’s also doing an evening class in bricklaying and studying to take her exams to become a qualified Door Supervisor, good luck. 

Me; Doing what I love best, dogs. Click on the thumb nails to see pics of Steve and Chump: