The best shows about (and for) dogs on television

BarcelonaIt is estimated that there are approximately one million households in Catalonia with dogs, the country's most popular pets. It is no surprise, then, that programs featuring them tend to have good ratings. This is the recent case of Dog house, on RTVE, which has been one of the surprises of the summer for the public, with audiences that have consistently exceeded 10% of the screen share and have given it the leadership in prime time, despite being a low-budget format. We review this and other programs that feature dogs as protagonists (and even as recipients).

'Dog house'

Spanish adaptation of an international format that has already triumphed in the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany and the Netherlands, confirms Chenoa as a presenter, after the good results of The floor on RTVE and OT on Prime Video. It's an adoption program that offers a lot of educational content about the need to assess an animal's needs before giving it to a family. The show's key feature is the casting calls, both for the dogs and the prospective owners, which ensure sensitive storylines.

'Beastly Date'

3Cat also has its program to promote responsible adoptions with this program presented by Candela Figueras, now in its second season. In this case, the format takes the form of a dating showPeople looking for a new pet have several appointments with dogs to see if their personalities match. It's not always a success, and some stories end bitterly, but this fulfills the public service of conveying that adoption cannot be motivated by whim and that there is a high level of responsibility.

'Pitbulls & Parolees'

An Animal Planet show available on Amazon Prime that also focuses on adoption, but in this case with very specific constraints. The dogs are abandoned or abused pit bulls, and the prospective owners are ex-convicts who work at the rescue center. Host Tia Torres and her team host this format that combines themes of redemption, compassion, and second chances, for both two-legged and four-legged animals.

'The Dog Whisperer'

Knowing how to train a dog isn't always easy, especially if the pet is restless or has suffered from a trauma. Mexican trainer César Millán created the quintessential how-to show, which often focused more on educating families than animals. Broadcast between 2004 and 2012 on National Geographic, many of its 128 episodes can be viewed for free on PlutoTV, with ads.

'The leader of the pack'

César Millán expanded his profile as a leading educator with several other programs, most notably this one, originally broadcast on Cuatro, which promoted adoption with the help of celebrities. The Spanish edition featured Tita Cervera, Fernando Tejero, Dani Martín, and Jesús Calleja, among others. For each dog, three participants were selected who wanted to adopt it, and after weeks of intensive training and evaluations, Millán chose the most suitable person to take it home. It can be seen on Mediaset's MiTele and on Prime Video.

'Me or the dog'

Mechanics very similar to The dog whisperer, in which a family asked for help because they couldn't control their dog—either because it was naughty or aggressive—the show's main attraction was its presenter, Victoria Stilwell. With a thick British accent and as tough as a Victorian governess, the heckling she gave the families was epic and highlighted how unwanted animal behavior was all too often a direct consequence of the owners' lack of good judgment. As for dealing with dogs, while Millán often reminds us that the animal must perceive that the human is the pack leader—and some of her more physical methods had been criticized—Stilwell belonged to the positive reinforcement school.

Dog TV

Beyond dog shows, there are also shows for dogs. This is the case with Dog TV, which, in addition to programs for owners, also offers programs designed for dogs, with sounds and movements that, in theory, relax them. It's a subscription channel that costs $9.99 a month. If adults have HBO and kids have Disney+, why shouldn't Schnauzers also have their TV package? The content is primarily in English, but considering the target audience is dogs, this is only a relatively important factor.