Lucky Dog (2013– ) User Reviews

BRANDON MAKES THE SHOW!'

[robtothec · 9/10 · 31 October 2023]

I don't know if Brandon is back permanently, but I sure hope so! I don't have anything against the other hosts, but for some reason, so much of the passion and feelings are not what it used to be. I honestly used to get tears in my eyes Watching episodes that Brandon hosted and I don't think I ever did that with the other host. Let's hope Brandon is here to stay in new episodes are filming?

I think the way Brandon works with the dogs seems more personal. He shows how he trains them to be in certain situations or to be on a movie set, etc. I just enjoyed his training and his clicker and his good boy, good boy that he would always say.

Fantastic family show

[claudiadavis-40953 · 8/10 · 3 April 2021]

I've watched this series for years and found every story line heartwarming. The training results were amazing. I would suggest more emphasis on house breaking would be valuable to many current and future owners.

Heartwarming and Uplifting

[thirtynard-728-574812 · 16 April 2016]

In a television landscape that is littered with prime time dramas with cringe-worthy, snide dialogue and unreal "reality" shows - where art poorly imitates life, "Lucky Dog" is a uniquely different program that instead celebrates the compassionate, better nature of the world and its people. My wife and I tune in to "Lucky Dog" on Saturday mornings because of its uplifting theme and because we are dog lovers. Our compliments to host Brandon McMillan, narrator Michael Berger and the entire production crew for creating a beautiful program that never fails to start off our weekend on a encouraging, optimistic note. Brandon is a 2015 Emmy Award winner (Outstanding Lifestyle/Travel Host), and Lucky Dog is a 2016 Daytime Emmy Award winner (Outstanding Special Class Series).

Taking a rescue dog and seeing if it can be retrained into being a dog fit for a family.

[pkmolinar · 10/10 · 4 January 2014]

From "Homeless to a Home" is the hope of this show. To take a rejected dog from the streets and try to gain their trust and obedience seems a daunting task but with lots of love and patience almost anything is possible. Brandon McMillan has 5 days to get the dog ready for a new life. Starting with just trying to gain the love of the dog to getting it to be vulnerable, teaching the dog it doesn't need to hide like it used to, taking it to be around other people, animals and especially children. And finally for the biggest test of all. Will the dog accept the new family. Will the new family accept the new dog. It has to be a good fit. Dogs like people have their own personalities and you can't manipulate them. Success is never guaranteed but no matter what the outcome it touches the heart. In my opinion there is only one requirement for loving this show. You must love dogs.

BRANDON IS BACK...YES

[iamadooneygirl · 10/10 · 7 October 2023]

SO GLAD BRANDON IS BACK AS OF OCTOBER 7TH...2023.. I missed his stories and the way he trained dogs. I just watched the October 7th show and was so glad he is back.. please keep him on and please do not cancel him again. I have read the other reviews and I think most people agree.. this review will not submit unless I have more words so I guess I'm going to have to just keep writing until I reach the 600 word mark.. which is sad they just won't take my shorter version of what I had to say instead of just rambling.. so sorry to have to keep this up.. I've got 46 more words to fill in.. so hopefully this will do.

Terrific Show; inspiring and uplifting, but big changes for 2021

[buz_murdock · 10/10 · 18 December 2020]

This review is for the 2013-2020 Saturday morning show with Brandon McMillan as host. I will update the revised 2021 eighth season of the show, with new hosts, at a later date.

I found this show while cruising channels several years ago while spending Saturday morning with my pets. I identified with host Brandon McMillan's "mission" for finding new homes for dogs in shelters and pounds (and ostensibly very close to facing a worse fate). I liked his training methods and his calm easygoing personality. I also enjoyed his ongoing narrative (which helps to fill in the blanks) plus the announcer who adds commentary and a closing summary at the end of the show. All-in-all a relaxing uplifting nice half-hour to spend. Yes, it can, at times, seem a bit contrived and scripted (all the pieces always seem to fit perfectly at the end), and the dog training appears almost too simple and quick. However, one needs to reason that the producers have to fit everything within a very short timeframe so the sequence of events might appear to the TV viewer as rushed.

With that being said, I was very disappointed to read the the show will be getting new hosts (a husband/wife team) for season 8 which starts early January 2021. I do not know at this time the reasons for this drastic change, whether it was the decision of CBS, Litton, Ampersand, or Brandon McMillan himself, but I will truly miss Brandon, who I found to be interesting, engaging, and easy to watch and root for. I wish him all the best and hope to see him back on the TV soon in another show, hopefully continuing to rescue dogs.

As stated above, I'll update this review once I've seen the new hosts on the 8th season.

Best show on the air!

[wolflover-69004 · 10/10 · 19 November 2021]

I absolutely love this show. Outta a refreshing change from all the garbage on TV these days. I think the new hosts are fantastic and are doing a great job. I love how compassionate and patient they are with the dogs.

Speckles

[chrisfrat · 10/10 · 26 February 2022]

The latest show on Lucky dog with Speckles aired 2/26/22 adopted by a beautiful family. Eric and Rashi did an incredible job with this pooch. The family that Speckles went to was absolutely beautiful! The respect this family had among each other and to Eric was beautiful! I was moved by this! That was a wonderful family and amongst all their loses they had such a shining light amongst themselves. It truly made my heart smile!

Chris F.

I wish you were closer

[oletimesw · 10/10 · 11 June 2022]

I watch your show every Saturday and I Love it! I got my furbaby from the pound a year ago and she is a Boston terrier and very smart. I have a problem with her running off. She doesn't come when I call her so I moved to a place with a fenced in yard and keep the leash on her so I can catch her. Any advise on how to get her to come?

Still Like Show, But...

[brqqke · 6/10 · 5 February 2022]

Each episode follows the same story line. I'd like to see the show get more creative, possibly to include potty training, grooming, food recommendations, etc.

I just watched the episode with Choo Choo and was very disappointed to see that the new owners shaved all Choo Choo's hair off. Unless there is a problem in the fur or skin, it's not normally recommended to shave the fur...it's there for a reason! Hopefully it was not done for minimizing dog hair in the home!!!

Bring back Brandon McMillan

[wengerron · 2/10 · 16 January 2021]

My wife and I have been watching this show since it first came on CBS, I now find something else to do during that time frame. Brandon seemed to instill confidence in what he was doing with these dogs. We are on our Second Jack Russell Terrier who is now 10, Daisy is a replacement for Bo, a Male Jack that we had for 16 years. These highly intelligent little rascals are both a challenge and a joy to have. Your Dream Team is becoming a nightmare. We are going to stop Back on.

Ron and Sue Wenger, Martinsburg, WV

Heavily Staged, Boring

[Jane2027 · 2/10 · 27 March 2021]

This show was better with Brandon McMillan, though it was still a little predictable and faked. The new revised show is terrible; boring, every show is basically the same. The new cast are boring in my opinion. Brandon seemed to genuinely care at least. Maybe it needs a more creative production team and fewer owners who want the dogs for selfish reasons, like to calm their anxiety. What happened to adopting a dog because you simply want to provide it with a great home? People are way too focused on themselves nowadays. Maybe they would be less miserable if they focused on helping others.

Disappointed in host change

[jdetisch · 1/10 · 6 February 2021]

Last year this show would have been a 10 rating for me. Brandon was so relatable and you warmed up to him immediately when I discovered this show several years ago. I looked forward to watching this on Saturday mornings. The new hosts left me cold on their first episode and I have not tuned in since.

Hate the new cast, Have no clue about placing rescue dogs

[rsullins-44210 · 1/10 · 19 March 2022]

I really like Brandon, and gave thes a chance. Not again. They placed a rescue cattle dog with a family that had lost a loved one with toddler children. That part does not bother me as much as the parent saying their reason for the dog was a "distraction". Should have moved on from then. First off a cattle dog does not belong in a city environment nor should a timid abused dog need to be a distraction.....What happens when the children find something else to distract them. I am so upst I can not even say more.... Take these folks off. They are nto dog lovers..

Stopped watching

[gnomes1954 · 17 May 2021]

Use to watch every week, but since Brandon left I watched one episode with new couple and stopped watching. It's not the same without him.

Gave the new hosts a chance but...

[chriscrash-26363 · 3/10 · 2 July 2022]

1st, Eric & Rashi are very fine people and are awesome for the dog community. But, the show has lost its passion that Brandon McMillan gave it. The personality is gone. I watched Brandon when he was on Lucky Dog and my emotions were on high alert but now, it's just a dog show. I love dogs and to be honest, I will continue to watch Eric and Rashi and I will root for them to improve the show and be successful. They just lack the personality & passion the show had with Brandon. I can watch reruns with Brandon over and over again. Now, once is enough. I do wish the show the best of luck.

These are NOT the dogs who need help

[kfidei-79653 · 2/10 · 24 December 2022]

I can't help but notice that all of these dogs seem to be gorgeous and in my area would be adopted instantly. Any illnesses seem to be very minor, worms or kennel cough... its like pretending a baby won't be adopted because of a bad case of the sniffles. How much more good could this show do by highlighting the less that perfect dogs, the maimed, starved, abandoned and truly hopeless dogs that most shelters are filled with? I worked with a rescue that specialized in these hopeless dogs, and I can tell you the need for compassionate people to take special needs dogs knows no bounds. I would like to see the hosts take on some of the un-photogenic, toothless, blind, deaf, handicapped dogs so desperate for homes; it would help the dogs and it would certainly help the show, which is so boring and repetitive these days...the same mash of "perfect glamour dog with worms overcomes these awful obstacles to go live with a rich family". I think it would be so much more uplifting to see a really ugly old dog find a new life against all odds. The show was SO much better with Brandon, and I am hoping he has his own show again soon.

I used to love this show

[nancylmarine · 3/10 · 22 January 2022]

But, since the new hosts came on, it all seems so phony and scripted, whereas under Brandon, it all felt natural and filled with a love for animals.

The new hosts are obviously in it for the money, and not for the animals, given all the air time allowed for the "sponsors" of the shows and various kennels.

I won't be watching this any longer. The joie de vivre the show once had is gone and now it's like watching a really bad scripted show.

Used to live the show, new hosts not good

[fannsl-55341 · 1/10 · 16 January 2021]

Loved the show watched every Saturday morning now can't stand the new hosts. A definite no moving forward for me.

tiny dog given to home with small children and big dogs?

[jimsedona · 3/10 · 8 July 2023]

Loved this show until 3 lb adorable dog rehomed to home with small children and big dogs. Even if the children in the home can be assured not to step or knock the little dog, there will be many visiting kids. Just because Mom wants to have a dog to take with them here and there, is no reason to make such an inappropriate placement. Have Mom get a more sturdy breed. Also, huskies, no matter how old have a propensity for attacking others. That little dog should have been placed with an older, more quite environment. Very, Very, disappointed. Wonder if the little guy is even still alive. The reason he/she was rehomed was because of small children in the original home.

Bring back Brandon!

[stelladg · 9 December 2023]

Brandon is credible, the new couple is not! Brandon is an amazing dog trainer. He trains all dogs, not just little fuzzy dogs. His skills work for the dogs he is rescuing as well as transferring to the audience training needs. He does not discriminate against big dogs, the new show seems like it does. The new version of the show does not even remotely compare to the realistic training that brandon does with his dogs. The families of course, are all happy with their pups which is great but the skills that Brandon teaches to the dogs, the owners, and the audience give you the complete package. I can count on one hand how many times I have watched the new version of the show. When Brandon was on the show, I would set it to record and never miss an episode. Please bring Branon back!

Heavily scripted, but helps dogs

[bj_bassett · 3/10 · 14 November 2020]

Premise: Trainer has a dog that suddenly needs rescue, so he does. Desperate person needs dog because of major drama in life. In five days, Brandon trains dog to be exactly what the person needs. There is always a "bad behavior" that he is able to fix in a day. Dog presented to new person and healing of person begins.

That said, the show highlights that rescue dogs are worthy, can be trained and become members of families.

All of this could be said without the fake drama and scenarios. But three stars for effort.

Gone Downhill

[bbypookins · 4/10 · 16 September 2023]

I have been watching this show off and on since the beginning. Pretty much whenever I was up early on a Saturday morning. I enjoyed Brandon as the host. He was so natural and genuine. Since Eric and Rashi have been hosting it has gone way downhill! I had to change my original rating from 8 to 4. It is so staged and fake that it is painful to watch. I no longer believe any of it is real. Even the new "graduation medal" is cheesy. I have nothing against Eric and Rashi, they are simply unable to act which is required when trying to come off as if it is happening in real time. On top of that, the Blue Buffalo product placement is far too obvious. I'm done.