HOLLYWOOF REPORTER: Dog Days of Summer TV

Great news for pup lovers: TV is going to the dogs this summer! This week’s Hollywoof Reporter has the pooch scoop on the dog-themed shows and movies coming to TV:

‘Dogs in the City’
‘Shelter Me’
‘One Nation Under Dog’

‘Dogs in the City’

If you were watching the legendary finale of ‘How I Met Your Mother’ last week or the hilarious “Big Bang Theory,” you might’ve noticed CBS advertising a new show called “Dogs in the City” and wondered if this new show might be for you.

At first glance, this show looks like a spin-off of the ‘The Dog Whisperer’ since it centers around dog behavioral expert, Justin Silver, as he tries to help dog owners resolve some naughty dog habits. Only this show isn’t like the “Dog Whisperer” because Cesar Millan is no where to be seen and the show focuses on one location – New York City.

Sounds a little interesting so far. So what’s going to hook in dog lovers? For starters, Silver (who I admittedly had to Google) has that bad boy look, with presumably the heart of a puppy, and that just might attract the younger viewing audience CBS is hoping to add to its pack. Secondly, this is more than just good dog/bad dog. Silver’s approach is more about helping both dogs and their two-legged owners.

According to the CBS site, Silver will meet with different clients each episode who present a range of relationship problems, lifestyle changes or domestic issues. Silver then tries to find a solution, often discovering that dog owners can be a special breed of their own.

Assessing the behavior of humans as it ties into their dogs? Okay, I’m sold. (Or I’ll least give this show a try.) “Dogs in the City” premieres tonight at 8 p.m on CBS.

‘Shelter Me’

On to something a little less entertaining and a bit more heartbreaking is the film ‘Shelter Me,’ airing on PBS throughout June.

The film documents the realities of overcrowded shelters in a downturn economy and aims at helping viewers realize that adopting a shelter dog is a better choice than buying one.

Each year, 3 to 4 million dogs and cats are euthanized in America’s shelters. “Shelter Me” shows that formerly abandoned dogs can be trained to become loving companions, service dogs or family pets if they’re given a second chance.

The film encourages responsible individuals or families to adopt and recognizes that a lot of shelter dogs being abandoned aren’t bad dogs, but were unfortunate to have irresponsible owners.

I can’t help but think dog lovers will want to grab a box of tissues, some ice cream, and watch the film wishing they could adopt every dog that flashes on the screen. (Furiends, that defeats the purpose. Yes, be sad, but donate money if you don’t have the means to actually take care of a dog each and every day.)

One can only hope that people thinking about buying a dog will see the film and choose to adopt instead.

‘One Nation Under Dog’

Last, but perhaps the alpha dog of the dog TV pack, is the film, ‘One Nation Under Dog,’ which screened at the Tribeca film festival in April. It is coming to the small screen, premiering on HBO June 18.

The point of this documentary film is to open the nation’s eyes to the fact that while we all seem to love our dogs, there are not enough dog lovers to go around. The film gives insight to the millions of dogs being abandoned each year and aims to explore the different type of relationships humans have with their four-legged companions.

“One Nation Under Dog” features three strikingly different profiles to give viewers the full scope of the problem. The film shows how dog bites are impacting our nation, footage of the horrible treatment that occurs inside puppy mills and a profile on dog owners who feel severe loss after their dog dies.

The New York Times reported that the puppy mill footage includes a dog using two dead dogs as a blanket. I don’t even want to know what kind of person could stand operating a puppy mill. Terrible. This is one documentary film that everyone who wants to buy a dog needs to see.

PHOTOS: Justin Silver’s Twitter, Erick Pleitez, High Contrast

Amelia LeRutte

Amelia Lerutte is a public relations and social media expert, and a pack leader to a couple derpy Boston Terriers, a lovable Leonburger and a Keeshound. When not writing or promoting the i Love Dogs brand, Amelia is an avid NHL fan, ice hockey player and video gamer.