John O’Hurley and David Frei, Hosts of NBC’s The National Dog Show Discuss Dogs, Dogs, and More Dogs!

Host John O'Hurley and Expert Analyst David Frei

In anticipation of NBC’s The National Dog Show, presented by Purina and hosted by The Kennel Club of Philadelphia, on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 24, 2011 at 12/11 am central time, host John O’Hurley and expert analyst David Frei were kind enough to participate in a conference call about the show and their ten-year tenure hosting it. In addition, they talk about their own dogs, what’s next for them, therapy dogs, the new breeds being introduced at the show this year, and what the viewers can expect. Being an avid dog lover and animal activist, I was thrilled to have the opportunity of participating.

Questions are in bold to make it easier to differentiate them from the wonderful and sometimes funny answers.

My first question for you is have you ever considered breeding dogs, and if so what kind?

JO’H: You know, the closest we’ve come was really the dog that we have right now, (Sadie), our little Cavalier King Charles. But she has a little bit of overbite so she’s not show quality, but I still think adorable nonetheless.

And actually David, I think you have her brother; am I right?

DF: Her sister; yes.

JO’H: Oh her sister, I’m sorry.

DF: Her sister (Angel), yes.

JO’H: And her bite is perfect of course.

DF: Of course.

JO’H: Yes, so we got the ugly step-sister I guess.

DF: We should get them together.

JO’H: But to answer your question, I think – I just – I love that breed, I really do. They’re just great. They’re wonderful pets and they’re just so loving and affectionate.

But I also love the other breed that we have too which is the Havanese, and I think that turned out to be a wonderfully happy surprise for us. In terms of just being loving, maintenance-free dogs they are just the best.

Okay. And my next question is actually for John. You’ve done acting, hosting, dancing, writing books. What’s next for you?

JO’H: Well gosh let me look down the road here. I’ve got some new television stuff coming up this year.

I’m currently on Broadway right now as I will be tonight, celebrating the 15th anniversary of the musical Chicago. And so, you know, life stays pretty busy.

I’ve got the outline of a third book that I’m writing right now, so – and actually David has a book out this year as well which is a record of his experiences with the therapy dogs, too. So he’s the author this year.

DF: With a nice forward by JO’H of course. I didn’t get to answer the question about breeding dogs that, you know, I was involved with Afghan Hounds for 30 years and bred quite a number of them and finished about 20 or 25 champions, including the top running female in the history of the breed.

So, that really is my – I’m probably not going to be doing too much breeding any more with living in a one-bedroom apartment in Manhattan. So I think I’ll just cling to the glory of those days for my breeding record.

Sounds good. And what kind of therapy was it to do with dogs? Did you have a particular kind of patient you worked with?

DF: Well my two dogs we visit a number a different places, but the three places we’re visiting right now are Sloan Kettering Cancer Center here in New York City where (Angel) and I go every Monday night and visit in the women’s health unit.

And (Grace) and I, my Brittany — (Angel) is my Cavalier. (Grace), my Brittany and I and (Angel) both visit at the Ronald McDonald House here in New York City, visiting with pediatric oncology patients. And John has been there too.

And I just started visiting at the V.A. Hospital here in New York City with (Grace), so we have a number of different audiences that we see and they do great work wherever they go.

Well that is so wonderful. My sister had worked with a therapy dog when she was having major surgery and it helped her a lot. I thank you for that.

JO’H: Yes, it’s a very – it’s a magical program. I’ve had a chance to experience it firsthand with – through David’s guidance there and it really is an extraordinary thing.

The energy that the dogs bring to the floor, they just change the energy in the room for the kids and it really is – and then the nice part about it is it’s something to pretty much, you know, it doesn’t really have to be a breed specific dog, it could be any dog that really kind of can go through the training and handle the ability to, you know, to be in a hospital setting.

Because just the dog’s nature just brings so much joy to someone who’s sick and otherwise is just surrounded by sterile surroundings and, you know, getting themselves out of their own circumstances.

David I wanted to know, could you talk about the six new breeds we’ll see this year?

DF: Well, six new breeds, it brings us to a total of 185 breeds and varieties. But, we have a little bit of everything.

You know we had six new breeds last year as well, but the six new breeds that are on for this year include the Chesky Terrier, the Entlebucher Mountain Dog, the Xoloitzcuintli, and the American English Coonhound, and the Finnish Lapphund.

So those are the six new breeds that are eligible. We’re still waiting to make sure they all get entered and they’ll all be there but we’ll certainly have something new for everybody.

And John I wanted to know, in addition to the impressive dogs in the competition, what is it about the National Dog Show that keeps you coming back?

JO’H: Well for us it’s selfishly it’s one of the more enjoyable days I spend during the year.

You know my wife and I just love spending time backstage and having – I get the chance to see all the different breeds and just to kind of breathe in the excitement that goes on backstage, outside the best-in-show ring actually, because that’s where all the breed competitions are going on.

So it’s very, very exciting. You have thousands and thousands of people back there.

And because this is the last one – remaining benched show which means everybody is hanging around back there, the public gets a chance to talk to the breeders and learn about, you know, a dog that might fit well into their life or additional tips on a dog that they currently have.

So it’s a wonderful – it’s almost like a carnival atmosphere back there. And thousands and thousands of people and it makes it such a great family event on, you know, traditionally the greatest family day of the year.

And additionally, I love doing it because, you know, David and I have become close friends and it – I don’t know, it just – it’s good programming on television.

And having a 5-year-old child now, my focus really is on good television programming.

The first question I have is for David – actually two for David. With your new book and everything being released and naturally you’re going to be here at this show, are you planning any book signings or anything around the country coming up?

DF: Well yes, we do have a few book signings coming up. We’re doing two in Philadelphia this weekend – one on Friday night at the Westchester County Bookstore. And then we’re going to do a book signing at the Dog Show as well on Saturday.

And then I come back on Sunday to do a book signing at the AKC event at Javits Center – Meet the Breeds. So that’s a start. We’ve got a few other things going on.

But, you know, I’m excited about the book. I’m proud of the book, and I hope that we’ll get to see a lot of people, just because it means we can get the message out to people about the great things that these dogs do as therapy dogs.

Great. And how did it go with hero, Eli.

DF: Eli is a hero. He’s, you know, is one of the last surviving therapy dogs who visited at Ground Zero on the day of the, and ensuing weeks after the great tragedy.

But Eli is a Belgian Sheepdog that does great things for people. Well even now, he’s continued his work as a therapy dog and was a show dog – was entered in the very first National Dog Show back in 2002.

And with his owner Sherry Hanley who happens to be a deputy sheriff in Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, that having him as our ambassador therapy dog this year really kind of was a great fit.

And John, how are you doing out there?

JO’H: I’m celebrating a lot of anniversaries all at one time. I’ve got the 15th anniversary of Chicago, and the 10th anniversary of the Dog Show. So the nice thing is I’m wearing the same tux to both.

DF: Here’s what I need to know. What’s the 10th anniversary gift? What do I get John and (unintelligible) for our ten years?

JO’H: It really is. Is that paper, scissors, rock, paper, scissors? I don’t know what it is.

DF: I hope it’s something edible.

John, what’s your take on the additional six breeds? Is it hard to keep up every year with everything going on?

JO’H: Yes, and I have to say, this year I’m a little bit concerned because as I look down the list, I had to start in early October to try and learn how to pronounce the Xoloitzcuintli’s name.

I’m not kidding you. I had to – literally I – three nights in a row I had to go on to YouTube to coach myself on how to pronounce that dog’s name. And the Lapphund, then it’s like this is – they’re just playing with me now.

But you know the nice thing is that, you know, looking back now — and David you can comment on this as well — is that over the history of the show now we’ve had ten years and we’ve introduced 23 new breeds. I mean it’s pretty – it’s been kind of remarkable to see this – you know, this world that celebrates the history of breeding grow so rapidly right before our eyes.

DF: It is amazing. We get new breeds – you know, and the new breeds, it’s sort of a misnomer because they’ve been around a lot of places around the world. It’s just they’re new to us here in this country in terms of recognition by the AKC and eligibility in the Dog Show.

So it helps us bring a little something new and special to the Dog Show every year.

Great. One last quick comment John, I wanted to congratulate you on your Ellis Island Medal of Honor. I know you’re involved in a lot of humanitarian causes and outstanding work.

JO’H: Thank you very much.

Congratulations.

JO’H: Thank you. I appreciate that.

So this being the 10th anniversary for the Dog Show must be very exciting for both the Dog show as well as the both of you. And my question is, is there anything different that the viewers can anticipate in this year’s show?

JO’H: Well I think we’re going to try to go back and kind of revisit some of the kind of the good memories of the last ten years because, you know, we’ve had some beautiful champions there come out of the show that have been – they’ve gone on to win not only National but also Westminster.

And so we’re going to go back and revisit some of those quiet moments there too. And David and I will be weeping all the way through the show, nostalgically.

But it is kind of fun to think back on the ten years, because this really began on a wing and a prayer. You know, when NBC started this ten years ago, no one had any idea that it was going to be as successful as it was.

And it was just – the first year was everybody was just, you know, just hoping that someone would go home and watch this. And we were so elegantly surprised by not only getting an audience by holding an audience for as many years as we have to the point really where it has – we really feel that it is a holiday tradition.

And I certainly as I’ve gone around the country, you know, had so many people say that this is the – you know, the world stops on Thanksgiving so that the whole family can watch this.

DF: I also love the story — and John, please share it with everybody — of John’s phone call asking him to do the story; how that came about from NBC.

JO’H: Well they had – you know, this was, you know John Miller who was one of the heads of NBC Sports there, took home Best in Show over the weekend, and just happened to watch, and it was a tremendously popular cult film.

And at the time they were running the reruns of It’s A Wonderful Life and garnering a 1.3 rating, and there wasn’t much they could do about it. After the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade they kind of lost their audience before football, you know, came around in the later afternoon.

So, but it was John’s idea to say hey, you know, this may sound crazy but we should have a dog show.

And so by that afternoon he had negotiated with the Kennel Club of Philadelphia and they rebranded one of their shows as the National Dog Show. And then Tuesday morning he called me out in Los Angeles and I pick up the phone and I said, “Hello.” And he said, “Woof, woof.” And that’s how it began.

Well great, thank you. And I have a – I have one more question and that’s for David. How does this show compare to the Westminster Show to you?

DF: You’re really trying to get me in trouble now aren’t you? The great thing about both of them is that they’re seen by a national audience. And the show, the Thanksgiving show is really an entertainment special that’s built for the timeslot and built for the day.

And the Westminster is much different because it’s historically been around a long time and has it’s standing as the most competitive duo in the dog show world.

So there is quite a difference in that respect, and I think that they each have their place and they’re both doing wonderful things to further the world’s understanding of not only the sport, but also of being a celebration of the dog in our lives.

And what better way to do that on Thanksgiving Day than to be there in front of the whole family and then at Westminster time than to see all these great dogs in the same place at the same time.

So I don’t know how – did I dance around that? John, is dancing – can I go around…

JO’H: Wow, you just absolutely – you – I am mesmerized – I’m just so grateful to be able to stand in your shadow David. You are a…

DF: Well you were always standing in my shadow, my considerable shadow. Now see that brings up another point. I’m under great pressure on Thanksgiving Day because I have to stand next to JO’H who’s like 6’4” and perfect hair and a perennial tan and wonderful eloquence. It’s just – that’s a lot more pressure than standing next to Joe Garagiola every year.

JO’H: I’m sure Joe Garagiola realizes there’s a compliment tucked in there somewhere.

DF: I hope so.

With that and the appropriate thank you and you’re welcomes all around, the call ended. It’s easy to see how well these two gentlemen get along and how much they love this job, although I doubt they think of it as a j-o-b. With their obvious love of dogs and wonderful senses of humor, it’s no surprise they’ve been invited back year after year to host the show.

Don’t forget to tune in to The National Dog Show on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 24, 2011 at 12/11 am central time on NBC, immediately following the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

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Linda

Love TV, movies, and books--mostly mysteries, with a good love story thrown in every now and then. I have four adopted dogs who I adore. I love trying new recipes, and enjoy eating what I make. English language perfectionist. Reading in bed, Italian food, warm weather, the beach, all types of games = favs!