A&E
Five trained dogs and their handlers competed to see who was the best team on A&E’s newest competitive show “America’s Top Dog.” One of the teams viewers caught on-screen was Southlake’s very own K-9 duo officer Nathaniel Anderson and Duco.
Anderson and Duco competed against four other teams from Florida, Illinois and North Dakota in an elaborate obstacle course for a $10,000 prize, a $5,000 donation to an animal charity of the winner's choice and a chance to compete in the grand finale to be crowned “America’s Top Dog.” The teams competed across three rounds that tested the dog's speed, agility, detection and teamwork abilities. Anderson says Duco and he completed filming for their appearance on the show in July.
“The opportunity was brought up by a fellow K-9 handler with the Grand Prairie Police Department,” Anderson recalls. “It was jokingly stated that we should submit applications and see if we get selected. I reluctantly agreed to do so and within a couple of weeks, representatives from the series contacted me requesting to do a video interview with Duco and me.”
The first round was an obstacle course called the K-9 Combine, where the four-legged participants were expected to jump through four vehicles, leap over a few fences, walk across a rope bridge and swim across to the finish. Duco completed the course in 2:25.26 and finished fourth out of the five competing teams.
“I was more nervous than anything due to the fact that the world was watching us compete on a national stage,” Anderson expressed.
For the second round, Anderson and Duco were expected to locate five scented items in the Boneyard, an enclosed space that tested the team’s detection and communication abilities. After running out the five-minute clock and locating two of the five items, team Duco placed fourth out of the finalists and was eliminated from the competition.
Regardless, Anderson says he felt blessed for the opportunity to appear on TV and show what he and Duco could do together.
“I'm truly thankful that I have a department that allowed Duco and I, mainly me, to experience something of this magnitude,” Anderson expressed. “I was able to network with K-9 teams from all across the country and bring back some valuable information that will continue to help us succeed. No matter the outcome, I hope that Duco and I represented the department, the city and our citizens well.”
The eventual winner for the first episode of “America’s Top Dog” was team Falco, which featured officer Dave Cochran and his Belgian Malinois partner Falco from the Fargo Police Department in North Dakota. If you would like to keep up with the series and see the next episode, you can always catch “America’s Top Dog” at 8 p.m. on Wednesdays on A&E.