Forget Married at First Sight, Survivor or I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here! for your free-to-air reality TV fix this year.

Our beloved domestic dogs, whether they be working dogs, companions for therapy or police pups, are having a moment on Australian television.

New series The Dog Down Under joins an eye-watering list of four dog shows on the Ten network. Then there’s the ABC’s Muster Dogs, which has been renewed for a third season, while Seven’s Animal SOS Australia is going into production in November for a second season.

And let’s not forget dogs like Zak, who plays a disabled stray in Colin from Accounts, or Scott Cam’s kelpie Frankie, who breaks the tension on The Block.

Leading Australian dog expert and host of Ten’s long-running stable-mate, Pooches at Play, Lara Shannon, has travelled the country searching for the most athletic, heroic and oldest dogs for the The Dog Down Under show, which premieres on September 7.

She tells The New Daily why we need another series about dogs.

“There are about six million pet dogs in Australia … so Australians love their dogs … and hence why they love dog shows.

“It is widely studied, and understood that dogs (and other pets) make us feel good … dog ownership has many positive health influences from mental to physical, so it stands to reason that people seeing them on TV feel good about it as well.”

Shannon agrees that dogs are having a “moment”.

“Dogs are definitely the stars,” she says, revealing that even though she hosts three shows about dogs, it’s the dogs that people ask about.

“At the recent Dog Lovers Festival [an annual event in Melbourne],  I had five dogs join me on stage both days … one was Giotto, the skateboarding bulldog, and all I heard anyone talking about from the show was him!”

The Dog Down Under host Lara Shannon with Queensland police dog Kaos. Photo: Alex Begetis

Do dog shows rate well?

Dogs Behaving Badly had a successful run on Ten, while stable-mate, The Dog House Australia, about adopting dogs to families, was the No.1 entertainment program nationally in 2022.

Mediaweek reported that 584,000 watched in April that year, noting it was the top show in the 18- to 49-year-old demographic.

It may be that every dog show package comes with its own tone and message, including Shannon’s new weekend show.

“People love the emotional connection and heartfelt stories they see about therapy and assistance dogs, everyone loves a guide dog when they see one,” she says, adding that 48 per cent of Australian households own a dog.

“There are also people who wish their own dogs could do more tricks or can’t believe what they see, so are interested in the training.

“The everyday dog owner probably resonates with it all … the No.1 comment I get from people who I meet that watch Pooches at Play is how valuable they find the educational information.”

She says owners love the real time scenario when she interacts with a dog who has problems, and they appreciate that dog training doesn’t always produce overnight results.

“There is definitely an appetite for both the entertaining and funny elements, along with the educational and emotive shows.  They all offer something slightly different.”

One of the new reality TV stars, Giotto, in The Dog Down Under. Photo: Lara Shannon

Want to meet some new Dog Down Under stars?

Shannon, 52, who is also an animal welfare advocate and was featured in Nine’s Pet Rescuers (2021), met Zoe, a surfer; Lucy, the fastest French bulldog in Australia; Bindi, who can play chess, and the German shepherd police dog, Kaos.

“He was the winner of the Hardest Working Dog, but passed away after filming for the show,” Shannon says.

“He played a crucial role in keeping communities safe across the state and I am honoured to have met him,” she says.

The show also stars Bunny, a pianist and singer, Roxy a dog-sledding champion, Giotto the skateboarding legend and Phil, their oldest dog.

A fan of the Dulux dog, the iconic Lassie series and the Benji movies, Shannon is reminded of how animals, famous enough, can end up on stage at awards show.

Remember the donkey, Jenny, from The Banshees of Inisherin?

“I’m still waiting for my invite to the Logies, but if I did get one I would definitely have Darcy, my little rescue by my side in his tuxedo for sure!”