Dogs, Dancing and Feuding

National Dog Show Airs Thanksgiving Day on NBC

(Mitchell Haaseth - ¿ Nbc Universal, Inc.)

John O'Hurley, known for his "Peterman" role on Seinfeld and his elegant form on the first Dancing with the Stars, is back for a sixth year as host of the Thanksgiving Day broadcast of the National Dog Show. He, along with dog show analyst David Frei, will serve as guides to the action in the show ring where 2,000 dogs are vying for glory at the Philadelphia event.

Airing right after the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, the dog show broadcast is becoming a Thanksgiving tradition that lets families --including the four-footed members -- enjoy something besides football while waiting for their holiday feast.

O'Hurley, a lifelong dog lover and new dad, is the author of Before The Dog Can Eat Your Homework, First You Have to Do It: Life Lessons From A Wise Old Dog To A Young Boy, will be online Monday, Nov. 19, at Noon ET to take questions about the dog show and his new book, Dancing With the Stars, Family Feud and almost anything else.

A transcript follows.

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Washington, D.C. : Hi there, John!

Since you have a new baby at home (we are expecting ours soon), we thought you might be able to advise on the 'jealous only dog' scenario... Did you run into any problems between your dogs and your new child?

Thanks!

John O'Hurley: Yes, one. One feels enoromously abandoned and wedges herself in between in an any attempt to make contact with the child and the other one sat at the base of the feeding chair and hasn't moved for 11 months and was the premise of the new book.

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Philadelphia, Pa.: John, you may laugh but I always watch the dog show with my dog Misti! What is your favorite breed of dog, and have you learned a lot in hosting this?

John O'Hurley: I've becomes sensitive to the incredible number of different breeds and the characteristics that are common to each and I would say my favorite ... I like the Cavalier King Charles. I think they represent the qualities I like best in a dog.

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Foggy Bottom, Washington, D.C.: I am thinking about purchasing a dog. I have narrowed it down to a Havanese or Portuguese Water Dog. Have you had any interaction with these breeds and if so do you have a recommendation?

John O'Hurley: My only experience is with them at the dog show. I love the Havanese and have heard many favorable comments from families who have them but please make sure from the breeder as to which do best suits your life style

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Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.: Hey, John!

I was wondering if you've seen the film "Best in Show" and if so, has it influenced your mode and manner of commentary for the National Dog Show? Also, is the show 'live'? I am often disappointed when the breeds we own in our family (bassets and daschunds) are 'skipped over'. Thanks and Happy Thanksgiving!

John O'Hurley: Yes, that was actually the inspiration for the show. The actual show is seven hours long and is edited into a two-hour special which is obviously pre-taped.

Sometimes we have to lean towards the breeds that are in the judges' first pick and so consequently we can't focus on all the dogs -- there are 165 breeds in the show -- and we don't have the TV time to focus on each one.

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Lyme, Conn..: I understand you used to hang around the Old Lyme area when you were younger. Did you have dogs as a child and, if so, what kinds of dogs did you have?

John O'Hurley: We've had several dogs. When I was younger I had a dachshund, later a Scottish terrier and then an English springer spaniel. And yes, I did hang around Old Lyme in an area called Hawk's Next.

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Washington, D.C.: Love the National Dog Show -- it's the best thing ever to keep Thanksgiving cooks sane. But I worry that dog shows encourage people to buy purebred dogs rather than to adopt so many homeless dogs at animal shelters and with rescue groups. I've also found my shelter mutts have enjoyed better health and longer lives than many of my friends' purebreds. How can the dog show encourage adoptions?

John O'Hurley: The dog show is an AKC event and we also online have another show called Dog Show USA which if for all dogs including purebreds and those that aren't. This dog show is a celebration of the history of breeding.

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Freehold, N.J.: what kind of preparation do you go through for hosting the dog show? it's not like acting where you can memorize the lines.

John O'Hurley: Every show each year is different, with different dogs so there's always the excitement of seeing new dogs and this year, new breeds coming to show. Fortunately I have the expertise of David Frei who is able to add his insight.

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Pittsburgh, Pa.: What is your exquisite dancing partner doing nowadays? I'd love to see her again on "Dancing with the Stars"!

John O'Hurley: Charlotta Jorgenson. She is coaching the world class teams and does not compete anymore.

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Washington, D.C.: John, after winning on "Dancing with the Stars," do you keep up with your new skill by taking your wife out dancing?

John O'Hurley: Occasionally but most nights I'm dancing on stage in Monty Python's Spamalot as King Arthur in Las Vegas.

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Washington, D.C.: You have been able to bring a sense of comedy gravitas to small screen roles that few people have. Leslie Nielsen did a reasonable job in the 1980s. Certainly Stephen Colbert is the current king of gravitas comedy. But I don't think I can look at you on-screen being serious without cracking up. There is something so comedically serious about your phrasing, inflection and facial expressions (Particularly J Peterman's herky-jerkiness). What do you think of when you deliver those deadpan lines?

John O'Hurley: I always treat each line as piece of music and the timing of my delivery is like a piece of percussion and instinctively I hit the drum.

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Richmond, Va.: John,

Who's going to win this year's "Dancing with The Stars"?

John O'Hurley: I do follow it but my favorites have already been eliminated: Cameron and Sabrina. I'd go with the odds-on favorite Mel B.

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Arlington, Va.: John,

Is there any chance we'll be seeing you on any of the "Dancing with the Stars" tours in future? You were definitely the best dancer in your season.

John O'Hurley: No, I have too many other projects that take too much of my time. It they did a return of past season participants I would consider that.

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Staten Island, N.Y.: John, how cute is the baby in that picture with you! What is your son's name? Anyway to tell if he has the same great voice as his dad?

John O'Hurley: Thank you for the compliment, he's now 11 months old. His name is William Dylan O'Hurley. He has a big set of lungs.

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Fort Washington, Md. Owned and showed and finished my first dog several years ago as a one-time event. I was amazed at my peek into this "dog world" or the world of confirmation for any animal. What words of wisdom do you have for people who want to get into the business side of this entertain/business? Who would of thought that dog handlers was a career?

John O'Hurley: I'm amazed by the dicipline and skill that it akes to handle a dog in the ring at the championship level. I cannot however say that I know a lot about the path they take to get there. The AKC might be a better source for you.

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Ellicott City, Md: Not a question, but a compliment. I just finished reading your second book, and enjoyed it as much as the first. I enjoy reading bits and pieces of your childhood memories. And the cover picture of you and William with Scoshi is priceless! I've been a fan of yours since your "Young and the Restless" days. My favorite role was in the Thelma Todd movie.

John O'Hurley: Thank you very much. The second book is tied deeply to my heart and I'm glad it had as much humor and meaning for you.

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Harrisburg, Pa.: Did you ever meet people who identified with your role as Mr. Peterman, and what did they say to you?

John O'Hurley: Many people have claimed to have someone the likes of J Peterman as their boss. I sympathize with them enormously for having to live that close to such lunacy.

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Washington, D.C.: When people stop you in the street, what do they most often bring up? Is it Seinfeld, your soap work, DWTS, your movie roles, what?

John O'Hurley: I would say 50 percent Seinfeld, 40 percent Dancing with the Stars and 10 percent Family Feud.

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Arlington, Va.: Who do you think is the best celebrity dancer on this season's Dancing with the Stars?

John O'Hurley: I thought Sabrina was the best.

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Washington, D.C.: What will you be doing this Thanksgiving while the rest of us are watching you on the National Dog Show?

Also, since it seems you might have a "begging" dog in your house (we do, too), I was wondering if you have any tips to help with that!

John O'Hurley: We'll be spending our Thanksgiving with our son in New York City and we'll be watching the parade and then, of course, the dog show.

I have two dogs that beg and a wife that spoils them and therefore, I apologize, but they're a lost cause.

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Philadelphia, Pa.: Since you are not a judge, I am wondering what breeds of dog you might think deserve stronger consideration by judges that you think might have been overlooked?

John O'Hurley: Sometimes as an outsider I'm always amazed that some of the lesser known breeds don't get as much of the judges' attention. There are certain dogs that I'm fascinated by but don't seem to impress the judges and that seems to happen year after year. Certain breeds just seem to show better than others.

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Washington, D.C.: Over the 20 plus years I've been owned by a dog, I continue to be astonished at how tuned in they are to us, our moods, and our well-being. I'd love to hear about some of your own experiences with your dogs that have surprised you in that same way.

John O'Hurley: I've written two books on this subject where I outline specifically my experienc with dogs and how much they've taught me: It's Okay to Miss the Bed in the First Jump and the Other Life Lessons I've Learned From My Dogs and Before You Dog Can Eat Your Homework, First You Have to Do It: Lessons on Life From a Wise Old Dog to a Little Boy.

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