Pick of the Litter (TV series)
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- Dana Nachman
- Don Hardy
| Pick of the Litter | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | Docuseries |
| Based on | Pick of the Litter by Dana Nachman |
| Developed by |
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| Composer | Dave Tweedie |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 6 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
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| Running time | 30 min |
| Production companies |
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| Original release | |
| Network | Disney+ |
| Release | December 20, 2019 – January 24, 2020 |
Pick of the Litter is an American documentary television series by Dana Nachman and Don Hardy for Disney+ based on the 2018 film of the same name, also written and directed by the duo, that began streaming on December 20, 2019.[1]
The series follows six potential guide dogs named Paco, Pacino, Raffi, Amara, Tulane, and Tartan and how they are nurtured, trained, loved, and shepherded along the way forward potentially changing a blind human companion’s life and working as their guide dog.[2]
Production
In August 2019, Kidscreen reported that Disney+ commissioned a six part series Pick of the Litter inspired by 2018 film of the same name attaching the film's writer-directors Dana Nachman and Don Hardy along with Mary Celenza, Josh Braun and Dan Braun as executive producers with ABC Studios producing the series.[3][4]
Shortly after the trailer for the film was released, Disney put out an idea to adapt the film into a series and the negotiations began for making the series. When the idea about this series was pitched to Chris Beginner, CEO of Guide Dogs for the Blind, he accepted as it would increase awareness of their organization. Instead of repeating the content of the 2018 film, the directing duo decided to instead focus on the transition period from getting the puppies from puppy raiser homes to the twelve weeks of guide dog training by focusing on a specific litter.
As the production didn't want to disturb the training process, they used smaller camera on a gimbal that then went onto a monopod that could be flipped upside down. Another challenge they had faced was the question of whether the puppy raisers would be willing to open their homes for the documentary crew.[5]
Episodes
| No. | Title | Directed by | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Meet the Dogs" | Don Hardy | December 20, 2019 | |
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Focuses on the six puppies and their puppy raisers and the bond between them. It also focuses on how the dogs undergo the evaluations to become guide dogs for the blind before advancing to professional training. | ||||
| 2 | "Off to Puppy College" | Don Hardy | December 27, 2019 | |
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Focuses on how the puppies are recalled to the guide dog facility for their training and their medical tests at the center. It also touches on how visually impaired individuals can opt for a guide dog. | ||||
| 3 | "Training Begins" | Dana Nachman | January 3, 2020 | |
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Focuses on how the puppies are trained as guide dogs, including undergoing testing with their trainer blindfolded. It also focuses on how puppies selected for breeding undergo distraction and other testing. | ||||
| 4 | "Next Level Training" | Don Hardy | January 10, 2020 | |
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Focuses on advanced levels of training from phase three to phase seven, where guide dogs in training have to use all their skills to pass the test in phase eight. It also focuses on the match-making process between dogs and clients. | ||||
| 5 | "Meet Your Match" | Don Hardy | January 17, 2020 | |
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The dogs in advanced training take their final exams in the hopes of being matched with clients. | ||||
| 6 | "Together at Last" | Don Hardy | January 24, 2020 | |
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The graduating dogs meet with their puppy raisers before they go home with their new partners. | ||||
