Back in the golden age, Lassie was television’s top dog; for nearly 20 years, she had little competition besides Rin Tin Tin on her tail. But a recent explosion in canine-themed programming once again has networks and advertisers salivating like Pavlovian pooches at the sound of a bell.
• Nat Geo Wild doubled down on puppy love with “BarkFest” with the entire weekend of May 17 dedicated to man’s best friend.
• Broadway’s go-to dog trainer, Bill Berloni, just inked a deal with Discovery Family to star in his own show set to air this August.
• Last month, CBS scored a daytime Emmy for “Lucky Dog” host Brandon McMillan, a rugged animal whisperer with a soft spot for hard-to-adopt rescues.