Oubliette:  Never thought of it before but based on this new show, maybe you and I should make a deal  with GH or even this new show.  As a sighthound, my greyhound can see the smallest thing at least a mile away and take it down even in the dark and your beagle, being a scenthound, could hear and sniff out the unknown.  I'm sure that you, like I, walk your dog and always uncover the unknown!  It would be a win-win and we'd get to travel the country with our dogs.

As we know, even though dogs have become domesticated, they still possess the instincts of their predecessors.  And all animals posses senses that are so finely tuned that it has been scientifically proven that they can sense the coming of earthquakes and other natural disasters.

I guess this new show proves one thing which I think someone mentioned in another forum.  It's usually attributed to P.T. Barnum but actually said by banker, David Hannum, referring to Barnum: "There's a sucker born every minute!"

You know one of the dogs will be a Bloodhound.  $20 on them bringing up this fun fact- "being so accurate that evidence trailed by a Bloodhound has been accepted in a court of law."

http://www.akc.org/breeds/bloodhound/index.cfm

As for how one trains a dog to detect the paranormal…I'm completely and utterly at a loss.  You need a known sample of someone in order for the dog to track it.  And if you have a known sample of a ghost…you really don't need the dog any longer because you've just hit the jackpot!  As for sight…I suppose one can train a dog to bark when they see a shadow, however that would just be insanely unreliable.  Lastly, hearing…as Oubliette said, no idea what would set a dog off.  So, yeah…at a loss for how one trains a dog to detect the paranormal.

However, that's not stopping me from applying.  I just adopted a 86lb Collie/German Shepard/Horse mix.  I got her to protect me from all the "Snow Beasts" here in Colorado.  I know she can detect ghosts and demons.  Sure, I can't prove it, but apparently that's not stopping the rest of them…

As for my credentials, I am now a demonologist.  I've been taking a good long look at demonology and it appears that the only true criteria for becoming a demonlogist is that one reads a great deal about the subject.  That's really the only common denominator that I've found.  I've read a ton of those websites, so by their own standard, that qualifies me.  And without passing judgement, I'm almost positive that I've faced just as many demons as they have.  Maybe more.  Yes…"more"…that's what I am going with.  Prove that I haven't… 

Can you imagine it?  An undercover scientist/skeptic, with his dog, in the throws of a ridiculous paranormal show?  How funny would that be?  Dress all gothic-like, dole out warnings of how serious and dangerous this is getting (like Barry with Brian in the Scottish Castle when Brian was filming his own shadow…) and when they start bringing up feeble theories and sorry evidence, I just break out the Debunking Club of Science (with +2 Intelligence!) and start swinging for the fences?  Sweet…   

K9!  Great one!

Will the dog have been a former member of the police force?

Will it be touching everything in it's site and/or picking it up and opening it to see what's inside?

Will the dog be able to tell if it's a cat howling in a location or perhaps a nose whistle?

Will there be another dog at the location to explain to the dog the history of the location and experiences?

Will there be pairs of dogs going out together?

Will one dog explain to the other the facts of the case correctly?

Will restaurants and commerical locations not allow the dogs to investigate because of the local health department concerns?

Well done Nosfer.  I'm out of here for the night.  Have to take the dog for a walk and test her for any paranormal theories then we're coming back for a "catnap" before the Titanic episode.  Enjoy!

OMG, you guys are hilarious!  But it just illustrates what a DUMB idea for a show this is.  Many thanks to Hannah for encouraging me to do a Google on reality shows when she mentioned about applying to Hot Chicks.  Probably never would have found this. (BTW, you folks in or near Chicago, they're looking for people with homes having supposed paranormal activity.  Here's your chance to get on the telly!)

Alicat-I would LOVE for us to apply.  Sounds like our pets would make a great investigative team.  Will they edit out my Beagle's baying?  Collargate–LOL, I'm still laughing about that one

We have to include my husband, though.  He had done some serious theatre acting in the past and would make a very believable demonologist.  At one point, he even had a priest outfit complete with the wing collar but auctioned it off on eBay many years ago.  But when he used to put it on, it made quite the impression.

Perhaps this show now illustrates that bottom of the barrel we've been wondering about as far as how low the paranormal craze would go.

Oubliette said:

My mind boggles…what next?  Paranormal Preemies?  Telekinetic Toddlers?  EVP sensing emus?

Hold on here…just one minute.  I certainly hope that you are not insinuating that an Emu "can't" sense EVP's.  Show me the scientific evidence that supports this slanderous accusation. The Dromaius novaehollandiae is a noble bird that deserves our respect and admiration, not our scorn.  You have crossed the line, Oubliette!  I demand satisfaction!  It shall be pistols or swords at dawn!   

Actually, if I had my choice, I'd rather watch a paranormal show with emus instead of dogs.  Way funnier.  Can you imagine the look on the home-owner's faces when they hear the beeping of the truck backing up to their front door?  The gate comes down and 10 trained paranormal-seeking emus come racing out of the truck and into their homes.  Now that's just good TV…