What happened to Brandon McMillan on Lucky Dog?

What happened to Brandon McMillan on the show Lucky Dog?

Introduction

Brandon McMillan has been the beloved face of the CBS hit show Lucky Dog since its premiere back in 2013.

The charismatic animal behaviorist and trainer had been winning over fans and animal lovers for almost a decade on the uber-popular series.

And then, suddenly, he was gone.

Understandably, fans across the US wanted to know why.

Why was their favorite animal expert leaving the biggest hit since Pitbulls and Parolees with Tia Torres on rival network, Discovery?

We’ve knuckled down to find you the answer to your burning question: what happened to Brandon McMillan on Lucky Dog?

Plus, we’ve got everything you need to know about where he went, why he left, and where he’s headed next.

Let’s get started.

Who is Brandon McMillan?

Brandon McMillan is, above all else, an animal behaviorist who has dedicated his life to perfecting the art of training dogs.

More than just teaching an old dog—or even a young one—new tricks, McMillan teaches dog owners how to improve their dog’s behavior, work with them long term, and create a lifelong bond.

So, we know he’s a dog guru—and he’s got the performance history to back it up.

As an animal trainer, author of bestselling training manuals for dog owners, television producer, and the host and lead trainer of CBS award-winning series Lucky Dog, Brandon knows his stuff.

McMillan has so far won two Emmy awards for his work on Lucky Dog, and garnered a massive fan following on Instagram, where he routinely posts training tips for dog lovers everywhere.

Why is Brandon McMillan the best dog trainer?

There are a bunch of amazing dog trainers out there, sure—but Brandon is on another level.

For over a decade now, he’s taken in rescue dogs and trained them to succeed in their future “forever” homes.

That training isn’t easy, either. While the pups stay under pressure—McMillan says they “eat, sleep, and breathe training”—he knows that what he’s doing is setting them up for a better life.

Worst case scenario when it comes to training with McMillan at the Lucky Dog Ranch?

All the “foster fails” end up living with the engaging trainer—meaning every dog is better off for meeting Brandon.

The reality television star and celebrity dog trainer confesses: “I go to the shelter looking for a dog for someone else and [if it doesn’t work out] that dog becomes mine.”

What happened to Brandon McMillan on Lucky Dog?

So, what happened to Brandon McMillan on Lucky Dog? On October 24, 2020, Brandon McMillan let fans in on a move that he’d been mulling over for a while—he was leaving the Lucky Dog series.

Among the reasons McMillan shared in his lengthy Facebook post, was the move from a dynamic series that showcased the drive, ambition, and passion for “saving dogs” to something that was more akin to capitalism and corporate greed.

McMillan explained that he was parting ways with the CBS organization as the show was no longer moving in the direction he had envisioned, or the direction the network had initially agreed to.

He noted that as the amount of marketing dollars being poured into the show increased, more people became involved in the decision-making process, and something which was once a powerful and fun show became a “money-driven business.”

“It’s no longer fun to show up,” said the beloved host and doggy expert.

McMillan thanked his fans and followers for their support over the past 9 years, noting that viewers had seen him cry over countless dogs as he bid them farewell and sent them off to their new homes.

The host, who made it a point to show emotion on camera and wear his heart on his sleeve, said he strived to be real with viewers.

He went on to say that “this was a serious show that saved the lives of hundreds of dogs. Mission accomplished.”

Who is the new host of Lucky Dog?

While fans were left reeling over Brandon’s departure from the show, two new hosts were being prepped to take his place.

Eric Wiese and Rashi Khanna took on the mantle as hosts of Lucky Dog following McMillan’s resignation—not an easy role to fill following 182 episodes with Brandon.

Wiese and Khanna stepped up to the plate, though.

Wiese, an American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen Evaluator and dog trainer, is passionate about positive, humane, and science-based training for dogs.

Khanna has a psychology degree and is developing a positive reinforcement training method that could one day be applied to human psychology.

Together, the pair are working towards keeping Lucky Dog in the hearts—and minds—of viewers across the US.

McMillan is trying to help them along the way, too. After being bombarded with messages and comments from fans about the new hosts, he said:

“Let me just start by saying to go easy on the new hosts. I don’t know who they are, but it’s not their fault.”

While it remains to be seen if Lucky Dog, the series, will go the distance without McMillan, one thing is for certain: he’ll be a tough act to follow.

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Where is Brandon McMillan now?

The bi-coastal dog whisperer—who splits his time between New York and Los Angeles—launched online Masterclasses in 2021 to share simple and effective training techniques to dog owners everywhere.

He also hosts Discovery Channel’s Great White Serial Killer during Shark Week.

The show—with its controversial title—is highly educational and praised by shark experts and marine biologists for its balanced delivery.

Brandon has been diving with sharks for decades.

He is also co-founder of Argus Service Dog Foundation, which trains service dogs for disabled veterans.

He still has Lulu, the troubled Chihuahua, and Koda, the untrainable Flat-Coated Retriever.

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