Why is Brandon McMillan leaving Lucky Dog?

BRANDON McMillan, who has been the host of CBS' Lucky Dog for seven seasons, announced he was leaving the show in October 2020.

The eighth season of the Emmy-winning show will see two new hosts replace Brandon.

Why is Brandon McMillan leaving Lucky Dog?

On October 24, Brandon took to Facebook to announce his departure from Lucky Dog.

He cited his reasons for leaving as the show dynamic changing from showcasing his"passion for saving dogs and training them for a purpose" to something more corporate-driven.

He said when the crew began filming the show, they had "the best times."

"As the years went on big money started pouring into the show which meant more cooks in the kitchen making decisions," wrote Brandon.

"This is where Hollywood can take a great idea and turn it into a money-driven business. When the fun gets taken out of a tv show then it's no longer fun to show up.

"Today will be my final episode of Lucky Dog. The irony is the dog that started it all is the legacy that I'll leave it on. I cannot thank you all enough for your years of support you all have given me," he continued.

"You were there to see me cry when I said goodbye to Sandy... when I said goodbye to Charlotte... when I said goodbye to little Olive... and countless other dogs.

"Being as real as I possibly can was the most important thing for me because you the viewers know acting from reality. This was a serious show that saved the lives of hundreds of dogs.

"Mission accomplished. But this is not the end... it's just the beginning. Where will my next adventure be? Who knows... but you'll be with me on that journey too.

Who is Brandon McMillan?

Brandon is an American television personality, animal trainer, author, and television producer.

He is best known for his role as host and trainer of the television series Lucky Dog on CBS.

The 43-year-old has won two Emmy awards for his hosting work on Lucky Dog.

Brandon lives bi-coastally between New York and Los Angeles.

He boasts 178,000 Instagram followers and now hosts online Masterclasses on dog training.

The Masterclasses "shares his simple, effective training system to help you develop trust and control with your dog. From using commands like sit, stay, and down to fixing barking and digging, you’ll learn how to improve your dog’s behavior—and create a lifelong bond."

What is Brandon McMillan's net worth?

Brandon is worth $5million, according to CelebrityNetWorth.

Lucky Dog in 2013 and he was also the executive producer.

It is estimated that in the early seasons of Lucky Dog Brandon made $10-20,000 per episode.

In more recent seasons it wouldn't be unreasonable to assume that he makes $50-70,000 per episode.

Who is the new host of Lucky Dog?

New hosts Eric and Rashi Khanna Wiese will front Lucky Dog after Brandon announced that the 182nd episode of the show would be his last.

Eric Wiese is an American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen Evaluator and a member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT).

Eric studied Animal Behavior and devoted himself to shedding light on a more positive, humane and scientific way to train dogs.

Rashi has a degree in psychology and a master’s degree in social work.

In 2014, Rashi met Eric and learned about the positive reinforcement training methods he used with dogs.

She discovered that the logic behind these methods was similar to those she learned throughout her studies and became fascinated with dog psychology and how it could be applied to human psychology

Social media users have taken to Twitter to already express their sadness over Brandon's departure.

"Watching Lucky Dog without you is extremely weird. I'll miss seeing you. They should have changed the name & theme. Lucky Dog is & always will be associated with you. Good luck in your future endeavors," one wrote.

"During this pandemic there are some favorite things we count on and one of them was Brandon McMillon on Lucky Dog. How could you do this!!!!" another wrote.

Season 8 of Lucky Dog premieres January 2nd on CBS.