When I sat down with Leland, Dog and Beth Chapman to talk about their upcoming new CMT reality series Dog and Beth: On The Hunt and told them that my own family loved watching theirs on A&E’s smash Dog the Bounty Hunter, Beth wanted to know what I liked best about the show. I told her it was her family’s bond.
• NEW INTERVIEW: Dog Chapman talks business family, and CMT’s Dog and Beth: On the Hunt Season 2
Much to my surprise — and with Dog and Leland looking on — she offered candid insight into what the Twittersphere has been discussing since plans for the show were announced in the summer: the absence of Baby Lyssa and Duane Lee Chapman from the cast of the show.
• RELATED: Channel Guide’s exclusive interview with Dog, Beth and Leland Chapman
Slated to being in April, Dog and Beth: On The Hunt will focus on the three remaining Chapmans as they crisscross the nation, teaching struggling bail bond agencies how to succeed in the embattled trade by helping them hunt down some of America’s most dangerous criminals. While the show will highlight the Chapmans’ proven methods for capturing criminals and Leland’s expertise in non-lethal weaponry, Dog and Beth: On The Hunt will also address the family’s changing dynamic.
“The focal point of the show is our relationship — and our relationship with Leland,” Beth explained. “Because Leland wants to stay with his dad. Duane says this really profound thing where he says, ‘I don’t love you more, son. But you probably love me more than any of the other kids.’ Because as a parent, you don’t love any of your children differently. But they love you. And their love for you may be stronger than what your sister’s love is. And that’s what Leland is, right? His love for his dad is stronger than the others. And so he doesn’t want to be the one to leave or go away. He wants to be the one staying right here and doing what he does. And so we were really happy about that.”
Though she did not elaborate on whether Duane Lee and Lyssa officially elected to not be part of the new show, Beth suggested that family priorities and individual interests may have factored in. “You know, people grow,” she continued, as Dog leaned into her affectionately, fiddling with the gold zippers on the shoulders of her dress and making Leland grin and shake his head. “Children grow up — and how long can you work for your mom and dad? You become 40 years old and you’re not married and you’re like, ‘Why am I still hanging around my dad?’ You know what I mean? At some point, you feel like there’s got to be changes made. And we as parents have to be OK with letting our bird fly. Hopefully it’ll come back and it will know that this was always the best thing for it. But if they don’t, you loved it and you coddled it and you wished it well. You can’t force your kids to stay with you forever.”
Does that mean Lyssa and Duane Lee might join the show at a later date? The Chapmans didn’t say. But in the meantime, you can rest assured that Beth and Dog can relate to the pain and frustration fans felt as the Chapman children entered and exited Dog The Bounty Hunter throughout its eight seasons.
“We were lucky because our kids didn’t go away to college — our kids went to the college of hard knocks with us,” she says. “And so when there was some turmoil in the family, it was like our kids went to college all at the exact same time. We had that separation anxiety from them. But it really wasn’t that. It was just that they were spreading their wings and getting older. And they had their own families.
“Each person has to make their own decisions for their own lives.”
Photos: Electus
the real question is, the cakes on beth can we see them in the flesh, pop pop they will poke a criminals eye out, bazinga
WTH?!
comment: WTH is ment for Robby.
I’d like to say to Dog ,Beth and the Chapman Clan that you do a remarkable job with dealing with criminals everyday of your lives , there must be so many peoples lives that you have touched so a very big well done to you all , you have touched my life , before i watched your show i used to think i was a Badass getting into bother with the law and other law abiding agencies until one day , the worst thing to happen happened i lost a very dear close friend whilst we were involved in something illegal , but that was the turning point for me , since then i have watched your show from about series 5 or 6 and the love and generosity you show to everyone good and bad just makes me want to bless your family with god’s well being , i think you have a respectful family who are just amazing , i really do look up to all of your family , i am in ore of how they all are , and its all down to the way Dog and Beth are as people truly amazing you should be proud , and i can’t wait for the time when your younger children take the roles of bounty hunters and Leland and duane lee are there mentors , god help them they’re going to need it , anyhow i ramble on quite abit , so best of luck Chapman family , and i hope one day our British goverment will see sense and let you into this once so beautiful country afterall they let mike tyson into britain and he was a convicted rapist now that is worse in my eyes , anyhow the law stinks in that sense , big love BigDazBailBonds.com 😀
love your show have watched it fr day one just wish i had some one like you to kick my daughter into shape,i got her kids 6 4 and it is only a matter of time she will be doing time love the way you handle people keep up the good work god bless jackie x
Glad Beth has decided to open up a little over the split, can’t have been easy for anyone. Their ability to share their lives with us is what makes Dog the Bounty Hunter so special. Good luck with the new series and keep up the good work. Love you guys in the UK.
hi beth i’m so glad to hear your show is coming back on the air so sorry to hear that baby lisa and duane lee has left the show,i can’t wait to see your new show’s in april.I’m a big big fan tell leland and the rest of your family hello,i hope everything works out in your family beth.signed laura l.
WTH! They were lucky their kids didn’t go away to college and Leland loves his dad more than the other kids do?
Love how everything is always about publicity with them. Love how they can never answer a question with a straight answer. Laughable!
Great to hear your coming back to TV. Only best wishes to all the Chapman Family.
I won’t miss Bobby. Reminds me of a leather hided used car salesman. Tried to sue AE for bucks and got tossed out of court. Total snake
Good luck with the show
well I shall will miss Baby Lyssa & Duane Lee, not been on the show.” I wish you both best in life, hope that you both will be on the new show soon, the Chapman family are the best but we all have our up’s & down. thank you Beth for all that you do for the family. Dog you are the greatest person on the show you have a heart of gold and we love u for that. can’t wait for the new show. I have watch the show scent it start I have the DVD’s. I watch the show on A&E every morning at 7am.Looking forward to April 2013? Best wishes to Duane Lee & Baby Lyssa.
Glad to see the original 3 main players of the old show are on the new one. Good luck to Dog, Beth and Leland.
Looking forward to the new show, but missing beautiful Baby Lyssa already! 🙁
what an awesome article thanks for sharing this with us all it just goes to show that the chapmans are a normal family just like us. They are such a great friendly family and have normal family issues like anyone else. I love the way beth says you cant have your kids work with you forever. Its so true that you need to let them fly and make their own decisions. They are a lucky family to be able to have that option its a great inspiration to all. Well done Chapmans
I think the main reason I watch this show is not only the fact the family treat’s each other with respect, the fugitive’s are given a sense of what respect should feel like, until that is the bad guys cross the line. I could care less about a lot of shows but this one sticks out to me. So happy that you guys can continue this so other’s can see what you do. Looking forward to April, blessings!
Good to hear from you Beth. We are all so delighted you and yours will be back on television. And as per stated above, you will now be all over the nation catching criminals w/various bail bond agencies is a great difference to the show taped in Hawaii and Colorado. Wherever you do your work we love to watch so congratulations on your new network and know that we all send our love. Jacqueline in Denver.
The Chapman family are verry normal, and its so true u cant keep ur kids with u for ever,they are only on loan to us so to speek, i am glad that leland has stayed with beth & dog u can tell that he is close to his dad, but am also sadened that baby lyssa and duane lea are at present not returning to the show.
Love the hole family, and hope that one day i may get to meet them, and visit there store, as i am a fan from day 1 of there show, be great to have them back on
Makes sense to me. I hope they other kids join the show in the future. If not, I will still watch
Can’t wait to see the new show on CMT. Looking forward to having Beth, Dog and Leland back on TV and seeing them help and inspire so many people!
Looking forward to April 2013!!!!
Best wishes to Duane Lee & Baby Lyssa
best wishes to Duane Lee. We will miss him but understand his choices. We are looking forward to lots more Dog, Beth and Leland
Sounds like a normal family to me. Best wishes to them all