Ratings Chart Attack!

CBS’ debut of “Greatest American Dog” last night carried the hour, but the numbers weren’t much to howl about. The show was the third-lowest rated premiere this summer, off 9% from the start of “Pirate Master” in the same time slot last year.

“Dog” scratched up a 2.1 rating and an 8 share in the 18-49 year old demographic, according to preliminary Nielsen numbers. The show won the 8 p.m. hour by a cold, wet nose and also inspired several thousand dog puns in ratings stories across America. “Swingtown” pulled in a 1.7/5, off 19% from its summer average.

CBS finished second with a 2.0/6 share to place second in the ratings for the night.

Fox, unsurprisingly, took first with “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?” (2.0/7) and “So You Think You Can Dance?” (3.0/9). “Dance” increased ratings sizably from last week, but the 4th of July week tends to suck away viewers to begin with.

Fox ended the night with a 2.5 rating/8 share.

NBC was third with an on-par “Last Comic Standing” (2.1/6), and ended the night with a 1.8 rating/6 share.

ABC took fourth with a 1.1 rating/4 share and The CW brought up the rear with a 0.7 rating/2 share.