Beth Chapman on Baby Lyssa and Duane Lee’s absence from CMT’s Dog and Beth On The Hunt: “You can’t force your kids to stay with you forever”

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.”

RELATED:  Channel Guide talks with Lyssa Chapman about her new memoir, her parenting insights, her plans for a new TV show and more!

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.”

RELATED: Vote Dog & Beth On The Hunt for Best Family Values in Channel Guide’s 2014 Viewers Voice Awards!

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

34 Comments

  1. I like watching your show, but I know I am not to be a judge or jury, but why do you all pray before you go out(which is a good thing) & then use the f word all the time?

  2. I think the show is interesting, Beth needs to calm down and Dog needs to quit smoking becausepregnant end up with lung cancer. I know you said Duane Lee moved to Florida but what type of work is he doing now? Then there is Baby Lyssa, where is she and what is she doing now and what happened to her husband (Bo) or is she no longer with him? Finally, where is Tim? I heard his wife left him because she had an affair with a guy and go pregnant? What does Tim do now and does he have custody of his daughters?

  3. At one time I love the show but after dog made those racist comments I can’t watch the show anymore

  4. I love the show. I’ve been watching it since it first came on. I’m sure Beth is a handful to live with but so is Dog. That was made clear in the early shows. I love it when she gets mad! Kinda reminds me of me. Hot quick temper and then it goes away. She loves Lyssa, Duane Lee and Leland but with the high stress, dangerous job , she’s going to yell, scream and snap at them. Once she knows they are safe, she calms down. We’re not privy to their “quiet” home life. One of the main reasons Tim left the show is that his wife “left” him and he had three very small children (girls) to take care of.

  5. I love the show. I’ve been watching it since it first came on. I’m sure Beth is a handful to live with but so is Dog. That was made clear in the early shows. I love it when she gets mad! Kinda reminds me of me. Hot quick temper and then it goes away. She loves Lyssa, Duane Lee and Leland but with the high stress, dangerous job , she’s going to yell, scream and snap at them. Once she knows they are safe, she calms down. We’re not privy to their “quiet” home life. One of the main reasons Tim left the show is that his wife “left” him and he had three very small children (girls) to take care of.

  6. I really enjoyed the show but I really can’t stand Beth! She is a horrible person. She is mean to the step children. She only cares for “Dog” and the children she gave birth to. Dog is the worst father on the planet!! Had 5 or 6 wives, crap load of kids and didn’t raise one of them, because he “was on the hunt” for his future bride to be. And Beth with the Big Daddy phrase sounds retarded. Plus I can’t stand looking at her deformed boob job. It’s down right scary to me! LELAND GROW UP AND GET AWAY FROM YOUR SICK STEPMOM AND POS FATHER. whoops I mean sperm donor.

  7. Bath I have been watching your show from day one. I love your show. But I see the way you and the dog treat your children. You put Leland on pedestal. And Baby lysa And Duane Lee on the back burner. Beth you need to talk to people better. Your mouth is a little out there. You can’t talk like a man to a woman or to man if your a lady and expected to be exspected as a lady.

  8. the new show is lame~~ lee land comes off like a dog thats been beat too much~~ Beth is the root of all of this drama~~She is smarter than the DOG~` Only a weak person could work for Beth~~ Beth is nothing but a wicked step mother~~ A good step mother will treat all of her husband children as equal~ BETH falls very short to the point of being a living example of the word MALICE~~ THE DOG is like ADAM another man manipulated by a woman~~He will never see the truth he will blame GOD before he sees the truth~~ the truth is all of this mess is the dogs fault~~ he is not the head of his home or family~~ he gave control to a wicked step mother..

    • While you are entitled to your opinion if you can say something nice then don’t say it at all! Have you ever considered changing the channel?

      • First of all this is a posting for comments, opinions, good or bad. If someone has an opinion on someone they have all the right to post it. If you don’t like the negative postings, then don’t read them. Full stop!

        • Like the Show. Wish Beth would slow
          Down on THINKING She Is the cats Meow
          And stop bossing Dog around !
          If it wasn’t for Dog his Sweet Pea Beth wouldn’t
          Have Nothing & no money / no nice clothes
          And Trucks and those Beautiful Homes and
          And the jewlery. Etc/—if not for her hunting
          The Dog Down like she did.
          I like Beth. But she as many say
          She MUST Stop being Mean and STOP Yelling
          Other then that Beth Really does have A Big
          Heart.

      • Here here they can always change channels rather than critise Dog and Beth I love all of them and miss Baby Lissa, Duane Lee and Tim

  9. Beth is a step mother who manipulates her husband. Leeland should of stood beside his brother and sister. Leeland, Baby Lisa, and Dewayne jr. and TIM, should make their own TV show. Beth is like Doctor Smith on the TV show, ‘LOST IN SPACE’. The world sees the truth. Beths children with the DOG will NEVER measure up to the people LEELAND BABY LISA AND DEWAYNE JR. are… Beth is just another wicked step mother.. he last days on this earth she will have a ton of regret. She has done malice to the DOGS older children. If she was a good person and treated the dogs children with respect like she does her own children none of this would of went down. EVERY single bit of this drama is BETHS FAULT..

    • I can’t believe how short- sighted you folks on here are! Don’t you know drama sells! Beth is not a wicked step- mother she has a BIG heart.She always talked to females on the old show and tried to steer them in the right direction. I love the whole Chapman clan and their shows!

      • Well robin, you’re long-sighted. You wouldn’t be able to tell a manipulator if it was staring at you in the face. If 90 % of the comments on here are based on Beth’s narcissist behavior on the show, that means there’s obviously something you can’t see or are blind to her antics. Usually where there’s smoke there’s fire. Think about that and open your eyes.

  10. Beth is a step mother who manipulates her husband. Leeland should of stood beside his brother and sister. Leeland, Baby Lisa, and Dewayne jr. and TIM, should make their own TV show. Beth is like Doctor Smith on the TV show, ‘LOST IN SPACE’. The world sees the truth. Her children with the DOG will measure up to the people LEELAND BABY LISA AND DEWAYNE JR. Beth must cry and have a ton of regret and she took it out on her husbands children. wicked step mother syndrome ..

    • If you have so much hatred for the Chapmans and the show then 1- don’t watch it and 2- you’re just as bad as u say they are. Which by the way they are not bad. They r a regular family w regular problems and they aren’t perfect. Neither am I. All the stuff you’re saying sounds terrible. How can you say all you’re saying is fact when u really don’t know them? Shows r edited for drama. They r doing a job many wouldn’t do and help people along the way. Their old show on A&E and new CMT are both great. Keep up the good work Chapmans and thank you for what you do!

  11. I just started not too long ago watching the reruns of the old Dog The Bounty Hunter shows. I can’t get CMT but am trying to see the new show online. I started watching because you are all Christian and I see how you try to incorporate that into your stories and captures. You have a different kind of ministry than most others but non the less, I feel you are honoring God by trying to reform these prisoners, and now you are training other bounty hunters. God gives us things in our lives to overcome and that makes us better equipped to minister to those who are where we use to be. I respect each of you, although, I do miss Duane Lee and Lyssa, and I would love to see them on the new show, if only sometimes. Good luck, stay safe and God bless.

  12. I just want to say I LOVE YOU ALL!! And I think what you all do is awesome. I am so happy that you all are back on tv. I do miss Duanne Lee, Lyssa and Tim, but I understand if they have other things they want to do.
    I wish (so bad) that someday I could meet and talk with you all!! That is my wish!
    Keep up the Awesome work. God Bless You All!!
    Love Always,
    Rebecca 🙂

  13. I feel Leland Chapman should be given more respect and his role should be recognized as the great accomplishment that he has shown throughout his longstanding commitment to the cause and the family business as well as all the people across the country that he is personally helping!!!! He and his thoughtfulness and commitment is so downplayed in the new series, “Dog and Beth on the Hunt,” which focus group or producer decided to leave him in the background of every hunt without giving him the accolades he deserves!!! Go Leland…I respect you for the hardworking man that you are and for supporting your Father in your show of honor, glory and humbleness!!! You are a great testament to what children across America whom have parents who care for and love them unconditionally.
    Dog and Beth, I love the sense of family and your proud to show that you believe in God and his Son, Jesus Christ and aren’t afraid to tell America that this is the way to raise your children and run your business. God Bless You All! Best wishes for many more years of keeping the streets safe and helping those in need!

  14. Hi Dog and Beth. I am so glad you are back. I don’t care about your language on the show because they beep it out. I don’t care what the religious freaks think. I am a christian know that you treat the people you catch like human beings. You talk to them and counsel them. keep up the good work. love you all…

  15. Does anyone think it may be possible that Duane Lee could be in Hawaii running the family business? Remember it was call DaKine Bail Bonds. Maybe he and Tim are there along with Lisa keeping the business going. I know that Lisa had written a book and is planning a series of her own about working with teenagers but she could be working part-time. Think about it. It just might be the way it is.

  16. I quit watching this program as it is bad testimony for true Christians. Their language is atrocious and they seem to worship money. The scripture says that the LOVE of money is the root of all evil. I never did like beth as she is a know it all and starts trouble so much of the time. I don’t know how the rest of them put up with her.

    • I know so many “true Christians” that will do you off quicker than a”true atheist “. Just because you go to church every Sunday and try to shove your Bible down people’s throats doors not make you a true Christian. A Christian believes what the bible says, follows what the bible says and lives their lives the way the bible says to live. The only problem is that there are no” true Christians “. For example. The divorce rate is higher in the bible belt than in Hollywood. Don’t believe me? Check the statistics for yourself. That is only one example.
      So for all you true Christians out there, the Chapman family are Christians. But like I said earlier, there are no true Christians, most of the so called true Christians are nothing but hypocrites.

      • Your entire basis of reasoning just collapsed upon itself. The Chapmans are humans, like you and me, who find themselves on the other side of the law frequently. They are amazing at giving themselves as well as others a second chance which is a testament to there family.

      • Why don’t you oversee your own family and let Dog & Beth run theirs as they see fit.

        • I do “oversee” my own family. Have a grown daughter, grandson, a son in high school, and a wife that has been very ill and is bed ridden at this time recovering from her illness.
          I know the chapman family are human. I was talking about all those people complaining about the chapman family praying and then using bad language. To me, they are true Christians because that shows they are human and make mistakes in their lives. Not like the so called Christians so complain about it.

          • Rdkdave:

            I believe Robin was telling the bible thumper, Mary Swanger, who made the original comment about the Chapmans not being “true Christians” to handle their own family….not you. 🙂 At least that’s how I interpreted it. Anyway, sounds like you have a lot on your plate. Hope your wife recovers soon! And fwiw, I think it’s ridiculous for someone…..ahem, Mary up there, to claim someone isn’t a Christian because they use some off-colored language. Who cares? Ridiculous.

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About Lori Acken 1195 Articles
Lori just hasn't been the same since "thirtysomething" and "Northern Exposure" went off the air.