“It’s Me or the Dog” offers advice and entertainment
Whether or not you have a dog yourself, you most certainly know a couple of dog owners. Chances are, at least one of those people owns what you might call “a problem dog.” Luckily for dog owners and lovers everywhere, the Animal Planet television program “It’s Me or the Dog” shares dog training tips for even the most problematic of dogs.
“It’s Me or the Dog” features world-renowned dog trainer Victoria Stillwell on her quest to help dogs and their owners overcome bad behavior. Stillwell is from the United Kingdom and began her dog training career there. These days, she lives in the United States but travels all over the world, sharing dog training tips and supporting dog-related causes. Her television program gives her the opportunity to help families, many of whom are quite literally being torn apart by their dog’s behavior.
Stillwell’s dog training methods have proven to be effective, time and time again. She comes from a very humane method of dog training. Stillwell encourages dog owners to practice reward based training in order to build their dog’s confidence and support positive behavior. She is adamantly against any sort of physical punishment, animal cruelty, or forced dominance. Rather, Stillwell tells owners to gain perspective on the behavior problem by thinking like a dog.
Her unique training methods include in-depth problem solving skills. To correct bad behavior, she instructs owners to look for the root of the problem. After thinking about the cause of the problem, they must think like their dog to see how they, as owners, could become better communicators or more in tune with their dog’s needs. To supplement the reward based training, she prescribes exercise and playtime, to deepen the bond between dog and owner. She also encourages owners to maintain training throughout their dog’s life, to keep things fresh and exciting for their dog.
Stillwell’s modern approach to dog training works wonders on “It’s Me or the Dog.” By stressing the importance of positivity, patience, and and open mind, Stillwell is working to improve dog and owner relationships worldwide.
