To me, the No. 1 mediator of mutt mayhem is world-renowned dog trainer Victoria Stilwell.
Each week, she hosts the popular It’s Me or the Dog show on Animal Planet. But mark your calendar for March 11. For a donation of $75 to the American Humane Association, you can have the opportunity to have tea with her — which is fitting since she is from Great Britain and now calls Atlanta home. Well-mannered pets under 20 pounds are also welcome.
It all takes place at the Chesterfield Hotel in Palm Beach at 3 p.m. For more details, call 776-9590 or 779-8698 or visit www.AmericanHumane.org/Victoria.
Victoria describes herself aptly as a relationship counselor when it comes to resolving fur-flying feuds and restoring harmony in pet households. She is that and so much more. She is also the founder of a foundation called Positively (www.positively.com) that features an A-team of savvy dog experts — all handpicked by her. She is working on book No. 3 and her hit show just finished filming challenging canine cases in New York City.
Victoria knows dogs. She knows people. She unleashes tough love and brings out the best in dogs, using positive reinforcement techniques.
I’ve had the pleasure of having her as a guest on my Oh Behave show on Pet Life Radio (www.petliferadio.com) twice. Here’s an excerpt from our most recent interview:
Q. What advice can you offer parents who have children pleading with them to get a puppy or dog?
A. I tell parents not to give in and get their children a dog unless they are willing and want to be responsible for that dog’s care and training. Visit shelters, but don’t be in a rush. Take your time and don’t go for the first dog you fall in love with. You need to find the right dog who can be happy in your family.
Q. In this season of It’s Me or the Dog, you film in and around New York City. What special challenges did the Big Apple bring you?
A. This season, you will see me not only training dogs, but a pig and some chickens — all through positive reinforcement and clicker training.
In one episode, there is a dog spinning out of control — spinning and spinning. We cover a lot of family situations. There are quarrels and arguments. And I was faced with some of my most challenging cases.
Q. What role do you see yourself in these situations?
A. I see myself more as a relationship counselor. My goal is to motivate the owners because they are the most important trainers in the house, not me.
I also tell it like it is. I tell them this is what they can do to make the situation better in their homes for themselves and their dogs.
Q. What’s the best way to train a dog?
A. The best way to train a dog is through cooperation, not domination. Positive reinforcement training is about giving dogs tools to live in our world. It is telling your dog who has behavior problems that there is another way they can act, another way they can feel.
Punitive training damages dogs and causes frustration in owners. If a trainer wants to put a choke or shock collar on your dog, run far away from that trainer.
Go to my site — www.positively.com — to find a trainer in your area who I have personally endorsed and assessed. If your dog has a behavior problem, don’t give up. Give that dog time to learn in a positive way. And remember, there are no quick fixes.
Q. What’s the biggest lesson dogs have taught you?
A. Dogs have taught me to have more patience and how to better my relationships with people.
I’m not perfect. I get stressed and feel pressured. I can have a bad day, but my dog, Sadie, greets me like I’m the best person in the world. If humans were more like their dogs, it would be a much better world.
Arden Moore, founder of Four Legged Life.com, is an animal behavior consultant, editor, author and professional speaker. She happily shares her home with two dogs, two cats and one overworked vacuum cleaner. Tune in to her Oh Behave show on Pet Life Radio.com and learn more by visiting www.fourleggedlife.com.
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