Who is Victoria Stilwell

Ranked #2,166 in Pets & Animals, #55,992 overall

Victoria Stilwell - positively positive!

Lately you may have seen a new show on Animal Planet, 'It's Me or the Dog'.

We've been watching it and really like Victoria's positive approach to dog training and managing dog behavior.

So we decided to create this lens to share info on Victoria and also to shed light on the great positive methods of dog training she practices.

Thanks Victoria, for all you do for us pups!

About Victoria!

Victoria was born and raised in Wimbledon, England and has been working as a dog trainer in London and New York since 1990.

On the early 1990's, Victoria created her own successful dog-walking company and immediately recognized the need for qualified professionals to help her clients with the training process. While pursuing a successful acting career (working in the West End as well as in numerous films, TV series, commercials and voiceovers), she expanded her focus into dog training and behavior counseling by working with some of Britain's most respected positive-reinforcement dog trainers and behaviourists.

In 1999, Victoria moved to Manhattan where she co-founded Dog Trainers of New York, a dog training and behavior modification company working primarily with families and educating children on safe and effective dog handling. Her unique background, personal sensitivity and innate training skills quickly made her one of New York City's most sought-after dog trainers. With a particular fondness for rescue animals in need of behavior rehabilitation, she devoted much of her time and energy to a number of the many animal rescue organizations in New York, serving as an advisor and giving regular seminars on the subject of dog rescue, training and rehabilitation.

In 2002 Victoria expanded her business and created Dog Trainers of New Jersey, earning further acclaim as one of the nation's top dog trainers.

For the past 3 years, Victoria has been working with some of Britain's most unruly dogs (and owners!) on her TV show, 'It's Me or the Dog,' counseling families with problem pets and solving their dogs' behavior problems. Her two books ("It's Me or the Dog: How to Have the Perfect Pet" and "Fat Dog Slim: How to Have a Healthy, Happy Pet") detail her reward-based training philosophies and give dog owners the keys to a happy, confident pet and relationship: 'Thinking Dog' and learning the power of body language in both owner and dog to develop and maintain the unique bond only a balanced, healthy dog-owner relationship can create.

Source: Victoria Stilwell Official Website.

Casting Call for It's Me or The Dog!

Need Victoria's help?

For casting calls visit Animal Planet's Casting Calls site!

Victoria was one of the judges on the hit series - Greatest American Dog!

Victoria was one of the judges on the reality series, Greatest American Dog. For 10 weeks, pups all over the country were glued to the TV, wondering who would get top dog.

Victoria was one of the distinguished canine critics along with Wendy Diamond and Allan Reznik, with Jarod Miller hosting.

Cool Stuff for Cool Dogs!

Be sure and visit my website - JohannTheDog.com - where you can shop for cool stuff for cool dogs!

We've put together, in one place, all the cool stuff you need for your dog!

Find dog beds, all natural foods and treats, collars, leashes, charms, training and agility gear, vitamins and supplements, books, clothing, toys and more!

And the best part is we donate 10% of our profits to dog rescues and shelters!

Watch Victoria's methods in action!

It's Me or the Dog: Summer Specials*
by AnimalPlanetTV | video info

68 ratings | 27,914 views
curated content from YouTube

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  • Reply
    Monica Feb 15, 2011 @ 5:07 pm | delete
    I need to get in touch with Victoria. The vet advised my family to either find a trainer or get rid of it. I know that if we take our Husky to the animal shelter they will put him down because he's aggressive. He's only three months old and I'm trying to train him its just I'm the youngest and can't share my input even though its been working for mine and his relationship. He's biting me less and less everyday! I really need her help. Can some one push me in the right direction, please?!
  • Reply
    JohannTheDog Feb 15, 2011 @ 5:51 pm | delete
    I'm so sad you are having troubles with your pup Monica. Here are some ideas for you:

    You could visit Victoria's website, there is information there and a forum that may be of help. http://positively.com/

    Also you could apply to be on Victoria's show here: http://animal.discovery.com/tv/its-me-or-dog/casting/

    Or another idea, is you could find a positive trainer in your area. We like the trainers that have been trained through the Karen Pryor Academy, you can find one in your area here: http://www.karenpryoracademy.com/find-a-trainer

    Good luck and keep us posted, hope all goes well with you and your pup!

    Johann
  • Reply
    thesevenfigures May 20, 2011 @ 3:27 pm | delete
    Although your pup is 5 months old by now and i hope you already made it without have to give him to a shelter, you can visit Stilwell's forum
  • Reply
    spritequeen Oct 16, 2010 @ 10:38 am | delete
    I LOVE Victoria Stilwell! Not in her fan club, but I do watch her show a lot!
  • Reply
    eddie Oct 15, 2010 @ 6:20 pm | delete
    elise i feel the same but when the dog / cat or any type of animal gets the taste of blood there is no chance of keeping him/her as it will attact again so sorry that u feel that way but i think she done the right thing about the decisition she made is the right one
  • Reply
    JohannTheDog Apr 20, 2010 @ 11:21 am | delete
    Hi there everyone! Sure glad you stopped by. I just want you to know that this lens isn't monitored by Victoria. We suggest for contact and info you visit her website and forums to learn more. http://positively.com/
  • Reply
    Elise Apr 20, 2010 @ 5:05 am | delete
    I am extremely upset and angry about the episode i watched on sky3 19 Apr 10. Victoria advised an owner to put down their spaniel after it attacked their child. Yes she had bruises and a few little cuts but to kill a dog because of this is absolutely disgusting - it's not like it did serious damage. I thought you were a dog trainer? Maybe you should learn a bit of dog psychology and then maybe you can save those who need more than a little training. That poor dog clearly had psychological problems that will have most likely been the owner's fault. How dare you tell them to kill their dog and not to rehome!!! Why couldn't they rehome him to a real dog lover with no children! I have a rottweiler mix that bit me quite badly, he was a rescue. I persevered with dog psychology and training and now he is fine with me and mine. You disgust me. This family and their dog put their trust in you and as far as i'm concerned you let them down. That poor young dog has lost it's life because of your incompetence! Shame on you!
  • Reply
    dogzbody Apr 21, 2010 @ 1:41 pm | delete
    in reply to elise's comment about victoria advising owner to have cocker spaniel destroyed, how would you feel if it had been your child that had been bitten and not just once! As a former dog warden and dog lover Ive witnessed dog behaviour in various shapes and forms, any dog that has bitten will without doubt do it again and is a danger to the public. Benji may have had neurological or psyhcological problems but who comes first, a child or a potentially dangerous dog?
  • Reply
    Happyhunde@t-online.de Jun 16, 2010 @ 10:15 am | delete
    I have to say that Elise has a valid point. Now I am not agreeing that a dog can bite a child and the injuries were excessive. However, I strongly believe that Benji was a victim of the training techniques that were being used. At no time did I see any +R trainining being used around the children and only dominance used (and not consistantly by the Father) when the children were present.
    If the dog made the association that when the children were around he was being dominated by the parents then it is natural (and already proven by the 3 bites before Stilwell intervened) that Benji was going to become dominant over the weaker people in the family. However if the dogs had been taught with cliker and +R training from the outset and the association made that the children were not weak and were actually rewarding to be around I think that this dog would still be alive and the child would have a loving dog.
    Just my opinion.
  • Reply
    JD Oct 20, 2010 @ 12:56 am | delete
    Yes, I thought that episode was rather heartbreaking but in Victoria's defense, didn't the cocker spaniel attack the child more than once before? It was merely Victoria's advice to euthanize the poor dog and ultimately gave the final decision to the owners. And if I recall, I think the owners veterinarian gave the owners the same advice to euthanize.
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JohannTheDog

Hi, I'm Johann, nice to meet you!

I'm an agility dog, herder, marrow bone lover, green dog, blogger, charity hound & Chief Dog at JohannTheDog.com!

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