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Animal Planet host trains dogs with compassion
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Victoria Stilwell with Sadie (right) and a friends dog.
Have you ever witnessed a dog being abused, then stepped in to stop it? Victoria Stilwell, Host of Animal Planet's "It's Me or the Dog" has marched up to such bullies numerous times. Even her husband warns her that someday she may get beaten-up herself. So far, Stilwell has avoided black eyes, and has even managed to convince several public dog abusers that there is a better way.
I was fortunate enough to meet with Stilwell at the Kensington Park Hotel near Union Square in San Francisco. That night, Stilwell would be a special guest at the San Francisco SPCA's 140th anniversary celebration. Although she was recovering from a flu bug, Stilwell looked lovely in person with her winning smile and trademark brown bangs.
"My father did not like dogs." She told me, "So many times I said, 'please Daddy can I have a dog.' But I grew up spending a good amount of time with my grandmother, an amazing woman who bred beagles. It was from her that I found my connection to dogs."
Today, Stilwell has a rescued dog, Sadie, a chocolate lab. Earlier in her life, Sadie had been attacked while she was leashed causing her to become terrified of the leash. "I began showing her that she needn't be afraid of the leash, and that good things happen to her when she is leashed."
Stilwell has been training dogs over ten years. Her mentor, Roger Mugford, was dog trainer to the Queen of England. She practices positive-reinforcement training using motivational methods only dogs could appreciate: treats, toys, walks, praise. Stilwell says, "You need to know what motivates your dog so you can always use these things to reinforce good behavior."
What about those times when your dog's behavior is really out of control? Stilwell says use an "interrupter." "I might make a high pitched sound to gain the dog's attention. Then I re-direct him. I never, never, never get physical with dogs."
Stilwell says there are many misguided trainers across the country who use choking and scruffing of dogs. To her, they are no better than the bully she confronted on a beach in Florida. "The dog was lunging, and this guy was doing this domination thing, practically strangling his dog. I asked him why he was doing this, and he had no answer." After training them for an hour, the man saw first hand that it was true. There is a better way.
Next Week, Part 2: My talk with Victoria Stilwell continues with her advice on how to adopt a dog PLUS how she landed her job as host of a show on Animal Planet.
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