Ask Dog Expert Victoria Stilwell A Question!

Expert dog trainer Victoria Stilwell will be joining me soon on Mondays with Marlo. Now is you chance to ask her anything you'd like to know about:

• Why positive training is the most effective, safe, and humane method
• Why the 'dominance myth' is misunderstood and dangerous
• Tips to preventing dog bites (especially with small children around)
• Why breed specific legislation (BSL) is wrong
• Tips on dogs in small spaces
• What to do if a family member or another animal doesn't get along with your dog
• Your pet's health
• How to keep your pet healthy and happy
• And anything else you want to ask

Be sure to post your questions in the comment section below!

Victoria Stilwell is best known for her role as the star of Animal Planet's hit TV series "It's Me or the Dog", through which she is able to share her insight and passion for positive reinforcement dog training and as a judge on CBS's Greatest American Dog. Having filmed over 100 episodes since 2005, Stilwell is able to reach audiences in over 50 countries while counseling families on their pet problems.

Her two best-selling books, "It's Me or the Dog: How to Have the Perfect Pet" and "Fat Dog Slim: How to Have a Healthy, Happy Pet", have been widely praised, and they detail her core reward-based training philosophy: "There’s a better way to train – Positively."

Due to her passion for positive reinforcement training methods, Stilwell created www.positively.com – the online home of positive reinforcement – featuring the world’s leading veterinary behaviorists, dog trainers and behavioral scientists on her Positively Expert Blog. She is a vocal opponent of punitive, dominance-based training techniques which often result in 'quick fixes' but ultimately cause more long-term harm than good while damaging the owner-dog relationship.

In 2010, she launched Victoria Stilwell Positively Dog Training, the world’s first global network of positive reinforcement dog trainers, dedicated to providing the dog-owning public a brand name they can trust in reward-based training.

She also remains committed to helping the cause of animal rescue and rehabilitation and is heavily involved shelters around the world while also working to increase awareness of the horrific practice of puppy mills. She is a National Ambassador for American Humane and serves as the Behavioral Advisor on Red Rover's Advisory Board.

A regular guest on countless talk shows, news broadcasts and radio programs in the US, Europe and Asia, Stilwell was named 2009's Dog Trainer of the Year at the Purina ProPlan Dog awards and was the recipient of the prestigious 2011 Excellence in Journalism and Outstanding Contributions to the Pet Industry Award. Since its premiere in 2005, "It’s Me or the Dog" has been the recipient of multiple honors including a 2011 Genesis Award Nomination and a 2009 People's Choice Award nomination. Stilwell is a regular columnist for The Bark and Dogs Today magazines, and she has been featured in numerous national magazines, journals and newspapers.

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Comments

[ibrose18]

08:51 PM on 04/29/2013

I live in an apartment in NYC and my 2yr dog is trained to go both outside and on a wee wee pad. She rarely has accidents. But we moved to a new apt and bought shag rugs for the living room and den. She started peeing and pooping on the rugs. I have sprayed them with white vinegar and bitter apple. I have penned her when I catch her doing it. Now the den door is closed and I barracked the living room with boxes. But this is not a permanent solution. Any thoughts.

[Stacy RN]

11:49 AM on 04/14/2013

I have two elderly female dogs, 12 and 13 who have been together their entire life without an issue. The last six months, however, they can't stand each other. Frequently barking, growling and occasionally fighting with each other. They get exercise (the 13 year old very limited due to being more frail), attention and play time. Their behavior is worse during feeding time but it isn't limited to that time. Any suggestions are appreciatated!

[Mary Lima]

05:37 PM on 03/13/2013

I have a male Maltese...6 years old. He has a daily ritual that has me scratching my head. Every day when I get in the shower, I lay my towel on the toilet lid and have one hanging on the towel bar. He waits for me to get in the shower, then proceeds to pull both to the floor, sometimes rolls around on them a couple times....then leaves the room, lays down and waits for me to get out. If he knows I'm watching, he won't do it. I'm the only one he does this too. I can't figure out why he might be doing this!

[meganlynn125]

07:45 PM on 02/22/2013

my cousin found 7 yr old female shitzu shivering on her porch someone dropped off very cut friendly dog had just had puppies 2 or 3 mo. ago from what vet told her posted in papers, radio, and stores no response. she discovered dog is eating its own poop. how to you stop this behavior? please help would hate to see the dog be given away and put through more trama

[HumphreysClan]

04:15 PM on 08/15/2012

Our new puppy (6 mos) won't listen to our kids. (age 10 & 13). They can't walk or take him outside on a leash. He just sits down and refuses to budge. He's fine with my husband and me.

[Barb Kline-Dols]

11:19 AM on 07/19/2012

Victoria I'm at a loss here. I have a 9 month old male Chihuahua who 'was' potty trained. He was so good about it. But now he's started going in the house and his crate. I'm not sure, but I think maybe fireworks in the neighborhood may have scared him. Do I have to re-train him? show him the out doors is ok? He will follow me out doors tho. So I don't think he's really scared out there.?? I have to take him out on a leash now too, or he'll sit and go in the house. I'm so upset with him. Please, any suggestions would be appreciated.

[Norma Francis]

11:00 PM on 06/01/2012

I found my chihuahua from the Humane Society. She is 11 years old now (I adopted her when she was 10) and barks unstoppingly when someone walks by my apartment or comes to the door. I watch Victoria Stilwell religiously but I've never seen anyone with the following problem. I see how to control a dog that is barking, but I'm disabled -- use a walker -- and can't get to the door in time to discipline her properly. I've used everything that PetCo has to offer to quell the barking with absolutely NO results. Please, please, tell me what I can do!

[ROTTIE LOVER]

01:57 PM on 05/21/2012

A TWO YOUNG DOGS LIVE TOGETHER. THE FIRST DOG IS SCARED OF THEE SECOND DOG.THE SECOND DOG ATTACKS THE FIRST DOG AND STEALS HER FOOD. THE FIRST DOG IS STARVING, AND WILL NOT EAT WHEN THEY ARE SEPARATED. THE FIRST DOG IS A 1 1/2 YR. DOBERMAN AND THE SECOND IS A 6 MONTH ROTTIE MIX. HOW DO WE STOP THEM. THE ROTTIE DOES NOT LIKE TO SHARE AND WE HAE NO ROM FOR A SEPARATE PEN. THE ONLY OPTION I SEE IS HOOBLY. THEY BOTH GOT IN A DOG FIGHT, AND MY DOG, THE ROTTIE, BIT ME, GLARED AT ME, AND ATTACKED THE DOBERMAN, MY ROTTIE WON THE FIGHT, SO NOW THE DOBERMAN IS DESPERATE AND STARVING. WHAT CAN WE DO?

[Deshani]

08:31 PM on 05/10/2012

Hello Victoria! :)

Firstly, I really want to thank you for everything you've done for animals and owners alike. You're such a role model for me!
Do you think that in the future, the use of positive reinforcement will sort of revolutionize and spread past animal training?

Thanks!

~ Deshani

[HM25]

12:52 PM on 05/09/2012

Hello Victoria! Many dog owners aren't educated enough to raise and live with dogs, causing problems and mistreatment. Is it time to make it mandatory for all dog-people to attend 'canine school' and to obtain a dog license, making sure every dog is spayed and neutered unless the dog is used by professional breeders? This would certainly alleviate overpopulation and educate pet owners on proper training techniques.

[samiridgeback]

03:57 AM on 05/08/2012

Hi Victoria,

I am a great fan of your show and methods. I am looking for your opinion on when to castrate male dogs? I have a six month old dobermann and have been advised by the vets that 8 months is the right time, 12 months is the advice of the breeder and 18 months from my current dog trainer.
I would really appreciate your take on this.

[ssuzzanne]

03:56 PM on 05/07/2012

Hello Victoria! I love your show and have learned so much from your calm and logical methods of training. I have a 100 pound Akita - we walk every day and he's well behaved onleash. We have unfortunately encountered loose dogs that zero in on him and attack - mostly smaller dogs . There was a bad fight when he was a puppy. I had an adult GSD at the time and she fought off the dog from attacking us but this fight was pretty bad. Over the years and repeated loose dog encounters have left my Akita (and me) on edge with loose dogs. I've learned that I can calm both dogs down by turning my Akita face away from the dog and let it smell his backside but this has not always worked. What is your advice for handling loose dogs? I do carry Halt dog spray but I'm hesitant to use it - don't really want to harm the other dog but at the same time I don't want my dog attacked either. Another issue I have is the worry that if a fight does happen and that it's usually a smaller dog, I don't want to be in a situation that my dog is judged as the aggressor due to him being an Akita. I worry that my poor dog is going to reach his tolerance of being attacked.

[Emily Brzozowski]

01:26 AM on 05/07/2012

Hi Victoria! I admire you and your methods so much, and I am working towards becoming a trainer myself! However, my own dog-- Leda-- seems to be the hardest to train!
She is a 2-year-old Shih Tzu/Cairn mix, smart as a whip and eager to please. She is very good at recalls and obidience, and learns new things quickly.
Her problem is that she still soils our carpets! My boyfriend and I have had her since she was 3 months old; we were both consistent on potty-training, and she knows to "ask" to go outside when she has to pee or poop, pawing at our laps and whining and running to the patio door.
However, whenever no one is home (and even sometimes when we are home, just in another room) she will pee or poop on the carpet! She doesn't have separation anxiety, doesn't overeat, and as far as we know, has a normal-size bladder!
Sometimes she will appropriately go potty outside, but still soil the floor minutes later when we walk away! It is almost consistently every time we leave, and almost consistently in the same area of the floor.
We've tried rewards and praise when we come home to a clean floor, bitter apple and scolding when we notice she's about to go, deep shampooing of our carpets, and timed-intervals for bathroom breaks! What's up with her?
Can you help? Thanks in advance!

[Jacqui Henderson]

10:58 PM on 05/06/2012

Hello Victoria, I am looking after a five month old pug. it does not chomp or attempt to chew its puppy complete meal mini biscuits. it will swallow them whole. also it is constantly sniffing out things to eat. eating anything it comes across, which is a great concern to me. had to move my cats litter tray, as pug was trying to eat litter as well. he eats so fast. please could you advice me on how to get him to slow down and break dog food up in his mouth before swallowing. thankyou very much.

[dontpugme]

03:27 PM on 05/06/2012

What are your thoughts on deer antler as a dog chew? My dog loves his, and most of the people on your forum highly recommend them. But I recently read an article about how good deer antler is getting harder to acquire. Many people are selling low quality antler that is old and brittle and splinters easily. Others are selling antler that has been chemically treated. Should I be worried about this? My dog loves stuffed KONG's, but he can't have a stuffed KONG all day or he'll gain thousands of pounds. He's not very into dog toys unless food is involved which defeats the purpose. I was so surprised that he liked his antler. Or should I try bully sticks or raw bone and stay away from antler?

[Hannah Arocha]

07:31 PM on 05/11/2012

i browse the forums so i have seen posts about it. if the antler is organic (meaning no chemicals), and it wasn't brittle or old, i'd say give it to him. i'm not exactly sure about the bully sticks because i don't really know what they are. you could try the raw bone but make sure he likes it if you don't know yet.

[Marie Atake]

09:42 PM on 05/18/2012

Bully sticks are cows' penises. Gross.