Victoria Stilwell

Victoria Stilwell (born 1969 in Wimbledon, England) is a dog trainer, author, and television presenter.Stilwell serves as a judge on the CBS show "Greatest American Dog" and presents the dog training TV show "It’s Me or the Dog", counseling families with problem pets and solving their dogs’ behaviour problems.

Biography

Stilwell trained as an actress, including playing a nurse in ITV1's "The Bill" in 1994, and an extra in "Bram Stoker's Dracula" in 1992, as well as London's West End theatre, commercials and voiceovers.

Dog trainer

In order to supplement her income as an actress, Stilwell's veterinary nurse sister suggested Victoria start a dog walking agency. Within a month Victoria was walking 20 dogs per day - 10 in the morning, 10 in the afternoon. After meeting other dog trainers, Stilwell attended seminars and training sessions and read many articles and books. Stilwell expanded her career focus into dog training and behaviour counselling by working with some of Britain’s most respected dog trainers and behaviourists.

In 1999, Victoria moved to Manhattan where she co-founded Dog Trainers of New York, a dog training and behaviour modification company working primarily with families and educating children on safe and effective dog handling. With a particular fondness for rescue animals in need of behaviour rehabilitation, she devoted much of her time and energy to a number of the many animal rescue organisations in New York, serving as an advisor and giving regular seminars on the subject of dog rescue and rehabilitation.

In 2002 Victoria expanded her business and created Dog Trainers of New Jersey. She has also worked as a volunteer adoption counsellor for the ASPCA, and her dog-related writings have been published in numerous magazines and journals. Victoria is certified by the Animal Behaviour and Training Associates and is a member of the US Association of Pet Dog Trainers.

"It's Me or the Dog"

As the host of the TV series, Stilwell shares her insight and passion for positive, reward-based dog training. In each episode, she visits the home of a family whose dog (or dogs) exhibit problem behaviours. She observes the dog and owners in their environment, then spends a couple of days teaching the owners how to create a better atmosphere for both dog and owner, then leaves them to implement her training regimen on their own. After some time (usually several weeks), Victoria returns to evaluate how the dog and owner are progressing, and, when necessary, dispenses more training advice. She is known for her no-nonsense approach and her opinion that the owners, and not the dogs, are most often the root of a dog's misbehaviour. The show is produced by UK production company Ricochet, and airs in the US on Animal Planet and in the UK on terrestrial Channel 4, Channel 10 in Australia as well as in over 20 other countries. Stilwell has also written a companion book for the series, titled "It’s Me or the Dog: How to Have the Perfect Pet", published by Hyperion in the US and Harper Collins worldwide. Her second book, "Fat Dog Slim: How to Have a Healthy, Happy Pet" was released in the UK in February, 2007.

After its first season in the UK, "It's Me or the Dog" was nominated in the 'Best Factual Entertainment' category in the UK's prestigious TV Quick Awards. Her first book, "It's Me or the Dog: How to Have the Perfect Pet" was voted one of the 50 greatest dog books ever written by Dogs Today magazine.

"Greatest American Dog"

Victoria is one of three judges on the CBS show "Greatest American Dog", in which 12 dog-owner teams compete for the title 'Greatest American Dog' and a $250,000 prize. The series debuts on CBS July 10, 2008.

Campaigns

Stilwell is patron of the Waterside Action Group (WAG), which campaigns against puppy farming. Among the other organisations with whom she is associated are Deed Not Breed (campaigning to re-write the UK's Dangerous Dogs Act to remove breed-specific legislation) as well as Vets Get Scanning, promoting mandatory pet micro-chipping and scanning by vets. She has appeared in "A Rare Breed of Love" supporting the fight against the practice of puppy mills in the USA.

Personal life

Stilwell met her husband Van Zeiler while starring opposite him in the West End production of "Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story". The couple and their daughter live in Atlanta, Georgia [ [http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/entertainment/film_and_tv/s/1010/1010822_victoria_misses_england.html Victoria misses England - Film and tv - Entertainment - Manchester Evening News ] ]

After many years without a pet dog of her own (due to work commitments), Victoria has adopted a rescued chocolate labrador named Sadie. Prior to that, she had spent her time since 2001 fostering dogs due to be euthanised by local municipal shelters. Stilwell and her husband then gave the dogs a home while finding suitable homes for the animals. She has explained that until recently, owning a dog would have been irresponsible and not fair to the dog, considering how much the whole family travels. The couple has re-homed over 50 dogs and cats [ [http://www.k9magazine.com/k9insider/exclusive-content/victoria-stilwell-its-me-or-the-dog.html It's Me or The Dog - The Victoria Stilwell Interview for K9 Magazine ] ] .

Bibliography

* "It’s Me or the Dog: How to Have the Perfect Pet" (2005)
* "Fat Dog Slim: How to Have a Healthy, Happy Pet" (2007)

References

External links

* [http://www.victoriastilwell.com/ Victoria Stilwell - Official Website]
*
* [http://www.apdt.com/ Association of Pet Dog Trainers (US)]
* [http://www.channel4.com/entertainment/tv/microsites/I/itsmeorthedog/index.html It's Me or the Dog]
* [http://www.deednotbreed.org.uk/ Deed Not Breed]
* [http://www.wag-ayrshire.org.uk/ Waterside Action Group]
* [http://www.vetsgetscanning.co.uk/ Vets Get Scanning]