It's Me or the Dog (Animal Planet)

common sense media says

Supernanny-style tough love for dog owners.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that the canines featured in this British dog-training series occasionally get aggressive and growl or bite at one another or humans. And the host's motivation methods can be harsh; she raises her voice and lectures owners about how spoiling their dogs leads to poor diets and bad habits. She also uses scare tactics (like visiting animal shelters to show where the pets could end up), and her words often reduce the people to tears. But her advice is spot-on, and dog-loving families will pick up tips on discipline and diet.

Positive messages: Stilwell promotes responsible dog ownership, teaching owners how to care for their pets' social, dietary, and fitness needs. Her "tough love" tactics can seem harsh -- and sometimes reduce the owners to tears -- but her dedication to the dogs' welfare is clear, and her methods usually get the point across.
Violence & scariness: Dogs occasionally growl at or bite one another or the people around them.
Sexy stuff: Not applicable.
Language: Not applicable.
Consumerism: As an author and business owner, Stilwell gets publicity from the series.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.

More on It's Me or the Dog

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about Stilwell's methods. How does she use body language and voice tones to communicate with the animals? Do they respond to her better than they do to their owners? Why or why not? Would any of her advice work for your family's pets? Parents and tweens can also discuss the educational nature of reality shows like this one. Do you think this series intends to educate or entertain viewers (or some of both)? How is it entertaining? Did watching teach you anything? How real is reality TV in general? Are any reality shows more believable than others? Which ones?

What's the story?

What's the story?
In IT'S ME OR THE DOG, Victoria Stilwell -- a self-proclaimed advocate of treating a dog like, well, a dog -- travels the United Kingdom to work with families in desperate need of intervention for bad habits like biting, barking, chewing, and hyperactivity. She interviews family members and learns about the dogs' daily routines and eating habits, as well as the owners' methods of discipline (or lack thereof). After observing the often-chaotic household dynamics, Stilwell works with both the pets and their owners to correct poor behavior. But old habits often prove hard to break -- especially for the softest owners, who can't resist those pleading puppy-dog eyes. After leaving the family to their own devices for a few weeks, Stilwell returns for a follow-up visit. If her subjects have fallen off the wagon, she gives them more lectures about their responsibilities as pet owners and reminds them that their errant ways could eventually cost them their pets.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

Stilwell is to over-pampered pups what the Supernanny is to tantrum-throwing tots, and she's on a mission to change the way that pet owners think about doggie diets and discipline.Her tactics get the job done -- at least within each episode's 30-minute window -- but she often brings owners to tears by yelling at them or scaring them with trips to the animal shelters (where their dogs could wind up if they're taken away). While very young viewers likely won't understand or appreciate her in-your-face methods, older kids will learn something about pet care and discipline.

TV themes & details

TV Details
TV Rating: TV-G
Network: Animal Planet
Cast: Victoria Stilwell
Genre: Reality TV
Where to watch: Animal Planet

This review was written by Emily Ashby
 
 

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What parents & educators say

2

Most useful reviews by all members

TheBookWorm101
kid, 13 years old
 
Victoria's Great!
I love this show so much. My dog has a jumping problem. And after watching one episode of the wonderful "It's me or the Dog" show, I knew everything I needed to know to train my dog to not jump. I love it!

 
I don't know why she has a show
I am a professional dog trainer and I am completely appalled by this show. Her methods are avoidance not problem solvers and there is definite editing and cutting things out that they don't want you to see. I have read some reviews so far and people actually believe everything they see on tv. There is a lot they don't show you and on top of that Ms.positive reinforcement is a fraud. As a dog trainer/behaviorist I know all aspects of dog training. Therefore I have done at some point or another many many methods of training. Positive reinforcement should not be the only method of training, a good trainer uses whatever the situation calls for and Victorias methods do not teach pack leadership. Each episode I watch I notice more and more things they are faking on the show. There was one episode where the dog was opening the stove door, to get on the counter and eat food. Victorias uses this so called sound aversion which by the way can make your dog petrified of loud noises. She set up a siren to go off when the stove door opens. If this was to work on a dog the dog would immediately back away from the area. This particular dog did not back away, he kept moving forward and victoria says oh he's still trying to go, then all of a sudden the dog gives a little shake of his head and backs away from the stove. Now anyone who is a real trainer would know that dog has just been shocked by an electronic collar. The dogs reaction was to flip his head a little, that is the reaction to a shock collar. I guess due to the popular demand for positive reinforcement training because it is so called humane has caused television to fake the fact that it works. When the situation calls for it you can use a few treats here and there but most of the time there is not reason to bribe your dog. That is not teaching pack leadership therefore Victoria is a fake trainer and is merely just a host of the show and an actress. On other episodes when you see the dogs start behaving they don't look submissive they look exhausted. Something has been done prior to that scene and those dogs are so tired why would they bother to misbehave. Its not the things she is doing that is working, it is the things someone else is doing and she is pretending to be the reason. Pay attention the next time you watch an episode do some pausing and rewinding if you can and think about if what you are seeing makes any sense that it can work that fast. This show teaches that this is the only way to be with a dog and if it doesn't work the dog should be put to sleep. I have seen these types of trainers actually advise that a dog be rehomed or put to sleep because it is too out of control, I would estimate 90% of the time the dog can be fixed with the right training, patience and behavior modification. This show is just sad.

 
Just a show to make money, doesn't care about the Dogs
This show does more damage than help. A Dog that is aggressive thinks it is the 'Leader' and needs to be shown that the owner is the 'Leader' NOT given treats. This 'Treat' training of Aggressive Dogs will lead to those Dogs biting someone at some point. Terrible show and should be taken off the air. I recommend to anyone who truly cares about Dogs to write Animal Planet TV Station and tell them that show needs to end !!!

raapar
adult
 
Good
I would love to see this show again.

evilthingey
teen, 16 years old
 
teddy pom pom funny
heheehee

Megan96
teen, 15 years old
 
I think the dogs' agressive behavior can scare little kids, but 8 and up is probably a good age for watching this show.

shop till i drop
teen, 14 years old
 
great show but to vilont and scary for younger kids.
It's Me Or The Dog is perfect for dog owners to watch to get very helpfull ideas on controlling there dogs. But this show qwasnt made for toddlers and kindergarteners. There are constan fights between dogs, some growling, and scary moments. also younger kids may not understand what the show is about and may find it boring. So i would recomend this for kids 7 and up.

TylerReview
teen, 15 years old
 
Bad
Why do people even watch this show? I agree with the man/woman who wrote the book a few reviews down. Victoria is a actor and entertainer first, not a trainer. She only uses treats to get dogs to obey, kinda like if you gave a baby candy for not crying - they just work for the treats (candy for baby), not because they view you as a leader. She uses shock-and-awe tactics, not true training to get a dog to obey. Skip out on this pseudo-trainer.

super movie ...
teen, 15 years old
 
cute
cute dogs!

BFF GIRL THATS ...
teen, 14 years old
 
a great show
the show is great it really teaches u how to control your dogs!

Ivybluerose
teen, 17 years old
 
A great show as long as little kids won't get scared by aggressive dogs
I love it, it's much better then "Dog Whisperer" the dogs can get aggressive so it's better for a older kids, Victoria Stilwell always wears appropriate clothes (and cute too), and is kind but firm with the dogs. I Love this show and I can't think of any concerns.

sirypendragon
teen, 16 years old
 
5+
great show so watch it! It's about a women training dogs really well! 5+ should watch it!

siry
teen, 18 years old
 
love this show. It's good for 7+. you will enjoy it(unless there's something wrong with you) So watch it!

GoodGirl459
teen, 13 years old
 
Love it
I love this show!

vsquadcheer
teen, 16 years old
 
amazing and addicting
i cant think of anything wrong or bad about this show. i dont think it would really appeal to young young kids though. victoria is awesome, unlike some dog obsessers who are always "dogs are amazing and should be treated like a family member and we dont care if they destroy the house they are loved!" o shut up! she is real and true and all of her methods seem to work amazingly! ILH(NH)

hsm3
kid, 11 years old
 
asome show a must see!
there is nothing inapropreat about this show. The dogs do act vilont but nothing seriouse. To handle the mean dogs and enjoy and be interested in this show your child will probably have to be 8 or older. It is a great show!

sweetcupcake101
kid, 11 years old
 
Doggie down
I don't think its nessicarly fake, it might just be jazzed up a bit. I think Victeroia knows what she's doing some of the time, but sometimes it looks like she just decided to try something new on the dogs and see if it works, cause' I see them resisting alot. Sometimes I think Victerioa should be a counsler, because she is mostly working with the owners and following them around. I wonder if the situations are real some of the time, because if they were real, they probley wouldn't be on TV. I think their is a director for the show, and it's taped, because to make people look so perfect, you need a camera and makeup artists. Plus, wouldn't it be weird if their was a bunch of camera dudes following in your home following you? I bet you that their are safety people everywhere, in case something goes wrong. I just enjoy this show for entertainment, it doesn't exactly give you much info on dogs.

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