Ep 1. Boxed In

In season 1 episode 1 of "It's Me or the Dog" titled "Boxed In," dog trainer Victoria Stilwell faces the challenge of dealing with three misbehaving dogs in a family living in a small apartment in New York City.

The episode starts with a brief introduction to the family and their dogs: Jackson, a Terrier mix; Gage, a Boxer; and Chloe, a Chihuahua. The family complains about the dogs' bad behaviors, such as jumping up and down on people, barking excessively, and pulling on the leash during walks. Victoria quizzes the family members to understand better the problems they're facing.

The first thing Victoria notices is the family's small living space. The family has no backyard, no balcony, and no access to a nearby dog park. To make matters worse, the apartment is filled with clutter, making it difficult for the dogs to move around freely. Victoria recognizes that the lack of physical exercise and mental stimulation is the root cause of the dogs' bad behaviors.

To address the problem, Victoria starts by teaching the family how to create separate designated areas for each dog using baby gates. The designated areas allow the dogs to have their private spaces for sleeping, eating, and playing. Victoria also advises the family to create a routine for the dogs, including walking them at regular intervals and feeding them at specific times.

Next, Victoria introduces the family to the concept of positive reinforcement. She teaches them how to reward the dogs for good behaviors and ignore them for unacceptable ones. She shows the family how to use toys and treats as motivators for the dogs. The family practices the newly learned methods, and the results are immediate; the dogs are calm and more relaxed.

Notably, Gage, the Boxer, proves hard to manage. He is excitable and jumps on anyone he sees. Victoria advises the family to stop encouraging Gage's behavior by rewarding him for jumping and instead, to teach him to sit and stay. The family practiced the sitting and staying routine with Gage, and Victoria rewards him for good behavior. Gage starts to respond positively to the new routine.

Later in the episode, Victoria takes the family outside on their first walk with the dogs since beginning training. In the past, the dogs had been unruly and uncontrollable on walks, but now they walk calmly beside the family, a stark contrast to their previous behavior.

The family and the dogs continue to get more comfortable with Victoria's techniques through the rest of the episode. By the end of "Boxed In," Victoria has transformed the unruly bunch into calm, well-behaved dogs. The family is finally able to enjoy their time with their four-legged friends without any of the past disturbances.

In conclusion, "Boxed In" is a great first episode for "It's Me or the Dog's" first season as it shows Victoria's expertise in dog training. The episode illustrates how consistency, routine, and patience with positive reinforcement can transform dogs' behavior. Additionally, the small living space represents a common challenge for many pet owners in urban environments, and the episode provides helpful advice on creating designated areas, walking routines, and positive reinforcement.