Ep 8. The Monstrous Mutts

In "It's Me or the Dog" season 1 episode 8, titled "The Monstrous Mutts," trainer Victoria Stilwell is called in to help a family with three unruly, large dogs. The dogs, a Great Dane, a Bloodhound, and a Boxer, have taken over the house and are wreaking havoc on their owners' lives.

The episode starts with Stilwell arriving at the house. She immediately notices the chaos and disarray caused by the dogs. The Great Dane, named Diesel, is jumping on everyone and knocking them over. The Bloodhound, named Rufus, is barking non-stop, and the Boxer, named Buster, is digging up the garden.

Stilwell sits down with the family and immediately starts to assess the situation. She asks the owners about the dogs' daily routine, and they admit that they are not consistent with their training. Stilwell explains that dogs need structure and routine to feel secure and well-behaved.

Stilwell decides to start with Diesel, the Great Dane. She puts him on a leash and takes him for a walk, but he drags her along and tries to run off after anything that catches his attention. Stilwell explains that this behavior is dangerous and needs to be addressed immediately.

Stilwell works with Diesel on basic obedience commands like sit, stay, and come. She uses positive reinforcement techniques to reward good behavior and discourage bad behavior. After a few sessions, Diesel starts to respond well to Stilwell's training, and his behavior improves significantly.

Next, Stilwell moves on to Rufus, the Bloodhound. She notices that Rufus is very vocal and barks loudly at everything. Stilwell believes that Rufus is barking out of fear, so she works on building his confidence through positive reinforcement training.

Stilwell teaches Rufus to respond to commands like "quiet" and "stay." She also introduces him to new experiences and stimuli, like going for a car ride and meeting new people. Rufus starts to come out of his shell and becomes more confident and less vocal.

Finally, Stilwell works with Buster, the Boxer. She notices that Buster is bored and has a lot of excess energy, which is causing him to dig up the garden. Stilwell introduces Buster to new toys and games to help him burn off energy in a productive way.

Stilwell also works on basic obedience training with Buster, and he quickly responds to her commands. By the end of the episode, all three dogs have shown significant improvements in their behavior. The family is overjoyed with the progress their dogs have made and they are committed to continuing their training.

Overall, "The Monstrous Mutts" is a heartwarming and informative episode of "It's Me or the Dog." Stilwell's positive reinforcement training methods are effective, and it's clear that she genuinely cares about the dogs she works with. This episode is a must-watch for any dog owner looking for tips on how to train their furry friends.