Victoria Stilwell Positively

Victoria and Holly are joined in studio by noted psychologist Dr. Paula Bloom as they discuss how to change perceptions about certain breeds of dogs including pit bulls.  Also discussed: Victoria's upcoming live tour dates (11/10 in York PA (http://pullocenter.yk.psu.edu/event_detail/216/Victoria_Stilwell,_host_of_%E2%80%9CIt%E2%80%99s_Me_or_the_Dog%E2%80%9D), 11/19 in New Bedford MA (http://tickets.zeiterion.org/orderticketsarea.asp?p=750&a=882&backurl=%2FDefault.asp%3FSearchMonth%3D%26monthsubmit%3D%26SearchText%3D%26Go.x%3D%26Go.y%3D%26pg%3D1%23abc), and 12/3 in Shropshire, England).  Ask Victoria questions include how to stop dogs from digging in the back yard, how dogs' internal clocks work, whether it's better to put a dog in daycare or have someone come feed the dog at home, and whether Victoria will ever sing on the podcast.

In this episode, Victoria and Holly are joined by concert pianist and Through A Dog's Ear co-founder Lisa Spector to discuss the Canine Noise Phobia Series - the groundbreaking new desensitization tool Victoria developed in partnership with Through A Dog's Ear.  Also discussed: update on Kashmir's knee surgery, Victoria's trip to San Diego for the APDT conference, SD Pet Expo and VSPDT evaluation day, Lennox update, and more.  Ask Victoria questions included whether you can rush training, the music in It's Me or the Dog, and how to get puppies to stop barking at training classes.

In the first episode of the new season, Victoria and Holly discuss what they've been up to for the past several months, including Victoria's filming of the 8th season of It's Me or the Dog, experiencing the recent earthquake and hurricane, Victoria on Anderson Cooper, the Hero Dog Awards, Holly's judging of Miss Tennessee, her dog Kashmir's knee surgery, and Victoria's development of her new Canine Noise Phobia series of desensitization products. Also discussed, Victoria's upcoming trip to San Diego for a dog training conference and pet expo, her upcoming live tour dates, Holly's work as a correspondent for CNN, and the new podcast sponsor, Pets Add Life. Ask Victoria featured questions about why it took so long for the new podcast season to start, how to puppy proof your home, whether neutering will stop bullying behavior and more. The hot topic was the case of Lennox, a pit bull type dog in Belfast who is scheduled to be euthanized due to Northern Ireland's antiquated breed specific legislation (BSL).

In this special 'Ask Victoria' episode, Victoria devotes the entire episode to answering listeners' questions.  Topics include: removing urine odor, dogs walking while pooping,  dogs who are picky eaters, dog reactivity, excessive licking, how to be apply to become a Victoria Stilwell Positively Dog Trainer (VSPDT), how to locate particular It's Me or the Dog episodes, why dogs chew on sticks, training older dogs without treats, dog insecurity due to previous attacks, anti-depressants for dogs.   Also discussed:  Victoria and Holly's podcast producer, Dave Marino's turkey-roasting prowess.

Victoria gives us an update on the new season of IMOTD while discussing her role as a counselor to humans on the show as well as dogs.  The hot topic is pet bereavement and grieving:  how pets grieve for each other and how animals have a greater capacity than we're aware of.  Victoria discusses the loss of her 3 cats, including the recent passing of her Maine Coon Angelica and the impact of her death on her daughter, Alex.  Holly discusses her 20-year old cat, Ricky, who is currently suffering from mass cell disease.  Also discussed:  the use of anti-depressants on animals, why it should be a last resort, potential side effects, and how important it is to pair the drugs with behavioral therapy.  Also:  other homeopathic remedies, dog-appeasing pheremones, anxiety wrap shirts, etc.  They discuss listener emails about previous episodes, including responses to the conversation about extreme grooming.  They touch on how animals learn and think, and especially which species of animals can recognize themselves.  Listeners chime in about feeding their dogs BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food) diet, the Michael Vick dogs, and requests for Victoria to sing on the show.  Victoria also reveal details about her upcoming live shows in NJ and MA.  The YouTube clip is a dog dancing the Merengue.

Victoria and Holly talk about Victoria's experience training a miniature pot-bellied pig named Mud as well as chickens on a recent episode of It's Me or the Dog, and Victoria's rap song she recorded with a recent It's Me or the Dog family.  Also discussed: Victoria's exciting new global network of positive reinforcement dog trainers - Victoria Stilwell Positively Dog Training.  Victoria answers a question about the people who influenced her as a dog trainer - Karen Pryor, Ian Dunbar, Patricia McConnell, Nick Dodman, etc.  During the Ask Victoria segment, Victoria addresses food aggression misdiagnosed as rage syndrome, the leave it command working on cats as well as dogs, how to train a dog to pee on a weewee pad, birthday wishes to a special fan in Minnesota, and dogs sniffing people with injuries.  The inside Scoop in this episode is about Victoria's good friend Elio Pace - the talented singer/songwriter/pianist whose song, Addicted to the Phone, is the Positively Podcast themesong.

Victoria talks about what it's like filming It's Me or the Dog in NYC.  Also discussed: her visit to Frank Sinatra's bakery in Hoboken, her personal history as a dog walker during college, going backstage at the Lion King on Broadway to see Victoria's friend Fred Berman (Timon the meerkat) with her daughter Alex, attendance at this year's AVMA conference with AVSAB and American Humane Association, and the difference between veterinary behaviorists and trainers.  The Hot Topic in this episode is about dogs versus cats - Holly's experience with her dog Kashmir and her cat George, Victoria's review of the new movie "Cats and Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore."  Other topics include the use of baby gates, the leave it command, and the use of positive reinforcement in helping dogs and cats to get along.  Victoria's Animal Academy deals with rescue animal statistics and facts, while Victoria dishes the Inside Scoop about her recent appearances on Regis and Kelly and the Today show.  The YouTube clip of the week is also discussed:  Polar Bears and Dogs Playing.

In this episode, Victoria and Holly are joined briefly by Victoria's daughter, Alex, who talks about her summer activities and future career plans. They also discuss the Victoria Stilwell Positively Dog Training program as Victoria prepares for another trainer evaluation day, as well as Victoria' attendance at the upcoming AVMA conference. Victoria describes her work with PATH to combat the destruction done to wildlife because of the Gulf Oil Spill. The hot topic deals with misconceptions about pit bulls and Victoria's take why Breed Specific Legislation is misguided. Victoria continues her dog breed quiz in this installment of Animal Academy, focusing on the history of dog shows. Victoria's husband joins Holly and Victoria as they discuss how Victoria and Van first met during their time in Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story.

Victoria and Holly discuss the first episode of the new season of It's Me or the Dog in New York and the toll of working away from her family. Also, Holly talks about her new coffeeshop, the Funky Monkey in Atlanta. The hot topic in this episode dealt with the concept of anthropomorphizing their dogs in the form of dog painting and dog costumes, while Victoria gives us her take on dog clothing. In Victoria's Animal Academy, Holly tries her luck with the 2nd half of Victoria's dog senses quiz. Victoria also interviews Holly about her background in the news business - how she started, her history as a reporter with CNN, her work as a DJ on radio, and what she's working on now. In the Ask Victoria section, Victoria answers listeners' questions about her dog Sadie, excessive salivation, and the use of choke chains on leash-pulling dogs. A video clip called 'Dramatic Stalking Cat' is also discussed.

Victoria and Holly discuss Victoria's recent travels to the UK for the Dogs Trust Awards, San Diego for Petapalooza, and her upcoming plans to be in New York City for the upcoming season of It's Me or the Dog.  Also, Victoria dishes the inside scoop on the behind the scenes of what goes into each episode of It's Me or the Dog from casting through the final edit.  In Victoria's Animal Academy quiz, she grills Holly about dog breed trivia.  During the Ask Victoria segment, Victoria answers listeners' questions about separation anxiety and fear aggression in a rescued German Shepherd/Lab mix.  A YouTube clip featuring a dog rescuing his friend from a highway in Chile is also discussed.

In this episode, Victoria and Holly discuss Victoria's appearance at North Carolina's Puppy Mill Awareness Day and Victoria's recent Venice vacation.  The Hot Topic for this episode dealt with the issue of animal cruelty and the inadequacy of certain animal welfare laws.  Victoria quizzes Holly on the first half of her dog sense Animal Academy, and they discuss the recent special episode of It's Me or the Dog when Victoria helped PAWS Atlanta achieve a total shelter makeover.  Victoria also answered fans' questions during her popular Ask Victoria segment.  Ask Victoria topics included how to stop your dog from herding the whole family, how to train recall in a 22-year old dog who has recently gone blind, and whether Victoria will film any upcoming It's Me or the Dog episodes in the UK.  Finally, the pair continues feeding Holly's obsession with barkless Basenjis by listening to the famous YouTube clip of a Basenji singing along to the Godfather theme song.

In this inaugural edition of Victoria Stilwell's Positively Podcast, Victoria and her cohost Holly Firfer describe what the podcast series is all about.  Topics in this episode include how Victoria met Holly during the filming of her It's Me or the Dog episode, Victoria's upcoming attendance at North Carolina's Puppy Mill Awareness Day, Victoria's first Animal Academy quiz, Victoria's experience filming Curb The Discussion for TV Guide with Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld, Ask Victoria  listener questions regarding dogs giving signals before toileting, tail-chasing, and coprophagia.