Biography
Victoria Stilwell is a world-renowned dog trainer, best known as the star of the international hit TV series, It's Me or the Dog (2005), and CBS's Greatest American Dog (2008). Having filmed over 100 episodes of "It's Me or the Dog" since 2005, Stilwell is able to reach audiences in over 50 countries with her philosophy of positive training methods.
Her two best-selling books, "It's Me or the Dog: How to Have the Perfect Pet" and "Fat Dog Slim: How to Have a Healthy, Happy Pet", have been widely praised, and they detail her core reward-based training philosophy: "There's a Better Way to Train - Positively". Her highly anticipated third book, "Train Your Dog, Positively", will be released in the US in the spring of 2013. A passionate advocate for positive reinforcement dog training methods, Stilwell is the Editor-in-Chief of Positively.com, which features the world's leading veterinary behaviorists, dog trainers and behavioral scientists on her Positively Expert Blog. She is a vocal opponent of punitive, dominance-based training techniques which often result in "quick fixes" but ultimately cause more long-term harm than good while damaging the owner-dog relationship.
Stilwell is the CEO of Victoria Stilwell Positively Dog Training - the world's premier global network of positive reinforcement dog trainers. In addition to her globally available Positively Podcast series, she also produces several shows in her role as the director of training and behavior for the popular eHow Pets YouTube channel.
Stilwell is committed to helping the cause of animal rescue and rehabilitation and is heavily involved organizations around the world to increase awareness of puppy mills, dogfighting, animal abuse, pet overpopulation, dog bite prevention and other animal-related causes. A co-founder of the national Dog Bite Prevention conference series, Stilwell is also a National Ambassador for the American Humane Association and serves on the Advisory Boards of RedRover, DogTV, and Canine Assistants.
A regular guest on talk shows, news broadcasts and radio programs throughout the US, Europe and Asia, Stilwell was named 2009's Dog Trainer of the Year at the Purina ProPlan Dog awards and was the recipient of the prestigious 2011 Excellence in Journalism and Outstanding Contributions to the Pet Industry Award. Since its premiere in 2005, It's Me or the Dog has been the recipient of multiple honors including 2011 and 2012 Genesis Award Nominations and a 2009 People's Choice Award nomination. Stilwell is a regular columnist for several magazines, and she has been featured in numerous journals, magazines and newspapers including The New York Times, USA Today, Cosmopolitan, Time.com, Oprah Magazine, Rachael Ray Everyday, MSNBC.com, Self Magazine, Shape Magazine, The Daily Mail, and The Sun.
Victoria resides in Atlanta with her husband, Van Zeiler, daughter and two rescue dogs, Sadie and Jasmine.
