The bark is worse than the bite
How to painlessly reconcile home décor with the family dog
Man’s best friend: Animals Planet’s Victoria Stilwell helps dog owners balance their home design with their canine commitments. Image courtesy of Bill Adler
As both the host of Animal Planet’s “It’s Me or the Dog” and a judge on CBS’ “Greatest American Dog,” Victoria Stilwell has proven that she leads the pack when it comes to dog trainers. Educated by British experts, she co-founded several reward-based training companies in the United States. Living in Atlanta with her husband, young daughter and 7-year-old chocolate Lab, Sadie, Stilwell explains how to balance home design with your favorite four-legged friends.
1.What is the No. 1 rule people should follow when bringing a dog home?
Be positive! The most important thing for new pet owners to understand is the overall concept of how a dog mind works. If you learn the general principles of positive reinforcement, you’ll build a healthier relationship with your pet and have a solid base from which you can tackle most problems that may arise. In simplest terms, positive reinforcement is the concept that rewarding good behavior will increase the chances of that behavior being repeated.
2. How can people maintain their personal style while living with a dog?
Provided you have created a structured, healthy environment in which the dog can thrive, there are very few situations that might hamper your ability to express yourself in your home design. When necessary, though, incorporate your design into your training routine. For example, when we first brought Sadie into our home, she had been in the habit of sleeping on sofas, which we decided we wanted to stop. As a part of the behavior modification routine, we needed to place something on the sofas to prohibit her from jumping up, so I found some really beautiful design boxes that stayed on the sofas when we weren’t around.
3. What’s your advice for a family interested in owning a dog?
Do your research. Make sure you decide on a breed type that fits your family dynamic and environment. Always look for dogs at your local shelter first – even if you’ve decided you need a purebred dog, many shelters have such dogs in abundance. Never buy a dog from a pet store or a breeder that won’t let you visit their facility – the vast majority of such enterprises support the horrific practice of puppy mills.
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