Born and raised in Wimbledon, England, Victoria Stilwell is one of the world's most recognized and respected dog trainers.

She is best known for her role as the host of Animal Planet's hit TV series It's Me or the Dog, through which she is able to share her insight and passion for positive, reward-based dog training and as a judge on CBS's Greatest American Dog. By reaching audiences in over 30 countries, Stilwell helps counsel families on their pet problems.

In the early 1990s, Stilwell began her career in pet training when she created her own successful dog-walking company and immediately recognized the need for qualified professionals to help her clients with the training process.  While pursuing a successful acting career (working in London's West End as well as in numerous films, TV series, commercials and voiceovers), she expanded her focus to dog training by working with some of Britain's most respected positive-reinforcement dog trainers and behaviorists.

After moving to the U.S. with her husband, Stilwell co-founded several successful dog training companies up and down the East Coast, quickly establishing herself as one of New York's most sought after dog trainers. With a particular fondness for rescue animals in need of behavior rehabilitation, Stilwell devoted much of her time and energy to a number of animal rescue organizations in New York andAtlant a, serving as a behavior advisor and giving regular seminars on the subject of dog rescue, training and rehabilitation.  

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 favorite reward-based training philosophies: "think dog" and develop "clear, consistent communication between owner and dog."

Stilwell is passionate about using positive reinforcement training methods that enhance a dog's ability to learn while increasing confidence. The results are a healthy, well-adjusted pet.  She is firmly against the use of forceful, dominance-based training techniques which often result in 'quick fixes' but ultimately cause more long-term harm than good.

She also remains committed to helping the cause of animal rescue and is heavily involved with rescue groups around the world including Paws Atlanta, Stray fromthe Heart (NYC), Hong Kong Dog Rescue and Greyhound Rescue of West England.  She supports the Wisconsin Puppy Mill Project, Jana Kohl and the Waterside Action Group to increase awareness of the horrific practice of puppy mills globally.  She has worked as a volunteer adoption counselor for the ASPCA, and her dog-related writings have been published in numerous magazines and journals including The New York Times, Dog World, Dogs Today, USA Today, Psychology Today and The Sun (UK).  Stilwell is a regular columnist for Dog World, American Dog and Dogs Today magazines.  She has appeared on countless talk shows, news broadcasts and radio shows in theUS, Europe and Asia as a dog- training expert. Victoria is certified by the Animal Behavior and Training Associates and is a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT).

Click here for the Animal Planet site.
Click here to buy the first book.
Click here to buy the second book.