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'{{multiple issues| {{Like resume|date=March 2011}} {{BLP sources|date=December 2013}} }} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2013}} {{Infobox person |name = Victoria Stilwell |image = Victoria Stilwell Headshot.gif |image_size = 175px |caption = |birth_name = |birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1969|07|20}} |birth_place = [[Wimbledon, London|Wimbledon]], [[London]], [[England]], [[UK]] |death_date = |death_place = |death_cause = |resting_place = |resting_place_coordinates = |residence = [[Atlanta, Georgia]]<br>[[Notting Hill, London]] |nationality = British |known_for = ''[[It's Me or the Dog]]''<br>''[[Greatest American Dog]]'' |employer = [[Animal Planet]], [[Channel 4]], [[CBS]] |years_active = 1995–present |occupation = [[Dog training|Dog trainer]], [[Presenter#Television presenter|Television presenter]], Author, Actress |spouse = |website = [http://www.positively.com/ Official Website] |height = {{height|ft=5|in=7}} }} '''Victoria Stilwell''' (born 20 July 1969 in [[Wimbledon, London|Wimbledon]], London) is an English [[dog trainer]], author and [[Presenter#Television presenter|television presenter]]. Stilwell served as a judge on the CBS show ''[[Greatest American Dog]]'' and presents the [[Animal Planet]] dog training TV show ''[[It's Me or the Dog]]'', counselling families with problem pets and solving their dogs' behaviour problems. ==Background== Stilwell originally trained as an actress, playing roles in ''[[Dracula (1992 film)|Bram Stoker's Dracula]]'' in 1992, [[ITV1]]'s ''[[The Bill]]'' in 1994, and onstage in London's West End theatre, as well as several commercials and voiceovers. She received a BA honours degree in Theatre from [[Middlesex University]].<ref>http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:-I8v1k53hPQJ:www.playbill.com/news/article/107375-Its-Me-or-the-Dog-Featuring-Actress-Dog-Trainer-Stilwell-Makes-US-TV-Debut+Victoria+Stilwell+%22middlesex+university%22&cd=3&hl=ru&ct=clnk&gl=ua</ref> In order to supplement her income as an actress, Stilwell's veterinary nurse sister suggested that she start a dog walking agency. Within a month she was walking 20 dogs per day – 10 in the morning, 10 in the afternoon – and immediately recognised the need for qualified professionals to help her clients with the training process. She then expanded her focus to dog training and after moving to the United States with her husband in 1999, Stilwell co-founded several dog training companies up and down the East Coast. ==Dog trainer== Stilwell has become an advocate of science-based dog training. Stilwell rejects dominance-based, traditional training techniques, instead, promoting positive reinforcement techniques. In 2010, Stilwell created Victoria Stilwell Positively Dog Training – a global network of positive reinforcement dog trainers dedicated to spreading the word about positive reinforcement techniques and behaviourists. Stilwell is currently certified by the Animal Behaviour and Training Associates, and is a longtime member of the US Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT).<ref>{{cite web|title=Association of Professional Dog Trainers - Victoria Stilwell|url=http://apdt.com/conf/speakers/bio_stilwell.aspx|accessdate=20 February 2014}}</ref> ==Charity== Stilwell created the Victoria Stilwell Foundation, whose mission is "to provide financial support and canine behaviour expertise to assistance dog organisations and small animal rescue shelters while promoting the concept of reward-based, positive reinforcement dog training philosophies in organisations and households throughout the United States."<ref>[http://positively.com/foundation/mission-inspiration Victoria Stilwell Foundation Website]</ref> With a particular fondness for rescue animals in need of behavior rehabilitation, Stilwell devotes much of her time and energy to a number of animal rescue organizations around the world, serving as a behavior adviser for shelters in Atlanta, New York, the UK and Hong Kong while giving regular seminars on the subject of dog rescue, training and rehabilitation. She has been involved in animal welfare and protection organizations on a national (U.S.) stage, including serving as an Advisory Board Member of RedRover<ref>{{cite web|title=Victoria Joins RedRover|url=http://positively.com/2011/07/01/victoria-joins-redrover-formerly-united-animal-nations/|accessdate=20 February 2014}}</ref> and a National Ambassador for [[American Humane]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Animal Planet’s ‘It's Me or the Dog’ Star Victoria Stilwell Is Named an American Humane Association National Ambassador|url=http://www.americanhumane.org/about-us/newsroom/news-releases/animal-planets-its-me-or.html|accessdate=20 February 2014}}</ref> She worked as a volunteer adoption counselor for the [[ASPCA]]{{Citation needed|reason=lack of clarity as to when and for how long|date=February 2014}}. She has been featured in numerous magazines and journals including ''[[The New York Times]]'',<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/13/fashion/13pet.html?_r=1&scp=6&sq=victoria+stilwell&st=nyt Who Invited the Dog – Fashion and Style – New York Times]</ref> ''[[USA Today]]'',<ref>[http://www.usatoday.com/life/lifestyle/pets/2009-08-12-stilwell-dog-chains_N.htm Chaining Dogs Unleashes Bad Behavior – Lifestyle – USA Today]</ref> ''[[Cosmopolitan (magazine)|Cosmopolitan]]'', the ''[[Daily Mail]]'', [[MSNBC.com]],<ref>[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35522352/ns/health-pet_health/ Who Let the Dogs Pig Out? – Health – MSNBC.com]</ref> ''[[Psychology Today]]'' and ''[[The Sun (newspaper)|The Sun]]<ref>[http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article636837.ece Jail Owners of Killer Dogs – News – The Sun(UK)]</ref>''. Stilwell is a regular columnist for ''[http://thebark.com The Bark]'', ''[[Dog World]]'', ''American Dog'' and ''[[Dogs Today]]'' magazines, and she has appeared on numerous talk shows, news broadcasts and radio shows in the US, Europe and Asia as a dog training expert. ==TV programmes== ===''It's Me or the Dog''=== Since 2005, Stilwell has worked with unruly dogs on her TV show, ''[[It's Me or the Dog]]'', which airs in over forty countries. The show features Stilwell as she counsels families with problem pets and uses positive reinforcement training techniques to help them learn how to correct their dogs' behaviour. Originally produced for [[Channel 4]] in the UK, the show premiered in the US on [[Animal Planet]] in April 2007, and over 90 episodes have been aired worldwide. A typical episode involves a family struggling to cope with their misbehaving dog(s). Stilwell initially observes the problems [[in situ]], then presents the family with her opinion regarding the causes of the issues. She then works with the family and their dogs to restore balance. ===''Greatest American Dog''=== Stilwell was one of three judges on the [[CBS]] show ''[[Greatest American Dog]]'', in which 12 dog-owner teams compete for the title 'Greatest American Dog' and a $250,000 prize. The series debuted on CBS 10 July 2008. ==Podcast== Stilwell created a podcast called Victoria Stilwell Positively,<ref>{{cite web|title=Victoria Stilwell Positively|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/victoria-stilwell-positively/id376674442?mt=2|accessdate=20 February 2014}}</ref> available on iTunes and other sources. ==Awards== Stilwell was honoured with the prestigious "Excellence in Journalism and Outstanding Contributions to the Pet Industry Award" at the 2011 Global Pet Expo<ref>[http://www.prweb.com/releases/prwebAPPA-PIDA/Victoria-Stilwell/prweb8158250.htm Victoria Stilwell honoured at Global Pet Expo – PR Web]</ref> and was named 'Dog Trainer of the Year' by DogWorld Magazine at the 55th Annual Purina Pro Plan Show Dogs of the Year Awards Presented By Dogs in Review.<ref>[http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/victoria-stilwell-named-2009-trainer-of-the-year-84233392.html Victoria Stilwell named 2009 Dog Trainer of the Year – PR Newswire]</ref> She was named among 2009's '100 Best & Brightest' in the dog world in ''The Bark'' magazine.<ref>[http://positively.com/files/Bark-2010-BestBrightest.pdf Bark's 100: the Best and Brightest – The Bark]</ref> Stilwell won a 2009 CableFax award as Best Host in the Animals & Nature category. In 2009, ''It's Me or the Dog'' was nominated for a [[People's Choice Award]] in the US, and after its first season in the UK, ''It's Me or the Dog'' was nominated in the 'Best Factual Entertainment' category in the UK's [[TV Quick]] Awards. Her first book, ''It's Me or the Dog: How to Have the Perfect Pet'' was voted one of the 50 greatest dog books ever written by ''[[Dogs Today]]'' magazine. ==Campaigns== She advocates animal rescue and supports ''Paws Atlanta'', "Atlanta Pet Rescue", ''Stray from the Heart (NYC)'', ''Hong Kong Dog Rescue'' and ''Greyhound Rescue West of England (www.grwe.com)'', ''Wisconsin Puppy Mill Project'', the ''Waterside Action Group'', ''Deed Not Breed'' (campaigning to re-write the UK's [[Dangerous Dogs Act]] to remove breed-specific legislation) as well as ''Vets Get Scanning'', promoting mandatory pet micro-chipping and scanning by vets. ==Books== *"Train Your Dog Positively: Understand Your Dog and Solve Common Behaviour Problems Including Separation Anxiety, Excessive Barking, Aggression, Housetraining, Leash Pulling, and More!" (Random House LLC)2013<ref>http://www.amazon.com/Train-Your-Positively-Housetraining-ebook/dp/B009FL09WE/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1382064404&sr=1-1&keywords=victoria+stilwell</ref> *''It's Me or the Dog: How to Have the Perfect Pet'' ([[Disney Hyperion|Hyperion]]) *''Fat Dog Slim: How to Have a Healthy, Happy Pet'' ([[Harper Collins]] UK), 2007 ==Personal life== Stilwell met her actor husband, Van Zeiler, while starring opposite him in the West End production of ''[[Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story]]''. The couple and their daughter live in [[Atlanta]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]].<ref>[http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/entertainment/film_and_tv/s/1010/1010822_victoria_misses_england.html Victoria misses England – Film and tv – Entertainment – Manchester Evening News<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> After many years without a pet dog of her own (due to work commitments), Stilwell adopted a rescued chocolate [[Labrador Retriever|Labrador]] named Sadie. In early 2011, Stilwell fostered a Chihuahua/Miniature Pinscher mix named Jasmine and decided to adopt her in late February/early March 2011. Prior to that, she had spent her time since 2000 fostering dogs due to be [[Animal euthanasia|euthanised]] by local municipal shelters. Stilwell and her husband then gave the dogs a home while rehabilitating them and eventually finding suitable homes for the animals. She has explained that, until recently, owning a dog would have been irresponsible and not fair to the dog, considering how much the whole family travels. The couple has re-homed over 50 dogs and cats.<ref>[http://www.k9magazine.com/k9insider/exclusive-content/victoria-stilwell-its-me-or-the-dog.html It's Me or The Dog – The Victoria Stilwell Interview for K9 Magazine<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> She has a cousin called Nathan Stilwell. ==Bibliography== *''It's Me or the Dog: How to Have the Perfect Pet'' (2005) *''Fat Dog Slim: How to Have a Healthy, Happy Pet'' (2007) ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== *[http://www.positively.com/ Official Website] *[http://animal.discovery.com/tv/its-me-or-dog/ Animal Planet Website] *[http://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/pets-animals/stories/is-your-dog-fat-chances-are-you-are-too Victoria Stilwell on the Mother Nature Network] *{{IMDb name|2058528|Victoria Stilwell}} {{Authority control}} {{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. --> | NAME = Stilwell, Victoria | ALTERNATIVE NAMES = | SHORT DESCRIPTION = British television presenter | DATE OF BIRTH = 20 July 1969 | PLACE OF BIRTH = [[Wimbledon, London|Wimbledon]], [[London]], [[England]], [[UK]] | DATE OF DEATH = | PLACE OF DEATH = }} {{DEFAULTSORT:Stilwell, Victoria}} [[Category:1969 births]] [[Category:Alumni of Middlesex University]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:English television presenters]] [[Category:Dog-related professions and professionals]] [[Category:Dog trainers]] [[Category:Animal care and training writers]] [[Category:People from Wimbledon, London]] [[Category:English expatriates in the United States]]'