Ep 1. Living in a Prison

In season 4, episode 1 of It's Me or the Dog, titled "Living in a Prison," renowned dog trainer Victoria Stilwell takes on a unique challenge as she sets out to help a family whose home has become a prison for their beloved dog, Oliver.

The episode starts with a background on the family and their cute six-year-old terrier mix, Oliver. The family initially adopted Oliver as a puppy and showered him with love and attention, but as Oliver grew older, he started exhibiting aggressive behavior towards strangers. The family eventually stopped taking him out for walks and socializing him, which only exacerbated the problem. Oliver became increasingly anxious and reactive, eventually attacking a neighbor who visited the house.

The entire family was devastated when they had to quarantine Oliver for 10 days, and they realized that they had to do something to fix his behavior. That's when they reached out to Victoria Stilwell, hoping that she could help them turn things around and give Oliver the chance to become a happy, sociable dog once again.

When Victoria first arrives at the house, it's clear that Oliver's behavior has taken a toll on the entire family. The house is filled with baby gates and barricades to keep Oliver contained, and the family admits that they feel like prisoners in their own home. Victoria starts by observing Oliver's behavior and identifying the triggers that set him off. She notices that Oliver is highly reactive to unfamiliar sounds and visitors, and often becomes aggressive when he feels threatened.

Victoria then works with the family to develop a plan to gradually help Oliver desensitize to triggers and learn how to behave in social situations. She uses positive reinforcement techniques to reward Oliver for good behavior and gradually expose him to more challenging situations. She also sets up a training schedule for the entire family, so that they're all on the same page when it comes to Oliver's behavior and training.

Throughout the episode, viewers get an inside look at Victoria's training techniques, as well as the challenges and triumphs that come with working with a reactive dog like Oliver. We see Oliver gradually make progress, becoming more relaxed and comfortable in social situations. It's clear that the training is not just about changing Oliver's behavior, but also about changing the dynamic between him and the family, creating a positive and nurturing environment for him to thrive in.

As the episode draws to a close, we see Oliver happily playing in the garden with the family, and the family expresses their gratitude to Victoria for her help in transforming not just Oliver's behavior, but also their entire home environment. It's a heartwarming and inspiring episode that demonstrates the power of positive reinforcement training, and the importance of patience, persistence, and commitment in working with difficult dogs.