Ep 6. The Chief of Jealousy

It's Me or the Dog Season 1 Episode 6 titled "The Chief of Jealousy" focuses on a young couple, Alex and Suzanne, and their over-jealous boxer, Chief. Chief has become very possessive of Suzanne, to the point where he growls or snaps at Alex whenever he comes near her. This aggressive behavior has created tension in their relationship and put a strain on their living situation.

The episode begins with dog trainer Victoria Stilwell arriving to assess the situation. She quickly observes Chief's jealous behavior and immediately recognizes that it's a major problem that needs to be addressed. Victoria talks with Alex and Suzanne to understand the dynamics of their relationship and Chief's behavior. Suzanne is reluctant to admit that Chief's jealousy might be an issue, but Alex is more forthcoming and acknowledges that the situation is causing issues in their relationship.

Victoria begins the training by introducing Chief to a baby doll, to get him accustomed to a new addition to the household. She also works with Alex and Suzanne on building their relationship with Chief. Victoria emphasizes that Chief needs to see both of them as valuable members of the pack and not just see Suzanne as his exclusive property. She suggests a few exercises to improve Chief's obedience, engage him in interactive games to build trust, and establish consistent boundaries.

To help Chief overcome his jealousy, Victoria uses a technique called counter-conditioning. She introduces Alex to Chief by having them play games and rewards Chief for positive behavior towards Alex. This approach helps Chief associate Alex with positive experiences and supports him in overcoming his initial instinct to growl or snap.

Throughout the episode, Victoria also highlights the importance of consistency and reinforces that Chief needs to have a clear understanding of his place in the household. She also coaches the couple on using positive reinforcement to reward Chief's good behavior.

The training sessions are not without challenges. Chief struggles with accepting Alex's presence and exhibits aggressive behavior at times. Suzanne is also emotionally invested in Chief and sometimes undermines Victoria's training. However, with Victoria's guidance and persistence, Alex, Suzanne, and Chief make progress.

The culmination of the training is a final test where Chief is introduced to a real baby, and Alex is present to support Suzanne and Chief. To everyone's surprise, Chief shows no signs of aggression towards the baby and responds positively to Alex's presence. Alex and Suzanne are relieved and express gratitude to Victoria for helping them resolve an issue that was threatening their relationship.

As the episode ends, Victoria summarizes the key takeaways to help Chief overcome his jealousy. She emphasizes the importance of consistent training, using positive reinforcement, and building mutual trust between Chief and the members of the household. She also reminds Alex and Suzanne that owning a dog requires a lot of commitment and responsibility, and they need to continue practicing the techniques she demonstrated to ensure Chief remains a happy and well-adjusted member of their family.

Overall, "The Chief of Jealousy" is a compelling episode that reveals how jealousy can undermine harmony in a relationship and a household. It also demonstrates effective training techniques to resolve the issue and highlights the important role that consistency, patience, and positive reinforcement play in fostering a healthy relationship with a pet.