Ep 7. Dangerous Territory

In season 2 episode 7 of the popular dog-training show It's Me or the Dog, titled "Dangerous Territory," renowned canine behaviorist Victoria Stilwell takes on one of her toughest cases yet. The episode opens with Victoria meeting with a family who are at their wits' end with their aggressive chocolate Labrador, Barley. Barley's owners are afraid to take him on walks because he lunges and barks at other dogs and people, and they worry that he could hurt someone. They have tried everything, from obedience classes to shock collars, but nothing has worked.

Victoria begins by observing Barley's behavior at home and quickly identifies a number of issues. Barley is extremely possessive of his toys and food, and becomes aggressive when anyone tries to take them away. He also has a tendency to guard his owners, growling at anyone who tries to get too close. Victoria identifies Barley's behavior as fear-based aggression, and knows that it will take a lot of work to help him overcome his fears and anxieties.

The next day, Victoria takes Barley out for an assessment walk in a park. This is always a highlight of the show, as viewers get to see Victoria in action using her unique training techniques. She uses positive reinforcement to encourage Barley to walk calmly and safely, rewarding him when he makes good choices. However, Barley's anxiety and aggression soon come to the surface as they encounter other dogs on their walk. He barks and lunges, and Victoria has to intervene to prevent an altercation.

Back at the family's home, Victoria begins her training program with Barley. She starts by teaching him basic obedience commands, such as sit, stay, and come. This helps to establish a clear communication between Barley and his owners, and helps him to feel more secure in his surroundings. She then begins to work on Barley's resource guarding, using a technique called desensitization. This involves gradually introducing Barley to situations where he would normally guard his toys or food, and rewarding him for calm behavior. Over time, Barley learns that he doesn't need to be possessive in order to keep his belongings safe.

Throughout the episode, Victoria also addresses Barley's fear of other dogs. She introduces him to a calm and well-behaved dog, and uses a technique called counter-conditioning to help Barley associate other dogs with positive experiences. This involves rewarding him for calm behavior when he is in the presence of another dog, and gradually increasing the amount of time they spend together. By the end of the episode, Barley is able to walk calmly past other dogs without reacting aggressively.

One of the strengths of It's Me or the Dog is the way in which it engages with the human side of dog training. Victoria takes the time to understand the family's lifestyle and routines, and makes suggestions for how they can adapt their behavior in order to help Barley overcome his issues. She also emphasizes the importance of consistency, reminding them that they will need to continue with the training even after she has left.

As always, the episode ends with a recap of the progress that Barley has made over the course of the training program. It's clear that he has come a long way, and his owners are delighted with the results. They are able to take him on walks again, and he is more relaxed and confident around other dogs. The episode is a poignant reminder of the important role that dog training can play in improving the lives of both dogs and their human companions.