Ep 10. Day Care Crisis

In "Day Care Crisis," the 10th episode of season 4 of It's Me or the Dog, dog behaviorist Victoria Stilwell is called in to help a couple whose dog's bad behavior is causing issues at their doggie day care.

The episode begins with Victoria meeting with the frustrated couple, Jennifer and Jason, who are at their wits' end with their 3-year-old Labrador Retriever mix, Boomer. Boomer has been kicked out of three different doggie day cares for his rowdy and aggressive behavior, including biting another dog. The couple love Boomer and want to find a way to control his behavior so that he can continue to socialize with other dogs and enjoy his time at day care.

Victoria observes Boomer at day care and quickly diagnoses the root of his behavior issues. Boomer is highly anxious and lacks boundaries, which leads him to act out aggressively when he feels threatened. Victoria explains to Jennifer and Jason that Boomer needs to learn to trust them as his pack leaders and feel secure in his environment.

Over the course of the episode, Victoria works with Jennifer and Jason to establish clear rules and boundaries for Boomer at home. They begin with simple obedience commands like "sit" and "stay" and gradually progress to more advanced training like walking on a leash without pulling and responding to vocal cues.

Victoria also takes Boomer to a behaviorist for a thorough assessment and discovers that he has a mild case of separation anxiety. She recommends that Jennifer and Jason work on getting Boomer used to being alone gradually, starting with short periods of time and building up to longer intervals. She also suggests that they give Boomer plenty of mental stimulation, like puzzle toys and chew toys, to keep him occupied when they're not home.

Throughout the episode, Victoria stresses the importance of consistency and positive reinforcement in training Boomer. She encourages Jennifer and Jason to use treats and praise to reward Boomer for good behavior and to ignore or redirect him when he acts out.

After several weeks of working with Boomer, Jennifer and Jason take him back to day care for a trial run. With Victoria's guidance, they're able to introduce Boomer to other dogs in a controlled environment and intervene when he starts to get overly excited or aggressive. Boomer responds well to the training and is able to successfully socialize with other dogs at the day care without incident.

The episode ends with Jennifer and Jason thanking Victoria for her help and expressing their relief that they can continue to take Boomer to day care. They reflect on the progress they've made with Boomer and vow to continue working with him to maintain his good behavior.

"Day Care Crisis" is a heartwarming episode that highlights the power of positive reinforcement and consistent training in correcting problem behavior in dogs. Victoria's compassionate and practical approach to dog training is a valuable resource for any dog owner struggling with behavioral issues.