Ep 4. He Needs to Go

In the fourth episode of the fourth season of It's Me or the Dog, titled "He Needs to Go," renowned dog trainer Victoria Stilwell takes on a challenging case involving a family's beloved but poorly trained Great Dane, Rufus.

Rufus is a 130-pound gentle giant who has become a major problem for his owners, Angela and Peter, and their two young daughters. From jumping on the furniture to begging at the dinner table and stealing food off countertops, Rufus's unruly behavior has become a constant source of stress in the household. Moreover, the dog's size and strength make him difficult to control, and he has even knocked over the girls on occasion.

Victoria has her work cut out for her as she meets with Angela and Peter to assess the situation and observe Rufus in action. She quickly identifies a number of issues that need to be addressed, from Rufus's lack of obedience training to his separation anxiety when left alone. Moreover, the family's mixed signals and inconsistent approach to disciplining the dog have only compounded Rufus's bad habits.

Over the course of the episode, Victoria works with Angela, Peter, and the girls to establish a set of rules and boundaries for Rufus that will help him become a more well-behaved and enjoyable family pet. She focuses on basic obedience training, such as "sit" and "stay," as well as more advanced techniques to curb Rufus's bad habits. Additionally, she provides the family with tools and strategies for dealing with Rufus's separation anxiety, such as crate training and calm departures and arrivals.

As Victoria works with the family and the dog, she also emphasizes the importance of consistency and positive reinforcement. She encourages the family to praise Rufus for good behavior and to avoid punishment or negative reinforcement that might further confuse and unsettle the dog. Moreover, she emphasizes the need for everyone in the family to be on board with the training and to communicate and collaborate effectively in order to achieve the desired results.

Throughout the episode, viewers get a close-up look at Rufus's progress as he responds to Victoria's training and the family's efforts to implement her recommendations. They see the family members transform into more confident and knowledgeable dog owners, and they witness firsthand the remarkable changes in Rufus's behavior. By the end of the episode, Rufus is a much better-behaved dog who has earned the love and admiration of his family all over again.

Overall, "He Needs to Go" is an inspiring and educational episode of It's Me or the Dog that showcases the power of positive training and a consistent approach to dog ownership. With Victoria's expert guidance and the family's commitment and dedication, Rufus undergoes a remarkable transformation that demonstrates the potential of all dogs to be loving and obedient family members.