Episode 304 - Bad to the Bone (Jan 29)

Any time new episodes of It’s Me or the Dog are airing on Animal Planet in the US, Victoria will answer questions about that episode later that week. Post your questions to Victoria about the most recent episode here anytime.

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koby10
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Re: Episode 304 - Bad to the Bone (Jan 29)

Post by koby10 »

Just watched the episode and If those boys lived in my house I'm not sure I would have been as nice as Victoria was!!! Once again the show highlighted the impact family distress has on our animals. Yes, the new format is a little hard to get used to but I'm starting to warm up to it. The harness that she used is just like the one I use on my new puppy. He's only 8mos old and only weighs about 15 pounds but that thing works like a charm! Mine was called Yuppie Puppy and I purchased it at Walmart. I stared using it when I first introduced him to walking on a leash when he was about 4mos old. They make them in all sizes and they are around 10-20 dollars depending on size. Not getting a lot of long walking time in with my little guy right now because we live in an area where it's way to cold to have him outside for any length of time!! I have had to come up with a lot of different games to play with him inside because the amount of exercise he gets makes a big difference in how well he behaves.I think that was one of the big points that Victoria was trying to make in this episode. Lack of play time or walking can make for a very unhappy dog, which makes for a very frustrated owner! Kit Kat thing didn't really bother me. I thought it was kind of random but you have to pay for the show some how.
dontpugme
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Re: Episode 304 - Bad to the Bone (Jan 29)

Post by dontpugme »

I'm LOVING this season. :D

I do like that there is more focus on the owners' issues. The only thing I don't like about the format is that it kind of reminds me of the UK episodes. Two weeks later, the dog is perfectly fine, so its starting to seem that just like magic, the problems were resolved.
--dontpugme
maximoo
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Re: Episode 304 - Bad to the Bone (Jan 29)

Post by maximoo »

This is what VS just posted on her facebook page:

"Dog training is much more than training dogs. If I can't get owners on board, see where they need to change and motivate them to do so, the dog suffers. These might be more human eccentric shows but that is 80% of my job and there is still some great training techniques in every show. You are seeing a very real process that I often encounter on TV and with private clients."

Well that explains the more human side of the latest episodes. Me, I prefer the format from season1 & 2. But I do realize that the humans are the cause of 98% of the dogs problems so by addressing the human issues the dog will naturally get better. However I feel all this human emotional stuff is better left to a human psychologist & not the dog trainer. Sure the trainer can tell the owner b/c of your behavior/emotional distress the dog reflects that in their behavior but then its up to human to seek help in improving their situation. In the editing room, I would like more of the human drama cut & more techniques cut back in. This is imho. As an aside, another tv personality(dog behaviorist) who works with dogs on another network (we all know who, but will remain nameless) has frequently said (&I'm paraphrasing) that your dog reflects the owners weaknesses, such as a anxiety, nervousness, irresponsibility,etc. your dog is a mirror of yourself in many ways.

I agree totally and based on what VS does with the owners I'd say she agrees too.
dontpugme
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Re: Episode 304 - Bad to the Bone (Jan 29)

Post by dontpugme »

I was tearing up when the family got that tree. It reminded me of your blog post about your dad and his tree.
Last edited by dontpugme on Sun Jan 30, 2011 10:45 pm, edited 1 time in total.
--dontpugme
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Noobs
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Re: Episode 304 - Bad to the Bone (Jan 29)

Post by Noobs »

I don't love this season, but to be honest I was tiring of the other seasons. I always DVRed the shows and then fast-forwarded through the bits where Victoria was sitting there watching the owners "fail" and then do her "I have got to get back there" declaration. The format was getting tired, and while I'm not fully used to this new format I think it's a positive change.

Although I didn't need to see the "Hoarders"-like cleanup of the house.

And I guess she's getting quite a variety of New Yorkers on the show! (The last episode's family could have been my neighbors, down to the unruly underexercised dog aggressive toward visitors...shh...)
thayeso
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Re: Episode 304 - Bad to the Bone (Jan 29)

Post by thayeso »

With respect, I disagree with maximoo regarding human emotions is better left to a human psychologist. Victoria was SPOT ON (in all episodes). It’s easy to go in and “do dog training” and then leave. What did the trainer accomplish??? Victoria’s plan (I think) was to first re-establish the family’s relationship. Without a stable, cohesive, loving family environment training the dog will be in vein.

Once Victoria got the family on the same page, they not only enjoyed training Bones but they enjoyed the time they spent together as a family.

This episode was very emotional for me as it was to Victoria. This family wasn’t in need of a human psychologist they just needed a human who totally understands the affects of losing a love one. I was very touched by Victoria's empathy towards the mother and grandmother.

Happy loving family equals happy loving dog.
Pol
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Re: Episode 304 - Bad to the Bone (Jan 29)

Post by Pol »

I quite liked this episode.

Victoria has said before that a lot of the time the dogs behavior stems from the owners behavior. If she can't get through to them and help them, she nor them, can in turn help the dog..
I don't think she was trying to counsel them as such. I think she was trying to get to the 'base' of where the problems started, to know what she was working with as such. I think it was very kind and brave of her to share her own personal story of loss with them (and us). She wasn't trying to act in the role of counselor. She was simply trying to help by talking with them about it. We don't know whether she did get more professional emotional help for them or not...perhaps she did, perhaps that part was edited out and we just saw her part...
She does say all the time that a lot goes on that needs to be edited out for the TV.....just saying....

I liked that she brought in the professional organizer for them. Of course they were a little hesitant at first, it was a lot of change for them, but it was a positive and needed change for them - to help themselves and their dog - I don't think Victoria would've done it if she thought otherwise.

I think my favorite part of the episode was when she went upstairs to wake up the other brother! :) That made me smile :) It was like, Go Victoria!
I also really liked the little tree and plaque she had done for the family. That was a such a warm, generous and kind gesture of her.... :)
jacksdad
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Re: Episode 304 - Bad to the Bone (Jan 29)

Post by jacksdad »

leslie123 wrote: My only question for Victoria about this episode is how did you feel about doing that little product placement? I almost fell off my chair in shock on that one! :shock:
Not connected with the show, have no knowledge of the behind the scenes stuff at all. HOWEVER, shows in general are getting more and more expensive to produce which leaves basically two options. Sell more commercials which means less show time or do product placement.

Product placement and/or writing the product into the script used to be the way tv/radio advertising was done, and it's coming back like it or not.

not the article I was hoping to re find, but it illustrates how this is a direction Hollywood has been moving for a while. Note the date on the article.

http://www.usatoday.com/life/television ... tion_x.htm
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leslie123
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Re: Episode 304 - Bad to the Bone (Jan 29)

Post by leslie123 »

jacksdad wrote:
leslie123 wrote: My only question for Victoria about this episode is how did you feel about doing that little product placement? I almost fell off my chair in shock on that one! :shock:
Not connected with the show, have no knowledge of the behind the scenes stuff at all. HOWEVER, shows in general are getting more and more expensive to produce which leaves basically two options. Sell more commercials which means less show time or do product placement.

Product placement and/or writing the product into the script used to be the way tv/radio advertising was done, and it's coming back like it or not.

not the article I was hoping to re find, but it illustrates how this is a direction Hollywood has been moving for a while. Note the date on the article.

http://www.usatoday.com/life/television ... tion_x.htm
Thanks for the read. I never thought about how the DVR and Tivo are affecting the ads. I've seen other shows doing this too and as someone mentioned previous I do remember past seasons mentioning the fabric sweeper and Petsmart and of course numerous close-ups on the VW logo. Those always seemed more integrated into the show I guess. The KitKat threw me off a bit in the way it was done. Not a super big deal, it was only seconds out of the show.
atarashi2011
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Re: Episode 304 - Bad to the Bone (Jan 29)

Post by atarashi2011 »

I doubt Victoria eats kit kats. She seems more of a Godiva dark chocolate kind of person.
sj96skittles
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Re: Episode 304 - Bad to the Bone (Jan 29)

Post by sj96skittles »

atarashi2011 wrote:I doubt Victoria eats kit kats. She seems more of a Godiva dark chocolate kind of person.
Y?? She said on the show it's her favorite kind of chocolate!!
Victoria
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Re: Episode 304 - Bad to the Bone (Jan 29)

Post by Victoria »

gremerkle wrote:How do you decide when it is time for medication? How do you know when a dog is too hypervigilant, insecure, and unsettled? How can you tell what can be fixed by training and what requires additional assistance?
If the dog is not responsding to training after a month or so and is still anxious and having trouble focusing. Bones did not need meds though - he was just a dog whose basic needs were not being met.
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Re: Episode 304 - Bad to the Bone (Jan 29)

Post by Victoria »

Barb Gadola wrote:What brand of harness is used in this episode?
Sporn 'no pull' harness
Victoria
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Re: Episode 304 - Bad to the Bone (Jan 29)

Post by Victoria »

wickedhippy wrote:I think there are a lot of different opinions on this show - and that's awesome. For every person that seems to hate it, another three are loving it. Unfortunately, you don't hear as much feedback from those that love it. Those that hate it have NO problem saying how they feel, no matter how hateful or rude it may sound.

I would be embarrassed to write rude and hateful things knowing that Victoria reads here.

I am one that LOVES this show - the new format is interesting and shows more about the ME part of It's Me or the Dog. The people part.

And I can't believe people are getting so upset about the KitKat. Don't you remember last year when they used the PLEDGE Fabric Sweeper? Do you not see Victoria driving VW Bugs? Do you guys honestly think these shows are put together for free? Nothing wrong with mentioning a sponsor now and then.

I do have one question for you Victoria - do you plan on re-visiting any of these families for a follow up? I would be interested in seeing what has happened with them.
I would love to revisit them all but time will not permit it however I am in e-mail contact with a lot of the families
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