Hello, Fellow Dog Lovers!

Can you believe that we're nearing the end of summer? I've had an incredibly busy July, and it's gearing up to be an even busier fall. Be sure to check my appearance schedule to see if I'll be coming to an area near you. I'm also looking forward to my Victoria Stilwell Academy courses that begin this fall in both the US and the UK. There are still a few slots left if you'd like to be one of my students!

In this edition of the Positively Newsletter, you'll find tips on choosing a good dog trainer, updates on the #SaveHank campaign, and more.  

As always, throughout this newsletter you'll find exclusive content and training tips that you won't find anywhere else. Hope you enjoy!

P.S. Don't forget to check out my blog for more articles from me! 

Read Victoria's tips for choosing a good dog trainer.

A good trainer is a great listener and should be interested in your take on your dog's characteristics, tendencies, personal history, strengths and weaknesses. Rather than swooping into a situation and immediately dictating who and what needs to change, good trainers start by sitting down and talking through expectations, concerns and philosophies before starting any actual training or behavior modification work.

Positive trainers worth trusting with your dog's well-being will most likely:

• Take a full behavioral history of your dog. Good trainers want to know everything possible about a dog's background so that they can more quickly and effectively identify root causes and implement a positive training protocol. Any trainer that discounts the importance of a dog's history should be avoided.

Four years ago, a dog named Lennox was euthanized by the Belfast City Council because of the way he looked, despite public outrage. Now, an eerily similar case with a dog named Hank is unfolding yet again in Belfast. Hank was snatched from his home by officials while his family was out because he "looks like a pit bull." His owners have not been given any access to see him, and have received written confirmation that he has not been walked a single time since he was taken from them. 

Victoria is on the front lines of the #SaveHank case and is prepared to do whatever it takes to ensure that Hank does not have the same tragic end as Lennox did. You can sign the petition below to help send a message to the Belfast City Council that their cruel actions will not be tolerated. 

Positively Contributor Steve Dale answers a question about a dog's unpleasant poop-eating habit. 

Question: Venus, our almost 2-year old German Shepherd dog enjoys eating her poop, or eats from the cat box. That doesn’t seem right. What can we do to stop this desire? K. L., Lake Zurich, IL

Answer: The problem described is surprisingly common. It even has a fancy name: coprophagia.

No one knows for sure why some dogs begin to sample their own feces, or for that matter relish in eating feces of other species. Of course, cat poo is especially enticing to many dogs (likely because cat food has so much protein). Once tasted, some dogs decide it‘s a delicacy. Some dogs even have preferences, such as frozen poopsicles in winter.

There may be some truth to their statements depending on the context of the situation, but for the most part, the concept goes deeper than that. There is something primal being addressed when this form of behavior modification is being used.