Victoria Stillwell/dog clothes

[Maximo]

Didn't you love how the mother and daughter always had the Yorkie standing on their dining table, eating from their plates during meal times? Crazy.

[KathyMiller]

With my first yorkie years ago, her vet told me "when you put "Clothes on dogs, your making them human. Dogs are NOT human." He also said that you cant read there body language. Ive actually been told that by trainers and some experienced groomers.

Ive never been one for clothes and huge bows personally. I may change my mind lol. To each his own I figure.

As far as Victoria goes British people are much more to the point then we are, most Americans find this kind of attitude offensive. Victoria is all about the dog. Thats what she is getting paid for. Most people do not like to be told they are doing is wrong and the people are on that show because there dogs are a mess.

[Britster]

Originally Posted by Maximo

That's what makes the show so entertaining.

In one of my favorite episodes. Victoria helps a family in Scotland with an out of control Yorkie. She complained about their doggy clothing too. In the final segment, Victoria returns to check on the family's progress and finds that they have added a second Yorkie puppy. Victoria rolling her eyeballs is priceless, lol.

LOL, I remember that one.

I agree tho, I mean, alot of people DO need to be put in place, but some things she does I just find really rude. I mean, I feel like the same ideas work with people as dogs, don't be mean to them to get your point across. I'd rather listen to someone who is nice and respectable rather than someone who is yelling in my face about all the things I've unknowingly done wrong.

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by Britster

LOL, I remember that one.

I agree tho, I mean, alot of people DO need to be put in place, but some things she does I just find really rude. I mean, I feel like the same ideas work with people as dogs, don't be mean to them to get your point across. I'd rather listen to someone who is nice and respectable rather than someone who is yelling in my face about all the things I've unknowingly done wrong.

I'm with you Brit and I would never hire a trainer like Victoria, lol. To me, her rudeness is the entertaining gimmick of her show. On the other hand, Cesar Millan sometimes coddles his clients a little too much. Trainers should be calm assertive with the humans.

[princessizzy]

OMG!!!LOLOLOLOL..what a B*****....She's crazy!!!!

[diane boden]

As a Brit I would like to say I find Victorias manner offensive also. Yes we can be more straight forward but that does not mean being rude to peoples faces. Most trainers wouldnot stay in buisness over here for very long if they talked to their clients in that way, after all you are paying [I know they dont for the t.v show] for their advice and expertise. There are other ways to explain these things without insulting people.

[KathyMiller]

I can understand why she gets frustrated......there was a show about three 20 something girls and the one girls room was so bad with dog urine that they had under her bed tested and it wasnt safe for humans to breath........What the heck? This girl slept in there and kept her little dog trapped in there ALL DAY and half the night. She needed a wake up call and had an attitude like she did nothing wrong. Someone like that has no business having an animal they are responsible for. They had the dogs not because they wanted a companion but to dress up and carry around when convienent in cute little purses. Victoria did get very much to the point with these girls and she should of.

I like Victoria lol. I think alot of the show is "for tv" but she doesnt mess around. Sometimes you wonder who is the pet and who is the human.

[paddys mom]

I think there needs to be a balance. She gets snippy with these people because ALL they do is put clothes on their dog and parade it around like an accessory and put absolutely NO thought into what the dog needs in terms of training, WALKING (Yes..small dogs have legs, they can WALK), and any mental stimulation at all. I really am amazed at the way some people on those shows just have NO clue that a dog can actually LEARN something. Its so odd.
That being said I feel that if you HAVE given your dog what it needs, it knows how to behave and isn't a brat, gets walked and can use its brain, putting a shirt or coat on it when its cold or for a party shouldn't ruin all of that and is totally fine. She did say in one of my favorite episodes of the British version (the episode with the rescued chinese crested) that she's fine with them wearing coats in the cold. Paddy's definitely got a few jackets and he's gonna wear them no matter what any trainer would say and Paddy's weren't fond of clothes either.

That episode actually has my favorite quote of hers. She says "if that dog was a human, it would either be in jail, or in a mental institution!" ..cracks me up. I sometimes really wish I could be that direct with my patients.

Lastly, since this is longer than I intended. You can't always win with other peoples opinions. One time i went out with my dog in a sweater and someone said I shouldn't dress him its bad, and literally a day later I walked him up the street quickly and it was chilly but not cold and someone yelled at me that my dog must be freezing without a sweater.

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by paddys mom

That episode actually has my favorite quote of hers. She says "if that dog was a human, it would either be in jail, or in a mental institution!" ..cracks me up. I sometimes really wish I could be that direct with my patients.

Lastly, since this is longer than I intended. You can't always win with other peoples opinions. One time i went out with my dog in a sweater and someone said I shouldn't dress him its bad, and literally a day later I walked him up the street quickly and it was chilly but not cold and someone yelled at me that my dog must be freezing without a sweater.

Love the Victoria quote , and I agree that you can't please all of the people all of the time.

[TresCutePiggies]

I usually like Victoria for the most part, but that would have really ticked me off.

I am one who dresses my girls everyday, and I don't feel like I should apologize for it. Of course, if we are walking outside and it's hot, they are only in a step-in harness. Rory will never grow a full coat. It's kind of sparse, and it seems like the longest it will ever be is medium length. Lane's coat is wavy and soft. If I had a yorkie with a long silk coat, I don't think I'd dress them as often, because I think they are so beautiful with just a top knot. If my girls didn't like being dressed, then I certainly wouldn't dress them. While many of their clothes are functional, I have no problem admitting that many are not...they are just cute! If treating your yorkie like a baby means they have a wardrobe, eat high quality food and supplements, have regular vet checks and medical attention when necessary, then I definitely treat my girls like babies. My girls enjoy plenty of exercise, lots of playtime indoors with all their toys, walks, regular doggie meet-ups and doggie daycare. If you follow the logic that dogs shouldn't be treated like babies, then I guess doggie daycare is a bad thing too?

Before my girls, I had a 135 lb bullmastiff who I also dressed up. He never minded it either, and it always brought a smile to peoples faces when they saw him. If I could have pushed him around in a stroller when he was going through chemo so he could enjoy long walks like he used to or stuck him in a carrier bag to travel with me when we had to fly, I would have! I would never push my girls along on a walk when they are capable of walking, but when it is hot outside they seem to overheat very quickly and it's nice to be able to put them in their stroller with their cooling pad and fresh water and let them cool off. And I fully admit I take advantage of the stroller as it makes them welcome in many places where dogs on foot might not be, as well as keeps them safe at large pet-friendly events like Pet Expos where they will encounter many strange dogs.

Case in point, we took the girls for a 3 mile walk along a path we'd never tried before. We brought the stroller along, but when we arrived it felt much cooler out than expected so I left it in the car. Sure enough towards the end of the walk even with their ice water, they both needed to be carried for a bit to cool off.

Sorry for the long rant. I know most here feel the same way as I do, but I do get tired of some of the judgmental people and now professional trainers who think that dressing your dog makes you a horrible pet parent or pushing a dog in a stroller means you don't let them walk. The bottom line is despite the pretty dresses and bows my girls are little tomboys who love nothing more than to play like the big dogs...and so that is just what they get to do!

[paddys mom]

I have no problem with carrying dogs if its too hot or they're tired either. Activity should of course be within the limits of health. With the walking thing I was referencing people who's dogs feet never hit the ground cept maybe to walk to the front yard to pee. You know they're out there. I was at a meetup once where a chihuahua was kept in a carrying case the whole entire time and its owner said it was too shy and small and she was afraid to put it on the ground. And then she wondered why the dog would try to bite every hand that came near it. *sigh*

I do wish yorkies had better tolerance to heat. I had to shave all of paddy's beautiful hair to keep him cooler, and he still definitely can't walk as much when the sun is out.

[TresCutePiggies]

Originally Posted by paddys mom

I have no problem with carrying dogs if its too hot or they're tired either. Activity should of course be within the limits of health. With the walking thing I was referencing people who's dogs feet never hit the ground cept maybe to walk to the front yard to pee. You know they're out there. I was at a meetup once where a chihuahua was kept in a carrying case the whole entire time and its owner said it was too shy and small and she was afraid to put it on the ground. And then she wondered why the dog would try to bite every hand that came near it. *sigh*

I do wish yorkies had better tolerance to heat. I had to shave all of paddy's beautiful hair to keep him cooler, and he still definitely can't walk as much when the sun is out.

Oh yes, I wasn't referring to anyone in particular. I don't agree with people who take long walks and just push their dog in the stroller. It doesn't make sense to me unless the dog is puppy without all his vaccines/older/arthritic/has a health condition, but I know that isn't the case with the large majority of people who treat their dogs as accessories. Those poor dogs never get to enjoy what being a dog is all about, and I think that is really sad too.

My groomer told me that cutting their hair off didn't actually help to keep them cooler (assuming they weren't matted), but I have to wonder if that is really true. I'm much cooler when my hair is up in a ponytail for sure.