Who Is Victoria Stilwell?
Victoria Stilwell is one of the most recognisable names in dog training. Best known as the star of Animal Planet's long-running series It's Me or the Dog, she has spent over two decades helping families transform their relationships with their dogs using science-backed, force-free methods that actually work in real homes with real dogs.
Based in Atlanta, she is the founder of the Victoria Stilwell Academy for Dog Training and Behaviour and the creator of Positively.com, a global resource hub for positive reinforcement training. Her core philosophy can be distilled into one sentence: a stimulated dog is a well-behaved dog. And the key to stimulation is enrichment.
In Australia, where families share their homes with high-drive breeds like Border Collies, Kelpies, Labradors, and Staffy crosses, Victoria's approach is especially relevant. The vast majority of destructive behaviours owners struggle with come down to boredom. The good news is that enrichment is genuinely affordable, takes only a few minutes a day, and pays dividends in the form of a calmer, happier dog.
Victoria Stilwell demonstrates mental enrichment with toys and games in her Teacher's Pet series.
Tip 1: Start With Your Dog's Nose
Victoria consistently highlights nose work as one of the most underrated enrichment tools available to everyday dog owners. A dog's sense of smell is estimated to be tens of thousands of times more acute than ours, which means sniffing is genuinely exhausting for them in the best possible way. Ten minutes of dedicated nose work can tire a dog out more thoroughly than a twenty-minute walk.
You do not need expensive equipment to get started. Scatter kibble in the grass and let your dog hunt each piece. Hide treats under cups for a shell-game style challenge. Let your dog lead the pace on their next walk and follow their nose wherever it takes them. Victoria's approach is about letting the dog's instincts drive the activity rather than drilling a structured command sequence.
"Dogs have an extraordinary sense of smell and allowing them to use it taps into their most powerful instinct. A ten-minute sniff-led walk can be more mentally tiring than a thirty-minute jog around the block."
Victoria Stilwell, Positively.com- Scatter dry kibble in the grass before breakfast instead of serving it in a bowl.
- Hide small treats under three cups, shuffle them, and let your dog choose.
- Roll treats inside an old towel, tie it loosely, and let your dog unroll it.
- Teach a "find it" cue so your dog learns to search on command in any environment.
Tip 2: Use Puzzle Toys for Daily Problem-Solving
Interactive puzzle toys are a cornerstone of Victoria Stilwell's enrichment toolkit. She explains that when a dog voluntarily works to solve a challenge, the process itself is rewarding, not just the outcome. The brain chemistry involved in seeking and solving is deeply satisfying for dogs, releasing feel-good chemicals that leave them calmer and more settled afterwards.
The key is to start simple and build difficulty gradually. A puzzle that is too hard will frustrate your dog and put them off the activity entirely. Begin at level one and progress as your dog gets quicker. Victoria recommends making puzzle time a daily ritual, ideally before a meal when your dog is motivated by mild hunger. Rotate between two or three different puzzles to maintain novelty and keep each session feeling fresh.
"Dogs that voluntarily work on puzzle toys are much more fulfilled because the act of seeking is intrinsically rewarding. Problem-solving releases feel-good chemicals in the brain that leave dogs calmer and more content throughout the day."
Victoria Stilwell, Positively.com- Show your dog how one compartment opens before letting them try independently.
- Use high-value treats like small pieces of cheese or chicken for the first few sessions.
- Rotate between two or three puzzles to keep the challenge feeling new.
- Offer the puzzle ten minutes before mealtime so hunger sharpens focus.
Tip 3: Make Hide and Seek a Regular Game
Hide and seek is one of Victoria Stilwell's favourite low-cost enrichment games, and it works for dogs of every age and breed. At its simplest, you ask your dog to sit and stay, hide a favourite toy or treat in another room, then release them with a "find it" cue and watch them use their nose, memory, and problem-solving ability to track it down.
Once your dog has the concept, you can level this up by hiding yourself instead of an object. Call your dog's name from a hiding spot and reward them lavishly when they find you. This game reinforces a reliable recall in a fun, low-pressure way while delivering genuine mental exercise. Victoria notes that games like this strengthen the bond between dog and owner because the owner becomes the most exciting thing in the environment, which is exactly where you want to be.
"Games like hide and seek tap into a dog's natural drive to search and locate. They build focus, reduce anxiety, and strengthen the bond between dog and owner. A dog that plays with you is a dog that genuinely trusts you."
Victoria Stilwell, Teacher's Pet Series- Start with easy hiding spots so your dog succeeds quickly and builds confidence.
- Use a consistent cue like "find me" to signal the game has begun.
- Reward with play, praise, or a treat the moment your dog locates you or the item.
- Gradually increase difficulty as your dog's searching skills develop over time.
Tip 4: Let Snuffle Mats Activate Natural Foraging Instincts
One of the simplest enrichment shifts Victoria Stilwell recommends is replacing the standard food bowl with something that activates your dog's foraging instinct. Dogs in the wild would spend many hours each day searching for food. The modern habit of gulping down dinner from a flat bowl in under a minute leaves that powerful instinct completely unsatisfied, which contributes directly to restlessness and problem behaviours.
Snuffle mats are textured fleece or rubber mats with pockets, folds, and hiding spots where you scatter dry kibble or small treats. Your dog has to use their nose and paws to work through the mat and retrieve each piece one at a time. A mealtime that used to take thirty seconds can now take ten to fifteen minutes, leaving your dog genuinely tired and mentally satisfied rather than wired and looking for trouble. Victoria recommends this particularly for dogs that bolt their food, show anxiety at mealtimes, or need to slow down for digestive reasons.
"Interactive feeding tools that activate a dog's natural foraging instincts are one of the easiest ways to provide daily enrichment without any training required. They work for puppies, seniors, anxious dogs, and high-energy dogs alike."
Victoria Stilwell, Positively.com- Start with larger treats so your dog understands the concept quickly.
- Use your dog's regular dinner kibble to keep daily calories on track.
- Wash the mat weekly to keep it fresh, hygienic, and appealing.
- Place it on a non-slip surface so it stays put while your dog works through it.
Tip 5: Treat Every Training Session as Enrichment
Victoria Stilwell's most important message is that training done right is not a chore. It is one of the richest forms of mental enrichment available to any dog owner. Learning new cues, practising familiar ones in different environments, and working through games gives dogs a sense of accomplishment that translates directly into calmer, more confident behaviour at home.
Short sessions of five to ten minutes are far more effective than one long session. This keeps the dog engaged, prevents frustration, and allows the brain time to consolidate what was learned. Victoria recommends ending every session on a success, even if that means returning to a well-known behaviour at the end. The goal is to leave your dog wanting more, not feeling defeated or confused.
You do not need to teach complex tricks to get the benefits. Practising a solid sit, a reliable down, or a calm stay in different rooms of the house challenges your dog's mind in a way that a standard walk simply cannot. Add a new location like a park or a pet-friendly cafe and the enrichment value multiplies significantly as your dog processes new sights, sounds, and smells while working with you.
"Training is not just about teaching commands. It is about giving your dog a language to communicate with you, building their confidence, and giving them a job to do. A dog with a purpose is a dog at peace."
Victoria Stilwell, Train Your Dog Positively- Keep sessions to five to ten minutes and aim for two or three spread through the day.
- Train in different rooms and locations to challenge your dog and generalise learning.
- Use high-value rewards for new skills and everyday treats for practised behaviours.
- Always end with a behaviour your dog knows well so they finish with confidence.
- Include play as a reward, not just food. Tug, fetch, and chase all count as enrichment.