Victoria Stilwell hangs out with her dog Sadie (on the right) and their pal Jasmine. Read more about Sadie below!

Take it from one of today's most well-known dog trainers: You have to look at things from your dog's point of view. Victoria Stilwell has been teaching frustrated dog caregivers just that on her Animal Planet show It's Me or the Dog. On the show, Stilwell has reined in some of England's most poorly behaved pooches—and their caregivers. Now she's bringing It's Me or the Dog to the U.S. She's showing America's pet parents that some positive training—and a little patience—can go a long way.

KIND News: How did you get your start in dog training?

Victoria Stilwell: I used to be an actor and I wanted to go to drama school in London. In order to raise money I started a dog walking company. I started off with one dog and after a month I had 20. I became fascinated with the way dogs learned and acted. I realized that humans have such an amazing relationship with dogs. From there, I met with trainers and started studying.

KN: Did you have to do a lot of studying?

VS: Yes. I learned from some of the best dog trainers in the positive training movement. Where I got most of my practical learning was at rescue shelters. I volunteered at many rescue shelters in and around London, and you learn quickly there. You also learn how to deal with a lot of different kinds of dogs. Sometimes these dogs have quite severe problems. You have to understand how to manage stress.

KN: Can you give our readers some pointers on dog safety?

VS: It's easy for us to see a cute dog at the other end of the leash and want to go pet him. But think about it this way: If someone you don't know pets you on the top of your head, how does that make you feel? It's rude, and it can be kind of scary too. It's exactly the same for some dogs. Don't just go up and pet a dog. Ask the dog's guardian first, and even if he or she says yes, don't suddenly go into the dog's space. Call the dog over to you. Allow the dog to come into your space. If the dog doesn't want to say hello, let him be.

KN: How can kids help train their family dogs?

VS: Kids are very important in the training process. Our dogs don't speak our language, so we have to learn how to "talk dog." This means the whole family, from the youngest child to the oldest adult. Everyone has to train the dog in the same way and be consistent.

KN: Tell us about your pets.

VS: I have a cat and a dog. Our cat’s name is Angelica. We got her in 2001 when we were living in Manhattan. After the terrorist attacks on 9/11, she was one of the many animals who ended up in the city’s animal shelters. She had an infection and was going to be euthanized (humanely put to death). We were just going to foster her, so we took her home. She got up onto our bed and she lay on her back with her 4 paws in the air. That was seven years ago now and she’s still with us. I think she’s around 13 or 14 years old now.

We got our dog Sadie last year. When she was 8 months old, she was given as a gift to an elderly lady. This lady had a few disabilities and Sadie was too strong for her, so Sadie never got walked for three years. She became very fat. After her caregiver died, a friend of mine took in Sadie. She knew we were looking for a dog so she brought Sadie to meet us and that was it. She is now 20 pounds lighter and she is a very contented, beautiful dog. She’s 6 years old now.

Victoria Stilwell's Top Training Tips