"Dogs in the City" with Justin Silver: Gimmicky at best

Leslie Smith, Editor in Chief

Wednesday June 6th, 2012

Justin Silver of Dogs in the City

At a time when there are serious issues facing the dog-loving community — Breed Specific Legislation, overcrowded shelters, animal cruelty — CBS chose to lighten the mood with a fun new reality show about dog training. The ratings-guaranteed ingredients for Dogs in the City's first episode? Models, a skateboarding Bulldog, and Justin Silver — a slick-haired New Yorker who specializes in dog aggression.

Silver is actually the star of the show: dog walker by day, comedian by ambition. And there’s nothing wrong with the formula. Training your dog should be fun, even funny at times. But like all seemingly simple endeavors with the potential to go horribly wrong, the person in charge should at least appear to know what he’s doing.

I believe Silver is probably a very nice guy who means well. In each of the three scenarios presented in the show’s debut, however, I found some of his approach to be disconcerting, if not downright harmful.

In the first segment, we meet Beefy, a Bulldog who dictates where his owner sleeps, eats, walks, etc. Silver suggests buying a baby gate to help establish a bit of separation between dog and owner. He hopes to teach the dog that being alone is fun. Or at least tolerable.

Silver’s initial thought seems like the right idea: Create an inviting “alone-zone” for the dog. With the owner on one side of the gate, I expected Silver to set Beefy up with a treat-stuffed kong, a prized toy, and a comfy blanket on the other. But Silver waits to give Beefy the kong until after he complains (barks) about the arrangement. In other words, he rewards the barking behavior.

He then describes Beefy, whose most serious problem (ostensibly) is not getting what he wants, as having separation anxiety. Sort of akin to a doctor telling a person with a cold he that has pneumonia. The former is very treatable, doesn’t usually get out of hand. The other is a serious matter that is not cured with a cough drop. Or five minutes behind a baby gate.

In the next segment, Silver “helps” the head of a modeling agency with her dog Charlotte. The problem: Any time a human or canine enters the woman’s office, Charlotte growls, lunges, and charges. Or, allegedly, bites.

Silver is well aware of this, yet he still recommends bringing in another (smaller) dog to "see what happens." As predicted, Charlotte goes after the dog and indeed makes contact. What kind of trainer allows a dog to practice this behavior? What kind of human orchestrates a scenario knowing a smaller animal will be harmed?

Unacceptable. Period.

In the last segment, Silver demonstrates his technique for teaching “leave it.” It involves introducing a high-value item (turkey) and then physically pushing the dog’s chest or knocking her under the chin when she goes for the meat. Problem number one: Leave it can be, and usually is, taught without using physical force.

Problem number two: The person he’s instructing is a petite, nine-year-old girl, while the animal is a hundred-pound Bernese Mountain Dog. I’ve never seen an obedience command that couldn’t be taught without physical corrections (in other words, positive reinforcement can be used to teach any cue). And if you’re teaching a child to train a dog, safety alone says that positive reinforcement is the only way to go.

I’ll give Dogs in the City one more chance tonight. I hope I’m pleasantly surprised by what I see.

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	To the person who wrote this article: Sorry, but shame on you. Justin clearly loves and cares about dogs! And what he does obviously works! Are you going out there and helping owners and their dogs? Have you not seen the hundreds of dogs already in shelters needing homes? There are many dog owners out there who are clueless and frustrated with how to handle their dogs bad behavior. So everyone ends up suffering for it. Sadly, the dog usually suffers the most. Abused, abandoned, thrown in a shelter or put down. Thank God for Justin, he's fantastic! Finally, someone is stepping up to show/help owners with what to do to solve their problems. You don't have to agree with or like all that he does. What matters is he cares, helps people, and gets positive results. So please stop putting someone down that loves dogs and is actually helping them and their owners. You should be supporting anyone who is trying to help, especially if it prevents more dogs from ending up in shelters or being put down!!! Are you out there doing anything to help prevent that? You may do things differently than he does, but that doesn't make his ways wrong (obviously the things he does has worked-plus he has a show and you don't hmm). And it certainly doesn't make your ways right. So please keep your damaging “opinions” to yourself. 11 months ago by winkandasmile
	I believe that any show that furthers the idea that with positive steps, canine behaviors can be modified and families can be kept intact, is a good thing to have on TV. When I read a review in which the reviewer is attacking the physical being of the people in the show by making snide comments like "a slick haired New Yorker" I immediately question that reviewer's agenda. So, what kind of show do you, Ms. Reviewer, believe they can responsibly pack into 60 minutes every week? I just want the "cause" and ideology of saving forever homes for canines to be put forth in positive ways. A smile doesn't hurt a thing, you know. 12 months ago by Donna
	I couldn't agree more with your article. There are many well known dog trainers and behaviorists that have outstanding reputations whom are well respected within the industry, many of whom have written books, and yet for sensationalism on TV they select 'the handsome guy with the gift of gab who is good in front of the camera, but is actually an actor/comedian/dog walker' (I know this to be true, because i know him personally). It's frustrating. In my opinion, as a dog trainer, he was incorrect on the first episode saying the English Bulldog had "severe separation anxiety". The dog had a classic case of indulgence by owner, hence was demanding attention. Incorrect information has the potential to harm dogs. Period. CBS is totally to blame here. I found it appauling. about 1 year ago by sojaynyc
	I thoroughly enjoyed this show. To all the dog trainers getting themselves into a tizzy please understand – TV has to be entertaining first and foremost. No one is taking every little detail as training gospel. Justin is good looking, funny, personable, and does know a thing or two about dogs AND people. Nobody is going to watch a dry dull show even if that show contains fabulous training techniques. Most dog owners know absolutely nothing about dog behavior. This show at least introduces them to some ideas and possible solutions they can use at home. You may also cry, laugh, or disagree with Justin, and that's OK. about 1 year ago by LuxeMutt

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