Brian Kilcommons

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Brian Kilcommons
Born Flag of the United States 1953
Levittown, New York
Occupation Dog trainer, Author
Website
My Smart Puppy

Brian Kilcommons (born in 1953, Levittown, New York) is a famous American dog trainer. He is a protégé of the late Barbara Woodhouse and the only North-American to have studied under Woodhouse in Great Britain.[1]

Kilcommons grew up in Levittown, New York. In his autobiography Tails from the Bark Side he explains how he found emotional refuge in his beloved mutt Irish from the abuse he suffered at the hands of his father.[2] He enrolled in a pre-vet programme at Iowa State University but he dropped out because of financial difficulties and opened his training and obedience school in 1977.[2]

Kilcommons is the author of various pet training manuals.[2] He currently lives lives on a 124-acre farm in Gardiner, N.Y. He is married to Sarah Wilson, who is also a trainer and the co-author of some of his books. Together they have two German shepherds, a beagle and two mixed breed dogs.[2]

Contents

[edit] Dog training

Brian Kilcommons on the cover of his newest publication My Smart Puppy, a book/dvd combination
Brian Kilcommons on the cover of his newest publication My Smart Puppy, a book/dvd combination

Kilcommons has trained the dogs of many celebrities and he has been described as the dog trainer to the stars by a Miami Herald reporter.[1] His clients include Harrison Ford, Diana Ross, Ashley Judd, Morley Safer, Diane Sawyer, Carly Simon, Patrick Ewing, Mike Nichols, Candice Bergen, Ralph Lauren and others.[2] Over the years he has trained over 35,000 dogs.[2]

[edit] Training Philosophy

"Most of the dogs in America think their name is No"

— Brian Kilcommons [2]

Kilcommons advises dog owners that saying No to a dog is useless.[2] The reason for this advice is his belief that dogs simply do not understand the meaning of the word because it is too abstract for them.[2] They are more likely to think that No is their name. Kilcommons explains that dogs are more likely to understand, and thus obey, commands connected with a specific action, such as Off, Sit or Stay.[2] Such commands demand specific action from the dog and thus are more easily understood. When the puppy complies with the command, Kilcommons advises positive reinforcement in the form of praise and rewards.[2]

[edit] Discipline

"There's no democracy in dogdom"

— Brian Kilcommons [2]

Kilcommons believes that the dog should understand who the boss in the family is.[2] He thinks that people nowadays invest a lot of energy and effort in their pets and many times neglect to discipline them properly.[2] Undisciplined dogs can then exhibit dominating and disorderly behavior such as sitting on the couch and running outside the house without being properly prompted.[2] He provides advice to families by observing their interaction with their canine companions and then analyzing the weak points.[2] Proper training with basic commands such as the Sit command and behavioral ques such as ignoring the dog when he transgresses and sits on the couch have been credited with turning the behavior of an unruly dog around.[2]

[edit] Awards

Brian Kilcommons and his wife Sarah have been awarded the Dr Steve Kritsick Memorial Award from the NY State Veterinary Medical Society for their impact on animals in the media.[3] They have also been nominated twice for the Genesis Award.[3]

[edit] Appearances

Kilcommons has appeared on 20/20, CBS This Morning, Good Morning America, QVC, HGTV, The Oprah Winfrey Show, A&E "Dogs", The Today Show, ABC Weekend News, CNN (global), Prime Time Live, The Wall Street Journal Report, PBS Gentle Doctor: Veterinary Medicine, and he hosted Fox News Channel Pet News. He has also served as the CBS Morning News Investigative Reporter and Animal Expert on WABC Eyewitness News, Channel 7.

[edit] Articles

Brian Kilcommons has written aricles for the following publications: Redbook, Town & Country, Atlanta Constitution Journal, People, Miami Herald, Toronto Star, Boston Globe, USA Today, San Francisco Chronicle, Vancouver Sun, Time, Philadelphia Inquirer, NY Times, Newsday, St. Louis Post Dispatch, LA Times, Chicago Tribune, Glamour, Dogs In Canada, Mc Calls, Palm Beach Daily News, Dog World, Dog Fancy, Seventeen, In Style Magazine, Woman's Wear Daily, Time Magazine. Brian and Sarah Kilcommons are also contributors to Parade Magazine.

[edit] Publications

Mutts America's dogs by Brian Kilcommons and Michael Capuzzo
Mutts America's dogs by Brian Kilcommons and Michael Capuzzo
  • Your Dog: An Owner's Manual
  • Good Owners, Great Dogs
  • Childproofing Your Dog
  • Good Owners, Great Cats
  • Mutts: America's Dogs
  • Tails From the Bark Side (autobiography)
  • Paws to Consider: The Complete Guide to Selecting A Breed
  • Metro Dogs: Raising a dog in the city
  • My Smart Puppy (Book/DVD)

[edit] Citations and notes

  1. ^ a b Crazy for CrittersIn 1996, I interviewed Brian Kilcommons, dog trainer to the stars and the American protege of the late British trainer Barbara Woodhouse, known for her "no bad dogs" philosophy and "Walkies!" rallying cry.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Time magazine He's a Dog's Best Friend, Sunday, Apr. 30, 2006 article by ANITA HAMILTON
  3. ^ a b My Smart Puppy