Brian Kilcommons facts for kids

Brian Kilcommons, born in 1953, is a well-known American dog trainer and author. He learned from a famous trainer named Barbara Woodhouse in Great Britain. Brian Kilcommons writes many books about how to train pets. In 1992, a magazine called New York said he was one of the most respected dog trainers in the United States.

Brian Kilcommons' Early Life

Brian Kilcommons was born in 1953 in Levittown, New York. He started studying to become a vet at Iowa State University. However, he had to stop because he didn't have enough money. In 1977, he opened his own school for dog training. Today, he lives on a 124-acre farm in Gardiner, New York. He is married to Sarah Wilson, who is also a dog trainer. She has helped him write seven of his books.

Brian Kilcommons' Career

Training Dogs for Stars

Brian Kilcommons has trained dogs for many famous people. Reporters have even called him the dog trainer to the stars. He has trained more than 35,000 dogs in his career.

Along with his wife, Sarah Wilson, he started the Family Dog Training and Behavior Center. This center helps people train their dogs. It has a special area for puppies to play and even a puppy treadmill! They also have a shop called Bark Avenue for puppy fashion.

How Brian Kilcommons Teaches Discipline

Brian Kilcommons believes that just saying "No" to a dog doesn't work. He thinks dogs don't understand this word because it's too general. They might even think "No" is their name!

Instead, he teaches that dogs learn better from commands linked to an action. Words like "Off," "Sit," or "Stay" tell the dog exactly what to do. When a puppy follows a command, Brian Kilcommons suggests giving them praise and rewards. This is called positive reinforcement.

He also believes that dogs need to understand who is in charge in the family. He thinks that sometimes people love their pets so much they forget to teach them rules. Dogs without rules might jump on the couch or run outside without permission. Brian Kilcommons helps families by watching how they interact with their dogs. Then, he gives advice on how to improve their dog's behavior. Simple commands like "Sit" and ignoring bad behavior can help an unruly dog become well-behaved.

Awards and Recognition

Brian Kilcommons received the Dr. Steve Kritsick Memorial Award. The New York State Veterinary Medical Society gave him this award for his positive influence on animals through media. He has also been nominated twice for the Genesis Award. This award honors people who raise awareness about animal issues.

TV Appearances

Brian Kilcommons has appeared on many popular TV shows. These include 20/20, CBS This Morning, and Good Morning America. He has also been on The Oprah Winfrey Show and The Today Show. He even hosted "Pet News" on Fox News Channel. He has also worked as an animal expert for ABC News and CNN. In 2012, he visited several pet stores in Australia. There, he held workshops to help people train their dogs.

Books and Articles

Articles

Brian Kilcommons has written articles for many different magazines and newspapers. Some of these include Redbook, Town & Country, People, Time, and The New York Times. He has also written for pet magazines like Dog World and Dog Fancy.

Books

• Your Dog: An Owner's Manual (1981)
• Good Owners, Great Dogs (1992)
• Childproofing Your Dog (1994)
• Good Owners, Great Cats (1995)
• Mutts: America's Dogs (1996)
• Tails From the Bark Side (1997)
• Paws to Consider: The Complete Guide to Selecting A Breed (1999)
• Metrodog: The Essential Guide To Raising Your Dog In The City (2001)
• My Smart Puppy (2006)