Brian Kilcommons facts for kids

Brian Kilcommons (born in 1953) is an American author and expert in dog training. He learned a lot from Barbara Woodhouse, a very famous dog trainer. Brian Kilcommons is the only person from North America who studied with her in Great Britain. He has written many helpful books about training pets. In 1992, New York magazine said he was one of the most respected dog trainers in the United States.

Early Life and Education

Brian Kilcommons was born in 1953 in Levittown, New York. He started studying to become a veterinarian at Iowa State University. However, he could not finish his studies because he ran out of money. In 1977, he opened his own school for dog training and obedience. 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.

Career in Dog Training

Training Famous Dogs

Brian Kilcommons has trained dogs for many famous people. Because of this, a reporter from the Miami Herald called him the "dog trainer to the stars." He has trained more than 35,000 dogs in his career.

The Family Dog Training Center

Along with his wife, Sarah Wilson, Brian Kilcommons started the Family Dog Training and Behavior Center. This center was described as a special place for people who treat their dogs like children. The center is 1,200 square feet and has many features. These include a daycare for puppies, a special treadmill for puppies, and play groups for young dogs. It even had a puppy fashion shop called Bark Avenue.

How Brian Kilcommons Teaches Discipline

Brian Kilcommons teaches dog owners that simply saying "No" to a dog is not very helpful. He believes dogs do not understand this word because it is too general for them. Dogs might even think "No" is their name!

Instead, Kilcommons explains that dogs learn better from commands linked to a specific action. Words like "Off," "Sit," or "Stay" tell the dog exactly what to do. When a puppy follows a command, Kilcommons advises owners to give praise and rewards. This is called positive reinforcement.

Kilcommons also believes that dogs need to understand who is in charge in the family. He thinks that sometimes people give too much attention to their pets without teaching them rules. This can lead to dogs acting bossy or disobedient. For example, a dog might jump on the couch or run outside without permission.

He helps families by watching how they interact with their dogs. Then, he points out areas where training can improve. Simple commands like "Sit" and ignoring bad behavior, like a dog jumping on the couch, can help change an unruly dog's behavior.

Awards and Recognition

Brian Kilcommons received the Dr. Steve Kritsick Memorial Award. This award came from the New York State Veterinary Medical Society. He earned it for his positive influence on animals through the media. He has also been nominated two times for the Genesis Award.

Television Appearances

Brian Kilcommons has appeared on many popular television shows. These include 20/20, CBS This Morning, and Good Morning America. He has also been on QVC, HGTV, The Oprah Winfrey Show, A&E, The Today Show, and ABC News. He has appeared on CNN and Prime Time Live. He was also on The Wall Street Journal Report and PBS's Gentle Doctor: Veterinary Medicine. He even hosted "Pet News" on Fox News Channel.

Kilcommons also worked as an investigative reporter and animal expert for CBS Morning News on WABC Eyitness News, Channel 7. In 2012, he visited several [[PETstock]] pet supply stores in Australia. There, he held workshops where he trained customers' dogs.

Books by Brian Kilcommons

Articles Written

Brian Kilcommons has written articles for many well-known magazines and newspapers. Some of these include Redbook, Town & Country, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, People, Miami Herald, Toronto Star, The Boston Globe, USA Today, San Francisco Chronicle, Vancouver Sun, Time, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The New York Times, Newsday, St. Louis Post Dispatch, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, Glamour, Dogs in Canada, Mc Calls, Palm Beach Daily News, Dog World, Dog Fancy, Seventeen, InStyle Magazine, and Women's Wear Daily. He has also contributed to Parade Magazine.

Books Published

• Your Dog: An Owner's Manual (1981)
• Good Owners, Great Dogs (1992) ISBN: 0446516759
• Childproofing Your Dog (1994) ISBN: 0446670162
• Good Owners, Great Cats (1995) ISBN: 0446518077
• Mutts: America's Dogs (1996) ISBN: 0446519499
• Tails From the Bark Side (1997) ISBN: 0446521507
• Paws to Consider: The Complete Guide to Selecting A Breed (1999) ISBN: 0446521515
• Metrodog: The Essential Guide To Raising Your Dog In The City (2001) ISBN: 0446526037
• My Smart Puppy (2006) ISBN: 044657886X