Dog Whisperer?

[NewYorkieLover]

Happy New Year!

A week after I got Lexi, we started major construction on our house. We were basically living out of our kitchen and my bedroom. Much of our stuff was in storage, including the cable box. Our television watching was limited to whatever was on basic cable on the TV in my room.

Now, most of the work is done, and our house is much more "normal". The cable box came back late last week, and we have been enjoying watching some other shows.

During construction, one of the electricians mentioned the Dog Whisperer book. He said his wife loved it, and was able to make some immediate improvements in their dog's behavior.

It sounded interesting, so I asked for his "Member of the Family" book for Christmas. I just started reading it...wishing I had this before I brought Lexi home.

Also, my groomer recommended the show, so I was just able to find it on cable.

I have started watching it in the last few days, and I have to say I am completely in awe of what I am seeing on the show. Cesar seems to have so much knowledge and a tremendous understanding of dogs and how they feel, act, etc. as well as what people, with their best intentions, are doing that may inadvertently cause problems for their pets. I am trying to watch and absorb as much as I can. I don't think what he does is so much an action as a major understanding and the ability to project the feeling to your dog that you are a dominant pack leader, and to express your feelings about what you want and don't want your dog to do.

Does anyone else watch him? What are your thoughts? Do you use his theories?

Any other good book or video recommendations?

I'm curious to see how others feel.

[Valeria Morriso]

Caesar Millan is an icon in our house. We absolutely LOVE him.

[BellaAmore]

I have been watching for months. I saw an episode with a Yorkie 2 weeks ago. The little Yorkie kept attacking the ironing board and iron cord. It was so funny. I have to say I tried the "ccchhhh" thingy when Bella barks or is in another dogs face. She gets very excited when other animals are around. I say "CCCHHH" loudly and miraculously she stop what she is doing. I am amazed at what he accomplishes on his show. I just hope it is all real. Sometimes what you see on TV and what is real life is not the same.

[misskate]

Yes, I've read the book and found it to be a great help in understanding my dogs. I haven't seen the show but have had rave reviews from various friends. I think my dogs are probably the best behaved yorkies in the city because I applied his theries. They don't bark, snap or jump on people and are very calm and obedient. I know yorkies have a bad reputation with many because they seem to be so high strung. I think it's a question of knowing where they stand in the pack and living in a structured environment. Good book, good theories. I wish more people would take their dog ownership more seriously and read the valid resources there are out there.

[DaisyMaesMama]

I think Cesar is awesome too.
I started watching the show after my 5 yr old Niece told me about him! She watches him on Animal Planet, which is about the only channel she is allowed to watch without adult supervision.

She told me; "Aunt Kathy...this guy is great, you have to watch him!" She turned on the show and we sat and watched three in a row. This was the first day I brought Daisy Mae home, and now I DVR his show all the time.

I too have used the "Chhh" command from the beginning and it's magic. I also received his new book for Christmas along with a couple of his DVD's.

I have read others opinions (Mostly trainers) on other boards about Cesar and his methods. Some strongly disagree and think he uses cruel submission techniques. I think that he practices what he preaches...He understands their behavior and works towards breaking the bad and bringing out the good in dogs that are struggling in their lives. He's kinda like a Dog psychologist and he is just teaching families how to co-exsist happily together.

Sorry this is so long. I am so in the training zone working with my baby and I am like a sponge right now. I love teaching her new things and seeing her learn and respond.

[Nancy1999]

I love Cesar too, although he has many critics, everyone I talked to who hates him has never seen his show, and has gotten their information from a third party. What some people don't understand is that he is not a dog trainer; he trains people, and rehabilitates dogs. For people who understand psychology, he would be more Freud-like than Skinner. You can't say one's right and ones wrong, they both have good information, and you can't compare the two.


By the way, Net Flick has his whole series of shows; you can rent it really cheap.

[LuvmyYorkies2]

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

I love Cesar too, although he has many critics, everyone I talked to who hates him has never seen his show, and has gotten their information from a third party. What some people don't understand is that he is not a dog trainer; he trains people, and rehabilitates dogs. For people who understand psychology, he would be more Freud-like than Skinner. You can't say one's right and ones wrong, they both have good information, and you can't compare the two.


By the way, Net Flick has his whole series of shows; you can rent it really cheap.

Very good explanation Nancy. I try to tell people he is not really a "dog trainer", that he focuses more on the psychy of the dog owner to dog...but I'm no expert and don't know how to explain it any further to people who wouldn't get what I'm trying to say... But I like your way so I'll have to steal your explanation (& analogy)...hehehe Thanks

I love him BTW...A lot of people try to compare him to Victoria Stelwell(sp?) from It's Me or The Dog and I try to tell them, they are different techniques to train a dog and the 2 shows take different approaches...I love watching both.

I read his book "Cesar's Way" and loved it...gives you his background and an understanding of why he takes the approach he does.

[ddavis6326]

I recently started watching it. I think that its a great show. I haven't seen any of the ones with Yorkies. I am determined to train Hannah to be a well behaved dog. Does his new book have anything about biting? I am personally at my wits end on this particular subject.

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by LuvmyYorkies2

Very good explanation Nancy. I try to tell people he is not really a "dog trainer", that he focuses more on the psychy of the dog owner to dog...but I'm no expert and don't know how to explain it any further to people who wouldn't get what I'm trying to say... But I like your way so I'll have to steal your explanation (& analogy)...hehehe Thanks

I love him BTW...A lot of people try to compare him to Victoria Stelwell(sp?) from It's Me or The Dog and I try to tell them, they are different techniques to train a dog and the 2 shows take different approaches...I love watching both.

I read his book "Cesar's Way" and loved it...gives you his background and an understanding of why he takes the approach he does.

Lots of people love Victoria, and I think for actual training she can extremely helpful, but I thing Cesar's most important contribution is his reminder that dogs read our energy. Calm assertiveness works best when dealing with dogs, or people for that matter. Some people come off as passive/nervous, and others come off as aggressive, while some jump back and forth between the two extremes, both extremes are really disturbing to he dog, and humans as well.

I haven't read his book yet, I've heard some good things about it though, and would like to.

[JoeyP]

It's a great show
Cesar has given me great incite to how the canine mind reacts and sees things
They are very different from people
That I knew but until Cesar came along I didn't really know the techniques we can use to tap into some of those processes
He's def made it easier to train my dogs this go around

[carmen in nj]

Oh, WE love Cesar in my home, I have all his books, now I need the time to read them....LOL
hugs,
cARmen in nj

[JeanieK]

I believe that we have seen every episode. We love his show and I use his methods.

[Potter]

I love to watch Cesar too although what he does is not all that easy to imitate in real life coz that is the reason why he was on tv right but he is good and his reasonings, I love to listen to the logical reasonings.

[JeanieK]

Originally Posted by Potter

I love to watch Cesar too although what he does is not all that easy to imitate in real life coz that is the reason why he was on tv right but he is good and his reasonings, I love to listen to the logical reasonings.

Well he has had a lot of practice. And it is not easy for a person to change the way tha they relate to their dogs, it is someting that one has to work on, it does not come naturally to everyone.

[mscat]

I watch both shows, It's Me Or THe Dog, and The Dog Whisper. I like both of them, even though their approaches are very different. I have seen Ceaser work with many Yorkies though and he is good. But, he is more hands on to the dog. I've seen him jerk leashes and put a collar on a yorkie who then started breathing funny. I like Victoria because she does not touch the dogs, she uses more treats and motivaters and teaches the owner how to deal with the dog's behavior in detail, she also follows up with the family, then comes back if needed. I just think she is more detailed oriented, and more of a probelm solver to the families.
I do like Ceaser, but, he is just more physcial with the dogs. I have seen him be like a miracle worker to some of the larger breeds he has worked with. They both are absolutely amazing, but use very different approaches.