According to Cesar, my dog is NOT healthy or happy...

[Nikko's_human]

In the end, I guess it is about doing what is best for your dog. I went home yesterday and embraced my bouncing, happy boy at the door. He is really friendly and I guess the one thing we have to work on is the excessive face licking. It does not bother me, nor my husband but when we get company, Nikko wants to lick everyone's faces and I know that makes some people uncomfortable. We must work on that. Cesar also mentions people's energies and how dogs react more to a person's energy that what they are actually saying. My sister-in-law came over from Florida and she loves dogs. But she is a Gulf War vet and is very stern with her own dogs and does not tolerate badly behaved dogs. The funny thing was that she was very friendly to Nikko but whenever she would tell him to come, he would but with his tail between his legs and his ears down. I thought it was hilarious because she was trying to be tender but he must have picked up on her army discipline and was intimidated by her. Even she was laughing about it. I guess there is something to that energy thing.

[Rem&Silkmom]

I read Cesars book and he has some intresting points. I think being the most important is that dogs do need more excercise than I thought they did. I try to walk my boys alot more than I did before reading his book. I also took some pointers when it came to walking them and they are much more pleasant to walk with. I did not take everything to heart that he talks about but I think he makes sense. I don't mind when my boys jump up on me and my hubby and give kisses but recently his mom came to visit and she is not a dog person and I had to constantly keep them off of her. So imagine if my boys were 50lbs dogs...I might not enjoy that so much but yorkies get away with alot. I do take his advise and I don't walk them until they are calm and relaxed. I put thier leash on and wait. And I try to always walk through doors first so they know who the boss is. I'm not sure I have convinced them yet

[puppylove123]

i think it depends on the dog. a hyper, playful yorkie is a happy one! yorkies arent meant to just sit in the corner sleeping all day, they are meant for fun and games and excitment! i remember someone posted a while ago stuff in that book and one said that if your in the middle of something and your dog comes up to play with you, no more than 5 minutes of affection, then you just shoo them away when 5 minutes are up who could shoo away a face like that?

[BLowry]

Originally Posted by Nikko's_human

I got the book Cesar's Way by Cesar Millan, and I have been reading it to better my relationship with Nikko and make him a "happier, more balanced dog". One of the things I just read was that dogs that run to the door when you come home are not really happy to see you, they are exerting dominance. Huh? I always looked forward to Nikko's little happy dance when I came home but the book says to ignore them until they calm down. I tried it yesterday and it tore my heart in two when my little boy was desperately trying to get my attention and I had to ignore him. The book also says to limit your affection only when the dog is calm. I spend the whole day hugging and kissing Nikko. The worse one was when I read that energetic and hyperactive dogs more than likely are unhappy and not healthy. I always thought Nikko's extra playfulness and never ending energy was normal yorkie behavior. What gives? I feel like the worse dog-mom and feel like I have caused my dog to have behavior issues. And here I went thinking I had a super friendly, sweet, loving and playful dog. Anyone else read the book? Am I not understanding him correctly? I really admire his work with dogs and I know he knows what he's talking about.

Apparently he isn't familiar with the terrier breed. ANY discription will say the terrier breed is an excitable, energetic breed....Sadie acts exactly like your little guy. I don't see anything wrong with it....I worry when she DOESN'T act like a typical terrier....I think your little guy is just fine...And you can take THAT from the book of Brenda lol!

[mommiesboy]

I think the book would be a great litter liner ! These people are making money hand over fist and generalizing all breeds to be the same temperment .If my Satch and Sammi didn't run to greet me or want to give me kisses every time I pick them up,I would be on my way to the Vets office As long as you are happy with your Nikko's sweet ,loving ways then that is all that matters.I just about bought a book before I got Satch and I am so glad I didn't.

[YorkieRose]

This may be true with most breeds, but what Cesar has failed to understand is, Yorkies are not really dogs..they are little humans disguised in long coats to resemble a dog...
I have never had a Yorkie not greet me at the door..and I have had dozens and dozens...my in-laws were visiting once..I had to leave for 4 hours..they told me my two house dogs sat on the back of the couch and watched out the window for me...they only time they got down was when my MIL picked them up to hold them..and when put down they went right back to the "window seat"...when the car drove into the drive, they went nuts and ran to the door...that means love to me and I do not care to understand anymore..
I do teach them to settle quick, no non=stop barking and jumping on people..but lots of excitement and kisses are fine...

[lolabella]

I really don't think our Yorkies think our families are wild wolf packs. When did Mia see mommy or daddy hunt down an animal and gobble down raw flesh? Hubby and I are vegetarians, little missy's food comes from a bag (she knows which one), she sleeps on a comfy mattress, she has a cat for a brother, and she goes on a wee wee pad. I think we are as far removed from the life style of a wolf pack as we could possibly be. Instincts can only go so far. I think pups, like all other living beings, adapt to their environments.

[JCarlson2004]

Originally Posted by lolabella

I really don't think our Yorkies think our families are wild wolf packs. When did Mia see mommy or daddy hunt down an animal and gobble down raw flesh? Hubby and I are vegetarians, little missy's food comes from a bag (she knows which one), she sleeps on a comfy mattress, she has a cat for a brother, and she goes on a wee wee pad. I think we are as far removed from the life style of a wolf pack as we could possibly be. Instincts can only go so far. I think pups, like all other living beings, adapt to their environments.

LOL I agree! I think CM has some good points but they don't all apply to small breeds. JMHO

[ukeka]

You know how your fur-baby feels about you & you feel about him, don’t let this book of generic generalized stereotypes scare you . Your fur-baby is just fine and I am sure well adjusted.


Someone else on YT had it right take that book with a grain of salt

[ARCHIE]

I really think he is great with problem dogs. However if what we do with
our own pups and we are happy with that why change it and be unhappy just
because Ceaser thinks that is how it should be. After 2 1/2 yrs Buddy still
get crazed when I come home or company comes. He isn't being bad just
over anxious. When I went home yesterday he did not greet me at the door.
I really got nervous because this has never happend before. When I started walking slowly down
the hall he came running through the bedroom door half asleep! I rather have him
jumping all over me with his puppy kisses than not be there for me when
I get home.

[SnowWa]

QUOTE: This may be true with most breeds, but what Cesar has failed to understand is, Yorkies are not really dogs..they are little humans disguised in long coats to resemble a dog...

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Like I said earlier --- for those of you who feel that Yorkies aren't dogs - they are "humans," why waste your time and money on books about working with or training dogs???

Get a book on "How to raise Children."

You guys are reading the wrong books!!!!!

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***** But, believe me -- my Yorkie is a little dog in every respect... and a cute one at that. All my life, I have totally loved the things about dogs that make them dogs. They have so many wonderful traits -- that people just don't have --- so why try to humanize them???? Let them be the wonderfully special little guys that they are.

My little pup was lying asleep (taking a nap) on top of the desk beside me while I work -- then, he woke up to look out the window because a neighbor walked by. Following this, he came back to me with a wagging little tail to give me puppy kisses followed by some puppy talk and whinning and wanting down because he wants to go outside and play with that neighbor.

My neighbors just love this little dog. He runs his heart out and wags his tail to death to get to them and jump and play and give them kisses.

I never had a little child that did all these things!!! He has wonderful traits and does wonderful things that people never do.

Now he's pawing me and kissing me and whinning to go outside - so, I guess that's what we'd better do.

Bye - Carol Jean

[BabyFidgette]

My aunt went to the vet today (to get her Yorkie spayed) and told him that she would miss the jumping around for a while when she walked in. The vet said he has a little dog too (under 10lbs, but she doesn't remember the breed). The vet says he LOVES when his dog greets him excitedly at the door. He said as soon as the key goes in the door, he hears his dog running and barking. When he steps in, he can't put down his briefcase fast enough cuz he's jumping all over him!!!

Now, this vet didn't mention anything about him being unhealthy or unhappy. A VET!!!!!! Ceasar ain't no vet! (I only use ain't when I'm annoyed. hehehe)

So I still concur, that Ceasar can NOT be talking about toy breeds.

[Rem&Silkmom]

Originally Posted by lolabella

I really don't think our Yorkies think our families are wild wolf packs. When did Mia see mommy or daddy hunt down an animal and gobble down raw flesh? Hubby and I are vegetarians, little missy's food comes from a bag (she knows which one), she sleeps on a comfy mattress, she has a cat for a brother, and she goes on a wee wee pad. I think we are as far removed from the life style of a wolf pack as we could possibly be. Instincts can only go so far. I think pups, like all other living beings, adapt to their environments.

I think that dogs in general do follow the pack family. I know that Remmy treats my daughter very differently than he does me. I believe that he thinks he is higher than her in the pack.

Basically if he challenges her she backs off. I have told her that she needs to make him understand that she is above him in the pack order but she just looks at me like I'm crazy! He had never bitten her but he will growl at her if she tries to move him or make him do something that he does not want to. Remmy has NEVER growled at me or my husband.

[Magneticgal]

Originally Posted by SnowWa

I'm a real Caesar fan -- but somewhere along the line - I heard him mention a hundred times that he is not a dog trainer.... he works with dogs that have problems. He a behaviorial specialist.

Another time, I heard him say that a lot of things that are problems with bigger dogs are not problems with smaller dogs (not that small dogs can't have problems - they certainly can!)

We certainly know when our dogs are happy and well adjusted --- and when their behavior is acceptable to us. And, I'm sure a lot of us rightfully feel that we have no real problems with our little dogs.

When we come home and out little dogs run around in circles, stand on their hind legs, and occasionally bump into our legs. This is no problem.
BUT - if you came home to a 70 to 150 dog that exhibts the same behavior, I would consider this a problem. Especially, if the person coming into our house is a child, a relative, a neighbor, or a friend.

I read his Caesar's book too. And, I think his emphysis on exercise is another things that is more geared to somewhat larger dogs (especially with dogs that need to be better controlled). We don't need to go to quite these same lengths to exercise our tiny little house dogs. Although they certainly need daily exercise also and our walking with them is a wonderful way to bond with them and exercise them at the same time.

I have seen Caesar work with small dogs with behavioral problems - separation anxiety - aggressiveness - etc. ....very effectively. And - I've used some of Caesar's methods with my two small dogs, and I was amazed at how quickly I taught them to behave in certain ways.

As I read his book, I kept thinking of my friends and relatives with big dogs who have all sorts of problems - and kept thinking "So and so should be reading this book - or some other person should be reading this book." But, like a lot of you, my little Yorkie was just lying there beside me - and truthfully, a lot of the book wasn't geared toward a little guy like him who has never been a problem for me or anyone.

But at the same time -- let's admit that we read a lot of posts here on YT about a lot of little Yorkies that are quite aggressive and have other problems as well. And how many times have we seen people advise someone to get a behavorial specialist ASAP. Perhaps these are the times when Caesar's advise might be welcome.....or needed.

I got his DVD also about "Aggression." I don't need it - I have the two most passive dogs in the world. But, I do have a lot of friends with dogs that have aggression problems -- and they are all in line to see this DVD. Plus, I just want to learn more about working with dogs or being around dogs that are aggressive. I think his work and methods are very interesting....

So - I enjoyed his book and his DVD - I'm still a big fan.

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***** Have to laugh - my daughter said that for those of you who think of your little dogs as your children and your babies - Caesar's book would be a waste of time and money - you need a book on "how to raise children."

Carol Jean

I have to agree with Carol on tbis one!! I am a huge Caesar fan personally. BUT books/movies/tv shows,ect. do not ALWAYS 100% pertain to your individual situation. You cannot take everything he says literally or personally. He DOES have a lot of very wonderful advice and has helped NUMEROUS people and their dogs. Read the book/watch the movie/tv show, and if you can take something useful away from it- then great! As far as things that DON'T pertain to your particular situation, discard it- no one will MAKE you follow it!!! I am always interested in others opinions, even if they are different from my own- YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN YOU MAY LEARN SOMETHING!!!!

[FirstYorkie]

Originally Posted by Nikko's_human

I read that energetic and hyperactive dogs more than likely are unhappy and not healthy.

I think you have to interpret that comment as referring to hyperactive for their breed. Obviously, toy breeds are hyperactive compared to larger breeds. You have to compare apples to apples, not apples to oranges.

Originally Posted by Nikko's_human

One of the things I just read was that dogs that run to the door when you come home are not really happy to see you, they are exerting dominance.

Malarky!