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

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. :confused: 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.

NO WAY!!!! I'd have a hard time believing that your doggy isn't happy and healthy!

I think Mr. Cesar must stop GENERALIZING and remember that each breed has its own habits and behavior. Yorkies are known for being friendly, energetic, and devoted!

Julie

Wow...I have always liked to watch Cesear Milan's show too, but glad I didn't get that book, I think!!!
Cooper, too, is always thrilled when we come home...furthermore we are just as thrilled to see him. I would never ignore him when I got home!! He makes coming home sooo great!! Also, I love on Cooper all day too, just as he loves on me. We have a mutual admiration thing going:D I also think Cooper is very happy and very well adjusted. I have NO major issues with him, potty training, sleeping, other people, NOTHING!! I, myself, would take that part of Ceaser's book with a grain of salt. I know my puppy is happy and well adjusted and nobody can make me believe otherwise...after all I live with the little toot!!:rolleyes:

I haven't read his book, but from watching his show, I think that he's primarily addressing issues that are PROBLEMS.

Like...if your dog wasn't only happy to see you, but was knocking everything out of your hands and being a big pest. Or, not just a healthy amount of energy, but "out of control" hyperness.

I think that since his JOB is working with dogs who have severe problems, often they can only be rehabilitated by going to extremes. And since he often works with OWNERS that are the CAUSE of the dog's problem, he is used to having to point out, "No, you don't just have a crazy and hyper dog...you have a dog that you have neglected to exercise properly" etc.

I think if your dog's behavior is not a problem for YOU and for the other people who are around him, then you know you're fine. But if others are regularly annoyed by excessive jumping, licking, barking, what have you....that's an alert that you do have a little problem, even if it doesn't bother YOU. :p

He also seems to work with a lot of larger breeds, and lets face it....a little yorkie jumping all over you, happy to see you, is not a problem...but a larger dog is! I don't correct my yorkies for being hyper and happy to see me, but the lab does get told "down!" You know?

I think perhaps that this book is more relevant to larger, dominant breeds. I can see how a 200 pound rottwieler (sp?) charging you at the door can seem like a dominance move. But a 6 pound yorkie? Cesar pretty much feels that dogs should be in a calm-submissive state at all times, but how realistic is that? The only time Nikko is calm is when he's sleepy. ;)

I dont believe this is true in all cases. But I do think you should leave them alone when you walk thru the door and they jump all over you as it makes it bad when you have company come in. I got from a trainer, that its best to ignore them till all four feet are on the floor, then reach down and pet them and give them a treat right then. When they jump on you they are trying to get attention, which is not always pleasant for company that comes to the door. Believe me, I know this has been true with Kizzy. Now I always tell company totally ignore her if she jumps up on them. She gets so excited when company comes in she is all over them if they pay her any attn. But once they ignore her usually she will calm down in a few minutes. Then they can pet her while she is on the floor. This teaches them jumping on people does not get attn, but staying on all 4's will work better. Dont even say get down or anything, just stand there still and ignore until all 4 feet are on the floor, then bend down ,speak to them or treat them and praise them. They do it for any attn, good or bad. Saying get down or no, or anything is showing attn and that is what they are looking for. Just best to teach them they get attn better on all 4's from the beginning. I wish I had known this when I first got kizzy as now at 6 months I am scared its gonna be harder to break her, but I do ignore her now if she jumps on me when I come in the door and it seems to have helped with me. But i do have problems with kizzy jumping on company thats why i said, not in all cases but in cases like this.
I dont know about being unheathy or unhappy making them hyper, she can be hyper sometimes but she is healthy as a horse and seems very happy to me. lol

Sorry but I think books like this are a bunch of crock. You can't write a book about dog behavior and generalize any more than you can about children. Every dog has his/her own personality and does things for reasons unknown sometimes. I know my dog is happy and she does all of those things. She gets excited as she greets me, she's full of energy all of the time especiallly when we have guests over and she gets loads and loads of kisses and belly rubs. When I see the little stubble waving back and forth like crazy and her little butt up in the air when she wants to play, I know how happy she is. This is why I don't read these kind of books and just observe her behavior to know whether she is happy or not. Just my view though. I'm sure a lot of people respect this guy and that's ok too :p

I agree! I don't think it's realistic (of fair) to expect a dog to be calm-submissive all the time! I love when my babies are happy and playful! I would take his book with a grain of salt.

I agree with you that alot of his training seems to be geared towards larger dogs. I have tried some things he said to do and it worked and I ve tried others and it didnt work. All dogs are differrent.

I don't agree with what he says. I love coming home to kisses and hugs and to a happy hyper 7 month old baby.

Me too! After not seeing my babies all day, I look forward to KISSES!! The first 15 minutes when I come home are MADNESS (in a GOOD way) because I go crazy and kiss the pups non-stop. I hold them and we dance around the kitchen. Then I usually chase them into the living room (it's a game we play) and Jim's gets on the floor and chases them too. I tickle them and they run back and forth ont he couch and through the room -- it's just the cutest thing. It's almost like a family ritual now. They look forward to it every night and so do I.

Ok the only dogs that were not happy when I came home or ran to door to greet us were ones that we took in to foster care that had been kicked and beaten. Geeeeeeeesk he is wayyyy off base on that one. BTW after the dogs developed trust in people after months of work they joined the rest greeting us at the door. Mya stands back from door as we taught her. As soon as we close the door she goes crazy jumping up for kisses and hugs.

Just my opionion
 

I think he is referring to negative behavior. Cesar always emphasize having control over a dog in all situations. I don't think that he was talking about your dog greeting you at the door when you get home. Whenever I watch the show he always tells his clients "dogs are pack animal". When your dog greets you at the door they are greeting you as their pack leader and is looking to you for direction and they are showing their desire to please you. :)

i think i would die if lexi didnt greet me at the door..or i didnt greet her..
is he out of his cotton pickin mind... i look forward to that first 5 minutes..
i dont go crazy with her, but i do say my hello's and she jumps in me like crazy.. wouldnt take it any other way..... their yorkies for goodness sake..

use what works for you!
 

My friend who is into training tried to tell me the same thing "ignore them". Also that the dog has to "earn" his way in...that you don't let them in the house until they earn it. She had problems correcting a lot of behaviors using this way of thinking.
I didn't listen to anything she said. If I say "sit" Sparks will sit with company..or "easy". He is the most hyper dog there is and WILL jump on people but I can also stop him if I want him to. I have used clicker training and he listens really well...he is still only a puppy so we aren't perfect or anything. Ha!
I LOVE it when My dog comes and jumps on me and greets me when I come home. I come running in too! It's like going up and hugging and kissing someone who has been gone. I could NEVER ignore him like Cesear suggested.
Use what works for you. Dont go with things that you dont' believe. No one is an expert because no one has been a dog...well...in their current lifetime anyways. Ha!
suz