Dog Whisperer, Full of s*** or right on??

[judyeve]

I have a few more pages of Cesar's Way to read. Someone on YT recommended it to me and I have seen such a difference in Max since I started "leading the pack." I like his philosophy, and his main rules.

I like the rule remember that he's a dog and not a human. He never says "just a dog." I think he has a great deal of respect for the species, and I have found that since I've been looking at Max as a dog, not a baby, I'm enjoying him even more. I'm finding it remarkable that we can co-exist in harmony with a different species and that we love them and they love us. Someone posted here that we have a language barrier with them, and we just have to figure out how to get them to understand what we want. I think that's pretty much Cesar M.'s point. I think, for those of you who like to "baby" your dogs, it can be compatible with understanding that your Yorkie is really not human, but a dog who you pamper and baby. I spoil mine. Discipline before affection is difficult, but I also find that with Max it is helpful. The exercise thing is amazing, as is teaching him to walk properly. I don't give it as much time as CM says, but we do have our walks and he has changed so much from them. I have him on a harness, but they can be taught to heel pretty easily on as harness. I find it really relaxing and enjoyable to walk with him anyway.

Of course, I don't do everything he says, I rarely watch his show because it's pretty repetitive, and I do think he is so hot!

By the way, I have tried that turning him on his back, submission thing - it just backfires - I don't think Yorkies respond well to that. They're a little too easily over-stimulated and, at least, Max just focuses on getting away. I change his focus and he submits to something else.

Sorry this is so long, but I'm in the middle of working with CM's methods.

[Anna Banana]

Originally Posted by judyeve

I have a few more pages of Cesar's Way to read. Someone on YT recommended it to me and I have seen such a difference in Max since I started "leading the pack." I like his philosophy, and his main rules.

I like the rule remember that he's a dog and not a human. He never says "just a dog." I think he has a great deal of respect for the species, and I have found that since I've been looking at Max as a dog, not a baby, I'm enjoying him even more. I'm finding it remarkable that we can co-exist in harmony with a different species and that we love them and they love us. Someone posted here that we have a language barrier with them, and we just have to figure out how to get them to understand what we want. I think that's pretty much Cesar M.'s point. I think, for those of you who like to "baby" your dogs, it can be compatible with understanding that your Yorkie is really not human, but a dog who you pamper and baby. I spoil mine. Discipline before affection is difficult, but I also find that with Max it is helpful. The exercise thing is amazing, as is teaching him to walk properly. I don't give it as much time as CM says, but we do have our walks and he has changed so much from them. I have him on a harness, but they can be taught to heel pretty easily on as harness. I find it really relaxing and enjoyable to walk with him anyway.

Of course, I don't do everything he says, I rarely watch his show because it's pretty repetitive, and I do think he is so hot!

By the way, I have tried that turning him on his back, submission thing - it just backfires - I don't think Yorkies respond well to that. They're a little too easily over-stimulated and, at least, Max just focuses on getting away. I change his focus and he submits to something else.

Sorry this is so long, but I'm in the middle of working with CM's methods.

You're right. Exercise really is the key. And you're also right that Cesar is a hottie!

[omega]

Originally Posted by Morkie4

I have his book and two of his DVDs and I think for the most part he has good ideas but walking my two dogs for the time he suggest would give them both heat stroke here in Florida!!!!! And I keep both of them in full coat so it would just be too hard on them to do the walking thing.

I do belive in the "packleader" rule...........I love my babies but they are in my pack and know their position with me. On the otherhand, my husband can not master the packleader position and they do not listen to him as well.

I think he has some good points and some points that I do not agree with but if you find something is useful and working for YOU PERSONALLY, then I feel use it. I can't say I do the "exercise, discipline, affection" in that order but it's not like I have that big a problem with them either.

The only problem I have is the aggression my little Toby has with other dogs and so I purchased his DVD on aggression and I will see how he suggests to remedy or improve this behavior. Toby is not aggressive with his sister Kallie, just with other dogs he is not familiar with. So we'll see what he has to say.

So that's why you bought the stroller - so they wouldn't get heat stroke while walking????

[omega]

I just got done watching the whole first season of his show. (from the library) I think he is amazing the way he works and the results he gets. I don't do the long walks, either but it makes me wonder about some of the Yorkies I've read about with behavorial problems... maybe it WOULD help them.

I love and pamper my pups but they ARE dogs. Sorry, but they are! I totally believe in the pack leader thing and my pups are learning now about letting me in and out of the door first. In the past I have taken larger breeds to training classes and saw many dogs there who would have benefited greatly by Cesar's ways.

I have found that they don't hate you or become afraid - they respect you. On the holding them down issue, I use that with one of mine cause she can get aggressive out of jealousy. Well, that is just not ok - it can cause way too many problems. She certainly isn't afraid of me... she wants to be with me all the time and would lick my face till it fell off if I let her!

So, I guess I would give Cesar a .

[Erin]

He's full of it.

What Cesar says and what he does are two different things. He'll point to the dog and say "look now he is calm" but he's NOT. The dog is obviously showing stress signals and he just says "he is in the calm state". It's BS. Just because Cesar says it does not mean it's true or what is actually happening.

There was an episode with a Golden Retreiver and a pool. The dog LOVED to swim in the pool but the family didn't want him in there for whatever reason. So rather than teaching the dog a down-stay or simply locking him out of the safety gate that surrounded the pool, Cesar basically chased him out of the pool every time he jumped in until he stopped jumping in. While that seems to work and makes for good TV - it was obvious that the dog was stressed and confused and afraid of what would happen if he jumped in the pool!!!

Yes dogs need exercise.
Yes dogs need leadership.
Yes dogs need boundaries.
ANY good trainer will tell you that. But what you won't get from a trainer is all the BS about being dominant or "biting" your dog with your hand or any of that BS. They will explain there is a difference between leadership and dominance. And they also know that dogs aren't stupid enough to think people are dogs. Cesar uses some stuff he made up that has NO basis in science and dog training and some stuff that is way old school dog training and no longer favored. The experts - those with Ph.D's who have been training dogs for 30 years and doing research - favor positive reinforcements techniques. The problem with that? It's not sensational enough for TV. It's slow, methodical, and requires a committment on the part of the owner. Cesar swoops in and appears to fix everything and suddenly he's a hero.

Cesar talks about some of the right things, but he DOES a lot of the wrong things. And I feel that actions speak louder than words in this case.

[izzy816]

Im indifferent about him. Some of his advice is good but a lot of it does not apply to a small dog like a yorkie. I was watching him last night with a small breed, and in this episode, he didn't seem to be to harsh on them. He had a bichon/poodle mix who was a rescue dog...about 10 lbs. He was evil, always growled at people showing his teeth. This dog couldnt even go to the groomer because he was so bad. When Cesar tried to groom him, the dog bit him on the finger!

[njoydaride]

Originally Posted by izzy816

Im indifferent about him. Some of his advice is good but a lot of it does not apply to a small dog like a yorkie. I was watching him last night with a small breed, and in this episode, he didn't seem to be to harsh on them. He had a bichon/poodle mix who was a rescue dog...about 10 lbs. He was evil, always growled at people showing his teeth. This dog couldnt even go to the groomer because he was so bad. When Cesar tried to groom him, the dog bit him on the finger!

I watched that one! After he bit him, I think he said something like, "Yes this is what we want."

I like Caesar, but I don't agree with everything he does. I do agree that dogs need exercise and socialization.

[Sethowner]

Izzy, I saw the same one and he did NOT have the dog under control at all. He basically held the dog the whole time by the throat and the owner cut the hair. He did say numerous times he was not choking the dog. I watch him but I am not sure about him.

[diggy4]

I am Ceasar's worse nightmare....he says dogs should not be in bed with you...well my dogs have a california king....My hubby and I just sleep in it with them...lol He says we should not greet or pay attention to them if they are jumping and bouncing at you....you should wait until they calm down and you are ready to greet them....YA RIGHT Bella and Diggy decide when I set my purse down...when I take my shoes off...and I have to give them a treat before I can change out of my work clothes..... Sad but true.

[izzy816]

Originally Posted by Sethowner

Izzy, I saw the same one and he did NOT have the dog under control at all. He basically held the dog the whole time by the throat and the owner cut the hair. He did say numerous times he was not choking the dog. I watch him but I am not sure about him.

I agree...I try to watch the episodes with little dogs to see how he trains them. So far none of them have impressed me.

[izzy816]

Originally Posted by diggy4

I am Ceasar's worse nightmare....he says dogs should not be in bed with you...well my dogs have a california king....My hubby and I just sleep in it with them...lol He says we should not greet or pay attention to them if they are jumping and bouncing at you....you should wait until they calm down and you are ready to greet them....YA RIGHT Bella and Diggy decide when I set my purse down...when I take my shoes off...and I have to give them a treat before I can change out of my work clothes..... Sad but true.

Yeah, he said you have to ignore them when coming in the house. That is hard when they are barking and jumping up and down...they are excited to see you and that is a good feeling!

What I so is I talk to him while I am putting my purse down, then I make him sit, after that I pick him up and give him a big hug! Then we go out for a walk to run off that pent up energy for the day.

[izzy816]

Originally Posted by njoydaride

I watched that one! After he bit him, I think he said something like, "Yes this is what we want."

I like Caesar, but I don't agree with everything he does. I do agree that dogs need exercise and socialization.

I agree!