DoLittler: Blog

It's simply a matter of 'Horses for courses'. Some dogs will respond well to controlling techniques, have no problem in accepting control and are visibly improved and happier as a result of some newer stricter rules. Others need to be addressed much more carefully, and time is required for the desirable effect. The trick is to be able to ascertain what sort of dog you're dealing with and to go from there. There is I believe no such thing as a one stop method to cure all. That's the problem with Cesar's programme...everybody thinks they can resolve their dog's behaviour using the methods (and equipment) used on TV. Big mistake! Nick Jones MCFBA www.alphadogbehaviour.co.uk

There are thousands of Ceasar devotees out there, and that is all the more reason why articles like this need to be made public. Thank you for posting it. Good dog training does not make for good TV. Ceasar's methods are based on the dominance theory and not science. There is no reason to try to overwhelm, dominate, flood or force a dog into submission to train it. I can't say that everything he does is wrong, like a dog needing lots of exercise, but he is coming at the problems from the wrong direction with a bad map. Brad

Clearly your relative is unbalanced if they bit their own dog. It's bizarre that you blame this on Cesar Milan. He NEVER advocates hitting or biting dogs and always instructs people to seek help from professionals. Cesar's "way" is not the only way but it is an effective method when used correctly.

People, please! No one is the holder of absolute truth, so don't get that freaked out when someone disagrees with you or what you believe is right. Besides, how can you take for right something that appears on TV without searching for more information? I love my dogs and for a while I did think about using Millan's advises but I took the time and I found that his techniques lack research, to say the least. This article never asks for money, nor blames Millan for the attack. It only gives us good reasons to distrust his way of understanding dogs. Being an opinion backed up with evidence, at least deserves respect.

Please read the title of this blog:"Why veterinary behaviorists can't stand Cesar Millan" It is obviously blaming Millan. Yes, this article never asks for money, but it is surely blaming Millan for this attack. Again, I have to express how disappointed and disgusted I am to see the people highly educated with DVM degrees are accusing Millan for something he is not responsible for. What is the relevance of bringing Millan's name in this article?? What do you mean by "these Cesar-esque tricks," which is even not close to what Millan teaches? Crossing out Millan's face with yellow lines is so childish and reminded me my neighbor’s bulling kid. Just because Millan doesn't have degree and hasn't published academic paper, doesn't mean he hasn't done research. If you were in academic field, you would know that all the good real research starts from a good observation. I don't consider a research based on other people's books only as a real research. That is a compilation of synopsis. Millan observes his pack of dogs every day all the daylong. If you think he hasn’t learned anything from observing it, you are underestimating his ability. I don’t understand why people who hate Millan are not ashamed of themselves by accusing him without knowing what he is really advocating. He never said, “positive method doesn’t work” because he knows all the dogs are different and you have to apply the most appropriate approach for the dog. Some dogs are totally OK with positive only training. When Millan sees a dog is severely traumatized by abuse or fear driven, his approach is nothing but positive reinforcement and stimulating the dog’s instinct. Probably Millan haters don’t understand (or don’t want to know) that Millan is not teaching one technique. He advocates philosophy that you and your dog can reside harmoniously without going against Mother Nature. It is quite peaceful. You should read his book.

Biting your dog??!? That is completely crazy. Like another commenter said, Cesar promotes a "calm assertive" state of mind when training and dealing with your dog. If you are NOT in this state of time, you should not be handling your pet. That woman got what she deserved. I am pretty sure Cesar has never had an episode or a chapter in his book called "Using Your Teeth To Show Your Dominance" I think Cesar's methods are effective if used properly. How can you complain about a method that is as natural as treating a dog like a dog?

I've watched a lot of Cesar and never felt the urge to bite a dog. Your relative was crazy before she started watching The Dog Whisperer

I have to agree with Ceasar , there are no bad dogs ,just bad humans that do not understand there dogs.

Thank you for speaking out against Ceasar's approaches! I'm own a dog walking service and we care for over 500 dogs. By and far, the most aggressive dogs we deal with are dogs that were taught under the Milan-school of training. You do not need to dominate your dog to have it behave. You need to befriend your dog and let it know you're it's loving caretaker. Things like agility, luring lots of "sits," and playing interactive games such as fetch goes a lot further than constantly letting you dog know you rule over them. You want to open up lines of communication and encourage eye contact - not put fear into your dog. Because you know what happens? The second the dog is faced with someone who DOESN'T dominate them, the old behaviors come right back, or worse, they try to dominate the person. It actually teaches dogs that they only obey if they're being dominated. What happens when a 4 year old kid on the sidewalk doesn't dominate the dog? Dominance training doesn't train dogs how to act, it trains them to fear. I encourage everyone to read "The Other End of the Leash" - a fantastic book, which explains why the Ceasar approach does not work for many dogs. Remember - his TV show is edited, it's not live and it's not real-time. Don't think he's more than what he is - a celebrity with great marketing. Don't attack people who disagree - perhaps check out the other side. Your dog might thank you for it. Some of his methods are great. I always make my dogs sit before entering and leaving the house. Training is a give and take thing. Not all dogs respond the same way to every type of training. But I can say that I've actually watched quite a few non-aggressive dogs turn aggressive in a manner of days under the wrong trainers. (Who aspire to be the next "Dog Whisperer.") It's fad training that is based on science that was debunked 30 years ago. Just do some research - open your mind - stop letting the TV tell you what's correct - and you'll see what many pet care professionals have already learned about his techniques.

People make the ultimate mistake in thinking one method works for all dogs. This is as stupid as BSL! Living creatures are individuals, with individual personality traits. Some respond to explanation and inclusion; some respond to "tough love;" some respond to rewards - you have to suss out the dog as an individual, get to know its personality and THEN try an appropriate course of education/discipline. Geez, where the !##$ has common SENSE gone???

Tufts University has also done a study. They feel that harsh methods lead to aggression. Most harsh methods are so outdated. Positive Reinforcement is the modern technique for training dogs. If you want to follow someone try Ian Dunbar, Nicole Wilde, Jean Donaldson and many other trainers out there promoting positive reinforcement. Your dog will be happier and so will you.

This article is way off base- it is completely uncalled for relating "techniques" that Cesar never says, promotes, or advocates for as "Cesar-esque." It can fall under the laws of slander- implying that he promotes concepts such as "ear biting" (what kind of nut-job bites a dog's ear??? and THEN euthanizes the dog??) Cesar always says that you NEVER EVER correct your dog out of frustration or anger, or with frustration or anger. That you always have to be calm and assertive. He also ALWAYS says to seek professional help. For those of you who do not understand what that means- he is saying to NOT try these techniques on your own and get a professional!! Cesar also never talks about staring dogs down! This is just another vet getting mad and wanting to take away another aspect of dog health and lives (dog training) from people who do not have DVMs it happens all the time in the animal world- vets think if you are not a vet you are not qualified. Not to mention vets are stereotypically bad with behavior issues pushing for euthanasia harder than anyone in the animal world. Positive training methods are wonderful for TRAINING dogs, they are not wonderful for fixing dogs that have issues, especially aggression issues. And what do vets like to do with these dogs- say there is no cure and have them "put down."

This article almost strikes me as one to challenge the fact that the dog handler(s) must be considered pack leader(s) by the dog. Are you that stupid, or are you just writing an article with a thin premise to take a pot-shot at someone on TV?

Glad to see more people speaking out against Cesar.It's no small wonder why they start his show with don't try this at home.It is fun to watch him repeatedly get bitten though.If you want to promote a trainer,promote Ian Dunbar creator of the praise reward method.Join with the Humane Society in taking Cesar of the air before he gets bitten anymore.Stop his annoying poking because it's impolite to poke and that obnoxious ssshhhushing.The man is a dog horder and animal cops should remove the poor dogs from his compound.

The behaviorist that are most concerned with the forceful, dominant type tecniques happen to be veterinarians. Yes, some vets also hold degrees in behavior as well. And in my opinion, they should. I have never seen any "scientific' research showing the dominant method as anything but beng harmful and extremely dangerous. For the people wanting quick fixes, you are setting yourself up for losses in many ways. If you try using the methods at home, with your dog, you are risking losing all hope in every having a strong relationship built on respect from trust instead of fear. A fearful dog is unstable and always unpedictable. The only times I have watched Millan's "show" , it has only been because I was in a place where it would not have been appropriate to change the channel or turn of the television. The really odd thing is, that the times I did watch the "show" he got bitten. As he should have. He was using force on a small dog and making the dog "sit still" and withstand having his hair around his eyes cut with scissors. The dog's entire body language was screaming. Anyone who has studied the body language of dogs would have been able to predict that the dog was going to bite him. This is only one difference between the methods of millan and that of Victoria Stillwell, who also has a very successful show on the animal planet, where you would think anything concerning pets would be viewed. It is not necessary to scare the heck out of your dog in order to get him/her to do what you ask. Yes, every dog is an individual, but , even the most difficult dogs can really be used through positive, non forceful, non aversive methods. If you knew you had to face your very worst fear in the next week or so, which you prefer, Being thrown into it suddenly without warning and held in it until you could not fight anymore and gave up? Or, would you rather take small approximations to gradually introduce and prepare you for meeting this horrible fear? Then, upon meeting it, you would be much more likely to be relaxed and not nearly as over flooded with fear the way that Cesar demonstrates. If people would turn the volume completely down on the television while watching his show, and become familiar with the body language of dogs, you would see that the use of force, flooding with fear, and especially that of rolling a dog on it's back, or grabbing the scruff. This wil only shut a dog down. The dog will learn not to growl as a warning to a person who may do something the dog is uncomfortable with, and with no growl or other warning, the person is going to get bit. Doesn't it make much more sense to create a confident, socialized, well adjusted dog, than one that lives in constant fear of doing something wrong because he has always been strongly corrected for an unwanted behavior, yet never rewarded for all of the wonderful things that he did, but was ignored. People who believe that training using reinforcement for desirable behavior, and believe that treats must be given every time the dog does what it is told, are just not knowledgable about Positive training methods. This also leads me to believe they are not very creative either. Food is not rewarding for me at all. I just really have no enthusiasim when it comes to eating. I eat enough to live on. However, there are many things that do stimulate my interest levels. Things I enjoy. Why would anyone rely soley on food as reinforcement for dogs? A lot of them are not food motivated either. So it is up to us trainers to find out what the dog really likes a lot, Coming from a zoo and Seaworld working enviornment, positive reinforcement and behavior modificatin methods are the only way possible to train. I doubt millan could step up on the slide out area and get a killer whale , or even a dolphin, otter, seal, or sealion to do anything at all. It takes a bit of intelligence and imagination for trainers with these types of animals, to train successfully. I guess Millan could try to force them into submission but he would be really embarassed in front of the camera if he did. Now, those dog trainers that use positive reinforcement methods could most likely, after getting to know the animal they were working with, could probably get that animal to do whatever it is they set out to train it to do. Yes, I know, Cesar is not anything but a dog rehabilitater. The point is that he really is not up to code where training is concerned. I do not understand the people who want to do anything but show their love for their dog through using a method of training that is so obviously much more fun for both the guardian and the companion. I absolutely love training. Even difficult dogs. The stimulate my thinking and in the end, not only the dog succeeds at learning, I do as well, because that one difficult dog caused me to think about any and all things that may help the dog learn better and more effectively. Things that can used for reinforcement or "treats', other than food, are: toys, rubdowns, and/or masage, a walk through the park, or some other favorite place, being allowed into an area the dog likes to be in, saying hello to the dog's best friend down the street, throwing a ball, or a frisbee. Tug o War, playing hide and seek, being allowed on the couch, chair or bed, acting really crazy, and let your dog stare at you as if you really are. Going for a car ride, lots and lots of love and in all honesty, once a behavior is trained and proofed, just an enthusiastic "good boy/gir" is satisfying for dogs. I honestly believe that the statistics would show, if anyone would consider letting them out, just how often the dogs that are victims of such abusive "training" methods as millan uses, that they progressively got worse. I personally know of three cases where this happened and the dogs had to be put down. And these were dogs thta millan, himself 'trianed'. There really are no shortcuts to anywhere worth going. I say get it right the first time and just by interacting and actually sharing your life with your companion, the positive approach is much more enjoyable, where the dogs are jumping up and down, waiting for the next new behavior to learn, and extremely more effective with the finished product. I notice they never really do any follow up reports on how dogs on his show are doing 6 months to a year after he "rehabilitated" them. Sure would be interesting. In dog training, jerk is a noun, not a verb. Personally, I really do not see him lasting much longer as a "trainer" or a "star'. He continues to push boundries way beyond that which is humane or safe. And more people are tuning into Victoria on the animal planet every week. Funny, she very rarely even touches one of the dogs she is working with on the show, and yet, wow, the results are wonderful and actually fun to watch. Watching the body language of the poor dogs that fall into the hands of millan does nothing more than make me ill. I know they are so scared and anxious and then on top oof that they are expected to behave in a "calm and submissive way". If you were trapped in a burning building, with no way out at all, would you be calm and submissive? There are many ways to TEACH a dog to relax naturally and be calm. I personally do not want a submissive dog. I like my dogs and every animal I share my life with to be totally confident and ready for the world. Being calm does not = scared stiff. I am never worried about using positive ways as opposed to aversive, forceful ways, as far as training other people's dogs. In fact, I have had clients that praised millan and how wonderful he is, and after seeing the methods used by the majority of REAL LIFE trainers these days, they were stunned and very thankful that their dogs did have to go through all of the unpleasant and abusive styles that the person they so very much admired before, would have put them through. I love happy endings.

Ahh me, it is interesting that not of these Anti Cesar posts ever adress the point that these dogs who have been helped by Cesar Millan ARE the most extreme dogs. they ignore the point that the Ian Dunbars and that group were unable to help these dogs who were facing abandonement (to be euthanized by shelters - or direct euthanizing by owners. It is also interesting that when it would be so easy for Cesar to be shown as "wonderman" who is never bitten - the who POINT of demonstrating him being bitten is to show a) how doangerous that dog is and b) how important it is to NOT exceed ones skill or abilities but to seek professional help as is stated before every segment begins. We are after all, a disposable society. Cesar is the first one to applaud and encourage when the softer solutions used by those like Ian work. Then he steps up to save those dogs when Ian -type (positive) solutions dont work. it is unfortunate, that when these people's solutions dont work, their preference is to allow the dog to be euthanized rather then assisted by a technique they did not originate. There are thousands of us who will contnue to use Cesar's way to help those most difficult dogs that "positive" trainers cannot. They are welcome to the easy and well behaved dogs to take little time or work.

How many of the owners training the dog to sit for a reward reported long term SUCCESS in permanently changing the dog's behavior? In comparison to what other techniques with other dogs? Violence can spur a reaction from a dog and positive only can fail to obtain a lasting change. Solutions really more often incorporate BOTH rewards and adversives. Attempting an instant solution to a long term problem --particularly an Unsolveable one as with your relative's dog with a SEIZURE issue, is doomed to failure. Using the treat method wouldn't have succeeded EITHER. It wouldn't have solved the underlying MEDICAL problem. 2 years of treatment "by the book" obviously had not solved the problem. The lack of a good solution is what sparked the "instant solution" bite on the ear attempt. Milan may not be a cure-all, but neither is a failed "2 year treatment by the book"

Well, since you want to bring that subject up, I will raise you this, we are not "above" dogs, or any other animal on the planet. If you are trying to base you clumsy thought on this matter off as a matter of intelligence, you have some serious research and proof to show. It is impossible to measure another animals intelligence using methods made and designed by the intelligence of humans. If humans did not have the body they have, all of your so called intelligent technology crap would never have come to exist, which would have made the world a better place. Please do not talk to me of matters concerning a religion that actually believes the idea of talking snakes in a tree. You are on the wrong blog bud. To reach the level of other animals, you do not have to "lower" yourself at all. You would have to fly very high to come close. Humans are far from advanced. People in general are very dangerous animals. Violent and Savage, with no remorse or sympathy. The other animal resembling those traits could well be the chimpanzee. But then, we are so closely related. Tell me, Mr. Church man, what other animal on the planet do you see actively, willfully, and knowingly doing massive damage to the planet which supports it? Uh, none would be the correct answer. So, where is the intelligence in doing such a thing? Where is the intelligence in doing such unspeakable things to one another and some of the biggest being in the name of God. I really think you got a little lost, or made a wrong turn somewhere by coming to this blog. You offered no real insight to anything and you obviously did not learn anything. I am sure you have some sort of profession, even if it is going to school. I would be willing to bet that I know very little about whatever profession you are in. Therefore, I would not go into a conversation concerning your proffession and try to speak as if knowledge were present. All animals, yes, including humans, we are mammals, differ in many ways. None being "abover or below" the other. All beings serve a purpose and the ongoing extinction of all sorts of species of animals every day is catching up and effecting the ecosystem. We continue to breed, while it is quite evident that our population is already way over what would be managable. Even deer self regulate their breeding in order to keep population levels lower. Does that make deer smarter than us? maybe so. Certainly more aware of how overpopulation could endanger their species than to help it. Tell me what would happen, if your essence, all that you know, your very being was placed in the body of a beaver. Do you think you would survive with all of your "intelligence" in the body of a beaver? You would die shortly after because you have no idea how to be a beaver. You would be the stupidest beaver ever to have existed. If that beaver's being was put in the body of human, it too would not survive long. So, intelligence cannot be measured just by what physical abilities a certain animal, including humans, posess. Ever worked with marine mammals? Elephants? After you do, come back and let me know just how much higher of an intelligence level people have over other animals. As for dogs, the are far more intelligent at being dogs than any human will ever be. Quite frankly, they exhibit the very qualities that your "god" is supposed to have had for it's creations.....unconditional love. Of all the animals I have worked with in my lifetime, as a whole, dogs are the most giving and unforgiving of them all, including humans and yes, including jesus. Now scurry off to your church meeting and tell the congregation what you have learned. 'The opposite of a correct statement is a false statement. But the opposite of a profound truth may well be another profound truth.' 'It has been said that man is a rational animal. All my life I have been searching for evidence which could support this.'

The more people who understand that when aggression meets aggression - it's a recipe for disaster, the better. People who use methods like Cesar Milan, in my opinion have serious issues with 'control'. To have to 'dominate' a vulnerable animal with such aversive and coercive methods, seems to me that the person has very little control in their own everyday life. It makes them feel good to get 'compliance' from something that is so dependant on them. It's often 'little men' who insist on using these outdated and misinformed techniques which elevates them to some sort of macho status 'look at me, I can make this dog fo whatever i want by fear and intimidation. That makes me a real man'. Not to say that a lot of women don't also rely on this trait of neanderthal masculinity when 'training' dogs. These people need to get some therapy of their own to deal with their own issues and not 'act out' using animals as their emotional whipping post. Here in the UK we have 'trainers' who feel that it is necessary to dress up like the SAS when working dogs in basic training as it makes them feel tough and important. Actually it just makes them look ridiculous and like they are living out some kind of military fantasy! I'm glad that soon there will be legislation in this country to eliminate these 'back street dog trainers' who cause so much damage through using these aggressive and physically and psychologically damaging methods. Torture one animal and you are rightly prosecuted under the law. Call yourself a 'dog trainer' and torture hundreds and you get away with it. Absolutely shameful. Danni

Forgive my typos.. I am only human :)

Anyone who has studied animal behaviour can see exactly what is going on with these TV 'experts' very quickly, despite the voice overs telling us what they are doing - sometimes they do not marry up! And yes, I totally agree, exercise is important for all animals but.....I can Not agree with ...."long walks where we move swiftly as one, without the boring standing around letting them sniff every two feet"......er.... boring for who?? certainly NOT the dogs. Indeed this is one thing I try to get clients to appreciate...the dogs NEED to sniff, it allows them to read their environment and respond as necessary, which can promote a relaxed and secure dog. That is one thing most 'old style' trainers do not appreciate: the dogs are scentient beings with thoughts, needs, emotions, desires and as guardians of these wonderful creatures we must understand what they need to fulfil their needs, desires, etc. and once we understand them, give them the chance to express or fulfil them.....any animal that can not express natural behaviours will become a very unhappy animal. Perhaps standing around for humans when they should be 'walking' the dog is unnatural and hence promotes feelings of frustration and we all know frustration leads to - aggression......which is usually taken out on the dog. Someone said we behaviourists have not offered alternatives to Milan. I offer you this: set a time you want to take the dog out for. (yes we all have to go to work and can't spend all day waiting for the dog to sniff every lamp post) So... walk for half that time (including sniff/marking stops then head home. SImple! The dog gets to sniff in peace and the human does not get stressed because the dog is not 'walking!' Remember, mental stimulation can be just, if not more, rewarding than physical stimulation. Pamla Dawn

The problem I have with this sort of article is that it becomes rather obvious rather quickly that whoever wrote the article doesn't actually understand "Cesar's Way". Yes, his training techniques are controversial, but they aren't new. He didn't create dominance training, he's just refined it and made it accessible for the layperson. And he is the first person to acknowledge that different dogs require different techniques. I have seen him using positive association, praise, treats, and catching behaviours on his show many times, not just dominance rolls and neck pinches. There is more to his technique than just dominance. Unlike certain trainers (Victoria Stillwell, for instance) who believe that their way of training is the only way to train a dog, his technique shows that every dog is an individual case, and each dog will respond to a different type of training. **** Where I grew up, we treated our dogs like dogs, which is the basic premise behind Cesar's technique. His technique doesn't teach aggression or abuse of dogs. He never harms the dogs he's dealing with, he just treats them like animals instead of like tiny people in furry coats. I have been using a technique similar to Cesar's my entire life, because that's how I was raised. And I have always been complimented on how well-behaved and happy my dogs seem. I never hit them, I never hurt them and I would never under any circumstances BITE them. That's the most retarded thing I've ever heard of, and any one who would do that is obviously mentally unstable, which has nothing to do with Cesar's technique. *** Yes, people and dogs can get hurt by improperly utilising dominance training. But that's through their own ignorance or misunderstanding. And no, dominance training won't work in every case. All dogs are individuals, all dogs are unique. I have a very nervous dog who was abused by previous owners. I have trained her to be confidant and calm through rewards and praise, and I would never try to use dominance training on her, because it's not what she needs. But for some dogs, it's exactly the technique that they need, and it works beautifully.

you are so right, I have used nurturing training for 30 years.It works well whether I am deprogramming a Schutzhund III dog or an abused rescue.Thank you for bringing up this issue and keep up the great work! On dogs dollars & sense ,I often bring up such issues and am currently writing a book about it....maybe one day trainers will realize that if we were meant to be pack leaders we would have fur and four legs.

To all those who took such ignorant and unforgiving offense at "Jason" of April 8, for suggesting dogs were intelligent and sensitive creatures but less so than humans, you need to check your definition of intelligence and stop defining the human species by the worst of their offenders. If you have such little faith in humanity and think that we would have to "fly high" to reach the level of our animal companions I challenge you: if you never saw another human being again in your life, how good would that be. How happy would you be without the companionship of the humans that you are so quick to wholly dismiss as dangerous and inferior in "intelligence and civility." And while you're slinging your hatred at "Mr. Church Man" you should know that genetic research out at Cal Tech has suggested that every member of the human species did come from one man and one woman. So don't be so quick to try and decouple religion and science. It's too subtle and complex to make such sweeping generalizations. Lastly if humans are not more advanced than dogs and Cesar Millan's dominance methods are so great, why is it that we aren't constantly grabbing each other physically by the neck and forcing each other on the ground to establish right-of-way. Why do we ponder these philosophical points and choose, not on instinct, but after thought, synthesis, and debate, who's argument holds the greatest merit. How often and by which animals other than the human animal have you seen that behavior? Maybe you have an axe to grind but don't do it at the expense of truth. Peace.

I'm a trainer who actually makes money mopping up after Cesar. It is never necessary to hurt a dog to train them or treat a behavior problem. Never.

What's missing from this article is the removal of YOUR OWN EMOTION from the practice. I've been on both sides of this fence, have even taken my dogs to Cesar AS WELL AS sought help from the positive reinforcement side. Cesar's methods are sound: for him, and for people who are able to emulate him. He doesn't use harsh methods. He uses immense patience, and touching that snaps the dog out of whatever zone he's in. What I got from Cesar was results. What I got from the other side of the fence was "well, would you look at that? That dog needs to be put down." Tell me, is it better to rehabilitate a dog or kill it?

OH, I have been searching for Milan's qualifications... to no avail....does anyone know what they are please?

How did a simple article about a method of training end up with slathering rabid responses attacking religion and the right to own and use animals at all? OK PETA Kooks, we get you, you think no one should use or own animals... You slander the methods used by a dog trainer (Milan is a dog trainer) and blame him for a case of stupid simpletons who apply incorrectly his methods as viewed by them. As I said earlier, it's a case of personal responsibility here. Here's the story; Owner of dog bites aggressive dogs ear and is bitten. Hello, that's dumb. Blame a TV character for what they chose to do? Clearly they were just looking for a scapegoat. That person could have made the same choice after watching any trainer on tv a few times. It just so happened it was MIlan. As for those of you who buy into the PETA horse hockey, How does it feel to be robbed of your self will by an organization who has killed more animals than any shelter in the US and probably the world all for a skewed point of view. You are led around by Ingrid by the nose like a bull with a ring in it, only it's not your nose she's got a good grip on if you know what I mean.

I own2 well behaved dogs. They both went to obedience programs and graduated. Both trainers were Cesar Millan advocates. My dogs are happy, well adjusted members of my family (pack).

Sigh ! Pamla Dawn (BSc Hons) CABT (Coape)..etc..etc..etc......

What I don't get is .... all these people " Anonymous" and there are alot of you .Obviously aren't sure about your own coments or you would ID yourself. Pretty brave to talk if no one knows who you are. How do I know if " Anonymous" isn't just one person... Christopher Venezia

I wonder how many 'serious aversives' were edited ? Pamla Dawn

by 50/50 I am trying to say both in a dogs life.

To get a practical, step by step understanding of how dogs think, get "Saturday Dogs......and the owners they trained", by Susan Overfield. She is Montana's dog behavioral trainer, and has been at it for 38 years, quietly changing dog after dog, owner after owner. Overfield gets dogs, and she gets people. And she does something traditional trainers don't---she guarantees her results. Overfield trains using a relationship based, dog centered method. Overfield will be in Ohio in September. Go to http://www.dogskillsadventure.org/. She will also offer private consultations. Contact her at www.overfieldkennel.com. She has trained rescue workers, breed groups, herding dogs, hunting dogs, dogs of every stripe, age, color, and personality. Her book is a delightful series of anecdotes which illustrate her method and how dogs think, using actual examples of dogs she has trained. The name of the book comes from her popular Saturday classes. Overfield trains around the country privately. She does fundraisers for rescues and shelters, and she also is acclaimed for speaking to large groups, including animal based trade groups. She writes like she talks, which is smart, witty, and unvarnished truth. Pick this book up here, or at her website: www.overfieldkennel.com. Watch the video. She is for real.

Dominance is science. Those who can't employ his methods are just social inept. The dog probably bites them because THEY are unstable. It's rediculous to talk about his credibility as a "dog psychologist" or anything else. You want his credentials? You can find them four hours a day on the National Geographic channel. I think it hilarious how the author writes that after 20k worth of "hard work the right way" the dog still growls at her. Nice to see that 20k worth of training paid off. The author also fails to mention what breed of dog his female "relative" was using. I'm imagining a rotweiler eating a grandmothers face. You buy a large fighting breed and are suprised that a female who can't show dominance can't control it. Dominance is very natural and very common in society. Want an example? Go to highschool. Human society protects us from it's most primal form, but dogs aren't subected to our laws. They don't think rationally, they just react. Cesar isn't doing anything wrong. His physical touches are used to redirect the dog, not harm, and he only uses the alpha roll when the dog displays direct aggression against humans or other dogs. As a man, I understand what he is talking about because dominant rituals are commonplace in male society. It's a natural way men establish order amongst each other. Why do you think men fight? One tries to establish dominance over the other and the other objects. I think most people do. Cesar tries to empower people to feel more confident and portray more leadership, however, it obviously isn't for everyone. Particularly the social inept. Most people understand the concepts. If you don't understand what he means by dominance, THEN CESAR MILAN'S METHOD ISN'T FOR YOU.

If you were to look closely at the statistics you would find that most if not all of the bites are the result of the owner not having a clue as to how to deal with an aggressive dog. If your dog is showing signs of aggression especially towards you... get help from a professional! Don't think that by watching Ceasar's TV show or one of the others available that you can solve your dog's issues. I have been working with aggressive dogs for over 25 years. I work with the dogs that other so called dog trainers won't. As I see it comes down to one 2 things, understanding dog behavior and knowing how to safely and effectively change the behavior. I, frankly, am glad to see someone like Cesar be successful. Based on some of the posts I have read i.e. (APRIL 9, 2009, 1:08 PM I'm a trainer who actually makes money mopping up after Cesar. It is never necessary to hurt a dog to train them or treat a behavior problem. Never.) it shows that not everyone is a dog trainer and cannot apply training techniques successfully. Let me say it again, If your dog is showing signs of aggression especially towards you... get help from a professional! If you want to discuss it, let's talk. rbdogtraining.com

oh and remember to call rod butts because he knows best just like we all do.

I have to say, trainers, behaviorists, vets and everyone can slam Cesar's approach with dogs, but these are dogs that none of these other people could or would do anything to help... just euthanize. I agree with another commenter that mentions that Cesar is working with dogs that everyone else has given up on, the worse of the worst. He has saved these dogs and does so using his own technique. Does this approach work for every dog? No. Many of his approaches would be too tough for my soft dog who will stop the majority of behaviors from me simply telling her "NO". One has to take Cesar's information and use what works, leave the rest. His philosophy has many truths that many Americans should do well to listen to and take seriously. And it is correct that Cesar has never advocated biting one's dog.

Shame on you! Your so-called scientific article was nothing more than an unfair attack on Mr. Millan. Even the title was combative from the start; "can't stand" are very hurtful and unneccessary words. Your article contained no scientific merit what so ever and was obviously biased and unrelevant. You evidently have never watched Cesar on his show, otherwise you would not have made such a fool of yourself. Cesar never says his method works for every dog and he never advises harsh, cruel, or inhumane treatment. He has helped far more traumatized dogs than you ever have. You can find all kinds of useless scientific jargon about dogs, but Cesar's experience and techniques are anecdotal; they work more often than not. He knows about a dogs natural instincts and works with them and not against them by showing people how to change their own energy because dogs read more kinds of energy than people do. If you watch the show, Cesar always observes the owners behavior first and more often than not, teaches the owners proper behavior more than the dogs. Cesar never teaches dominance, so please, please fair and objective. He teaches a happy dog is balanced, calm, and peaceful in their surroundings. Also dogs are pack animals by nature and really do look for a calm and assertive (non-aggressive) pack leader; in a household, if they don't see one, it causes anxiety and disorder so they will become one to fill the vacancy, so to speak. It's COMMON SENSE people; dogs don't have have common sense, only instinct, feelings, thoughts, and emotions. Stop blaming Cesar Millan for bad human behavior!

I agree with the 3/29/09, 235PM; 3/31/09, 1048AM; 4/9/09 715AM; & 4/12/09, 322AM comments. Cesar is saving dogs that 'Professionals' say are too aggressive to save. If Humane Society's want him off the air, it's because of people who mis-interp the message he is trying to get across, not because his methods are wrong. That would be like saying the Humane Society likes to kill dogs. Taking a show off the air because there are a few, not so bright, people in this world, would mean a lot of shows would be taken off the air. People need to take responsibility for their actions. As for Debie's 4/9/09 entry, your statement is as silly as saying, if we were meant to live with dogs, we would have fur and four legs. I say, if you are going to live with dogs, you need to be the pack leader. ALL humans should be higher up in the pack order than the dog. From, Billie

This article pretty much comes down to almost religiously fanatical belief systems, money, and control...and the dirty tactics of those who who can only attack what they can't understand. IMO, most of these vet behaviorists are a bunch of terrified, puffed-up loons with a degree in fantasy behaviorism. And that degree is not even dog specific. But this is nothing new. The "theory" crowd have always tried to lord their book and hypothosis learnin' over those results based folks who deal with the fallout of how those lab theories fail in the real world. The "theory" crowd mostly sticks to "radical behaviorism" (google that one) views and refuses to acknowledge that social learning or some of the other sciences have any impact on a dog's behavior at all. Just remember the next time one of these bookworms tells you to put your dog down for some vague, unprovable diagnosis, that those letters after their name and all the book learnin' in the world is no measure of intelligence, real life experience, or character as a human being.

oh come on! I have used some of his training on my dogs. It worked for my golden retriever, but it didn't work on my little dog. Needless to say it works well with some dogs and not others. No will ever agree on the same methods.

is it better to choose a method that is more likely to cause aggression or a method that is less likely to cause aggression? Is it an acceptable excuse for an owner to say one method takes too long if the alternative method is more likely to cause aggression. What is more important, saving owners time or reducing the chances of the dog being aggressive. Your choice. But don't blame the dog if it all goes wrong and of course be prepared to work twice as hard to correct the mistake. Your call!

Skinner never achieved that same level of “learning” with rats, because for birds, pecking is a predictable fixed-action pattern (also called a modal action pattern), related to food; it’s more or less stamped into their DNA. Rats, meanwhile, don’t have an instinctive “bar-pressing” behavior in their genes, which is why Skinner never achieved that same level of success (if you can call Torturing animals “success”) with rats and mice. Another development came when Keller Breland, who studied under and later worked with Skinner, did an experiment with a group of animals who weren’t locked inside Skinner boxes. They were free to roam around a large, barn-like structure. He conditioned them to learn a simple behavior (pushing a button) that gained them a food reward. And most, if not all, of the animals quickly learned to push the button whenever they were hungry. After a few days, though, a Funny thing happened: the raccoons began “washing” their hands, the chickens began pecking at the floor, and the pigs began rooting around in the dirt. They all Stopped Producing the Conditioned Behavior in favor of Their Own food-related, fixed-action patterns, Even Though those behaviors Were Not Rewarded. The Real Kicker is that the experiment with the pigs Had to Be Stopped or they would have Starved to Death! As a result Keller Breland said, “There are Definite Weaknesses in the Philosophy Underlying these techniques,” and Suggested that animal trainers be on the lookout for what he called “Instinctive Drift.” (“The Misbehavior of Organisms,” American Psychologist, 1961.) and thus Different, Fairly Predictable, Predispositions to Certain Types of Behavior. So NO, they don’t always learn the same way.

It seems that the critics of Cesar Millan are really THREATENED by the success of his methods. Because Cesar has been able to show the public how they can successfully and quickly rehabilitate their dogs on their own, the public no longer needs to pay these professional dog trainers anymore. And that is threatening to their businesses! So these trainers are ganging up on Cesar as a way to gain back clients. How low can such JEALOUSY stoop????? And it is getting worse. Last night I talked to a so-called dog trainer in Milwaukee, Wisconsin who accused Cesar Milan of killing (2) dogs on a treadmill. When I asked her for the source of this information she could not give me any. At that point, I should have cautioned her about her SLANDERING of such people as Cesar, because it could end her up in court facing a DEFAMATION OF CHARACTER LAWSUIT. And I would have been right there as a witness to her comment, while defending Cesar Millan. No where have I seen any information saying that Cesar has killed dogs in his care. So if this woman is LYING, which it seems that she is doing, as a way to boost up her claims against him, she'd deserve to be put on the hot seat in some court of law. I hate lying! To me this Milwaukee dog trainer is an insecure and malicious woman, who I would never take my dog to because she seems to LACK INTEGRITY. And I certainly would not want my dog in the hands of someone like her. I'd always be wondering what kind of malicious things she'd be doing to my own beloved pet while behind closed doors. Basically, I don't respect her anymore or any other dog trainers like her. They have an ax to grind. And it's not just because of the dog's best interests. People like this dog trainer with limited knowledge of the behavioral sciences, which she so highly praises, are perpetually the "down in the mouth" RUMOR and GOSSIP MONGERS of the dog world. Their self-serving cristicisms are meant to regain back some of the business and profitability that they have lost because of Cesar Millan. Would any of us dog owners want some self-serving dog trainer to be handling their own pet??? I listened for quite some time to this woman go on and on about Behaviorism, until I finally told her that I had (12) years of being a professional in the field of behaviorism myself, but with humans, rather than dogs. And it was interesting to note that she failed to even recognize the subtleties of her own Skinner Philosophy. I say that because she challenged me to name just one positive reinforcement technique that Cesar Millan used. That's when I thought to myself, "God, this woman must be BLIND or just sees what she wants to see, when she watches Cesar's television show ." The number of positive things that Cesar does are just too numerous to get in on one little conversation like ours. In her mind, techniques of positive reinforcement seemed to be only or primarily those which were tangible items like treats. But I think that treats can be overdone by such people until they become meaningless to a dog. Everything seems to get a treat for people like her. Even B.F. Skinner touted the weaning off of continous treat giving. So that's when I suggested that there were other ways of rewarding a dog's good behavior, which Cesar advocates. And she said, "Name one." I responded with, "Well, my dogs pick on very quickly what kind of energy that I am exuding during one of their behaviors." They know whether I am pleased or displeased with them just by the subtleties of my own body language. This mystified the dog trainer, which forced me to futher explain. So I said to her, "Remember how as a kid you just knew whether your father or mother was pleased or displeased with you on something? They didn't even have to say anything to you and you just knew that you were in trouble before any discussion began.. Subconsciously you were picking up on subtle cues that you had learned about your parents, while growing up. And dogs do that as well." That seemed to register an acknowlegement from her that she could identify with. But it made me realize that she was like all of us A WORK IN PROGRESS. She knew the jargon of behaviorism but not the in depthness of it all. And that's not criminal. It's just being human. Where she overstepped her novice boundaries was when she DEFAMED CESAR MILLAN, based on her own incomplete understanding of her own philosophy. And that in my mind IS criminal. They deserve to be prosecuted, when their own half baked ideas on things endanger another trainer's livelihood. All these criticism of Cesar are so bogus. He DOES NOT HURT or ABUSE DOGS! His foot and finger taps are not karate kicks meant to break ribs, dislocate hips, or puncture the skin on dogs. Even Karate Schools don't do these abusive things during their practices. Karate students are told to "PULL THEIR PUNCHES" at the very end so that no one gets hurt. It may look bad to someone who inexperienced. But how something 'looks' is about APPEARANCES NOT REALITY. All in all, I think that all of this negative backlash and criticisms about Cesar Millan has done more to hurt the cause of the dog trainers doing the complaining. It has pushed many of us away from ever considering the hiring of them for our dogs. And in that way they have done more damage to their own livelihoods than what anyone else could have. They come off as looking like small-minded people on some sort of Salem Witch Hunt!

Dear DoLittler, You promote Dr. Sophia Yin's website, which cites the Penn Research. And you included the list that was compiled from this, which gives the "dominance-based approaches' to canine aggression as reasons for staying away from Cesar Milan. This list included such aversive techniques as: 1. Hitting or kicking. 2. Humans growling at the dog. 3. Forcing a dog to release something from its mouth. 4. Grabbing the jowls or scruff. 5. Spraying the dog. 6. Yelling. 7. Forced exposure to a fearful stimulus. The above actions comprised your list. And I would like to CHALLENGE YOU to cite just one show and one episode where Cesar Millan has done any of the above things. But you must be specific with naming the dog and the names of the dog owners, as well as the exact episode and series number. Now remember you must comply with Webster's definitions of the above terms when you do this. For instance, the word of "hitting" is defined as to strike, usually with force harsh enough to strongly affect the recipient with DISTRESS and/or INJURY. And to "kick' means a " BLOW" or to strike out with the foot as in ANGER, WITH THE INTENT TO HURT. These definitions are what the general public usually mean when such terms are used in society at large. So don't engage in your own brand of SENSATIONALIZING the terms meant to twist the true intent or meaning of each word. And Dr. Sophia Yin should do the same. As I see it, as a practicing BEHAVIORIST for (12) years, the only one on the above list that I've seen Cesar Millan do was No. (7), which was the forced exposure to a fearful stimulus. And that one was in regards to a Great Dane that had a traumatic experience of slipping on a school floor and crashing into a window. His owner, meaning well, accidentally or inadvertently reinforced the scared and traumatized state of the dog with getting real emotional and doting over the poor thing. Many of us might have been inclined to do the same thing. But emotional behavior in a human is quickly picked up by animals as being UNSTABLE and weak. The Dane's owner meant well. But when she patted him and his sore spots and made a big deal about the fall, she was actually reinforcing the scared behavior. The same thing can happen with human children. If the child's parents make a big deal and get all bent out shape over each and every little boo boo with an excess of attention, they can actually increase the child's indiscriminant whining behavior over minors bumps and scrapes. That's not to say that a parent never gives any sympathy. There is a time and way to do it and a time to help the child to get over the minor stuff with "It's not that bad this time. You'll be okay." And then they need to quickly move on. That's what Cesar was doing with the Great Dane. He was helping the dog to move on because it was paralizing him. Also the vet, Dr. Sophia, should really stick with what she had been trained on, which is veternarian medicine. No offense intended. But most all behaviorists and other counselors in my field know that one of the ways to deal with a human's extreme fear is to have that person FACE THEIR FEARS, which is what Cesar did with the Great Dane. A fear of flying has been worked on in this way with human patients and their counselors. Anyway, I'll look forward to you actually trying to give some EVIDENCE or PROOF of Cesar Millan doing any of the things on the above list of yours. I hope that you are up to the challenge.

I had a telephone conversation with Cesar some years ago just before he truly 'broke out' onto the media scene. I had read an article about him and wanted to know if he'd consider taking on an (albeit aging) apprentice. He seemed quite humbel and genuine to me. No doubt his 'handlers' (no pun) account for much of the commercial direction he's obviously taken. But he's apparently doing a whole lot of good things... for dogs that need rehabilitation, for ignorant owners, and for calling attention to the pet overpopulation problem that shames this country. He's top notch in my book and though his basic approach may not be the key to solving every problem, it obviously works for the majority. If it did not, he would have been exposed long ago as a charlatan.

I am a huge fan of the Dog Whisperer, and personally I believe that his methods of dealing with dogs are a good way. I have followed some of them with my dog, and have noticed a big change.

why is it no one commenting puts there name down?I totally agree with this article and all the other articles related to Ceaser Milan and his PACK LEADER mentality.

Now the $60,000 Question... Those narrow minded trainers will finally understand that simple truth?

A GROOMER SOME OF YOU FOLKS HAVE GOOD POINTS SOME ARE JUST TOO PLAIN SENSITIVE FOR YOUR ANIMALS OWN GOOD. CONFRONTING FEAR IS NEVER WRONG BEING FORCED TO FACE IT AND GET PAST IT IS MAYBE SOMETHING MORE HUMANS NEED TO DO. I AM SURE PROZAC AND ZANICS USE WOULD GO DOWN IN THE HUMAN POPULATION AND IN THE PET POPULATION. FACT DOGS ARE ANIMALS, LOYAL HONEST DEVOTED BUT STILL AN ANIMAL SO WHY IS IT THAT WE INSIST ON MESSING THERE GREAT AND NATURAL INCLINATIONS DOGS ENJOY WORKING THEY NEED A PACK AND IF WE INSIST ON BRING THEM INTO OUR HOMES WELL THEN WE NEED TO MEET THERE BASIC NEEDS NOT JUST LOVE AND FOOD AS A GROOMER I HAVE TO SAY HIS METHOD GIVES RESULTS. AND IN GENERAL I WON'T HAVE TO REPEAT MY SELF ON A DOGS NEXT VISIT TO THE SHOP WERE AS DOING THE ENCOURAGE GOOD BEHAVIOR CAN TAKE FOR EVER AND STILL MIGHT NOT WORK, YOU ARE CONSTANTLY ATTEMPTING TO RE CONNECT

I've dealt with forceful GSD's for over a decade. The first time I saw that idiot, Cesar, I thought "That is an excellent way to get your face taken off." Your article substantiates that. Every behaviorist I've known doesn't support his methods either, so for the folks who are saying "it's just these few who are against Cesar", um no. I'm on a Dangerous and Viscious Dog Board. If a witness told me that the dog had never been a problem until someone used these "techniques" and only bit as a response to one of them, I would do my best to advocate for the dog. As far as I'm concerned, the "victim" would have brought the bite on to him- or herself, and the dog deserves more sympathy than the person using the technique. Just my two cents...... OP, you are 100 percent spot on.

Dear June 12, 2009 1:36 P.M. , your comment says, "Every behaviorist I've known doesn't support his methods." My question is: just how many behviorists do you know exactly???????? I've been a paid and licensed behaviorist for over a decade for both humans and animals and can truly say that I know a lot of behaviorists. What exactly are your credentials?????? And as a qualified behaviorist, who was good at what I did, I feel that Cesar Milan has a very good handle on the field of behaviorism. You also disagreed with "it's just these few who are against Cesar", thus implying that there are more than just a few who are against him. Yet when I tallied the count of those who were for and those who were against him,at the end of May or beginning of June on this website, I came up with about 70% of the comments on this site as being FOR CESAR MILLAN. But even that is meaningless since it is just the luck of the draw who happens to find this website and is willing to take the time to comment. And as to your mention of being on a dangerous and viscious dog board I ask, "What does that mean? What are the facts from that experience of yours?? It does not give any mention of data being taken while you have been on this board. Instead your next sentence begins with the word of 'if'. One must be really careful when they use such GLOBAL TERMS as 'Every behaviorist'' because such qualifiers are not backed up by data. So it comes off as being so much AIRY COTTON CANDY that melts quickly away into thin air. Behaviorists are all about research and DATA and not wishful thinking. And they don't try to booster their stance with a lot of hot air in order to make themselves look good or sound more qualified to talk on a subject than what they really are. Do you know what I mean? We would have been much more interested in some real good hard core and unbiased research coming out of your dog board experiences. And I use the word of 'unbiased' because as a therapist who has witnessed an epedemic increase of disassoication from reality in the general public that has filtered into the field of research science, I now question how clean the research methods and techniques are now these days. When our scientists get to the point of saying that the sun is purple, that's when I'll throw in the towel on getting anything close to the truth on any matter.

I have been a dog trainer for many years I mostly do one on one training and the main thing I learned working with hundredes of dogs is they are indeviduals and you have to train according to the dog not according to a method. cesars method is one type and the shows dosnt show all the work he does off camera. His methods are harsh and not the end all be all. most of his methods are correct in many ways. But when working with people you have the human factor and people tend to hear only 1/4 of what you say and the rest is what they want to hear .I have never seen cesar bite a dog and the dog will act like a dog when they precive an attact ever of herd of fight or flight? so as a vet tech and a trainer I wouldnt blame cesar for this. I dont allways agree with cesar but I always learn some thing from him.

Wow, did you "experts" get that wrong. Cesar's methods don't have anything to do with dominance, but leadership. That is something most humans don't understand in any part of their lives. He teaches to honor the dog. Many owners simply own the dog, they don't give anything back to "honor" the dog. It's a two way street. It's not that easy. I've been watching his shows and have been trying his training for a few years and little insights come through at the most unexpected times. It's about awareness and watching for clues to the dog's behaviors...isn't that what behaviorists do? He's one of those people that has a keen sense of awareness to the dogs. What's wrong with that? His techniques don't work on most people...I think every dog would understand it...and it's not all about dominance.

Why is everybody anonymous!!! I am not registered on here but my name is Tony Quinn. I live in Bracknell, England. I have paid for many `dog behaviourists' to see my rescue dog Kimmie about her aggression issues. All of them were horrible to her and aggressive. I watched loads of Cesars programs, tried his methods. After a bit of effort on my part Kimmie is now an amazing dog and I love her to bits!! It's not all about qualifications. Cesar has a natural affinity with dogs!!

Dear June 21, 7:40 PM blogger, (whose comments are directly above mine. ) I had a Skye Terrier who had fear based aggression from her previous owner. I watched Cesar Milan's methods and tried them on her. I was amazed at how well Cesar's techniques worked! And they successfully worked "OVER THE LONG TERM or LIFESPAN OF THE DOG until she died last year. So there was NO "QUICK FIX " that didn't last. Instead the effects of the rehabilitation lasted for years! There was NO "FRUSTRATION," NO "PRESSURE COOKER EFFECT". NO BREAKDOWN OR SHUT DOWN. Instead she became more relaxed, her skittishness went away, her tail went up to being level with her back, and her confidence increased and stayed that way for the rest of her life. So maybe Cesar Millan's methods were not a good fit for you. I don't know why that would be though because Cesar Millan has been seen a good number of times using "LURE-REWARD BASED METHODS as you have described changing to. So he has been using your own methods and maybe you didn't even know it?????????It seems that someone who has "trained thousands of dogs" would know that.. Don't you think ????Most good professionals keep abreast and informed on all the most recent magazine articles, books, and videos. So what did you do??? Did you watch just a few of Cesar's videos and proclaimed yourself an expert on what Cesar was all about without being fully informed????????

acai berry blog

I'm not sure how anyone can misunderstand the words 'calm and assertive" Biting an ear isnt either!!! my vet and I love Cesar because he really does TRAIN PEOPLE AND REHABILITATE DOGS... and if you are really paying any attention whatsoever to the program in caption it does say "do not attempt these techniques without a professional" which the ear biter is obviously not. I am very sorry to hear that any person is biten by a dog, but, 9 times out of 10 it is their own fault. To put everything that goes wrong with owner and dog on Cesar Millan is only a dog owner NOT taking responsiblity for their own stupidity. And in the end, who paid the ultimate price for what she did wrong? Again, I am sorry for her pain and suffering, but she is still here. --Sheri

Every Canine is different. What might work for one might not work for another. Blaming Cesar for trying to educate humans is just plain silly IMO. After reading this article and some of the comments I have to say it has more to do with jealousy then his training. Maybe the owner of the canines that see you should speak out because Im sure there are some that feel about your training as you do Cesar's. If you train a canine and owner and canine becomes aggressive after the training is your training to blame? Some humans complain about everything no matter what.

Any person who would think that biting a dog's ear wouldn't create an instinctive reaction in ANY BEING is an Idiot. And Idiots should stick to the care of animals that require much less "thinking" - perhaps Goldfish or an Ant Farm. Reacting to an ear bite is not aggressive, it's an instinctive and uncontrollable reaction - to prove my point, ask someone to come bite your ear and see how your body responds to such sharp, acute pain. Dominance Training is for the "quick fix lazy" impatient and for the most part, insecure people who need to control something in their lives. If a person cannot distinguish advice based on logic and simple reason, I question their right to even drive a car let alone care for a Dog. May the scar on the author's Aunt be a continual reminder of her own stupidity and insensitivity and hold her own self accountable. egads.

As far as I am concerned, anyone who watches a half hour to an hour of TV and then tries to apply those methods to training a dog is just asking for trouble. You can't get the whole picture so you have to improvise. I've found that improvising during training can backfire on you. I adopted a Papillon who was rescued from a puppy mill. She had been badly abused. Treats went out the window because she wouldn't eat them. I found that by getting down to my dogs level and reinforcing what I wanted her to do, worked better than anything I was able to find. If she messed on the carpet, I sat down on the floor, sat her beside it, took her paw in my hand and with one finger, very gently tapped her paw while saying "NO" in a firm voice. She only messed twice after that. I trained her like I did my kids basically. She is very well adjusted today and loves to be around people and other animals. She is as devoted to me as I am to her. I would never consider harming my pet just to show her who's boss. I want my pet to be strong and independent but yet understand that when I give her a command, it's for her own safety, not to make her submissive. I want her to be my best friend........ not a slave to my commands. I should also mention that when I brought her home, she became very aggressive. She put that all behind her within about 2 weeks because I trained her with "Love", not abuse.

WOW! I love this thread. All I can tell you is Cesar's teeth bug me. They must be veneered.

Two quick comments. Cesar's pack theory has NOTHING TO DO WITH WOLVES!!! Why does every critic that hates Cesar always discuss wolf pack theory? His Pack theory iis based on observance of formerly Domesticated dogs that ran free on the streets of Mexico where he grew up! Cesar doesn't offer quick fixes. He shows the owner that it is possible to correct the dogs behavior, teaches them how, and expects them to follow through with the training on their own!

I have two Siberian Huskies. One loves and responds to treats and praise. The other does not and is very headstrong. I am trying to find the right trainer to work with her but they just don't get it that the treats do not work. They act like something is wrong with my dog because she will not respond to treats. Huskies were bred to disobey the sled drivers if they needed to make a decision, such as going onto thin ice, or over a cliff. They are extremely an intelligent breed. I'm not saying Cesar is perfect but his enemies don't have all the answers either.

Oh, this is great! Loved the comment about the relative getting a taste for blood, and laughed my butt off! Yeah, the article and accusations stink. I've been using social methods similar to Cesar's, combined with training methods for over 30 years and they work great. There is a very specific group of folks who are targeting Cesar, (along with anyone else who doesn't belong to their "cult"). Their attempts to discredit him are both groundless and pathetic, but do make for amusing reading. Glad to see so many intelligent and rational folks finally speaking out against this never ending witch hunt. And please, consult a professional before biting your dog...

To me there is something very wrong with someone who feels that they have to "dominate" a dog by bullying them into submission. Regardless of what some people say, this is not necessary nor is it wise to train a dog... any dog, regardless of that dog's specific problems. This indicates some sort of personality flaw within these people. I know this because I used to be that person. I used to use harsh corrections on my dog to try to get him to submit, then after almost ruining him and causing some very unwanted behaviors I saw the error of my ways and decided to try something else: No Free Lunch Policy. To those of you knocking it, you obviously either don't understand it, don't have the necessary skills to implement it or are still getting your jollies off of bullying dogs. No doubt that Punishment is Reinforcing to the Punisher... it's been proven scientifically time and time again in human beings- and pushes us to the brink of torturing whomever or whatever we are teaching a lesson. And now you can argue all you want that I am wrong or am Cesar bashing or am jealous or whatever lame excuse you can come up with to make yourself feel better, but it won't change who you are or that scientific fact has proven humans to become inhumane when punishment is used to teach a lesson... If you don't believe me then do some research... I totally agree with the article. Some good links are: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090217141540.htm http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/petshealth/5361907/TV-dog-behaviour-programmes-useless-and-dangerous.html http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090521112711.htm http://www.journalvetbehavior.com/article/S1558-7878%2808%2900115-9

I read on some random blog somewhere that Cesar eats dogs for lunch. It must be true since I read it somewhere. People who eat dogs for lunch are bad bad people, so that's scientific proof that Cesar is a poopyhead. I studied stuff and so am all knowing about stuff and what I studied says to say that we discredited your stuff even though we don't understand it so that's what I'm going to say. Your stuff is old and my stuff is new and old stuff is wrong by definition so you must be an animal abuser. If a kid watches an episode of superman and then jumps out a window attempting to fly like what he saw on TV do you think we should all write articles blaming superman? Of course not. Some people just can't help misunderstanding what they see. As the comedian says, You Can't Fix Stupid. Biting your dog? Stupid. There's a five-star restaurant near me that has salt and pepper at the table. Salt causes high blood pressure, so should the restaurant be closed? Of course not. The food is really good, you can choose from a hundred different items, and some dishes would be awful without a few judicious sprinklings of salt. Mixing metaphors liberally here, Cesar is not a salt mine, he's a five-star restaurant that uses salt occasionally as required. People who watch a single episode where he salts his food and then rant about him promoting high blood pressure are missing out on a whole menu of salt-free, really good dishes, and the dishes that do get salt as needed taste much better for having used it in just the right amount at just the right time in the cooking process. We who appreciate the brilliance, the sensitivity, the calm positive karma and the knowledgeable insight that Cesar brings to the task at hand, we the not stupid, are glad to be able to learn so much from his instructive examples on TV. Some students in class only showed up once or twice, and not everyone who does show up is paying attention -- some people will never learn -- but lots of us who do pay attention have been able to take Cesar's diverse lessons and use them to improve the quality of our lives and our dogs' lives.

Those who argue that Cesar Millan is not a brilliant behaviorist because he didn't go to their school or read their books are like those who criticize a great piano player who doesn't have a college degree in music. The 'bookists' forget that the author of the book didn't have a book to read, he figured it out for himself and then wrote about it. Truth and beauty can be seen and appreciated without 'certification' -- indeed, who certifies the certifier? Lots of self-important titles following the names of those who bash Cesar simply mean that you can't put any faith in lots of self-important titles.

Cesar Knows Dogs! There are many people out there that call themselves “animal behaviorists” however, whether or not they are really qualified is another story. Just as with any thing in life, you have to be discerning and be carful who you believe. When it comes to our animals and our children, we need to be very careful who we believe, or things can get off track quickly. What seems most logical? Cesar is logical, confident, and basic. Everyone needs to decide for themselves, but try not to be influenced by hype. Look for evidence of walking the “talk” in their lives. If you take a look at Cesar, his pack, and his family, you will see he lives what he preaches. You can find merit on some level with most trainers, but in the end you have to do what is best for you. Your veterinarian is always a great source for direction and help in dealing with aggressive animals. To find a veterinarian who can be helpful or to check out Cesar and his training, click here http://www.vetdex.com/article.asp

Ceasar is a genious. And he's helped so many owners understand their dogs better.

There have been cases where the Ceaser method has backfired. and there have been cases where regualr training does not work. there is no black and white. but based upon what i have learned, the ceasar way should be a last resort. I enlisted the help of some trainers that use this method. the choke collars they used on my dogs did train them to walk beside me, but at what price? would u rather have a dog that walks beside u all the time with a crushed treachea or a happy dog that behaves pretty well? His training methods have some positives, but the cons outweigh them in 99% of aggression cases, in my opinion. Aggression begits aggression. read "the other end of the leash" by Patricia Mcconnell. america looks for quick fixes,but what they tend to forget is that studies on "dominated" dogs show that years later, the orginal beahvior can reappear- only worse. just think logically- ceasar is hollywood.,you don't see the whole story, not what happens after the pooch is left alone with owners after ceasar leaves. think before you act.

Another article utilizing Cesar's name to draw attention to something: in this case - the writer's blog. Once you read the article there's little to no connection to Milan's actual methods - the writer is pushing around words to incite, yet stating nothing the man actually does. Of course the silly opening story was warning enough - a foolish, uneducated relative tried something stupid despite knowing her dog had been diagnosed with an actual condition. What in the world does that have to do with Cesar Milan, pack treatment, dogs... anything, really except to get some anti-Milan reader all excited as they read something into the incident that isn't even there. When will I ever read anything truly objective and intelligent from a person who is anti-Milan? In the meantime, I remain impressed by his calmness, his intuitiveness, his hands on knowledge of dogs and his love of them.

The alternative option to dominance and FORCE based training is POSITIVE animal training, operant conditionioning and POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT! I love this post, I have a very similar one I wrote a while ago on my blog, check it out if you can (http://waltersmum.blogspot.com). And thank you so much for mentioning people like Dr. Sophia Yin...these are people who have dedicated their lives to understanding animal behaviour and communication, don't you think it's better to listen to people like that rather than a man who has been raised on a farm and thinks he has a 6th sense on animal behaviour...and no education or training?!? I'm sorry, but yes Cesar Millan is somewhat entertaining to watch (I love watching him get bitten, which is something that very rarely if at all EVER happens to a trainer using positive reinforcement), but I also know behaviourists in California who have had to pick up the pieces after he tried to 'rehabilitate' the dog. Just because you see it on TV, doesn't mean that it works, and you should never EVER try to dominate your dog unless you want to end up in the ER.__-Vanessa

i have not read all the comments.. but - cesar never suggests any of the methods in this article in dealing with aggressive dogs...

I agree 100% with the author of the post. I deal with Ceasar Milan's fallouts or wannabe's and don't for a second believe the fairytales that he saves dogs from euthanizia.

I meant Ceasar

I have recently read Cesar Milan’s Book Leader of the Pack. It is very good for both those that have animals and don’t have animals in their lives. He always makes the point that the energy you have even if you are not aware of it, the dog senses and picks up on and will reflect back. For example, if you have a boss that always has a negative attitude in the work place, everyone will pick it up and then bring it home to their families. Before I got my recent dog, and before I even heard of the Dog Whisperer, I always believed what you felt the dog felt. As an Iraqi Vet, sometimes, I go into fear mode or fight mode, and my dog senses it, but he doesn’t go into an aggressive mode, because I feel as i write this that he knows what goes through my mind. However, he is being trained to help me and since we have gotten him he is well tempered and loves everyone. I am also “training” myself to keep a calm-assertive energy 24/7. There are lots of people like Cesar. Cesar, according to his own story, grew up in Mexico and preferred the countryside and to be with dogs. He understood them and has more intuition and knows how to read their body language, better than an average person. Basically put, If you are aggressive, or have negative energy, so will your animals, regardless of type and vice versa. This has been known for centuries. We as humans today, have “lost” that way, and lost the way of being intuned with Mother Earth, since we are more busy about our daily lives making money, being the best, etc. Everywhere there is Heirarchy, not just in the animal world, but in the human world as well. Just because your an Animal Behaviorist, just like Cesar, doesn’t mean you should bad mouth him. Every one has different ways, each animal is different. It goes the same way with Vets. It’s also like a diet program-there are many out there, but not one is good for everyone. Also, when watching his show, it does say, do not try these techniques at home without a professional. (Exact wording not known). So, unless you are working with Cesar Milan or have read his books, consult a professional to properly apply all or some of the techniques that you think will help your dog.

calmassertive- you are right, bc when i focus and work with my dogs in that calm frme of mind, they do get it, very qucikly. so that is true. Four of five at least get it. we were so desperate for help with our aggressive female i would do anything to help her. she has been like that since she was 6 weeks old, but they blamed me for it... if thats the case, then why are the other dogs ok? that makes no sense does it. my little aggressive one has paperwork from where we got her saying she is aggressive, ( course we didn't ge that until later) but i have tried everything with her, she is on prozac, we tried the obediance training. which she is very good at. bascially, we went through the proper channels, in order, and found these guys as a last resort. i really don't think its ceaser's fault- like i said, i think its people capping in on his fame and not truly understanding. they told me to pick up my dog and "alpha roll" her, during a fight, and i said, i may get bitten- and they said thats colleteral damage- somehow this is just not sitting well with me. techniacally, the dogs did improve after the visit- but after that inital visit, they began to cower. Having said that- i really don't know if ceaser can even stop this little one. shes kinda weird, so energy and exercise have done nothing, in fact we had a major fight last time the trainers were over at our house. shes in an elizabethen collar with stitches on her muzzle.:( they told me to get in a frame of mind that the fight will not happen.. yeah, that didn't go so well... i have read ceaser's books and really, while the basis of his ideas- dogs are dogs, not furry humans, is there with the guys i used... thats about it. good advice at the end- if u can't see a difference in one session, dump them. your dogs are trying to tell you something. any suggestions?

Since he just brought the dog into my house last week, that was that. my vet is actually a behvior specialist. we waited 2 yrs to put Gabby on prozac, it did nothing for the fighting, but it did make her generally less nervous. she used to sit in the corner and whine. ( pitiful) but anyway, my vet has reccommended some different people for me to talk to, but even after reading ceaser's books and watching it almost eveytime it comes on, i am not convinced. I want to c studies on thes dogs a year later, bc i have heard that they relapse worse. anyone done a follw up after training a dog " ceaser's way?"

Tavia, seriously, you sound like you've had a nightmare!!! Maybe you could start from scratch with your dogs that fight and 'introduce' them again in a neutral zone. Do you live in the US? Maybe you could email the Cesar Millan website and explain all this, even if they never reply it would be good if they were aware I think. I'm really sorry that you're having trouble. I've found Cesar's methods to be useful but I am lucky as I only have one dog to handle and it wasnt't really aggression. Keep your chin up

i wish he could come to us, but when I checked the web site they were only looking for southren cali. at the time and wolf dogs in colorado, but i will keep checking back. as for the girls that fight, i am reuintroducing them on netural ground after gabby's stiches come out thursday. they haven't seen each other in 14 days, completely sperated. so we will see how well this works. :) like i said before, it is more people trying to emulate him that jack everything up and make me mistrust him than him. i would really have to see him in person to get a real feel for it, bc like i said before it is on tv and there are parts cut out, so to see it in person will give someone a better idea. thats true with anything on tv though.

It's obvious some people have never watched the dog whisper. His techniques teach you how to handle a dog. I have personally used these techniques with my dog and she is very well behaved with everyone. Also some mentioned that the animal cops should take his dogs away

Why don't you shut up kate! (notice I say that with a little "k") People aren't jealous, that is just a psychological phrase that is used by someone with a juvenile mindset. You have no right to tell others to shut up, everyone is entitled to their opinions, and not every one is a fan of the FAUX - god Cesar Milan! Give me a break - Alot of dogs wouldn't be put down if people found a trainer that cared about their pet, and people didn't go to their vets for advice on their behavior issues. Vets aren't trained to do these types of things, they don't get extensive training in animal behavior, so find someone who has that type of training. Also, alot of people get their pets put down because they don't really want to deal with the issues that come up, and when they are small and less work to deal with. Then matters escalate, and the dog acts out, and boom, the owner wants to have someone "kill" their problem for them.

I personally had an aggressive puppy, her name is Shaiden. When I first got her at what seemed to be 6 weeks old (this is from irresponsible dog owners who were selling puppies from their knocked up boxer at $20) she already wanted to be a part of a dog fight. She'd see a dogs fighting from across a park and would sprint to it. She tried to attack a full grown boxer over a toy. Etc. I used some of Cesar's techniques and Shaiden isn't aggressive at two years old. I will say, she will be dominant towards submissive dogs by humping (which just recently started with my move to LA), or, by going for their scruff until the dogs make her stop. She has YET to start a fight or fight back if a dog attacks her. When a dog goes for her, she tries to run away and defending herself if need be. In the end result, she doesn't fight.

To the writer of this article...your relative is EXCEEDINGLY stupid, and her dog had to pay for it I bet. Did she have him put down because he defended himself? She DESERVED that bite. Sorry, but I do not feel sorry for people who do things to dogs and then have the dogs punished for it. I would be willing to bet that this ear bite was not the first time she harmed that dog...no wonder he retaliated!!

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Hello Ceasar bashers I see nothing in the accusations of force and adversity in anything Ceasar is doing. He WOULD NOT have advised any woman to bite a dog in the ear. I suggest you read the mans books and learn his philosophy before making slanderous judgements about a man who has brought a lot of peace and success to dogs and owners alike. I find you unresearched and inaccurate information regarding Ceasars techniques slanderous. learn something before you make such jusgements. Oh and by the way how does an uniformed person get the RIGHT to JUDGE another ??? Grow up what losing sales cause people are learning who to live in harmony with thier dogs ? the lady who bit her dog ? got what she asked for in dog language and simply was a dumbass that has zip zero zilch to do with Ceasar,

Also anyone that hits or kicks a dog for whatever reason, deserves a ass kicking of a lifetime. I'm glad that Cesar attempts to help the dogs that have no other hope, the dogs that other Trainers and Vets gave up on. I will say yet again that I am not a Cesar lover but I do love what Cesar is doing for the Pitbull breed. By choosing Junior or Daddy to help other dogs, he is showing people all over the world that Pitbulls are not only very sweet natured, lovable, friendly, familly dogs but are also a very powerful dog and when in the wrong hands can do alot of damage. I know a family that all have Pitbulls. The mother has 2, one daughter has 1, one daughter has 2 and the other has 3. Several times a month they get all of the dogs together to run around and play in the yard, that's 8 Pitbulls running around together and playing like best friends, they have been doing this for almost 7 years and have NEVER had a fight, not one single problem. That is because these people treat their dogs with love and understanding, they socialized them young and had frequent playdates. By Cesar having Pitbulls in his "Pack" he is showing that those dogs (when properly taken care of and well socialized) can live among other dogs and not show any aggression. So thank you Cesar for trying to save the breed that desperately needs saving. Oh and most of the money Cesar makes goes to Animal Orginizations and Animal Shelters that need help, and he is not a Hoarder, he has the money to take care of all of the dogs he has and he has the help of volunteers and employees as well, I bet those dogs are living better than half of the people on here that are talking crap. Cesar does alot for the dog world and If you are on this website DOGtime.com then you should be happy and thankful that there is someone out there devoting his life to saving animals and you should take the time to think about what YOU are doing to help.

Cesar does not train dogs. He trains dog owners. Every person I have ever met who has had a "bad" dog is a person who has allowed the dog to control them. ____Cesar focuses on dogs having a balanced life. By balanced he is advocating exercise, discipline and affection. In that order. My wife and I have three beautful dogs, all rescues. My wife has this habit of treating our pets as they were her own children and talking to them as such. Baby talk. ____She always wondered why they get very excited and jump all over her whenever she comes home - even if she has not been gone long. She wondered why when I come home they do not do that to me? ____It took me months to convince her that she can follow Cesar's message and love our dogs by showing them that this is unacceptable behavior and that it is only okay when she invites it. It took about one week of her coming home and not speaking to them for the first five minutes. They remained calm and knew that eventually she would invite them to say, "Welcome home." She was amazed at the drastic change.____Cesar has studied dogs his entire life. Just because he did not spend thousands of dollars to obtain a piece of paper stating he was educated and now qualified does not change the fact that he can take the worse behaved dogs, retain the owners and in turn, create balanced dogs. ____I say - Hail Cesar!

people that have a problem with his techniques, are most likely the ones with out of control children too. His techniques are the best and the bottom line is if you don't take the time with your dog from the start to show them what you expect, then don't get one. They have to exercise, eat, sleep, be warm, be cool, know right from wrong, and love just like you!!

You have obviously never spent time with a breed that can kill you, nor have you ever spent time learning to read K9 body language or time with Cesar himself. I have done all 3 over the past 38 years and I can tell you that his methods work if they are used properly. Learn your dog's body language, have control of your own house, stop fearing your own dog, stop begging him to behave with treats.__Dogs are not people and the American public will never understand that fact. Does Cesar hit or beat dogs? No. Does he use both positive and negative reinforcement? Yes-as any owner should. He emphasizes the need for exercise and how not to keep a frustrated dog like all of your neighbor's dogs who have spent lifetimes behind the backyard walls. We create our own dog problems as evidenced again and again on his episodes, we should learn to take responsibility for our own mistakes and stop euthanizing and medicating dogs to control them.

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You obviously have never seen The Dog Whisperer or read one of Cesar Milan's books

They can't stand Cesar Milan because they don't have the talent he has. Plain and simple. For all the haters

People actually stop their cars in traffic to comment on the disposition and behavior of my dog. She is 98% of the time off leash and is voice trained. she will sit or lay down when we come to a crossing. She will only cross the road when I cross with her while she is right beside me. We cycle daily in the summer , while I ride, she trots to the right side of me between my bike and the sidewalks - there she is on leash- but only to keep drivers more at ease. She is very friendly, and not overbearing and will only approach people if I give her the OK ("go see"). She will also only visit with dogs when the command "go play" is given.She does not beg, rings a bell when she needs to go out, will only chase after rodents and rabbits in a field on command. And I credit this to 60% observing and using Mr. Milan's behavioral training methods (balance), 5% Woody Thoroughgood's techniques in training hunting dogs, my dad who trained for Schuetzhund would receive 35% of this credit.__People need to realize that what Cesar Milan is doing works (100% for him, he is an expert, most dog owners are not). and besides having a balanced dog, you still need TRAINING!. Otherwise it's like having a very polite child that grows up to be still a very polite, but uneducated adult. People: It is a pleasure to train a dog and see the results, the first "Iunderstand what you want me to do" moments with training are like baby's first steps - you don't know what your missing in opting not to train your dogs. A great way to socialize-train your dog: when you have children over for a visit, have your dog lay down in another room (I use the command "HIDE" which is trained prior). Have the children hide some "kibble" around areas accessable to your dog. then have the child(ren) command " SEEK", upon which the dog is trained to be released from the room and search for his bounty. Keeps the kids & dog busy, works the dogs mind, socializes the dog to know when kids come over we play "HIDE & SEEK", It's a quiet non-rambunctious game. For the lady that bit her dogs ear.......well, if you cant say nothing nice.......(and that's my mom's training talking there)__Cesar - YOU ROCK- __BTW - If you use Milan's methods to train your puppy, you will never have to "FIX" your dog as it will be balanced!__If you get a dog that has issues, do as Cesar say's and GET PROFESSIONAL HELP first.__I guess I'm done... after all this I just want to spend some time with my dog.

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A great number of posts that support what Cesar teaches...trains people and rehabilitates the dog. I have learned much from his TV show, read his books and have started a dog training course on his website to better understand the energy that we as humans can contribute to the behavior or the way our dogs react to other dogs & people.____Knowledge is power. Everyone should get some before they choose a dog and decide the best place for the new dog is totally confined to a backyard and the only exercise they get is the occasional play time with the kids. When I'm walking my dog for an hour in the AM & again in the afternoon, I hear dogs barking from backyards that I never see outdoors with their owners and believe or not some dogs are even kept in garages during the day for pete's sake! I live in South Texas and there's really no reason why these dogs should not have the opportunity to get a good walk each day. It would do the owner some good too.___I follow Cesar's fulfillment formula, exercise, discipline, and affection in that order every day and it does wonders for my dog's state of mind, her energy is expended properly and she's just plain happier and content because she's been treated like a "dog". We cannot humanize our canine pals if we want truly balanced well behaved companions. And yes, I believe in being the pack leader as it does command respect from my dog and without me using any harsh corrections. ____Lastly, do your research about different types of dog training, keep an open mind (at first I didn't like Cesar's way either) and keep working with your dog or get professional help if there are issues. They were brought into our environment by US, so let's do whatever possible to create a balanced rewarding relationship with these beautiful animals without ever, ever hitting or striking them in any form or fashion. Thank you for "listening" to my perspective. Have a good day!