Its stupid not mutch in to it

He's awesome and no one knows pack behavior better. I used to think obedience was the way to go but I have since tried Cesar's methods and they work, they work quick! and on all dogs! It all makes so much sense when you hear him explain how a dog got to where it is. And he's so very right about dogs living in the now. They really do. "Exercise, discipline and affection" and "Calm, assertive pack leader" are our new mantras for our dogs, any dogs we meet in fact.

I think he's great! He shows the family how to be a 'pack leader' in easy ways that don't hurt the dog. Even after he leaves he has showed the family simple enough (but effetive) ways to keep their dog in line so they can still keep doing it.

I love him and think he is very effective! Its the humans that screw it up if his method is not working for them.

I don't know that I have seen enough of him to formulate a full blown opinion. However, most of what I have seen I do like. An exception was his suggestion to using a Shake Can. This is AVERSION Training. It is considered to be between Positive Reinforcement Training (+R) and Negative Training (which frequently includes abusive behaviors). My discomfort with Aversion training is that unless the trainer is really spot on (and I believe Cesar personally IS on his game), there is a lot of room for this type of training method to be accidentally MISUSED by people who try it on their own, without assistance from a qualified trainer. I believe, from what I've seen he generally promotes +R training, but he is comfortable slipping in that ounce of Aversion training...and I just think it needs to be used/promoted WITH care, because if the inexperienced person is not actively SHOWN the correct way to apply it...and the exact timing needed to effectively influence the animal it can easily be a negative method that won't support you getting what you most want out of the animal for that lesson. If he is going to promote its use, then I think he should also explain it fully...WHICH I may have missed that show and he did already...of course, it would need to be covered EVERY TIME you promote it...because someone new will be watching/reading the program or book. I believe he is effective and very educational as well. But we have to always keep in mind that all three training methods can be effective...including negative training! That's part of what has made the "re-education" of so many older trainers...and their younger assistants such an uphill battle! Negative, even abusive training WILL cause a response from an animal...however...in my opinion...it is assuredly NOT a response I would ever desire to form or teach any living creature! There are simply an unfortunate number of people who STILL buy into that warped mind set of SHOW EM WHO IS BOSS! SMACK, SMACK, YELL YELL...ugg drives me batty! I think Cesar is helping to combat this sort of sick training in some very positive ways...and I'm thankful for it!

I love him. After watching his show I realized I'm not a pack leader to my dogs & I need to be. Yes ,its us humans that screw up not the animals. I thought it was a stubborn dog but instead its a stubborn me,lol. How ever I do crack up watching how others have spoiled their dogs more then mine. I loved the show about Prada the lil pom that threw temper tantrums when it didn't get its way. I still ROTFLMBO thinking about that lil dog jerking ,was too funny.

It makes me very sad to see how popular he is. I think he means well but is a very misguided man. The theories he teaches to millions on a weekly basis are considered outdated, and even inhumane by most dog trainers and animal behaviorists in the field today. For example: World-renowned dog trainers, behaviorists and veterinarians had all warned National Geographic that Millan’s methods had the potential for disaster. Below are quotes from noted experts: “Cesar Millan's methods are based on flooding and punishment. The results, though immediate, will be only transitory. His methods are misguided, outmoded, in some cases dangerous, and often inhumane. You would not want to be a dog under his sphere of influence. The sad thing is that the public does not recognize the error of his ways. My college thinks it is a travesty. We’ve written to National Geographic Channel and told them they have put dog training back 20 years.” Dr. Nicholas Dodman - Professor and Head, Section of Animal Behavior Director of Behavior Clinic, Tufts University - Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine “Practices such as physically confronting aggressive dogs and using of choke collars for fearful dogs are outrageous by even the most diluted dog training standards. A profession that has been making steady gains in its professionalism, technical sophistication and humane standards has been greatly set back. I have long been deeply troubled by the popularity of Mr. Millan as so many will emulate him. To co-opt a word like ‘whispering’ for arcane, violent and technically unsound practice is unconscionable.” Jean Donaldson, The San Francisco SPCA-Director of The Academy for Dog Trainers "A number of qualified professionals have voiced concern for the welfare of pet dogs that experience the strong corrections administered by Mr. Millan. My concerns are based on his inappropriateness, inaccurate statements, and complete fabrications of explanations for dog behavior. His ideas, especially those about “dominance”, are completely disconnected from the sciences of ethology and animal learning, which are our best hope for understanding and training our dogs and meeting their behavioral needs. Many of the techniques he encourages the public to try are dangerous, and not good for dogs or our relationships with them ." Dr. Suzanne Hetts, Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist Co-owner of Animal Behavior Associates, Inc., Littleton, CO "Cesar Millan employs outdated methods that are dangerous and inhumane. Using a choke chain and treadmill to treat fear of strangers and dogs is completely inappropriate. Hopefully the National Geographic Channel will listen to the scientific community and discontinue production of The Dog Whisperer." Vyolet Michaels, CTC (Certified Dog Trainer and Behavior Counselor) Owner of Urban Dawgs, LLC of Red Bank, NJ "On his TV show, the main method Millan uses for aggression is aversives (leash jerks, kicks, snaps of the hand against the neck, and restraint, among others) applied non contingently. The aversives are non contingent because they are so frequent that they're not connected to any particular behavior on the part of the dog—the dog gets popped pretty much constantly. This results in a state called learned helplessness, which means the animal hunkers down and tries to do as little as possible. This is what Millan calls "calm submission." It's exactly the same thing you see in a rat in a Skinner box that is subjected to intermittent shocks it can do nothing to avoid. This can happen quite fast, by the way, shall we say in ten minutes? The dangers to the dog are obvious, ranging from chronic stress to exacerbating the aggression, i.e., some dogs fight back when attacked. This latter is the simplest reason that aversives are a bad idea in treating aggression. Even used technically correctly as positive punishment for specific behaviors like growling and snarling, aversives do nothing to change the underlying fear or hostility, so the best you can hope for, in the words of famed vet and behaviorist, Ian Dunbar, is "removing the ticker from the time bomb." Thus such methods substantially increase the risk to humans of getting bitten." Janis Bradley, Instructor at The San Franciso SPCA Academy for Dog Trainers Author of the book, "Dogs Bite" Excerpt of letter from Lisa Laney, Dip. DTBC, CPDT, CBC to National Geographic before airing “The Dog Whisperer”: “The intended program depicts aversive and abusive training methods - treatment for some serious anxiety and fear based issues - being administered by an individual with no formal education whatsoever in canine behavioral sciences. The "results" that are shown are more than likely not long lasting changes, but the result of learned helplessness, or fatigue, neither of which impact behavior to any significant long term degree - at least not in a good way. For those of us who are pioneering the effort to end the ignorance that drives the cruel treatment administered upon our canine companions, it is disappointing to see that this programming will reach the masses - especially on the NG Channel. The ignorance that this program perpetuates will give equally ignorant people the green light to subject their dogs to abuse. In turn these dogs will react even more defensively, will bite more people - and end up dead.” Some more articles about Cesar: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/31/opinion/31derr.html http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/10/15/CMGPHL9D1N1.DTL http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2006-05-05-dog-whisperer_x.htm

The pack theory that Millan teaches, with "alpha"s and "dominance", are based off of studies that were done more than fifty years ago about wolf behavior, and were later re-written because they were so misunderstood. Wolf packs do not operate on the basis of underlings trying to become alpha, and adult dogs do not "correct" other adult dogs. Likewise, mother dogs mostly use avoidance and ignore mistakes made by puppies. Wolf packs are incredibly silent, cooperative groups that rarely have non-play biting, shoving, or any other physical confrontations. Some more information: "The social dynamics of a wolf pack is often used as a model for dog-dog and dog-human interactions. I have seen dog people (and some wolf people as well) caught up in the idea of always maintaining a high rank by aggressive means, believing their only choices are between forcibly dominating the animal or submitting to it. The problem with this approach is two-fold. Firstly, aggression may well escalate, and secondly, an either-or choice between forcible dominance or submission is not the only choice available to wolves, to dogs or to humans." -Pat Goodman "For many years it has been a myth that you have to take the leadership position to prevent a puppy from trying to take over and be the boss. Many sad dog destinies and many problems have come out of that myth, and it is not the way it works. Stop using the word leadership, and use instead the word parenthood, as this is exactly what it should be. A wolf pack is created by a pair of wolves who have cubs. The cubs grow up with the most patient and loving parents anyone can wish for, and in return they will love and have natural respect for their parents lasting their whole lives. They are fed first, before the adults even think about eating, and they grow up in a word of love, safety, and care. When they get old enough, some of them will leave to make their own little family. Others stay with their parents, helping to bring up the new cubs, and hunt together with them. They never try to "take over" or anything like that as the natural respect lasts a lifetime. When the puppy comes to new owners who start disciplining the puppy, punishing it or telling it off, it scares the puppy who is totally unprepared for this kind of treatment. The puppy's world becomes scary, frightening, and it may start to growl out of fear, and so problems start to occur, and the puppy's life becomes a misery. The little puppy came to you totally trusting, and sees you as its new mother. He expects you to be caring and loving as his own mother has been, and expects to be treated in the way he is used to. Forget about being the leader of your puppy. Start being a parents." -Turid Rugaas, "On Talking Terms with Dogs: Calming Signals"

In my home I am the leader/the mother and the guidence to my family. My children do not make the decision for the home....us parents do!. We gude and dicipline the children. As humans we dont react by hitting or grabbing (well I dont) but on occasions restraining i do do. With dogs/animals they dont have the capacity to rationlize and make dig long winded decision about what they are going to do next in life. They live for affection/loyalty etc. They need guidence and routines. You tell me what child (human) doesn't do better with good strong guidlines and routines and last of all respect. Dogs/animals dont need to be shown the right path because they are not going to college to get the best job. My dogs abide by the cesar techiques and I can say NO wrong about the guy! he is fantastic. The people that dont like him are the ones that are clearly lonely dog owners that want someone to talk to on a daily basis. Also the people that dont like him are dog bloody trainers!!! lol how funny is that. Are you getting less business because of him? lol I laugh at you, as you obviously feel threatned by his show that you need to keep putting up your stupid quotes! After using cesars way my dogs are calmer, they clearly feel much better knowing that they are not the leader and love being part of the pack rather than a leader. At the end of the day you dont bite the hand that feeds you! It is respect. And if your children/dogs and/or people respect you then you must be doing something right! Done! :) All replies welcome

In my home I am the leader/the mother and the guidence to my family. My children do not make the decision for the home....us parents do!. We guide and dicipline the children. As humans we dont react by hitting or grabbing (well I dont) but on occasions restraining them. With dogs/animals they dont have the capacity to rationlize and make big long winded decision about what they are going to do next in life. They live for affection/loyalty etc. They need guidence and routines. You tell me what child (human) doesn't do better with good strong guidlines and routines and last of all respect. Dogs/animals dont need to be shown the right path because they are not going to college to get the best job. My dogs abide by the cesar techiques and I can say NO wrong about the guy! he is fantastic. The people that dont like him are the ones that are clearly lonely dog owners that want someone to talk to on a daily basis. Also the people that dont like him are dog bloody trainers!!! lol how funny is that. Are you getting less business because of him? lol I laugh at you, as you obviously feel threatned by his show that you need to keep putting up your stupid quotes! After using cesars way my dogs are calmer, they clearly feel much better knowing that they are not the leader and love being part of the pack rather than a leader. At the end of the day you dont bite the hand that feeds you! It is respect. And if your children/dogs and/or people respect you then you must be doing something right! Done! :) All replies welcome

Yes he is very effective,its just simply using dog psychology as any other well experienced dog behaviourist...because some types of behavioral issues in dogs can be only solved through psychology not through dog training....

As an animal trainer myself, I can see where he is effective and user-friendly. Love him!

I think he's awesome! Some of his stuff is kind of weird, and I feel stupid when I try it with my dog, but it seems to be effective.