Burns
07-04-2007, 07:57 AM
Ok, so I am like obsessed with this guy. He is amazing! :D
Before this week, I'd never watched an episode of The Dog Whisperer because we don't get the National Geographic channel. I'd heard of Cesar Millan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cesar_Millan), but didn't know anything about his techniques.
When my mom was visiting this past weekend, we took Red (my 5 month old Doberman pup) for a walk. I had walked that same route time and time again - we live on a moderately busy road so cars drive by us at about 40-45 mph, and Red has never had a problem with them. But when my mom was with me, he got the bright idea that he wanted to start lunging at passing cars! :shock:
The first time he did it, he caught me completely by surprise. The second time, I was ready for it, and as soon as he lunged, I ripped the leash back and the dog flew backward like being clotheslined from his collar. I know it sounds mean, but if I hadn't ripped him back, he seriously would've ran right out in front of that truck!
I scolded him and was yelling at him, when my mom asked if she could try something. She watches Cesar Millan in The Dog Whisperer so she had a few tricks up her sleeve.
She took the leash and moved his collar up high on his neck (like how show dogs wear their collars in the show rings to keep their heads up) and made Red walk at her left side, right next to her - not out in front of her like I usually let him do.
Everytime a car would go by and Red showed signs of focusing too much on it, or moving toward it, she would correct him with a pop upwards on the leash while she said "shhht". Sometimes she would use her foot behind her to tap him when she did it. The leash and verbal correction served to distract the dog from what he was focusing on and to know that that behavior would not be tolerated.
She had him "fixed" in about a minute and a half. After that, he walked by my left side (not out in front of me), and didn't pay the slightest attention to the passing cars.
I was so impressed by the simplicity of this behavior correction, that I went home and looked up Cesar Millan The Dog Whisperer on YouTube to watch some clips from his shows. Here's an overview of what he does:
Up Close with The Dog Whisperer: Part 1 of 3 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNA8JbnKU94)
Up Close with The Dog Whisperer: Part 2 of 3 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqHjq-cj97I)
Up Close with The Dog Whisperer: Part 3 of 3 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNudxuz9HBs)
Basically, he acts as the pack leader using calm-assertive energy. He is not a dog trainer and rarely uses commands such as sit, stay, shake, heel, etc. He uses quiet calm-assertiveness to establish his role as pack leader over the dogs - therefore the dogs listen to him and have a calm-submissive behavior. You should see him walking with his pack of 40 dogs, all off-leash, and all walking either at his side or behind him - never in front of him.
He teaches owners that dogs (and all animals) can sense your energy, and if you project a calm-assertive energy, your dog will pick up on that. If you are not taking charge as pack leader, or are nervous or high-strung, your dog will mimic your emotions and try to take charge himself.
The key to a balanced dog is:
1. Exercise
2. Discipline
3. Affection
In that order
Dogs need a pack leader and structure in order to be happy. Dogs are dogs - they are not humans. People try to humanize them and spoil them, but this only creates an unbalanced dog with behavioral issues/quirks. 9 times out of 10, it is the owner that creates behavioral issues in their dogs because they are not fulfilling a dog's natural needs: the need to have a calm-assertive leader, structure, rules, and boundaries, and of course, affection. But affection must only be given when the dog is in a calm-submissive state.
It all make so much sense when you watch Cesar in action. I actually rented the complete first season of The Dog Whisperer, AND bought Cesar Millan's book "Cesar's Way" (http://www.amazon.com/Cesars-Way-Everyday-Understanding-Correcting/dp/0307337332/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-6324387-5388934?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1183561080&sr=1-1).
His techniques and way of thinking is so simple, and makes so much sense. You have to think how a dog thinks - they are not human. I have been using a lot of Cesar's techniques with Red the last few days, and I've noticed a huge difference in how he behaves. He listens better and now realizes that I am the pack leader.
A dog that accepts his owner as the pack leader will trust them to control any situation, and will be easily handled in any situation. For example, I took Red for a walk in a strange neighborhood yesterday, and I had him walking next to me on my left side (like I always do now), and two huge dogs off-leash came charging up to us. I continued walking with calm-assertive energy, did not make eye-contact with the dogs, and used the "shhht" sound. The two dogs stopped dead about 3 feet away from us, and just watched us pass, and Red just kept walking like nothing even happened - because he knew that as pack leader, I was in charge of the situation and he did not have to take charge himself. And the other dogs did not sense fear or uncertainty from me to take advantage of.
I was really proud about that specific example, and how a change of attitude makes all the difference in the world.
Sorry about the novel, just felt like sharing. :)
Does anyone else here watch Cesar Millan in The Dog Whisperer, or use any of his techniques?
Before this week, I'd never watched an episode of The Dog Whisperer because we don't get the National Geographic channel. I'd heard of Cesar Millan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cesar_Millan), but didn't know anything about his techniques.
When my mom was visiting this past weekend, we took Red (my 5 month old Doberman pup) for a walk. I had walked that same route time and time again - we live on a moderately busy road so cars drive by us at about 40-45 mph, and Red has never had a problem with them. But when my mom was with me, he got the bright idea that he wanted to start lunging at passing cars! :shock:
The first time he did it, he caught me completely by surprise. The second time, I was ready for it, and as soon as he lunged, I ripped the leash back and the dog flew backward like being clotheslined from his collar. I know it sounds mean, but if I hadn't ripped him back, he seriously would've ran right out in front of that truck!
I scolded him and was yelling at him, when my mom asked if she could try something. She watches Cesar Millan in The Dog Whisperer so she had a few tricks up her sleeve.
She took the leash and moved his collar up high on his neck (like how show dogs wear their collars in the show rings to keep their heads up) and made Red walk at her left side, right next to her - not out in front of her like I usually let him do.
Everytime a car would go by and Red showed signs of focusing too much on it, or moving toward it, she would correct him with a pop upwards on the leash while she said "shhht". Sometimes she would use her foot behind her to tap him when she did it. The leash and verbal correction served to distract the dog from what he was focusing on and to know that that behavior would not be tolerated.
She had him "fixed" in about a minute and a half. After that, he walked by my left side (not out in front of me), and didn't pay the slightest attention to the passing cars.
I was so impressed by the simplicity of this behavior correction, that I went home and looked up Cesar Millan The Dog Whisperer on YouTube to watch some clips from his shows. Here's an overview of what he does:
Up Close with The Dog Whisperer: Part 1 of 3 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNA8JbnKU94)
Up Close with The Dog Whisperer: Part 2 of 3 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqHjq-cj97I)
Up Close with The Dog Whisperer: Part 3 of 3 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNudxuz9HBs)
Basically, he acts as the pack leader using calm-assertive energy. He is not a dog trainer and rarely uses commands such as sit, stay, shake, heel, etc. He uses quiet calm-assertiveness to establish his role as pack leader over the dogs - therefore the dogs listen to him and have a calm-submissive behavior. You should see him walking with his pack of 40 dogs, all off-leash, and all walking either at his side or behind him - never in front of him.
He teaches owners that dogs (and all animals) can sense your energy, and if you project a calm-assertive energy, your dog will pick up on that. If you are not taking charge as pack leader, or are nervous or high-strung, your dog will mimic your emotions and try to take charge himself.
The key to a balanced dog is:
1. Exercise
2. Discipline
3. Affection
In that order
Dogs need a pack leader and structure in order to be happy. Dogs are dogs - they are not humans. People try to humanize them and spoil them, but this only creates an unbalanced dog with behavioral issues/quirks. 9 times out of 10, it is the owner that creates behavioral issues in their dogs because they are not fulfilling a dog's natural needs: the need to have a calm-assertive leader, structure, rules, and boundaries, and of course, affection. But affection must only be given when the dog is in a calm-submissive state.
It all make so much sense when you watch Cesar in action. I actually rented the complete first season of The Dog Whisperer, AND bought Cesar Millan's book "Cesar's Way" (http://www.amazon.com/Cesars-Way-Everyday-Understanding-Correcting/dp/0307337332/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-6324387-5388934?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1183561080&sr=1-1).
His techniques and way of thinking is so simple, and makes so much sense. You have to think how a dog thinks - they are not human. I have been using a lot of Cesar's techniques with Red the last few days, and I've noticed a huge difference in how he behaves. He listens better and now realizes that I am the pack leader.
A dog that accepts his owner as the pack leader will trust them to control any situation, and will be easily handled in any situation. For example, I took Red for a walk in a strange neighborhood yesterday, and I had him walking next to me on my left side (like I always do now), and two huge dogs off-leash came charging up to us. I continued walking with calm-assertive energy, did not make eye-contact with the dogs, and used the "shhht" sound. The two dogs stopped dead about 3 feet away from us, and just watched us pass, and Red just kept walking like nothing even happened - because he knew that as pack leader, I was in charge of the situation and he did not have to take charge himself. And the other dogs did not sense fear or uncertainty from me to take advantage of.
I was really proud about that specific example, and how a change of attitude makes all the difference in the world.
Sorry about the novel, just felt like sharing. :)
Does anyone else here watch Cesar Millan in The Dog Whisperer, or use any of his techniques?