I JUST started watching this show, and it is my new favorite show. I love seeing how the guy can transform these dog's behaviour. I've seen maybe 8 episodes in the last week...by recording reruns. Anyone else watch it?

Cara

I don't know if I saw that one or not - but I really like some videos i got at the library called "Woof Woof" by Uncle Matty??

shows how to test a puppy so you will know how firm you need to be.
if it is timid or independent you adjust your techniques to fit the dog.

He really breaks it down so it is simple to to it.
But consistency is a key - can't be wishy washy and you can't be mean.


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I absolutely LOVE that show. It is so humane, fun, educational, interesting.

It never ceases to amaze me how complex pets can be!

Did you see the one of the "country"dog who was afraid of walking in the
city? How Cesear changed him in 10 minutes? From cringing, fear, to proud dog?

Or the one of the poor pooche who became snarly and vicious at medicine time?
How Cesear transformed him to a quiet accepting state and the dog didn't bite anymore?

Did you see the one of the pink maltese, with the eccentric owner? How he calmed the overexcited behaviors instantly? I know a jillion people whose dogs do that!

Now all we need to have is a "cat whisperer" ! LOLOLOLOL meow!

It is on Nat Geo channel for us. I don't think everyone gets that in most
packages on cable.

I am glad you like the show... it IS rather addicting, is it not?

I think it is amazing, how dogs read us and mirror our own feelings. That seems to be the heart of the matter!

I'll look for "woof woof"... thanks for the recommendation, Jo. My husband makes regular trips to the library which makes that easy!

The Dog Whisperer IS rather addictive. I LOVE it, and I am no longer worried at all about a new puppy! Ginger was a very good dog, and I can see we did a lot of things right, but there were a few things we did wrong. And NOW I know what they were....lol. Yep, it's on the National Geographic channel for us, too.

Cesar is amazing, and just a really nice guy, but I do believe he has a special gift to see exactly what each dog needs. Yes, they are mostly basic principles, but they respond so quickly to him! MrsD... has he ever done a show on new puppies? He shows us how to correct problem dogs, but I'd love to see him to a basic puppy training show. I was looking on Amazon.com for any videos, but only found season 1 and 2 of his show on DVD. We plan on attending puppy classes, of course, but last time they taught us some things that screwed Ginger up...course that was 13 years ago..BEFORE the Dog Whisperer.

I was at our friend's house last weekend who have two dogs. For kicks I stepped forward towards one to see what she would do...and she immediately backed up and sat. I thought ..... WOW... it does work...lol!

Cara

Just found this in Healthline news forum thanks to the similiar thread feature~

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Can you imagine anyone calling his techniques "inhumane"? Not anything I've seen!


Cara

Were 5-6 month old Rottweilers...a pair who were rescued by two sisters.

At 5-6 months they became destructive, and were starting to attack children, fighting over food, and tearing up the house.

Cesear fixed them, but it was a longer fix, not 10 minutes like some.

The sisters had to do certain things, daily, for a while.

I think it is fascinating stuff. And he explains that this is NOT training, but
dog psychology. Dogs inherently think a certain way, and we must match
our behaviors to that task. We cannot make or expect them to UNDERSTAND US. There was a very funny episode with a Bassett hound that a the female owner spoiled like a child. He woudn't walk...she had to carry him. One funny sequence was her DRAGGING him on a leash. LOL Cesear fixed that PRONTO!
All she had to do was become ALPHA dog.

On one of the older shows, he used to give updates at the end of the program, and he did have one failure--and the vicious dog had to be put down eventually. He specializes in violent dogs..pit bulls, rotties, etc. I think the newer shows are now venturing into the other behaviors.

I think with puppies, there is alot more training. But for squelching irritating habits/behaviors, you use Cesear's point of view. I think firmness, with understanding, and love and patience, most pets do not become problems.
And above all, the humans have to remain calm, centered, and grounded.
Remember he says to only give praise, when the dog is calm, and centered. Do not praise when excited or agitated! To me that is a BIGGIE!

Funny story--
This summer our cousin down the way brought a friend who had TWO huge dogs (Great Pyrennese -sp?) and he had two chocolate lab pups almost grown. The largest GP came down our way with one of the labs. They didn't expect people, since we had just arrived. (this is an open area, a family owned island). They were investigating the cat smells. Our Oreo flew in the cat door, so I knew something was up. I watched them from the kitchen window silently. The chocolate lab was rolling in the cat toilet LOL like dogs do to take the smell back to the pack---peeeuuuuu
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and the 160lb GP looked up and saw me watching. We stood there for about 30 seconds sizing each other up. The heavy casement window was closed, but I just quietly said "What do you think you are doing?" She heard it thru the walls, and slowly rolled her eyes up and around, and then made these funny woof woof sounds (not really a bark) sort of like she was talking. So then she gestured to the lab who was rolling in the cat poo...wufff.. she threw her head with the wuff.. and they both took off. Now that I have seen the Dog Whisperer, I know I must have done the "right thing" !! LOL And that long eye contact...was perceived as dominance? I guess. At the time I thought they were just nice dogs...who respected people.
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When they all left a week later we watched them give the dogs a bath in the lake... I guess maybe all of them had sampled our cat toilet
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You know the humane society gets a little extreme at times!
IMO. While it performs a great function, it has its "moments".
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That was an interesting article, Cara. I enjoyed it.

What I think is inhumane is "spoiling" a dog so it is in constant turmoil, anxiety states. Cesar seems to be able to remove that suffering very quickly.
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I even use some the uncle Matty techniques on my horse - shes' a cranky mare- and it really helps.
But I'm still to chicken to try to ride her- all I need is to get bucked off on my noggin'!

I just saw a show on a puppy dalmation that a fire station rescued... and THEY were doing EVERYTHING wrong...lol. They had the dog running on a treadmill~ and stop, drop, and rolling for the fire safety education trips~ in no time
.
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He said puppies come ready to follow the pack leader...it is their nature. It is only when the owners don't show leadership that problems arise.

Cara

P.S. Editing to say that puppies don't come to follow the pack leader! Mine is learning....but yeesh! He is a full time job!

Chalk me up as one of the Dog Whisperer fans. I am almost done reading his book. We have applied his techniques to our dogs and have seen improvement in them. My younger dog is part choc lab/ part pit and I was worried about the pit in her but we fell in love with her so I figured that we needed to know what is the best way to train her to always have control over her. She is a very gentle dog and I have met quite a few smaller dogs who are much more apt to bite.

So while looking for books to learn about dog training I came across Cesar and when we upgraded the cable we found him on the National Geographic channel. I watch as often as I can and now the kids are watching too. My son has a natural talent when it comes to animals, they seem to migrate to him and the he can walk up to any stray dog and read the tag so we can find their home. Of course this means that I have had my share of lost dogs at my house. We will even stop and pick up a dog that is loose by a busy street. One time I had a great dane in my back seat, now that was fun. He is leaning towards a career that involves working with animals. He has wanted to be a marine biologist since the third grade so we have always encouraged him with trips to aquariums and such. Anyway, I think that Cesar is very talented and to those who think he is inhumane, I say find some other tree to bark up...Sue

I don't have cable but rented his DVD. Ceaser Milan has a book out too. I saw his book in the store and looked it over. That is why I decided to rent his DVD.

I like how he uses that expression calm and assertive energy. Dogs do pick up on some basic cues, like our type of energy and the level it is at. (your dog knows when you are anxious.) Some people can use a tone of voice with their dogs that may be high-pitched and make the dog more hyper, I think.

I think dog training is great to learn because it simpilifies some concepts like discipline and leadership. Some people don't train their dogs properly, giving them too much affection. And, if you can't keep your dog under control you might not want to consider having kids. I mean, learn dog training first, to get somewhat of an idea what it will be like to be a parent. Of course being a parent is a lot harder, but if keeping a dog under control is a challenge then you will certainly need help with being a parent. (It's a tough job being a parent; take baby steps and start with a pet first.)

Ceasar makes it seem so instinctive and simple. I think his approach is great.