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See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Send your questions to The Dog Whisperer, Cesar Millan

751 replies

RachelMumsnet · 20/12/2010 15:53

Great news for all those in The Dog House. We've been given the opportunity to send our canine questions to none other than the Dog Whisperer himself, Cesar Millan. Cesar is over in the UK to promote his forthcoming new series of the UK version of 'The Dog Whisperer' which will be aired in UK on Nat Geo Wild in early February 2011. We'll be filming some members of Mumsnet HQ (plus dogs) putting your questions to Cesar in January and we will be airing the film across the site at the end of January, to coincide with the launch of his new series. To stand a chance of getting your question to Cesar, post them to this thread before end of Tuesday 21st December 2010.

OP posts:
stickersarecurrency · 20/12/2010 23:03

Shan, I don't quite understand your point about the link?

ShanahansRevenge · 20/12/2010 23:05

The link is not from any well known animal welfare site that I can see.

It has a lot of logo's at the top of the page..and it says it is using "information from these organisations"

Not directly linked with them.

Let me know if I'm wrong though. Xmas Smile

ShanahansRevenge · 20/12/2010 23:09

JustineMumsnet

I think there are enough people on here who want to ask him a question...he can answer the negative with the positive surely?

MrsRhettButler · 20/12/2010 23:11

hi justine, i would like to hear the answers he has for me and everyone else, if there is something to explain then he should be given the chance.
i watch and enjoy his show and so far have not seen anything terrible (no, i haven't opened every link)

stickersarecurrency · 20/12/2010 23:15

Thanks for coming back to us Justine. Can I raise two points in response?

Firstly, "some people" who find his methods cruel include the British Veterinary Association and the RSPCA, among others. Hardly the opinions of laypeople. What are your thoughts on giving a forum to an individual whose methods are denounced by such reputable organisations?

Secondly, you do not propose a webchat. An edited and pre-planned question and answer session does not offer the same platform to challenge a guest. While MN may claim there's no endorsement, it is surely implied.

ILoveItWhenYouCallMeBoo · 20/12/2010 23:15

i have never seen any dog pin another dog down for 9 minutes until it urinated.

KittyTwoShoes · 20/12/2010 23:16

Some of them are experts, ShanahansRevenge. I'm not, I'm just someone with an opinion, but several of the people who've voiced opposition are indeed experts.

Thank you for the reply Justine. I understand what you're saying but personally I'd still rather he wasn't given a platform here, and for it to be made clear to him why. I appreciate it's not all about me though so will be interested to see what others think. I do believe people with questions would be better off asking Val or someone similar instead of being exposed to his methods, though.

I'm glad there's no need for people to be going off to netmums though! Thank goodness for that - I was worried we might all have to start... hugging

MummieHunnie · 20/12/2010 23:16

I would appreciate him being asked the positive and negative also Justine, I am disappointed in him now, so would like to hear his side to things, I really hope he has not been cruel to the dogs!

stickersarecurrency · 20/12/2010 23:16

Thanks for coming back to us Justine. Can I raise two points in response?

Firstly, "some people" who find his methods cruel include the British Veterinary Association and the RSPCA, among others. Hardly the opinions of laypeople. What are your thoughts on giving a forum to an individual whose methods are denounced by such reputable organisations?

Secondly, you do not propose a webchat. An edited and pre-planned question and answer session does not offer the same platform to challenge a guest. While MN may claim there's no endorsement, it is surely implied.

ShanahansRevenge · 20/12/2010 23:17

My question to Mr Millan is this.

My husband and I would like a dog and we have 2 children aed 6 and 2. My husband likes breeds such as English Bull Terrier's but I am wary of these as I have heard a lot of horror stories.

I am comfortable around dogs but have some fear of terriers owing to their reputation.

What advice can you give us regarding which is good family dog but also a good guard dog please?

Thank you.

MrsRhettButler · 20/12/2010 23:22

oooh shan , not trying to answer for ceaser as i am not a reputable anything Grin

but we have a staff x american bulldog and hes the best dog i have ever had! brilliant with kids and guards the house excellently :) incidently, it would be good to hear what ceaser thinks of this breed?

Bella32 · 20/12/2010 23:23

Thanks for replying Justine.

Sadly, CM is neither interesting, fun nor learned.

And I for one will not be buggering off to Netmums if this goes ahead. Cos trust me, if it does, the fallout and negative consequences for dogs owned by MNers will be catastrophic. Val, Minimu, Midori and Scuttle will be overwhelmed by pleas for help when people get bitten after trying an alpha roll.

More dogs are destroyed in this country for behavioural reasons than injury or illness. All the leading welfare and veterinary organisations agree that CM's methods can cause behavioural problems. Please don't condemn even more dogs to a lethal injection. Please.

VallhalaLalalalalalalalaaaaaa · 20/12/2010 23:25

Shan - I beg to differ. Many of those on here are experts in their (dog related) fields.

Justine, thank you, I love the good natured humour. :)

I appreciate that you like to bring us people who are interesting, fun and/or learned. However, Millan is none of these.

These assessments of Millan, from eminent authorities may give you some idea as to why we are all up in arms about him. The relevant stuff starts about halfway down the page, under the title "Millan's Dog Training Methods".

Besides all that, what's wrong with me buggering off to NetMums? I might get called Hun and get my very own ticker there if I'm lucky. :o

MotherJack · 20/12/2010 23:31

Stickers - if MNHQ say they are getting nothing out of it, it may be a publicity exercise by CM's marketing people.

Hopefully MNHQ will realise their mistake and back out.

VallhalaLalalalalalalalaaaaaa · 20/12/2010 23:33

Am I the only one who is rolling her eyes in despair upon reading the words of someone who advocates Cesar Millan, fears terriers because of their "reputation" and who wants to know which dog would be good with her young family and be "a good guard dog"?

Jeez...

ShanahansRevenge · 20/12/2010 23:36

Oh shove off Val....it's fine to want to be educated about a breed I know nothing of.

Go on and roll your eyes into the back of your smug head.

stickersarecurrency · 20/12/2010 23:37

Shan that website is genuine.

MrsRhettButler · 20/12/2010 23:38

oh how i wish we could 'like' posts on mn sometimes Grin

i agree shan, theres nothing wrong with asking questions, how else would you know the answers?

ShanahansRevenge · 20/12/2010 23:39

Val...your link is a snapshot...not a real site. how can I juge if it has any merit when I cannot see the site from which it came?

If you wouldn't mind rolling your eyes back to the front of your head and having a look for me?

MotherJack · 20/12/2010 23:40

No Val, you're not alone.

Scuttlebutter · 20/12/2010 23:40

To attempt to answer Shan's question re the link - if you follow it, it sets out very clearly a joint approach by a number of welfare organisations including veterinary, scientific, behavioural, and leading dog charities. The website is divided into sections which cover the objections to Cesar Millans's approach, including why his use of "dominance/pack" theory is outdated and no longer used, an explanation of how dogs do learn and inter-react, a discussion of dog training techniques including why aversive ones (like those used by CM) are wrong, and advice for dog owners on where they can go to get good, sensible, reputable advice on dog training/behavioural issues. In all, it is a comprehensive website with a great deal of useful information from highly reputable sources, which sets out clearly for any reader the issues involved and a useful background to the scientific research (including the references if you want to go and check them out yourself).

MNHQ - thanks for listening and taking on people's views. While I realise you cannot possibly agree with the views espoused by all your guests, in this case, as I hope a number of us have demonstrated, this goes beyond a difference in what flavour kibble to feed our dogs.

This is about a man who all reputable animal experts in this country believe to be using methods that are outdated, potentially dangerous and cruel. He also uses shock collars which (again) I remind you are now illegal in Scotland and Wales. If you look at Cesar's own website, he works in partnership with a trainer called Martin Deeley (and calls MD "part of his inner Pack" - very definitely an endorsement) - MD is quite upfront on his own website about using electric shock collars as a training aid, and CM's own website contains a number of articles that repeatedly refer to being "pack leader" and so on.

I think it would be preferable to pull out completely from any involvement with this man or his show.

MrsRhettButler · 20/12/2010 23:41

fwiw i have had some excellent advice from the people in 'the doghouse' and i do thank them for that, mainly val and midori.

but you shouldn't make fun at people or role eyes because someone asks a question

ILoveItWhenYouCallMeBoo · 20/12/2010 23:43

not teh only one val, and i just knew you would be the first respondant to that particular line! Grin

ShanahansRevenge · 20/12/2010 23:43

But who authored it Scuttle? Who owns it? A random expert or an actual organisation such as the RSPCA or similar?

If I were to see something on an official site...then I would certainly sit up and take notice.

MotherJack · 20/12/2010 23:46

FWIW MNHQ, I think that many of those in "The Doghouse" would welcome a Q&A session with a celebrity dog trainer - just not Cesar.