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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:
MrsRhettButler · 20/12/2010 23:46

just realised i've been spelling his name like the dog food Blush sorry mr millan

Ponders · 20/12/2010 23:46

I thought "electric shock collars" was a red herring which we should all now be ignoring?

'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' - er - these 2 statements are relevant how?

TigerseyeMum · 20/12/2010 23:47

An interesting dog behaviourist is Victoria Stilwell, her programmes are interesting and informative and I would be interested in hearing her views on a number of behavioural issues :)

stickersarecurrency · 20/12/2010 23:52

Shan the press release on that website was released as a joint statement by the listed organisations earlier this year. I am not sure of specifics but Millan's people kicked up a stink and I think it was edited or something. If I remember rightly the whole site went down for a few days. Google around for press articles though. It was a genuine campaign - the veterinary press was full of it at the time.

VallhalaLalalalalalalalaaaaaa · 20/12/2010 23:57

Then let me educate you Shan because where dogs are concerned, I will never shove off. They're my life, my work and consume my spare time too. So, whilst I would never call myself an expert, I do happen to know a thing or two about dogs, as do many on here who have spoken out about Millan.

There is NO SUCH THING as a "good breed" for a family. I know of gentle, affectionate German Shepherds and arsey Labradors (and own both), snappy Jack Russells and soppy Staffies. There is no more sense or safety in deciding on a dog for your family on breed than there is deciding to trust a Jamaican over a Japanese man or vice versa.

Which brings me to terriers. The same applies. Consider the individual personality, not the breed. You wouldn't want my Lab near your kids - he isn't fond of them, yet my 3 yo old Shep would adore them... but surely it's supposed to be the other way round...? Yes bull terriers have a "reputation". That's because bad news sells newspapers. My kids are rescue volunteers - on an average day they can interact with maybe 20 or 30 Bull breeds and they are still in one piece. Have you ever heard of them? No? You won't either... because them not getting hurt isn't news.

WRT a guard dog, think again. The best "guard" is a dog that barks. That's all the average family need. (So, you wouldn't want my Shep after all - he's huge and looks the part but is generally silent!). Unless you are willing to pay thousands - literally - for a ready trained dog or in training a dog up (and remember the dog you chose may not be suited to security/guarding purposes), then forget it. A poorly taught "guard dog", one which is encouraged towards aggression by novices in the expectation that their pet will guard them as well as being a friend, is a potential danger and certainly not to be relied upon when the going gets tough. A dog which barks sufficiently to frighten the shit out of a potential intruder/someone coming down the path is more than sufficient for normal households as he will be a deterrent.

BTW, to the person who asked what CM would think of their Bull breed cross, there is one thing to be said in his favour. One of his own dogs )if not more) was an American Pit Bull Terrier, so I guess we can assume he isn't hung up about bull breeds. :)

stickersarecurrency · 20/12/2010 23:58

Shan the press release on that website was released as a joint statement by the listed organisations earlier this year. I am not sure of specifics but Millan's people kicked up a stink and I think it was edited or something. If I remember rightly the whole site went down for a few days. Google around for press articles though. It was a genuine campaign - the veterinary press was full of it at the time.

stickersarecurrency · 21/12/2010 00:01

link for Shan

Sorry for multiple posts, hard to get anything right on phone!

ShanahansRevenge · 21/12/2010 00:01

Thanks Val...I was aware of the barking being the most important thing but it's good to hear that it's not the breed which matters so much.

Stickers...I expect that as Mr Millan is coming from the USA that he has quite a publicity army and it might be hard to find anythng on him now...as his lawyer will have stopped much of it.

I am still wanting to hear what he has to say though.

I am sure Mumsnet will choose a good cross section of questions for him.

ShanahansRevenge · 21/12/2010 00:03

x posts sticker...but interesting link. I would be very interested to hear if any dogs he has rehabilitated have regressed or if thei behaviour has worsened.

MrsRhettButler · 21/12/2010 00:06

yes, by 'guarding' i mean he barks at the door :)

mind you, hes never been tested on what he would do to a burgler!

hes very friendly to everyone we bring into the home but will bark at anyone who approaches the home without us

i've had a lab, some staffs and a little terrier and he and the terrier are the only ones who ever barked at the door!

Ponders · 21/12/2010 00:06

Daddy was a pit bull (one who'd had his ears clipped before Cesar got him)

His current best dog is Junior, who is also a pit bull (without clipped ears), raised from a pup to succeed old Daddy.

His pack includes several bulldogs & pit bulls & he really rates both - as long as they have not been messed with

MrsRhettButler · 21/12/2010 00:07

i would like to know that too shan...

VallhalaLalalalalalalalaaaaaa · 21/12/2010 00:09

Shan, Zara is seeking a new home

SeaGreen · 21/12/2010 00:12

Show? never mind the show! his book is the real deal. He really knows dogs.
a bunch of certificates doesn't necessarily make someone better than someone else who just UNDERSTANDS them.

Please read his books before you judge him.

Very simple points:
Your dog is not a human or a child substitute.
You are doing your dog a disservice if you treat him as a human.
Stay calm around your dog because he will pick on your excitement or paranoia or whatever it is.
Walk your dog everyday- he's not a decorative object. You can't expect him to behave well if he hasn't had enough exercise.
Tossing a ball doesn't give the mental stimulation that a walk does.

All common sense!
And it has worked brilliantly with mine.
and no, i have NEVER EVER used ANY physical force. it would be counterproductive.

I actually see him behave much in the same way as say a shepherd treats his working dog- as a friend and team member.

I haven't seen the electric collar episodes so i can't talk about them- but in the rush to flame him, let's please not lose sight of the fantastic truths that he has brought home to a vast number of people who have never seen their dog as anything but a human iin a furry suit.

VallhalaLalalalalalalalaaaaaa · 21/12/2010 00:13

Or there's Cash, a little SBT cross :)

MrsRhettButler · 21/12/2010 00:15

awww zara! whats cash crossed with? ive never seen that colour on a staff

ILoveItWhenYouCallMeBoo · 21/12/2010 00:16

seagreen if you read the thread you will see i have read his book, and not only be the pack leader, but also 'cesar's way'. i am still in agreement with the others. his methods are cruel.

those points you pasted are common sense, you are right, but most people that work with dogs already knew them and they don't back them up with harsh methods.

ILoveItWhenYouCallMeBoo · 21/12/2010 00:18

isn't Zara gorgeous. i could scruffle her(tickle behind her ears) all day!! Grin

MrsRhettButler · 21/12/2010 00:19

i like cash :) its like rotty colouring in a staff body! gorgeous

SeaGreen · 21/12/2010 00:20

My two bits for what it's worth:
Dogs, like children, need positive and negative reinforcement.

Negative reinforcement doesn't mean using force, in fact, it SHOULDN'T involve any force.

It can be as simple as a look. or a pointing finger. or a gruff grunt.
all of which i use from time to time and trust me, they work on my huge hound.

SeaGreen · 21/12/2010 00:31

Shan - it is true that some breeds do have an inherent tendency to do some things.
as always, the generalisation is not the rule and there are always exceptions.

some types of terriers usually- not always- do go for small moving objects.
many labs will scrounge for food regardless of how full they are.
and many beagles will howl.

i don't think one can ignore breed characteristics completely- but it doesn't mean that they can't be mitigated through training. or that one can cite breed as an excuse for lazy owners with vicious dogs.

Sorry, i've been working my way up the thread and replying as i do so!

Justine it would be lovely to have CM on webchat but i know there'd be a backlash and i don't know if it'll still go on.
But here's my question FWIW- and it's not about my own dog but someone close to me- how would you stop an older terrier from barking furiously and running at the telly every time he sees something on it that stirs him up?

Scuttlebutter · 21/12/2010 00:32

Shan, it is authored by the organisations listed, which include the RSPCA and the others listed. As I understand it, the two main veterinary organisations (BVA and BSAVA) got together with their concerns and it snowballed from there. I should also add that this follows a great deal of concern about training methods used by CM by American veterinary and behavioural bodies. The site has been in existence since late 2009 to my knowledge, but I am sure someone can provide more information.

There are links to the site from the RSPCA's own website. Would suggest that you contact the organisations directly if you think it is a fake Hmm

ILoveItWhenYouCallMeBoo · 21/12/2010 00:39

seagreen. a webchat isn't being proposed. it is a Q&A with pre-selected questions.

SeaGreen · 21/12/2010 00:39

Val - zara and cash- what lovely babies!!
(PS- i assure anyone reading this that i'm not humanising them by calling them babies in case you read my previous post and think i don't practice what i preach- that's just the most affectionate term i can find) Smile

SeaGreen · 21/12/2010 00:41

ILoveIt - my mistake! thanks for pointing it out.

to respond to your earlier post, as i said, i have only seen one episode where i disagreed with CM's method - it involved some sheep. having said which, telly bores me and i don't really watch that programme much.
so i hold him in high esteem for the truths which he articulated very well (i thought) in his first book.

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