Cesar Millan - Yeah or Nay?

[DoeEyedBeauties]

What do you all think of him? I have watched his shows and read his puppy book and he seems to make sense. We never had a dog of our own btw, it's always been the parents responsibility when we were kids - so not too sure about any method tbh.

We are looking to get a puppy soon-ish and are researching training methods.

If you don't like his method, what have you found that works?

though - thought, obv

I think it depends on how responsive the dog is MB and how it looks on TV. I've seen him do the switching directions and then resort to a kick or in his words 'tap' the dog if it doesn't catch on quick enough to make him look all powerful and wonderous.

He does seem to have toned it down in more recent shows, but not enough and he is still trying to convince people that domestic dogs are wolves.

Thanks D0oin. I haven't watched it in a long time. I just remember the firm 'tap' with his foot and when he grabbed the dogs to simulate a bite.

I recall one episode where he basically strangled a Husky type dog. Awful.

I always think his training methods are a bit like snake oil. The whole shhh finger click thing. Load of bollocks, lucky if my dogs even acknowledge me if I do that, let alone drastically alter their behaviour.

IMO he gimmicky and doesn't offer practical stuff you could use at home. Saw him get a woman to give her dog to him in one episode, as she had the 'wrong energy' for the dog.

I like Victoria Stillwell. She like a no nonsense Mary Poppins of dog training.

Ahh now I've never seen him kick - but then I haven't watched many, I just remember watching one with the stop/switch thing and thought "Duh, that's a bit obvious like" and the 'calm assertive' stuff exactly as you described earlier Dooin. I remember vividly the dog that was scared of the laminate flooring though, and could have cried at how fucking horrible CM was then.

Crikey, if I kicked (or 'tapped') MuttDog she'd be even more hangdog looking than she is now. She is the master of the "Oh my owner is a right bitch, beats me, starves me, never walks me" look when in reality she is one of the most pampered pooches I know. Tell her off though and you'd think that I regularly hit her with a basball bat or something...bloody actress!

Dooin, I want you to be on TV. I nearly choked on my drink laughing at your description of dog training by fag, phone and MN. Love it!!

"The whole shhh finger click thing. Load of bollocks, lucky if my dogs even acknowledge me if I do that, let alone drastically alter their behaviour. "

I suspect, (and I know I am not alone in that) that the dogs are preconditioned to expect something nasty when they hear him make that noise and that is why they react to it.

CM has small man syndrome and he is nothing more than a bully. The very fact he gets bitten so much doesn't make him some sort of hero who isn't scared of dogs, as some peopel think, it makes him an idiot who pushes already scared/nervous dogs to their absolute limits so they feel the need to resort to biting.

I am thrilled beyond all belief to hear his show is being cancelled.

I have to say my DP clicks his fingers at our dog and gets the instant attention of our dog. I can do it though and he doesn't take a blind bit of notice.

Bloody hell, hadn't occurred to me that he may have preconditioned the dogs, but that makes prefect sense. Shit. That just seems so sinister.

My mom used to like him, but I think all my ranting has changed her mind! He just seems a bit of a charlatan to me, the program seems very staged.

My dogs get upset if I watch him on TV. They are distressed by the sound of unhappy dogs and give the TV very worried looks.

Right. I'm now seeing him in a whole new way. Dont think I'll be following him. Still reading In defense of dogs and next will be culture clash. Thanks guys!

\link{http://www.cesarsway.com/newsandevents/entertainmentnews/TV-Show-Submissions\New Nat Geo Wild Cesar show - Leader of the Pack} he has not been sacked by Nat Geo.

AHA link in 3rd post is from 2006.

Does that mean he just got a different show instead of Dog Whisperer then?

I was going by this:
Dog Whisperer is Silenced
and this
Cesar Millan's Dutch Response
(I did wonder why it was in Dutch).

But I am sure I also read something by Cesar about how filming the last series right now is bittersweet ..

You're right Ponders ... Final Season of Dog Whisperer but new series of something else.

Gah.

Yep Ponders people have been campaigning against him even longer than 2006.

Delighted to hear Cesar Milan's show has been cancelled at last. Not before time.

I would recommend 'On Talking Terms with Dogs' by Turid Rugaas ( www.canis.no/rugaas/index.php ) to read alongside the sound recommendations you've laready had on this thread. Actually, if you read this then watch an episode of Cesar Milan with the volume muted and concentrate on watching the dog without the distraction of chatter, you'll see how stressed and desperate to appease the majority of the dogs really are. When the torment continues, they shut down completely which is where he'll be pedalling his line in horseshit about how the dog has now submitted to him and accepted his authority. In actuality, the dog has completely retreated into itself as a defence mechanism against the immense stress he has caused it. It makes for very disturbing viewing.

I think anyone with a bit of common sense will sift the good from the bad and i think he has both in equal measures. I do use some of his tactics and I think his 'calm/assertive' thing is valid; if you are freaking out or a nervous wreck, a dog will react accordingly.

You have to admit though, he is an immigrant success story!!