The Dog Whisperer - Cesar Milan

I often receive information about National Geographic's hit show, The Dog Whisperer. Many people ask me for my thoughts on the show. ...so here they are.

I have watched the show, and I have trained (many years ago) using some of the same techniques seen in the show. However, I consider the methods used fairly old-fashioned and prefer to use a different style of dog training.

You can train animals in a variety of ways. I choose to use more dog-friendly methods. The methods I use don't rely on intimidation or force. When methods rely exclusively on intimidation and force the training is often easily accomplished by the trainer, but not so easily accomplished by the owner. Methods based on intimidation can work. However, when they don't work, the handler is at great risk of getting bitten and making the dog worse in the process of training. (Hence the "don't try this at home warnings on The Dog Whisperer).

I don't believe dog training is all about 'the ends justify the means". I think dogs should be trained using minimally invasive techniques based on principles of learning and not methods based on force and intimidation.

The Dog Whisper is a great show to watch if you would like to observe signs of stress and fearful body language in dogs though.

For more information about training methods click here.

Comments

[lakeitha]

my grandma needs you to train our dog can you do the job i live in los angles on 104 my adress is 10414south hover street

[Mandi]

I don't think you were paying very close attention when watching Cesar's show because he says numerous times he IS NOT A TRAINER, he is a dog psychologist. The techniques he uses are not to train a dog to do a simple command like sit or stay, he is rehabilitating them from owners who, through good intentions, have humanized and therefore caused bahavioral issues. There is no force or invasion, he uses instead dominant energy and bonderies, the same bonderies a natural pack leader would set.
If you think Cesar's methods are out dated, then you think Mother Nature is out dated, because that's what he does - follow Mother Nature.