Customer Reviews

Dog Whisperer With Cesar Millan - The Complete First Season

5 star:		(104)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I am a veterinarian and I see many behavioral problems. I have euthanized many animals that have taken control of their owners. I am also a college biology instructor and I can assure you that Cesar's methods are right on. Dogs are pack animals, all of them, from pekinese to border collie. They can never escape their genetic background as pack dominated social animals. Cesar uses that pack energy to establish order. The person who talks about pain and intimidation never watched the show. His methods are far more humane than prong collars and crates. I have used his techniques with my clients and have had great success. I thank him daily. Be the pack leader, watch this DVD

I have three stubborn, larger, loving dogs. For the past six years I used love, affection, and the reward system. Although the relationship I had with my dogs was great, nobody else could see that wonderful relationship. I could not invite friends over because my dogs would jump on them. We could not go to the dog park because me dogs would chase other dogs - not to hurt them, but it scared the other owners. We had to walk before 5am or after midnight just to make sure we did not run into other dogs on our walk. I was becoming so frustrated I was beginning to think I might need to get rid of my bulldog.

But then I found Cesar....I immediately began using his techniques because it made sense to me. My dogs did like and enjoy the pack-ness of our home - they just did not see me as the leader. I am happy to say that by following Cesar's rule of exercise, disipline, affection (in that order) we have a much happier household. Not only do my dogs respect me, but everyone else they encounter, especially while we are on our daily 45 minute pack-walk.

As hard as it was for me to admit, THEY ARE DOGS, not people - they do not have ability to reason like we wish they could...and at least for me and my pack a clicker was just something else to chew up.

Cesar saved my dogs from my insanity and uneducated approach.

Buy this DVD and book if you want a simple, dog appropriate, proven system.

I've seen the negative reviewers describe Cesar's work as "so out of date as to be archaic..." "Cesar's methods work. But they use force, fear, and pain" (CelticRaven7). "I think his methods are very old fashioned" (P. Smulders). "Cesar Millan's methods are old fashioned and psychologically violent." (Barbara Tosto "dog lover").

Old-fashioned techniques? Have dogs somehow evolved to a higher level in the past 20 years, and are no longer hard-wired pack animals w/an alpha leader?

Force, fear, and pain? While I've just recently discovered the "Dog Whisperer" TV show, I've watched every episode NGC puts on, taping the ones that air at odd hours and watching them later. I don't see how a quick jerk on the leash is "force", the standing foot-tap "pain", nor do I see him coming in and making the dogs "fear" him. I'm no expert, but I imagine a fearful dog would either try to attack Cesar, or run away w/tail between legs. I've seen neither occur.

As far as "psychologically violent"... well, I guess you'll have to hire a pet psychic to verify that one. [/sarcasm] What I see are dogs that have gotten out of control in one way or another, some quite violently, and Cesar coming in and adapting his methods to the dog's problem. The little Shih Tzu that wouldn't walk on its leash? He just took it out of sight of its house, put the leash on, and stood for a few minutes till the dog acclimated to the sensation, then started walking, calm and assertive.

At the other end of the scale, the episode with the snarling Korean Jindo, "JonBee", brought me to tears, as did the one w/the aggressive boxer that was a day away from being put down--Cesar's so-called "red zone" dogs. Psychologically violent? I don't know about "dog lover", but I think it would be far more psychologically violent to give a dog the death injection than a sharper tug on the leash (the boxer), or carefully but resolutely coaxing the dog into the submissive posture (the Jindo). Cesar saved those dogs' lives. I doubt gentle persuasion would have worked--and obviously hadn't.

And that's kind of the point. He usually visits owners who have already tried other methods (tho not all have), and have come up empty. They are usually at their wit's end. If the other techniques mentioned by the negative reviewers work, more power to them. If they don't, however, what are you going to do, let your dog run your house? Or kill it?

We have a 4-year old terrier that we got at 3 years old. He's a good dog, but becomes fearful on walks, pulling ahead of me no matter how hard I tightened up the leash, and he freaks out when any wheeled contraption--skateboard, bike, stroller--goes by. Also other dogs and strangers. The first walk I began applying Cesar's methods--the sharp "shh!" and the quick leash tug--as soon as we got out the door, while he was still at "level 1". Tho the walk wasn't perfect, by the end of it I had a dog who spent more time walking next to me w/a slack leash, than a dog who was choking himself pulling in front of me to get home. My lesson? I was letting a sweet little "beta" dog try to be an "alpha" outdoors, because I wasn't leading, and it freaked him out.

Now I will work w/him every day to make sure he knows I'm there, at the head of his little "pack", and that he doesn't have to worry about a thing, other than to just be a dog.

Thank you, Cesar.

The poster who stated that Cesar's methods are archaic and use pain to correct the dogs obviously hasn't spent time watching the show.

Cesar never causes the dogs any pain or injury. In fact, several of the dogs on his show have bitten holes in his hands but he never, never reacts in a way that is painful to the dog. He maintains his calm assertive self.

Cesar's corrections consist of a noise "shhhh" and a brief tug on the leash. Cesar works with the type of collar the owner has on the dog. That may be buckle, choke, martingale, or pinch/prong. None of Cesar's corrections are physically damaging to the dog. Incidentally, the prong/pinch collar is not a cruel device when used correctly. It is meant as a TRAINING AID, to be used for no more than 2 weeks to help gain control of larger dogs that need help mastering leash etiquette. A person should ALWAYS consult a professional trainer for information on the proper use of pinch/prong collars. Shock collars should never be used unless they are set on a "beep" only setting and under the supervision of a professional.

Please, if you own a dog, watch this show! This DVD set is filled with valuable information about canines and our relationship with them. Cesar gives good information in a no nonsense way that anyone can follow. The first season was wonderful, and you can bet I'm going to tune in for season two! Our canines need an advocate like Cesar.

I'd give this two thumbs up!

They are putting their interests before those of the dogs.

Sure, positive reinforcement works for many dogs, but if you have an aggressive dog, you may need to get that dog under control right away, Cesar-style. Some dogs need serious intervention; their lives may be at stake. (Cesar, for the record, does not inflict pain on the dogs.) As long as people are getting professional advice that's helping them and their dogs, who cares which method they choose?

If your dog is aggressive, anxious, barky, destructive -- please watch this series. The "pack leader" approach works. I've seen it with my own aggressive dog.

Cesar Milan has gentle, effective techniques for taming just
about any dog, but the owner needs to listen carefully and
learn from Cesar's advice to the people. As he says, the
people are the ones who need training to learn how to handle
their animals. I have been training dogs for 30 years and
have learned more from two seasons of Dog Whisperer shows than
from literally hundreds of dog training books, seminars, tapes,
etc. that I have experienced. Cesar truly has the answer.
Listen when he whispers and you won't be disappointed.

I'VE OWNED AND TRAINED DOGS FOR 20 YEARS AND HAVE USED MANY DIFFERENT NON ABUSIVE METHODS TO WORK WITH PROBLEM DOGS, AND I BELIEVE CESARS APPROACH IS NOT ONLY THE MOST SIMPLE AND HUMANE BUT IT WORKS. HE SHOWS HOW SIMPLE CORRECTIONS CAN BRING ABOUT INSTANT RESULTS WITHOUT HAVING TO BE AGGRESSIVE OR ABUSIVE TO THE ANIMAL. I'M NOT SURE WHAT BOOK OR PROGRAM THE OTHER REVIEWER IS WATCHING, BECAUSE ANYONE WHO IS CONSISTENT WITH CESARS TECHNIQUES WILL GET THE DESIRED RESULTS. I'VE WATCHED HIS PROGRAM SINCE THE BEGINNING AND HAVE ADDED HIS BOOK TO THE MANY OTHERS I REFER TO IN MY WORK. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND HIS BOOK TO ANYONE WHO WANTS TO HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR DOG!!

I have a lab/cattle dog pup..lots of energy. My sister and I took our pups to puppy class for gentle persuasion training.
Our pups always seem to be looking for the treat, even though we followed the instructions to ween them off. The trainer told me to crate the puppies and separate them in order for them to stop fighting for dominance. This did not work. They also told us to use a treat in the hand to keep the pups by our side when walking. These gentle methods probably work for pups that aren't so active. I heard about CM and I bought the DVD. I had never seen the show but people at work said this stuff works. My pup is 5mo. old and in 2 days I got him to stop fighting for dominance and both pups walk by my side without fighting or pulling. My pups ears were standing straight up since puppy classes, he has always been very on gaurd and always looking around. Ceaser was right, now that my pup knows I am the leader he is much more relaxed. I was shocked to notice that he relaxes his ears now unless he hears a very loud noise. These techniques are excellent for lively dogs. Its important to learn the psychology of a dogs reactions. Ceaser makes it very clear that these techniques are not done with force to hurt dogs, they are techniques to get the attention of an out of control dog. I have never, nor would I ever use something that would be cruel to my pup. I am offended that Ms. Dog Lover has inferred that the hispanic community thinks Mr. Millan is a god because he is Latino. Maybe they just respect what works and are not looking for pretentious backgrounds from people with dog advice. It's possible there is some other factor that her clients have in common. Even better, perhaps she should look at her clients on a case by case policy rather than sterotype. If you want something that works, this is it, and it doesnt cost anywhere from $100 to $300 like puppy classes. I will add to my review when my pup is over a year to see if he reverts the way some of the unfavorable reviews are claiming he will....

I've very quickly become a follower of this show since I first saw it. Cesar's methods work because they make sense, don't hurt the animals, and the dogs are HAPPIER afterwards (i.e.: they don't have to lead anymore and can just be happy being a dog). This show shows people that no dog is too far gone to be brought back from being a "red line" case, as Cesar says. If you have a problem dog this DVD set is for you. Heck, even if you DON'T have a dog, this set definately gets you in the right direction when you decide to be a Dog Owner.

Mom recorded a bunch of shows in a not-so-subtle hint because I have a two extremely high-energy border-collie/retriever mixes--wilder than previous dogs I've had.
I was hooked!
Cesar's messages are very, very compatible with standard 4H dog training. He presents it in a very understandable way though on TV.
I noted he was very specific on "putting out the calm, assertive energy" --which some of Millan's book readers took literally & grew angry that he didn't explain how to grow that "magic energy" or whatever... He means carry your face, hands, body & voice in a very calm, quiet, assertive manner, like a top executive, not like a scared, shivering little girl, or an aggressive mean Tasmanian Devil, or a Flapping Bozo the Clown. Note this works on people too.
I wholeheartedly agree on exercise working like Dog (& human) Prozac, and it creates a more manageable dog. 4H, again! It also works to control anxiety & concentration in humans & animals.
I never thought about dog backpacks and have HUGE hopes for it. I'd been trying to think of something that'd wear them down a bit. Currently, I have to struggle and fight my way to the 4th lap around the block---by then, they are much calmer & easier to walk. They are easy to walk by themselves, but maybe that pack mentality makes them nutso together. If I leave one at home, he screams, jumps on the window.
On one show, he had the dog pull a skateboarder or roller-skating person. My sister had great results with her boxer pulling her on skates--(use a helmet & guards).
Note on his show, there is a frequent disclaimer: "Do not attempt by yourself, get a professional to help you."
I totally agree with this--I've seen people totally misinterpret things on their own in totally goofy, usually lazy & self-serving ways and the pet is the ultimate victim.
Beware of worthless trainers where you walk in, and all the dogs are dragging the owners around like sled-dogs.