Product Details

• Actors: Derron 'Smokey' Edington, Cesar Millan, Deborah Carmichael, Andre Millan, Ilusion Millan
• Directors: Jim Milio, Mark Cole, SueAnn Fincke
• Writers: Jim Milio, Melissa Jo Peltier
• Producers: Bachman Summer, Christina Lublin, Colette Beaudry
• Format: Box set, Color, Dolby, Full Screen, NTSC, Subtitled
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo)
• Subtitles: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 4
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Screen Media
• DVD Release Date: May 23, 2006
• Run Time: 650 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (145 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000EGDALQ
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #16,343 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• Learn more about "Dog Whisperer With Cesar Millan - The Complete First Season" on IMDb

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

If you think your dog has behavioral problems, you'll feel better after watching 10 minutes of Dog Whisperer Cesar Millan's hard-luck cases. The smashing success of Millan's National Geographic Channel series is due partly to that feeling of relief--that no matter how bad your own dog's behavior, by and large, it's not nearly as bad as Millan's clients'; it's kind of like Nanny 911, but with dogs. Millan is also a telegenic, confident animal handler, whose basic message is reinforced in virtually every case: Don't treat your dog like a human; treat him like a dog, and be the alpha dog of your own household/pack. This canine golden rule applies to all kinds of doggie nut jobs: crazy little Chihuahua NuNu, who bites everyone but his owner; big sweetie-pie Great Dane Kane, whose puppy mishap sliding on a slick floor has made him terrified to walk on tile or linoleum; Brooks, who spins in circles trying to re-create a game involving looking for a laser light; and Maya the pitbull mix, who's sweet-tempered enough to let a kitten "nurse" on her nightly, but who tears apart her household a dozen times a day. One of Millan's most amazing success stories in this 26-episode series involves Churchill, a Rottweiler-shepherd mix who's docile and loving at home, but literally tries to attack all other dogs and even bites a neighbor, thus ending up on the brink of doggie death row. But within 15 minutes, Millan's calm confidence, and gentle but firm application of tugs on a well-angled leash have Churchill passing and sitting near a strange dog placidly.

Extras include some outtakes, footage of Millan's beloved wife and kids, and a hilarious "audition" tape, in which owners with their unhinged dogs are telling an off-camera producer why their pet should be considered for the show. All the while, the dogs are pacing, whining, refusing to budge and otherwise providing a lot of unintended amusement. --A.T. Hurley

Product Description

Cesar Millan has been called the Dr. Phil for Dogs. With an uncanny ability to rehabilitate problem dogs of all shapes and sizes, Cesar has captured the national spotlight with his hit TV show on the National Geographic Channel. Each episode of the Dog Whisperer documents the remarkable transformations that take place under Cesar's guidance and teaching, helping dogs and their owners live happier lives together.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

251 of 259 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Please watch this series May 11, 2006

By Charles Rinehimer

Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase

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

142 of 145 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Dog Whisperer With Cesar Millan - The Complete First Season May 15, 2006

By Katrina Ondracek

Format: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.

95 of 97 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The negative reviews just floor me... June 23, 2006

By Dave

Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase

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.