How to Raise the Perfect Dog: Through Puppyhood and Beyond [Hardcover]

Cesar Millan (Author), Melissa Jo Peltier (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 6, 2009

From the bestselling author and star of National Geographic Channel's Dog Whisperer, the only resource you’ll need for raising a happy, healthy dog.

For the millions of people every year who consider bringing a puppy into their lives–as well as those who have already brought a dog home–Cesar Millan, the preeminent dog behavior expert, says, "Yes, you can raise the perfect dog!" It all starts with the proper foundation in the early years. Here, Cesar tells you everything you need to know to create the best environment for a well-balanced dog in order to avoid behavior issues in the future, and shows you how to correct the most common behavior issues for young dogs.

Based on Cesar’s own detailed experiences raising individual puppies from some of the most popular breeds, How to Raise the Perfect Dog is like having Cesar right beside you, as your own personal expert, coaching you and your dog from the first day of your life together.

Packed with new information aimed specifically at the particular needs of puppies and adolescents, and written in Cesar's friendly, accessible style, How to Raise the Perfect Dog answers all the most commonly asked questions and guides you towards a loving, satisfying life-long relationship with your best friend.

#1 New York Times bestselling author, Cesar Millan shows you how to raise the perfect dog and prevent behavior issues before they start, including:
• what to expect from each stage of your puppy's development
• quick and easy housebreaking
• the essentials of proper nutrition
• the importance of vaccinating–and of not over-vaccinating
• creating perfect obedience from day one through rules, boundaries, and calm-assertive leadership
• how to avoid the most common mistakes owners make raising puppies and young dogs
• how to correct any issue before it becomes a problem
• unique exercises and play to bring out the best in every breed

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Millan’s wizardlike facility with dogs–the calm he brings to them, the confident way he handles them–is mind-blowing.”
—Newsweek

“[Millan] arrives amid canine chaos and leaves behind peace.”
—Malcolm Gladwell, The New Yorker

About the Author

Founder of the Dog Psychology Center in Los Angeles, CESAR MILLAN is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Cesar’s Way, Be the Pack Leader, and A Member of the Family. He is the star of Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan, the National Geographic Channel’s top-rated show. In addition to his educational seminars and work with unstable dogs, Cesar and his wife have founded the Cesar and Ilusion Millan Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping shelters and rescue groups.

MELISSA JO PELTIER, an executive producer and writer of Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan, has been honored for her film and television writing and directing with an Emmy, a Peabody, and more than fifty other awards. She lives in Nyack, New York, with her husband, writer-director John Gray, and stepdaughter, Caitlin.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Harmony Books; 1 edition (October 6, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0307461297
• ISBN-13: 978-0307461292
• Product Dimensions: 5.8 x 1.1 x 8.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (150 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #45,403 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Founder of the Dog Psychology Center in Los Angeles, CESAR MILLAN is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Cesar's Way, Be the Pack Leader, and A Member of the Family. He is the star of Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan, the National Geographic Channel's top-rated show. In addition to his educational seminars and work with unstable dogs, Cesar and his wife have founded the Cesar and Ilusion Millan Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping shelters and rescue groups. MELISSA JO PELTIER, an executive producer and writer of Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan, has been honored for her film and television writing and directing with an Emmy, a Peabody, and more than fifty other awards. She lives in Nyack, New York, with her husband, writer-director John Gray, and stepdaughter, Caitlin.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

85 of 85 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What I've Been Waiting For, November 4, 2009

By 

Shanna Early "Shanna Early" (Abilene, TX) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: How to Raise the Perfect Dog: Through Puppyhood and Beyond (Hardcover)

This book is great--very informative, positive, and practical. I would recommend this book to anyone who is thinking about getting a puppy. As an experienced animal handler, I feel that this book is a great guide for the beginner and experienced alike. Among the things that I find particularly useful are the careful, step-by-step instructions, specific examples from puppies that Millan raised while working on this book, discussions from experienced breeders and dog trainers, and an extensive appendix of suggestions for further reading. The only thing not in the book that I would have loved would be a more thorough discussion of integrating the new puppy into a home that has older dogs already. While there is some discussion of this, it is not enough to provide the guidance I really would like.

While some dog trainers will denounce Millan's methods as archaic and harsh, I would encourage readers to keep an open mind. While Millan does not employ a positive-reinforcement-only approach--which is what many of his detractors prefer--his methods are gentle and concerned only with the well-being of the dog. His methods have made a huge difference in my life and in my dog's life. She is happier and more balanced when I follow Millan's formula. Everyone who meets her comments on how well-behaved she is and takes great pleasure in petting and playing with her--even people who are typically frightened of dogs or just uncomfortable around them. As a high-energy, alpha-type dog, I don't believe that would be the case if I had not followed Millan's methods; for my strong-willed dog, positive reinforcement is only sometimes a strong enough motivation to encourage the behaviors I want, but discipline coupled with positive reinforcement is exactly what she needs.

61 of 65 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This book plus the Monks' covers all you need for puppies, November 6, 2009

By 

M. Byrd (Rochester, NY, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: How to Raise the Perfect Dog: Through Puppyhood and Beyond (Hardcover)

Years ago I found the Monks of New Skete's books and videos. I also read as many dog training books as I could find. In every book, I learned something new and even moved on to teach dog obedience training. When I found Cesar for the first time, his concepts about energy, claiming, "nose-eyes-ears," and pack leadership filled in the gaps of my dog knowledge. I wish I'd know this in the past with my other dogs, but as Cesar says, "Live in the moment." Luckily I found about him when my Standard Schnauzer was abut eight moths old. Cesar has changed my life with my dogs.

This new book about puppies is not too late for me even though my Schnauzer is now four years. It gave me a nice reminiscence of my dog as a puppy and reminded me to rehabilitate him as a dog, but also to find things to do that he will enjoy because of his breed.

IMO, if owners use Cesar's new book along with the Monks of New Skete's "The Art of Raising a Puppy," there will be fewer surrenders to shelters during their dog's adolescent stage. They're a dynamic duo!
Peggy
Rochester, NY

92 of 102 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't Bring Home the Puppy Without This Book!, October 13, 2009

By 

JillV (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How to Raise the Perfect Dog: Through Puppyhood and Beyond (Hardcover)

I definitely recommend reading this book before bringing a new puppy into your life. There are so many puppies out there waiting for adoption. The problem is, they're so cute and hard to resist that when we bring them home we feel sorry for them, don't want to be "hard on them" so we let them get away with murder. Well....that cuteness doesn't last long when that puppy grows up and develops bad habits. That's right about the time people give up and many times wind up dropping their "new puppy" off at the shelter. This step can be prevented if we know how and this book gives us the knowledge.
How to Raise the Perfect Dog teaches us which puppy is best for our energy level and what to do from the minute we bring it home in order to become the proper leader. It teaches us how to breed respect within the family (pack) so that new puppy feels secure and confident. It is our responsibility to give our dog the best life from beginning to end. This is just one of several of Cesar's books that tells us how to do just that.
Cesar and Melissa Jo make a great team!