Does anyone watch the Dog Whisperer on the National Geographic channel?
I am watching one now, where Ceaser Milan in trying to make friends with a wild dog on a horse farm.
This guy is amazing, and his pit bull is the most stable well adjusted dog I have ever seen anywhere.
I was just wondering if anyone else watches this show.
We don’t watch it regularly but we do watch it and really enjoy it when we do.
Guy has a way to get animals to do as he wishes, still somehow i feel the need to commit serious violence against him. not sure why i just do.
I would say this describes me as well. The techniques that he uses make so much sense it’s scary. People always forget that their pets are animals first.
I can see where his personality would make some people want to be violent…
I like him.
I’ve seen it a couple of times because my wife loves this show. The guy is pretty amazing with the animals, but he presents it in a way that makes so much sense…
I have watched his show ( he also has a book) and other trainers on Animal Channel and Discover. His manner of teaching can be more aggressive in nature than others. Some of what he does should only be done if you are very good with dogs or you are working with a pro. The difference between fear aggression and a alpha or off balanced dog aggression is treated in different ways. He is great with dogs, but some of the things he does should be only done by a pro or if you know the dog well.
You need to remember your body language says a great deal to a dog. If you learn what it means to be a dog then it is easier to communicate. You may also want to watch It’s Me or the Dog. Victoria Stillwel has a bit gentler way about her training that can be used on the average dog who just needs to know what you want.
I have worked with Chihuahuas to Great Danes some who are deaf. Not one way works with all dogs, and may be less your style. You may want to watch both.
I totally get what you are saying Leah. My only point was, as I’m sure you are well aware of. So many people think of their dogs as a person & they’re not. They feel you are insulting their pet by saying they are an animal not a person. That doesn’t mean you love them any less or that they are any less a part of your family life. It’s also not an insult to the dog, they are what they are, no matter what we may wish them to be.
I am by no means a dog trainer & would not even think about pretending I was. I just realize that there is animal behavior that is hard wired into them. We as humans don’t understand, fully, a pack animal because it is not in our nature to behave that way.
I also think that one of the biggest issues is, it’s so easy for people to present themselves as some magical dog trainer who’s going to teach you how to be a zen master with your dog. It’s hard to tell the difference between a legit trainer who can give you techniquews that work for you and your dog than from the people just trying to make a buck off of clueless people & helpless animals.
I would not dream of using his aggressive techniques without supervision because I don’t know what the heck I’m doing. Most of his shows are extreme cases that require his type of training, but in the end, he’s the expert, not me.
I may retire from teaching in 5 years. I have been looking for some certification that I am a trainer. You notice that the trainers say I have been working with dogs for 10 years. No education mentioned. Getting a degree in animal behavior takes years and does not make a good trainer. There are many styles of training but no one can prove they are good except by recommendations.
My dogs are dogs. One pees over the other one’s pee. Why well the smell of the head dog. They smell places we do not like because they are dogs. Eye contact can be considered aggression as well as smiling. They also will sit with me snuggle up and not care how much money I make or if my hair is a mess because they are dogs. They feel emotion, but they are not human. Thank goodness or I would not have them. Why have more human conflict.
The Dog Whisperer is on Hulu.
My friends and I love the that show. We get sooo many new clients from it. People watch the show, and try to emulate Milan, get bit, then come to us. It’s been great for business.
As others have said, Milan has WONDERFUL body language awareness. If you do not (if you can’t tell what other humans are thinking about you at all times), then another method might work out better for you.
I’m not certified either, I work full-time and don’t have time to teach enough to get the APDT certification. Milan doesn’t have any certifications either, to my knowledge. But, I do have 23 years experience training, competing, and breeding dogs. And a DVM. So, I know a little. I’m still learning though! Heading out to a seminar today in fact.