Comments on: Hailing Cesar: Times looks at Millan’s empire

By: Thomas De Grauw

Thomas De Grauw — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 22:59:13 +0000

I think a combination of both is the best solution. When my dog is being naughty or doing something severaly dangerous, I correct him physicaly by grabbing his neck and saying ‘no!’.

For example:
- going on the street without my permission, he has to stay on the sidewalk, if a blind-help-dog can see the difference, mine should too, for his own safety
- stop him from chewing on electrical cords
- stop him from chasing wasps and bees
- when i say :no! he should stop and not go to random people or dogs, or kids biking, if he doesn’t listen, i phsycialy correct

I do not have the time to teach him not to do all these things using rewards, quickly. These things he must learn quickly and obey for the rest of his life.

He does so.

To make him heal, learn him all kinds of fun stuff, I use praise.

I never use food, he should listen to me coz he respects and likes me and because he liks my praise.

This is my 3rd boxer, I have learned a lot. I’m in no way a specialised behavioral trainer but for raising normal pups/dogs I think I’m pretty good. Boxers also aren’t the easyest dogs.

He’s now 6months and never pulls, he comes when called even while playing with other dogs, he doesn’t even give attention to people or kids on the street on bikes or whatever. Whenever he sees something fearfull he watches me and sees me standing proud with confident posture and he’ll know he’s safe and won’t be scared …

There’s al lot of good stuff in both theories, and I use all of it. I’m not capable of changing dogs with extreme problems though, but I don’t have to because my dogs will never develop any.

By: Elmo Corleone

Elmo Corleone — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 23:37:04 +0000

I’d bet the house that since Cesar became popular many more dogs are being saved from euthanasia at shelters.

By: Ruth

Ruth — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 11:58:56 +0000

Well James, of all the books that Dunbar has been taught from, where did the first one come from? Someone had to write it and they had to have knowledge that didn’t come from a book. Do you have children? Hope you went to school for that or you are not qualified to raise them. And his methods don’t just apply to animals.

By: James

James — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 03:53:46 +0000

Ian Dunbar is not a Mr. He is a Dr, with doctorates in veterinary science (DVM) and animal behavior.

Mr. Milan is an entertainer who has a TV show and a gift for self-promotion. He refers to himself as a “behavior specialist” but has no training or credentials in behavior. His methods are considered archaic and barbaric by nearly every major association of actual, credentialed trainers and behaviorists.

Good training is, unfortunately, rather boring TV.

By: Jayne

Jayne — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 02:42:21 +0000

They say there’s more than one way to skin a cat…..so why can’t we all agree that there are a number of successful ways to work with difficult dogs? I personally believe Mr. Millan’s success speaks for itself, but that does not mean there aren’t a number of great dog trainers around. I drive a Toyota, does that mean EVERYONE has to, too?

By: Lillie

Lillie — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 04:29:33 +0000

Sarahkate … Millan has never called himself a dog trainer … if you have ever watched his show or read any of his books you would know that … maybe not. To call what he does threatening and intimidating is misleading at best. If confronted by an aggressive dog, I’d want Millan to handle it. I’d be the one protecting Victoria. Scary thought!

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 01:09:34 +0000

Couldn’t agree with you more Sarahkate…and Ian Dunbar isn’t the only trainer who disapproves of Milan’s methods – Victoria Stillwell and Patricia McConnell.

By: Sarahkate

Sarahkate — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 19:41:22 +0000

I am definitely not a fan of this man who calls himself an animal trainer, in fact I would not let any animal within a country mile of him. Maybe worse than the man’s methods are the really scary copycats out there who think they are dog trainers because they watch his show and imitate the things he does to threaten and intimidate dogs.