Dogviews

Against Cesar Milan: Top Articles

I'm certainly not a dog training expert. But, still I'm smart enough to know that Cesar Milan's training methods are wrong for the everyday dog owner. He doesn't stress positive training methods. He wants busy homeowners to walk their dogs for 60 minutes every day. How impractical is that?

I'll say it again: I do agree that we don't give our dogs enough exercise, or discipline. But there are better ways to train than choking a dog until his eyes roll to the back of his head.

A lot has been written about him...mostly negative from the experts. Following is a collection of my favorite articles/posts on the why you shouldn't emulate his methods.

Jean Donaldson, Director of The SF/SPCA Academy for Dog Trainers andauthor of "Culture Clash" -
Donaldson says, "I am... along with my colleagues here at The San Francisco SPCA, somewhat agog at the stunning success of 'The Dog Whisperer'".

American Humane Association - this article says that Milan's methods are "inhumane, outdated and improper.

Esquire Magazine - Misguided Expert of the Year - author Curtis Pesmen quotes several leading experts who think Milan's methods are wrong.

Bark Magazine editor Pat Miller's review of "Cesar's Way" - Miller not only disagrees with Milan's methods but asserts how unhelpful his book is at giving advice. She writes there are no clear steps for dog owner's to follow, a point I made in a former post on this blog.

I've always thought that the National Geographic brand stood for high standards, quality and truth. Why, even with many letters to them from experts admonishing Milan's tactics, do they continue to broadcast his show? I know, I know...it sells.

New Pet Web Site Launches

Merial, makers of Heartguard and Frontline recently launched a new web site, mypettroubles.com, featuring Dr. Scott Line DVM and specialist in animal behavior.

While the concept of the site is good -- a place where pet owners can learn about their animals' behavior issues -- the execution falls short, in my opinion.

For starters, there is a section on training tips that only includes 5 tips: how to find a dog trainer, clicker training, how to train a cat, litter training, and how to feed your cat. New pet owners can get more information than that in their Purina puppy care kit on the first visit to the vet.

There is a section on pet products, but it only includes Merial products. Are you helping me or promoting your products?

In order for a web site to be successful, it needs to have the following attributes:

1. It needs to have depth. If you're going to cover a topic (training tips) then cover it in some depth. Five paragraphs just doesn't cut it.
2. It needs to be objective. If the marketing people position this site as a resource, then make it a resource. There must be other products besides those made by Merial that interest consumers.
3. It needs to stay fresh. The content has been the same for a week, including the question on the home page supposedly posted by a consumer. If I can read all the information on the site in ten minutes, why would I come back if nothing changes?
4. It needs to deliver on the promise. The only behavior problem covered is aggression. My dog pees on the bed. I need some help figuring that out. If I spend the time to go to the site and you don't deliver, I'm not visiting again.

There are many great blogs with useful information (see my list in the column on this site) that problably cost a fraction of the cost of mypettroubles.com. We even got chosen as Time magazine's Person(s) of the Year! Because we control the Information Age!

"It's about the many wresting power from the few and helping one another for nothing and how that will not only change the world, but also change the way the world changes."

How cool is that?

Do You Think Cesar Milan is Sexy?

I know the title is shameless and sensational. But, if Cesar can do it, so can I.

Every time I see a new post or article touting the celebrity and success of Cesar Milan, I just feel compelled to tell people that there’s another way.

A recent article from the San Francisco Chronicle (thanks to Gina Spadafori for pointing it out to me in her blog) calls Milan sexy and the headline/byline of the article says the rest:

The Anti-Cesar Millan
Ian Dunbar's been succeeding for 25 years with lure-reward dog training; how come he's been usurped by the flashy, aggressive TV host?

One of my favorite books is "Culture Clash" by Jean Donaldson. In it Donaldson, director of dog training at the SFSPCA, talks about the human-dog relationship and every time I can't figure out a dog's behavior, I re-read "Culture Clash". She understands dog behavior -- she has over thirty years experience observing it.   Donaldson says this about Milan's popularity:

"It's a backlash against political correctness," she says. "People are angry and life is frustrating and [when] someone tells them it's all about dominating something smaller and weaker? They'll go for that."

The good thing is this:  Pet owners want to learn more about their dogs. They'll tune in to someone if they’re interesting and entertaining. Those of us that know Milan's methods aren't safe and that positive reinforcement is the way to go just need to find someone sexy to get on TV.

I just bet that people would love to see my service dog-in-training Roxi throw away trash, pick up my keys and open the cupboard. And I never had to choke or alpha-roll her once.

Alternative to Milan's Method

I received a great question in a comment from my post on Cesar's Way by Cesar Milan. I've been complaining about Milan's recommendation to walk your dog for an hour every day, suggesting that it just isn't practical for most people.

The question I received:

"My question is: is there a more effective and realistic way than a walk to meet the dog's needs? (Ideally accepting the responsibility to meet the dog's needs through a walk or some other method would be part of the process of choosing a dog, but in the real world?)"

Here's my opinion, and remember, I'm not an expert. But, I base this on the books I've read and the people I've talked to -- all either spoken or writen by experts, and my opinion:  Exercise, attention and something to do is what will really meet a dog's needs.  It doesn't have to be just a walk through the mountains.

Walk the dog for 30 minutes. Play ball with him. Do some fun training. Take a training class. Teach your dog a new trick. Run him up and down the stairs 20 times. If you can't take your dog for an hour walk each day, then do it three times a week. Walk him for 30 minutes. Or do something! You can't expect a working or sporting dog, or a young puppy to stay cooped up in a crate all day while you're at work and then lie by your feet at night. If you can't make the commitment, then don't get a dog.

I don't disagree with Milan on the fact that dogs need more exercise. I just disagree with his insistence that there is only one way and that's because of a dog's inate need to forage for food.

More Cesar Milan controversy

Check out one of my favorite blogs, dogma for more controversy on Cesar Milan, star of National Geographic's Dog Whisperer show. Dogma is written by Gina Spadafori.

Another new blog I've found: Terrierman's Daily Dose has a supporting view of Cesar's "ways".

The blogging in recent days was spurred on by a New York Times article by Mark Derr. Read it here.

My opinion/bottom line: Cesar's methods are not for the unexperienced and not always practical. Just because he's exciting on TV, doesn't mean he has the last word on dog training.

Update on my progress with Cesar's Way

I wrote a book review a few weeks ago on Cesar Milan's new book Cesar's Way. In the article I vowed to follow Cesar's advice to walk my dogs at least 30 minutes per day.

Ummm, I haven't been too doing well on that promise. It's been disgustingly hot and muggy here in Ohio and I've chosen the eliptical machine, instead (ok, well, not every day).  Have you ever tried to get a poodle on an eliptical machine? Norman's not crazy about it.

I also have a new dog in the family. I'm fostering a standard poodle who will hopefully become a service dog for a woman who is paralyzed. This woman used to train service dogw and then she was in a tragic accident that left her in a wheelchair. I hope this dog, Roxy, will be an incredible service dog. She's 9 months old, sassy and smart. She's the apricot poodle in the middle. Doesn't Vino look thrilled ? I digress...

It's hard walking three dogs at once. Milan says in Cesar's Way that the daily walk is important and that as the pack leader, I, the owner, must take these dogs on the trek to keep them happy, healthy and to make them respect me. There must be another way! I said his methods were not practical for the average dog owner...and I guess I'm living proof.

Cesar’s Book Sparks Controversy

Not long ago, I reviewed Cesar Milan’s new book, Cesar’s Way and it’s getting a lot of blog talk. One of my favorite blogs, Bark Blog, just had a post with more comments than any article I’ve seen. Find it here.

It’s great to see all the different opinions on this subject.

Jolanta Benal guest author of the blog has some important points. I agree that Cesar’s way of handling his pack doesn’t completely relate to today’s dogs. Our dogs don’t have to forage for food and not every dog needs to genetically travel for miles a day.

We both agree, like Cesar, that the average dog doesn’t get enough exercise and we both agree that the average back yard is like a jail to most dogs.

And we also agree on another point…his methods are impractical for the average family pet owner. Not everyone can be a dominant leader, and certainly not everyone can deal with a “troubled” dog. Most importantly, don’t even attempt to rehabilitate an aggressive, fearful or crazy dog, unless you’re a professional. Just because you like Cesar, don’t think you can do what he does.

Cesar's New Book

Cesar Millan's new book, Cesar's Way is out and it's already a New York Time's Bestseller. It seems there have been a slew of best-selling dog books lately (one of my favorites is Marley and Me.)

Two topics really hit home for me. The first was the importance of exercising your dog to keep him happy and healthy. Millan says that walking (biking, running, rollerblading) your dog is critical. The walk is part of the migration instinct of a dog. Dogs or wolves in the wild followed their leader on a long trek to find food. So, if you walk with your dog before feeding them, you set yourself up firmly as the pack leader. Cesar says this walk must be at least an hour a day! Whew! I am going to be in shape!

So, I decided to give this a try. Typically, I only like to walk one of my dogs at a time. Vino is a crazy walker and for some reason he needs to poop about every 1/8 of a mile. This time, though, I decided to take the pack.

I made sure I was the first out the door (Vino tried, but failed to dart past me) put myself in the front of the pack, and kept the leashes short. As Cesar recommended, I stood tall, and kept my cool and set off at a fast pace. We walked for about 50 minutes and it was a great walk. I'm committed to this walk at least 5 out of 7 days. We'll see if Vino continues to try and boss me around.

Cesar's thoughts on dog packs and the positive effects that stable packs have on unstable dogs hit home with me as well. I've seen it in my work as a volunteer at Assistance Dogs of America and in my own home. Put a crazy dog into a crazy pack and you're going to get an even crazier dog. Put a crazy dog into a stable pack with great leadership and you have a much better chance of rehabilitating the dog.

What I disliked about Ceasar's Way is the focus on rehabilitating dogs, and lack of information on basic training. I also think his ideas are not practical for the average family. Who has time to walk a dog for 60 minutes EVERY day? On the other hand, I agree that there are far too many dog owners who think that 30 minutes of attention at the end of a busy day makes for a happy dog.

Also, check out Cesar's blog.