anyone watch "the dog whisperer"?

Okay, I just found out about this show and watched a few episodes. At first, I thought it was really cool how in just a few minutes this guy could ust swoop in and correct whatever behavioral problem a dog has. but after watching a few eps, I ound myself very dissappointed in his work. Yes, he corrects their behavioral problems, but at the expense of their personality! He emphasizes discipline, and encourages "pet owners" to completely dominate their dog in absolutely every part of life. I mean, I know it's important to be the dominant one in a people/dog relationship, but every dog he works with acts exactly the same in the end - quietly staring up at him waiting for the next order.
Personally, I have two beautiful dogs and two happy cats. All are girls, all are fixed, they get along wonderfully, and they all know that my boyfriend and I are the boss. But they still have very prominant and individual personalities which shine through every minute of every day, completely separate from myself.
I wouldn't want it any other way!

 

i feel the exact same way about that show. i hate when a dogs life is reduced to a series of commands. i think dogs should be able to make their own choices......

some of those dogs though are pretty extreme cases of aggression.........
i've never had to deal with anything like that.

 

I have to agrre w/ both.....and say that, that kind of training is not for EVERY dog...but if it saves a dog from being euthanized or put on medication because we did not know how to communicate w/ them...then i have to say, i kind of admire it....it should be case by case, not a one-size-fits-all kind of deal
just my 2 cents

 

I also agree with both situations.

I don't "agree" with petty commands given to dogs all the time. As long as the dogs actions aren't harming him or anyone else, let them be free. My dog has a basic understanding of "No". Which I only use if he's got something in his mouth that doesn't belong there, or if he's jumping on company (which sometimes irritates people...I personally love it! They're just saying HELLO). Other than that, he roams free and does his own thing. I think that makes for a much happier dog than those that can't even move without being told to.

 

I like Cesar Milan. The show tends to show extreme cases, and also alot is edited out. He has some great advice, and I learned alot from him. I just got done reading his book, and I dont think he promotes brainwashed boring dogs. Just think how strict and intense the training for a seeing eye dog is.
Most people that own dogs, let their dog walk all over them, and not let the animal shine to its full potential. I hate when dogs jump all over me especially when its a large breed. It is very direspectful, and even worse when the owner is telling the dog to stop and the dog ignores them.
His technique goes like this: Excercise, Discipline, and then Affection. All of the most loyal, intelligent dogs, i know have a clear understanding of what the pack wants from them. They are ready right there, and they enjoy being a good dog friend to help their human companion.

 

Jumping is a problem that a lot of dogs have. My dog is little and he jumps but he just jmps up and down, not putting his paws on people. With big dogs it is a bigger problem- it hurts! They can pull on you or scratch you. I have a former friend who actualy had the nerve to get mad at me when I told her dog to stop jumping on me and scratching me. It makes the company not like the dog, not want to come back to your home when it is the caretaker's fault for not telling them it's not okay (how can the dogs know? They jump and play with each other). I think jumping on people is a big problem.

I also heard that guy has two lawsuits pending against him. As long as he is training the dogs in a humane way (not hurting them or demeaning them) and not destroying their personality, I don't see anything wrong. A well-behaved dog is a great friend to have. They are like children and do need to be taught rules.

 

I absolutely agree that dogs need to be taught rules, but it really gets to me that by treating dogs with that "excercise, discipline, affection" attitude, they all act exactly the same in the end. They become machines, possesions - just an extention of what their person wants all the time. I understand that with some situations such training is very necessary (usually when the dog was very poorly trained and/or abused as a puppy) bu for the most part, I dunno... it bugs me. My dogs are very well behaved, but they are still allowed their own personalities! When properly raised, dogs CAN show judgement skills - meaning they don't just know "this is good, this is bad" but they actually have some understanding of how their actions affect the world and the people around them, and whether that is good or bad.

But the thing that truely gets my goat about what he teaches is treating pets as property. I DO think people need to take responsibility for their animals, and I DO think people need to know how to be dominant in the relationship, but I don't dig his attitude that animals are basically just here to serve and please us. They are living beings, and whenever possible, I think they should have a family that they get to be part of!

 

Thats bull I say. I just got done reading his book. What you typed was the farthest thing from the truth.

 

I LOVE Cesar. He knows a lot about Dog Psychology, which is different than People Psychology. What people don't understand is that dogs are NOT humans, they are NOT children, they are NOT people. Dogs are dogs, which are basically wolves. Dogs/wolves, when they live in the wild follow a strict Pack Hierarchy Dominance Rule are secure, happy, contented, well fed, and live long and remain healthy.

We have Malamutes, which are dogs which are barely domesticated wolves. They LOVE the Pack Heirarchy that we have set up. Dogs EXPECT Pack Heirarchy. If you don't set it up, with you and your partner (if you have one) as Alpha Dog and Alpha Bitch, they will set it up, themselves, as Alpha. In a situation where YOU are giving the dog love, and food and a place to sleep, safe play place and play things, freinds, and protection, THEY should not be the Alpha. As the Alpha has more worries, and has little time to play or enjoy, with the Pack to worry about. In any dog, they thinking they are Alpha can result in disaster. In a Pack the Alpha is usually the strongest, the smartest and the one who provides. Your dog isn't providing for you. He may protect you in some places, but, that is not hia main role. Dogs who assume they are Alpha (and this happens in families where the human Dog or Bitch does not set up strong pack Heirarchy) often resort to aggresion, biting, food stealing, preventing other animals (dogs, cats even children) from eating or playing, and are NOT happy animals. They also often get sick, as it is stressful to be Alpha.

Bear and I have had six dogs together over the years. We have found that using the Pack Heirarchy Method results in happier dogs with MORE personality. They don't have to worry about "protecting" the pack all the time, (although they know they will take that role if needed) they don't have to provide, they are basically juveniles and then somewhere between Beta and Omega when they get old. (If you have older children, they will be considered Beta wolf, as they get into "mating age.") We have found dogs are MUCH happier when they know EXACTLY where they fit in the Pack. When a dog is constantly worrying "Am I the Alpha." (which happens if the real Alpha doesn't take a proactive stand.) they are often aggresive, sad, lonely and really confused.

DOGS ARE NOT CHILDREN. They are dogs. And dogs are happier when their place in the pack is very well defined. They can relax and enjoy the understanding that they don't have to take full responsibility of the Pack. The Alpha (usually the adult male or female does that) and they can allow to be fed, petted, loved, play ect. Often dogs who are unsure of Heirarchy do not play after puppyhood. They seem much too concerned about security, and sometimes even try to portion food for the human juvinlies in the home. In the worst cases, they even control play and eating time for the adult humans in the home/pack.

We use a good Pack Heirarchy in our home/Pack. Pups are loved, and we use the snout to assert Dominence. If the pup tries to get aggresive or steals food, or misbehaves ect. the snout is held (my dh, Alpha Dog uses his mouth) and placed GENNTY on the floor. We use the "shhht" noise, as a dog's mom would do, to stop certain behaviors, and we use a lot of affection and touching, as dogs really enjoy this. We also will add food to a dog's bowl as he is eating (so he knows where that food is coming from) and sometimes, especially with pups, tell the pup to "Siit" while eating and take the bowl for a second and pretend to eat out of it (so they are aware of who is Alpha Wolf and Alpha Bitch (Bear and me)) and then, pleasantly give it back to teh pup. The pups do not mind this, AND it prevents food aggression, which is a very dangerous trait in dogs. We have never had a food aggresive dog. In fact, we have never had an aggresive dog. Our dogs enjoy their pack and their place in it. One of the responsibilities of the Alphas is to make sure the Dogs are fed on time, and that appropirate food is always in the house. Given treats also reinforces the Pack love. We also have found that Crate Training of pups makes it easier and better for us and the pups. Our dogs love their crates, it is thier little den. I keep the crates dark, with blankets and they have water and toys in their crates, as well as "cookie balls" for a treat before sleep. We keep the crates open during the day, and the dogs can go into their crates when they are tired or want to be alone ect.

The dogs know exactly where they belong, if you read literature on wolf and dog Packs, is what makes wolves feel happy.

Our dogs exibit a good sense of humor, they love the kids, they are great with our freinds, ect. They are happy animals. They fit in the family. We have NEVER had a biter, nor a dog we had to worry about around the children, or old people. For us, Pack Heirarchy, the Method that Cesar uses, works wonderfully. We have been using it, based on reading about Wolf Packs and Dog Learning, long before we ever started watching Cesar, he just enforces the type of Pack we already run.

That's what works for us. Happy dogs, who know who they are, who we are, who are secure, and what will happen next.

 

IMO, dogs should not be allowed to jump on people unless they are invited to. And, with a good dog, who understands, she can be allowed to do so, if told so. I have also been in people's houses where I didn't want to return, as I am only 5 ft tall, and I do NOT like being jumped on. When I was pregnant, I had to avoid one friend's house, as even though I liked the dog (I like most dogs) she kept hitting me in the belly, and then when the baby was born, she would not only jump on my 5 lb premie, but also would growl at her. She was a tiny baby, and a huge Shepard, who thought she was the Alpha was Scary. I stayed away, until my freind moved in with a large man, who was able to be Alpha and get the dog under control.

WHen dogs jump without being invited, they are not saying "HI' (unless they are pups) they are attempting to Dominate you.

Uh uh. Not my dogs.

 

You put it very well Maggie.

 

Excellent post Maggie
We're going to be adopting a [cocker spaniel] dog in the autumn so will bare those ideas in mind, they make a lot of sense.

Totally agree about jumping up. When my brother & I we were quite young our grandparents had a king charles spaniel* and he jumped up at us, and we both ended up really uneasy around dogs.
Am pretty OK with them now but hate dogs jumping up no matter how otherwise charming they are. Getting my personal space invaded and legs clawed is not pleasant.
Friends of ours have a dog who jumps up, he probably does mean to say hello and just likes being at people height (our friends hold him a fair bit) even so it's become ingrained as a bad habit. I will always push him away then wait til he's calmed down before paying him attention.

We are not going to let our dog jump up. The only with permission thing makes sense but we'd probably never give it.

Oh and amen to Dog Psychology =/= People Psychology
I don't believe any animals think the way people do. They have very diffrent agendas and perspectives of the world. Learnt that from my rabbit when he decided to eat wires, cannot begin to imagine why that would seem a neat idea (surely plastic can't taste good) but he obviously does.

*in fact every spaniel [regardless of specific breed etc] I've ever known has been 'a jumper', though no idea why.

 

Thank you both. I have done a lot of reading on dogs and wolf packs. We have put our knowlege, helped by our Vet and our breeder into Real Life. It works well.

I have to try to get the name of one of the good dog psychology Pack Heirarchy books. I will post this when I find it. It is probably in my library, where I am sitting now. (My dogs are lying next to me, and under my desk. Thinking, "Alpha Bitch.....Mommy.") LOL!