I remember, back when I first started rescuing dogs, that there were many heated discussions between rescuers over the dog whisperers methods. At first, I went along with it, if everybody hated him, I had to as well.
But then I saw an episode, and I've been hooked ever since.
Today, I got into another heated battle over the ways and methods of this man. People called him cruel, anti-dog, abusive, etc. Everything under the sun. So rather than argue about it like I have in the past, trying to defend one of my heros, I simply asked these two people who were 'anti-Cesar' a very simple question.
"Well, why don't you list for me, right now, what he does that makes him abusive and cruel, and maybe I'll see your side of the arguement."
They looked at me for a minute. They looked at each other. Then one retaliated that Cesar hit dogs. "When?" I asked. I've never seen him hit a dog. I've seen him touch dogs. I've seen him block a behavior or distract a behavior. I've seen him turn red zone aggression type animals into well behaved family dogs. Dogs that would have otherwise been euthanized, simply because we as the human race are very adept to ruining dogs.
95% of the dogs that I have fostered here were huge. They were untrained. They were wild creatures, some even dangerous, and every one of them benefitted from Cesar's methods. I'm not Cesar Milan, nor do I claim to be an expert in regards to using his methods. But I am very confident in teaching new dogs the walk. I am very confident in using the 'chhhhsshh' noise to distract. I am the pack leader in my home, and that's why these once unmanagable dogs live so happily here. That man is why I can have 8 dogs from an array of different backgrounds living in peace together in our little home.
Cesar doesn't believe in humanizing dogs. And I agree with that thought 100%. Yes, I will occasionally call them my babies just to annoy Red... But that's as far as it goes. My dogs are my world, make no mistake. But I don't let them run my world, either.
The methods that Cesar teaches make perfect sense. Dogs are social, pack animals. And since humans decided to domesticate them and seperate them from their natural packs, we become their new pack. And if you don't maintain your pack leader role, then they will take it over. And not because they want to, but because they don't trust you to do so.
Dogs respond to energy. Dogs respond to body language. They don't understand baby talk. They don't want to wear sweaters and diamond studded collars. You can't hurt a dogs feelings by doing human things, nor can you benefit them by applying human emotions to them. They want to be dogs! So let them!
That's what Cesar brings to these families that he helps.
He let's dogs be dogs.
I still don't understand why rescuers especially seem to have this hatred towards the dog whisperer. I've seen rescuers do more cruel things than Cesar ever has.
If anyone would like to shed some light on this subject, my comments section is wide open for discussion!
5 comments:
I've read one of Cesar's books and also seen maybe 12 episodes of his show. I don't hate him. I don't love him either. I think he brings to ordinary people an understanding that dogs need exercise and leadership, and as you said, are not human babies. I like him for that.
However, I think his TV show is highly edited and I doubt he can completely "turn around" these highly aggressive dogs in 30 minutes or less. I'm interested to know what is missing. I also think that much of what he does is unique to him. He has special talents which are not easily taught. I also don't think there is anything magical about the shhhht sound. And, I also don't think his methods work with every dog, and I'm not sure Cesar acknowledges that. I don't think he spends any time looking at the root causes of behavior. I have seen him use harsh collar corrections for aggression (specifically resource guarding behavior which had, up to that point in the dog's life been rewarded by the owners). I don't really like to see these methods on TV shows aimed at the general public because I think using aggression toward an aggressive dog is a recipe for disaster in the wrong hands.
I guess, overall, the only thing I've seen him use to correct behavior problems is harsh physical correction, period. I don't think every dog should be trained this way, but most of all, I don't think your average person is savvy enough to train this way without risking serious damage to their relationship with their dog.
So, that's my two cents! :)
No, he doesn't turn a dog around in 30 minutes, nor does he claim to. You can find anywhere with a simple search how the show is filmed. There is 10+ hours of film before its edited.
As for the shhht sound, he chose that himself because its the sound his mom made to correct the kids when they were misbehaving because it grabs attention.
Personally, I have never seen him aggressive. Not in any way. I grew up with corrective training methods and there isnt anything harsh about what he does. And it states every 5 minutes not to try these methods at home without the right instruction first.
All that said, I agree with you that the show could be more informative. But at the same time, Cesar never claims to be a dog trainer. Hes a behavioralist overall and I dont think you can train a dog until you have assessed and addressed any behavioral issues it has.
Dogs are dogs, and they should be treated as such. I adore my dogs, I coddle them and talk to them like babies myself. I'll admit that. But I used a lot of Cesars methods and my dogs are no worse for wear because of it. I think the reason that I have been able to bring so many unstable dogs into my home successfully is because I took Cesars methods and applied them to my pack, which made my little unit here a mini psychology center almost. Things always work here for some reason, and I think its because we apply what is very clearly pack rules.
I am sorry, because I sound kind of like a bitch here now re reading this.. Lol! But so many people are attacking Cesar and it hurts because he is a personal hero of mine. It works here, and I wont fix something that isnt broken in the first place.
I'm not saying you shouldn't use Cesar's methods. :) You welcomed discussion, so I'm discussing.
I don't believe he turns dogs around in 30 minutes, but his TV show sure makes it look that way to the casual observer. Like I said, I'm interested in what's missing. I want to see the whole process.
Regarding the shhht sound, I know the origin of it. I just find it comical that some Cesar fans rely on it nearly exclusively as their "training method," as if it were some magic word. Not saying that's the case with you, but I can't tell you how many times I've heard "oh, all you need to do is say sshhht and poke him like this, cause poking is the equivalent of biting to a dog." I just laugh and roll my eyes. My dogs know "no." It works because it's a command that I have taught them the meaning of and reinforced them for obeying. Shht, may get a dog's attention, but if there is no consequence or subsequent behavior modification the dog will soon learn to tune it out, just like with the people you hear yelling "no, no, no,no" as their dogs run happily along, completely ignoring their owners.
I think you and I must have different opinions of what a harsh phsyical correction is. I consider hard jerks on a choke chain to be harsh and physical. I have also heard of Cesar stringing up dogs until they can't breathe, though I haven't watched that much of his show and have never seen this myself. If that is true, I would call that plain abusive.
I too also grew up seeing dog training based on physical correction, abusive enough to sicken me at some points. In fact, I tried training my first dog this way. I have gotten far better results with positive training and addressing the root causes of behavior problems rather than just the manifestations.
As to Cesar as a behaviorist, I strongly disagree with that characterization. He seems to characterizes most behavior problems as "dominance" --the dog is trying to dominate the owner. Dominance theory is an outdated behavioral theory. Furthermore, other than "the walk" and "the shhht sound" he doesn't really give much constructive advice to people about how to fix their dogs, except "having the right energy and presence." And if you don't have "it" innately, how are you supposed to get "it"? He doesn't say. As much as I hate the term "dog whisperer" it really is a much more apt term for what Cesar is than "behaviorist."
Like I said, I don't hate Cesar. There are thinks I like about Cesar's philosophy. Dogs should be dogs, should not be babied, dogs need exercise and discipline (which I translate as rules which are enforced). My dogs get all that and I wouldn't say that I follow Cesar's methods at all, so those things are not really unique to him. I wonder, though, what Cesar would have had me do with Cooper, the fear-aggressive Aussie? I tried corrections, didn't work--in fact, made it worse. I tried simply asserting myself as the fearless leader and forcing him to deal with his fear (also a Cesar method--flooding). That didn't work either. The only thing that did start to work was slow and gradual desensitization.
Cesar takes on really aggressive, dangerous dogs, and at least according to his TV show, he fixes them, but this is simply his own innate, special ability. He gives the rest of us no help with this type of thing.
P.S. I hope I'm not sounding bitchy, cause I don't mean to at all. It's just discussion and we all have things to learn about dog training--I certainly do. I hope the fact that I've read and watched Cesar and even tried some of his stuff (without success) makes me a little more credible than someone who is just going on what they've heard about Cesar. And once again, to underline, I DON'T hate Cesar! I just don't think the good things about him are all that unique, and I don't think the unique things about him are all that helpful to those of us not born with "the gift."
:) :)
Lol! I adore you, T! No, you don't sound bitchy at all! And yes, we are discussing and I love it!
I do agree with you in regards to being 'the casual observer'. But since I have had to deal with a great many dogs with 'issues' I guess I just dont consider myself the casual observer. Nor do I consider myself an expert by any means! But its the same with any tv show on any subject. People shouldnt watch the Ultimate Fighter and then go start some street brawl thinking that they can swipe the methods they saw on TV and win. Ya know? Its up to the observer to know their limits and their dogs limits and to make sure they understand what their dog needs and/or doesnt need.
I am just speaking from my own view point. I have tried his methods and they have worked. That said, I don't take on red zone agreession cases either. But
Unique to Cesar or not, he is the one speaking to the public on these matters and thats where I first heard this. So TO ME, it's unique to Cesar. Its a known fact that dogs need exercise and discipline, yes, so that part is not unique to Cesar. But he is the one trying to plant that seed in peoples heads.
If somebody relies on the shhht sound to solve all of their problems, then they are probably idiots. I think that there are too many people who watch the show and don't listen to what Cesar is saying. If all they come away with is 'Shhht' and a finger snap, then they need to pay better attention.
His thought process on dogs in a pack is what makes sense to me. They want leadership. They need structure. Dogs were once wild animals. Humans decided they should domesticate them. Dogs cant speak the human language. Actions speak much louder than words. I like that he doesn't sit there and coo and say good dog over and over again. He is quiet and uses his body. And sometimes, a dog needs to be flooded with information before they get the big picture. But eventually, they get the big picture. Does that make me an ass hole? If it does, then I guess it does.
Not all methods work for all dogs. All respond to different things. I tried an array of things with different dogs. The one thing that they all respond to is "Exercise, Discipline, Affection". I take them walking/biking/running. Then we work on training. Then we eat and play and have fun. Its structured and ordered and they are comfortable with that. I do my best to assert myself as the calm pack leader. I want them to understand that I will guide them in the right direction.
This makes me think of when I was in Mock Trial back in high school. Lol! I was never any good at it. :o)
LOL! I was never in mock trial, but I do think there's a reason I went into law!
Anyways, yeah that all makes sense! Have you read any Patricia McConnell or Leslie McDevitt or Susan Garrett or Suzanne Clothier or anything like that? You'd probably like them! They are all my trainers/behaviorists of choice!
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