What do you think... is Cesar's way your way?

What Cesar does works for him, but it's not training; it's establishing a dominant relationship over the dogs. Not everybody has a dominant personality and would be better off with method training.

I do agree with some of the things that Cesar says. I don't think people should allow their dogs to walk all over them. I also feel that he is right about the exercise, discipline and affection thing. Only if the word discipline means proper training. Not punishment. I do not believe in his techniques. There are at times when it is just down right dangerous. Of course the show has a disclaimer saying "don't try this at home." How many people actually listen to that? I've read and seen so many people say "I use the Cesar method!" Well, the show says you shouldn't!

I've seen him put dogs in situations that take them from being afraid to just plain terrified to the point of feeling they need to bite him. That is not acceptable. Why even practice a style of "training" that you wouldn't want the owner to practice themselves? Anyone who truly has a concept of what real animal behavior is feels exactly the same way as Dodman. They feel what Cesar does with dogs is a travesty. Cesar often uses a technique called "flooding". Here's an example. This can be when you hyper expose a dog to a stimulus that frightens the dog. I saw an episode of the Dog Whisperer where Cesar took a dog that was afraid of the hose and forced the dog to sit next to the hose and then started spraying the dog... and then took the dog into the bath tub and bathed it. He got bit in the process, and many times had the leash so tight on that dog's neck that it was unable to breath. How is that ok? I'm not a violent person by any means... but if someone did that to my dog... I'd hit them. Cesar has NO grasp of what counter-conditioning and desensitizing actually mean. With the wrong dog you can easily turn a fear into a phobia. He places so much emphasis on domination that it's insane! Most of the dogs I've seen him work with are the exact opposite of dominant. Fear based aggression has nothing to do with dominance. You don't treat every behavior problem the same way. Behavior modification therapy is an art compared to the way he deals with these dogs. Cesar is a joke, and from what I hear the network has had so much hate mail they aren't renewing his series. I think I can end my rant now. I'm not saying that you can't get bits and pieces of good info from him, but he is not the god he's made out to be. I know I'm going to get thumbs downed for this, but I've done my research. I've been studying animal behavior non stop for the last 11 years. You could say it's a passion of mine. There is a huge difference between a dog trainer and an animal behaviorist. HUGE difference. I'm by no means trying to come off as an elitist. Sorry about my rant.

I think Cesar has some good points, but I do agree with the article. His methods aren't for everyone, and in a lot of ways, his methods could be improved.

I think another poster already pointed out the "Exercise, discipline, affection" motto. I think it's good, but "Exercise, training, affection" is better. (So funny that someone said that because I've been saying that too). I'm a believer in positive training, and Millan's methods are not always positive. If you watch the earlier episodes, he's not very positive at all. He basically forces a dog to do whatever it is afraid of, which is traumatic for the dog. But the later episodes he gets much more positive. I've seen him use food lures and wait for a dog to make the right decision, and stuff like that.

Pat Miller, who wrote that review, is an awesome trainer, BTW.

You can see some episodes and promotional clips of Cesar on YouTube. If you watch enough of them, it is clear that his clients, in general, do almost nothing about their dog's behavior. Some of them are actually afraid of their dogs and others just give up and let the dogs do what they will.

Cesar comes in and lets the dogs know that they will be behaving differently and, well, they do. It is not magic but it is more than just common sense. People seem not to understand that dogs do not know anything about living in human society. They have high expectations about dogs being intuitive or just well behaved in general and they are disappointed when this proves untrue.

There will always be people who will use prong collars and alpha roll their dogs and people who will treat and click their dogs. Different people, different dogs most of it will probably work well enough.

I did see an episode where Cesar used bacon and also another where he was bitten. It happens. I do think that his emphasis on exercise and not letting behavior escalate are good things. I don't think anything he does is particularly original but if it leads to better behaved dogs, who cares.

He has a way of presenting dog training so that it is entertaining and engaging while other trainers are dull as dishwater. There are enough badly behaved dogs out there so none of them are going to be without work.

I like Dodman and I think he is innovative in the use of drugs like prozac for pets. Exercise sometimes isn't the be all and the end all and some pets need help fitting into our sometimes rigid lifestyles. Note that even Dodman will say that desensitizing techniques are very difficult because each small step must be successful to prevent backsliding. For the dog owner, this type of things isn't always possible.

The treatment of domestic pets as worthy of scientific scrutiny and study is fairly new. I am sure that as we all learn more about them, our techniques will improve.

I've watched his t.v. shows and read his books, and, while he has some skill with dogs, his methods are simple minded and catch all, which is just plain dangerous.

Not every problem is because the dog needs to be subdued - especially not the way he does it by wrestling them to the ground, that's a great way to get bitten and have a very neurotic dog just waiting to get you back when you're not being physically dominant.

There are far better methods than the ones Cesar uses - and different dogs require different training - there is no one size fits all the way Cesar makes it look.

Your dog should do what you ask because he loves and respects you, not because you have wrestled with him - absurd and dangerous.

His methods are more a media hype - this guy became famous because he helped some Hollywood celebrities and they spread the word - he's a fad and will eventually be discredited.

If you looks at his early shows and the ones on now, you will see that he has all sorts of disclaimers about not trying his methods at home, plus he is far more affectionate to the dogs than he used to be - he knows there's more to it than he's showing.

That said, he's a charming guy, good looking and seems to think he is helping dogs - but he's not a real trainer at all, just a guy who is pretty good with aggressive dogs.

I wouldn't let him get near any of my dogs, especially the shy and traumatized ones I take in to foster in my rescue. Takes time and patience to teach a dog trust - sure isn't done in a t.v. segment.

They make some good points that I do agree with, but I also agree with some of the technics Ceasar uses too. I think any training is dependant upon your relationship with your dog and what you want out of that relationship. Also it's like anything, no one is made the same...different personalities, etc. require different training. I agree with his attitude toward calm training it helped me tons with my aggressive puppy...no longer after calmly training and not getting frustrated. It's all whatever works for you and your dog I think! There is no right or wrong!

I think Cesar is a genius. Problem is that people want it easy and fast and correcting problem behavior takes alot longer than developing it. Cesar has to be vague and general in is writings. Every circumstance is different and to assume that everything you need to know to fix your dogs problems can be learned from a book is silly. What I would hope people would do is read the book, understand the situation and consult a professional trainer for any serious issues.

I studied animal behavior extensively and have worked in the animal industry for over 25 years. I have never been bitten by one of my own dogs and have been using Cesar's methods long before I ever heard of him. In response to the review...There is more than 1 way to skin a cat

EDUCATION IS THE KEY TO SUCCESS!

i watch cesar millan all the time and i have found that hes methods are very useful especially when u have a pitt bull. he is very helpful!

well if you do not watch cesaer millan's show or read about his new book than take your dog to a local petsmart and see if they have a training center i know most of them do