Do you think that dogs need affection and love to feel balanced? (please READ BEFORE answering!)?

Question

Cesar Millan, the dog whisperer guy says:

Affection and love fulfill humans, not dogs. Dogs don’t need affection from us to feel balanced or aligned. These are human needs.

http://www.dogpsychologycenter.com/tips/energy02.php

I agree with with him and i respect his knowledge of dogs, and i also think that it is important for dogs to know where they are in the "pack" of the household, and that humans treat them in a way that wont confuse their natural instincts. But I also think that they love to be loved. Well i was just wondering what your opinion on the subject is. Do you agree with him? Disagree? Why?

Answer 1

You misunderstand what he's saying. He's saying your dog does not feel "love" toward you the same way people do when they fall in love. Your dog does have a need to feel part of the pack, and if you're the only one, you need to *interact* with the dog a lot. You see this is giving affection, but your dog sees it only as attention. Your attention can be positive or negative, and that's the extent of what your dog feels. It's not love, but you can think of it that way if you want to and it won't hurt anything. To you, it is love.

Answer 2

My dog receives affection and love on a daily basis. My dog also receives discipline when she has done something wrong. She understands that discipline the same way that she understands praise for something good. I have read Cesar's book and even passed it to my mother. Some of his beliefs are outdated! I don't want my Shih Tzu to have the behavior of a pack dog! I also have two cats in my home, everyone gets along. Most important is that they all know who the Alpha person is! That would be you, the owner. While cats have a hard time understanding this, dogs pick it up quick. If treated with respect, they will do the same for you - sounds crazy, but true!

About your question, "What Cesar Says" that being only human needs. I don't remember reading that in his book. I read bits and pieces because it seemed that I already had a specific problem covered or on other problems his suggestions were not feasible. Like I stated before, it depends on the dog. I'm very happy with my "parenting". I think all dogs need love and affection. They live in our homes with us, why would they deserve any less?

Answer 3

I don't think Cesar is saying dogs don't need affection or love and that those things are not needs for dogs. Even plants respond to positive energy. Of all the shows of his that I have watched, he uses affection a lot in the form of positive reinforcement. He seems to believe that dogs are more secure when the owners are in charge rather than catering to the dog. I believe this is true as far as training the dog and teaching the dog to behave around people and other animals. He always stresses being calm and assertive and how dogs pick up on a person's emotions. I believe that too.
I don't believe that affection and love are only human needs but I think he is talking about a person reacting with emotion to a dog rather than taking control.
I know there are trainers and dog psychologists that don't agree with some of his methods. Since I haven't studied or researched this but have only read others comments about it, I don't know.
I like to take control of my dogs in some situations for their protection, like when one gets excited when other dogs approach. I wanted her to know it is not okay to pull the leash and go ballistic so I pull her behind me and get her in a down position. Repeating this trained her not to do it.
But if we are going for a walk, I sometimes give her lots of leeway and let her lead the way. It hasn't negatively effected her overall behavior.
My dogs get a joy just hearing words like "Dog Park", "Ice-Cream" and "Treat". BTW, many grocery stores, especially big ones like Super Targets and big Krogers, some Randalls carry an ice-cream formulated for dogs and while it has no real nutritional value, the dogs go nuts over it.

Answer 4

I think dogs that have attention from people will be better trustful and friendly toward humans rather than dogs who are just fed and exercized without any real attention. I think dogs are loving animals that need love back.

There have been dogs that have died to save their owners lives. From a meaningless and scientific point of view, an animal would run away from danger but not those dogs. They knew they were going to die to save their family. How is that not love? Dogs love their family and their family should love them back.

Answer 5

I don't need to read anything about love and affection for a balanced life. . . I can prove it by the actions of my own dogs.
I took on a Yorkie that had been given to someone who really did not want the dog to begin with.
They kept this Yorkie in his kennel box 20 out of 24 hours.
This poor little dog was so introverted and sheepish while around these other owners.
Once "Kipper" came HOME,it took him a few weeks before he started to come out of his shell and I attribute the love,attention,the bath,dental care and talk that I gave him to getting him out of his shell.
He is sooo very loving and seeks that love from me that he didn't get from his previous owners and I can tell how he pouts when he doesn't get the attention he soo craves.
Animals are more human like than most people realize and in being so,they too need love and attention. . . . look at how pack dogs that have been abandoned behave. . . like the very animals they have become in order to just survive.
My other dog "Lovey" is soo smart and I believe her growth in being smart comes from the love and attention that I have given her from the day she arrived at 5weeks old.
"Lovey" is happy,smart and lively and too I believe it to be because I let her know how proud I am of her and how important she is to me.
I have seen dogs that are just left in their backyards and they tend to be pitiful and unsocial. . . lack of love and attention. . . .which proves they DO need love and attention to achieve balance in life.

Answer 6

I don't know if I agree with him or not. Humans put human characteristics on animals. Such as a hippo opening his really wide. We think he is yawning like we do, but in actuality he is showing how big he is and it's an aggressive behavior.
I guess when you think about it, if you have ever watched shows about wolf behavior they aren't very loving. I think more it's about a dog being accepted into the pack.
But I like to think that my dog can't live without my love :)

Answer 7

I think it depends on how you are defining love. I don't think dogs need you to remember their birthday, or bring them special treats all the time even.. I think that they need love and affection in that they do want that praise when they have chosen to do the right thing, or finally figured out what you were trying to teach them, or when you are upset and they are worried and tilting their head wondering if everything is okay.. And you give them a kiss and a scratch and tell them that the world is fine, and they are happy! The love that tells them that they are doing a good job at being a best friend. That you are happy that they are alive and chose to spend their time with you...

I don't think that we can treat them entirely like dogs, I mean I don't think we can think of them entirely like dogs. They have too much personality and character, whether they learn that by watching us, or if that is in them. But it is impossible to not think of them as little people sometimes. I don't mean dressing them up, or anything like that. But the fact that they can most certainly communicate what they want, what they would like to do, can show you where something is, can lead you to the cupboard that holds the treats or will convince you to go with them to the fridge so that they can have the left over chicken you just put in there....

I think if they didn't really need affection... they wouldn't bother with us. They would be like cats and couldn't care less whether we were even around. Dogs care if we are there, care that we are late, care that we are sick, tired, angry etc. Someone that shows concern and caring for our emotions, I believe expects affection.

The one thing I have a problem with when watching Cesar.. He is there to help people with problems that they are having with their dogs. If the only thing you are doing wrong with your dog is allowing it to walk in front of you on the leash, but everything else is fine, dog isn't aggressive, dog doesn't pee on the bed, dog doesn't chase the neighbour kids, dog doesn't challenge you, then go ahead and let him walk ahead of you on the leash. I think when you are raising them, if you allow certain things, then those things don't necessarily turn into trouble areas, they are the little things that you don't have a problem with.

I have a female who I play with, and I show her my fist and I ask her " You want a piece of this " and she shows me her teeth and she growls and she turns her head like she is getting ready to nail me. Then she'll put her forehead against mine and we look at each other and growl, and then she always licks my face. We have been playing this game for 8 years now. NEVER has she bit me, never has she done anything other than the routine we have put together ourselves in what we think of as a game. But if Cesar walked in, he would have a fit and figure that she is trying to be alpha and challenge me and OMG the world is coming to an end and this has to stop. It would break her heart if I didn't play this game with her... So Not all things are a challenge, and not all things are a chance to become alpha over their owners, sometimes things are just games.

But I think if people treat their dogs too much like little people and are afraid to let them know when they are being bad, and allow dangerous and aggressive behaviour, then they can find themselves at the bottom of the pack and they can be in trouble... Can create neurotic dogs if they don't allow dogs to be dogs and dig and get dirty and have fun and run and play.

I agree with him to an extent, but there are things that I don't agree with. If you aren't have a problem in other areas, little things here and there aren't a big deal. BUT I am certainly impressed with his compound and the way he has all his dogs getting together so well!

Answer 8

I agree and I disagree with him. I agree because it makes for a better behaved dog, but at the same time I can't ignore my dog coming to me and placing his head on my lap and wanting his ear scratched or leaning against me just to be close. I would say he us trying to be dominant, except that he and my mothers dog do it to each other and then proceed to lick eachother's ears.
So in reality I guess I don't know if I agree or disagree.

Answer 9

I don't think it's so much something they need as much as something they want. To be rewarded, pet, and played with is enough for most dogs. There are of course some people who treat their pets as though it was a baby human with strollers, feeding them people food, buying a bunch of needless expensive things for their pets, etc...and I think that kind of behavior is just way off. Dogs don't need- and from my experiances with dogs, don't want- so much ridiculous special treatment. I love my dog and I show my affection to her through playing tug of war, walking her and giving her treats when she's a good girl, and that's plenty for her. she's very happy the way she is.

Answer 10

You give affection in the form of playing with the dog, relaxing the dog, or rewarding the dog when he is a good member of the pack. He doesn't really need kisses.