Views on Cesar Millan's Training Methods?

Question

This is a question purely for the discussion of it. I know that a lot of people think that Cesar Millan's whole dominance theory is fantastic. They are just impressed that he can get the dog to settle down at all. He says it is purely a psychological challenge with the dog, that he is not hurting or scaring it, just showing him who's boss...he says he's doing what another dog would do to it. I know that I have seen his psychology center on TV, and he has a LOT of well balanced, happy dogs. (At least, it looks that way)

On the other hand, he does his whole "flip you on your back to make you submissive thing". Do you think he is going to far, or do you think it is fine for him to show the dogs' who is 'boss'? Do you feel that it is unecessary to take the dominance that far?

Basically, any opinions on Cesar's training method and his theory on dog psychology would be great. I just think it would be really interesting to see what people have to say about "The Dog Whisperer".

Great answers so far, I definitely agree that it is a method that needs to be done by somebody who knows what they're doing, otherwise, bad things could result. I think it has a lot to do with how the person carries themself...if they beleive they are dominant, I think the dogs can sense your dominant state of mind and confidence. I also agree that any dog stands a chance, but not ALL can be saved and turned into perfect pets.

Answer 1

Some of what he advocates is correct. The importance of understanding dogs as dogs, not as something with human thoughts, emotions and motivations is correct. The importance of understanding pack structure and the role of dominance and submission is correct. However, he is not saying anything new. There have been lots of people writing about this and doing this sort of thing for a lot longer than he's been around. Karen Pryor's book, "Don't Shoot the Dog" was copyrighted in 1984, and again in 1999. Stanley Coren's book "How To Speak Dog" was copyrighted in 2000. Patricial McConnell's book, "The Other End of the Leash" dates from 2002. Jan Fennell published "The Dog Listener" in 2000. And keep in mind that all these, and many others who have written about this topic, have professional and academic backgrounds that go back much farther than that. All these talk about dominance and social structure of dogs in one context or another. So he's not saying anything particularly new. Maybe it's good that he's popularizing it, but he didn't invent it.

I have to agree with animal_artwork and bozema. Some of his methods - the alpha roll, running dogs on treadmills, stringing them up, are recipes for getting bitten. If I had used the alpha roll to try to establish my position as alpha with my male Akita, the result would have only been an escalating spiral of aggressive behavior. As it was, it was hard enough to try as part of an evaluation of dominance when he was a little puppy, much less use as a training technique.

I think the danger is that it can lead to the simplistic thought that you can learn everything you need to know by watching a TV show once a week, where severe behavioral problems are resolved like magic. If you really want to be effective, I think you need to understand the basics of learning and conditioning theory, the social structure of dogs, learn techniques of successful trainers, then learn how to apply all this yourself. The more you know the better prepared you are to critically evaluate what someone says, whether here on Y/A or on TV.

I give him mixed reviews, and I certainly don't think he's the greatest dog trainer on the planet, although maybe the best known.

Answer 2

I agree with his methods and I like the way he emphasizes that dogs are not humans because most people humanize their dogs and in doing so, are doing them more harm than good. He does not hurt the dogs. The way I see it is it's like taking a spoiled rotten brat child and finally having someone step up and demand that they act appropriately. He creates a state of mind that is safer and healthier for everyone and teaches people how they can achieve and maintain that within their homes. A lot of pet owners don't understand the way a dog thinks and dont know how to properly train and socialize a dog so i think it's great that he's on TV and hopefully getting the message out there that the problems are with the owners not the dogs.

I doubt anyone who watches the show is going to think they can learn everything they need to know about dog training from it. If they do they're an idiot and deserve to be bit. To blame The Dog Whisperer because inexperienced people try to use his methods and get bit is ridiculous. I don't see how someone who preaches providing physical and mental stimulation and proper socialization can be made out to be so "dangerous." I'm not saying he's the best trainer in the world, I haven't met all the trainers in the world, but he clearly knows what he's talking about and has helped a lot of people in the area of training he specializes in. I think some of you people might benefit from coming down off your dillusional little clouds and seeking some THERAPY.

Most of the people responding that he abuses dogs probably haven't seen many episodes and don't pay attention to the psychology behind what he's doing. And I'd Love to see the evidence to support the "fact" that deaths have been directly linked to him, and I especially love all the lemmings that actually believe that with absolutely no proof!! I have never seen him harm a dog and I've seen him with at least 100 dogs. He deals with many extreme cases so it looks bad, but some of those dogs would otherwise end up euthanized.

And LOL, "breaking the spirit"? Are you kidding me?? His dogs have always looked perfectly happy to me. It's about energy. If I am calm, my dogs are calm, if i am excited and playing with them, they are hyper and excited. He stays calm, so his dogs stay calm, it's that simple! But what would we all do if we didn't have a high horse to jump on about every little thing?

Answer 3

Dominance theory is actually a very outdated method of training. It is proven that dogs do not consider people as part of the pack and all people like Cesar Milan are doing is breaking their spirit.

Reward training methods are much more effective long term. If you train a dog to want to please you, the dog will spend it's time trying to please you.

If you break a dogs spirit, yes it will do everything it can to avoid getting into trouble for fear of the consequences. But, most dogs do not know when they will get into trouble and the fear flight or flight reaction will be likely to kick in at unpredictable times.

The best training method I have come across for producing dogs that just want to learn and please their owners is clicker training.

Also, the half hour show that only shows the successess does not let people know that this method does not work for every dog and if you then have a person dealing with the dog who does not have the dominance of the person who trained it there could be some serious trouble.

I know anyone could mind my dogs and they would be fine and behave well for them. If I had broken their spirits I do not think I would trust them in quite the same way.

Answer 4

I can only speak from personal experience. We have a four old APBT, a breed that is known for dog aggressiveness. When my grandson brought home another APBT puppy we had a problem. The old Pit would growl and snap at the puppy. Probably would have killed it if we let them loose together.
My grandson happened to turn the TV to The Dog Whisper. The show was about how to get an aggressive dog that wanted to kill their pet rabbit. Cesar took the dog and put it on its back, in a submissive position, and brought the rabbit next to it. When the dog growled he planted a finger in the dogs chest and said Shhhhh. Eventually the dog and rabbit were getting along. I thought to myself how many days did that take.
Well my grandson took it on. He took the older Pit and put her on the floor on her back and brought the pup up next to her. When she growled he did the finger to the chest and Shhhh thing. It was less then an hour that they were playing together. The older Pit and the puppy, now six months old, are the best of friends. They play together all the time now.
My opinion, he knowns what he is doing.

Answer 5

all I can say is it has worked for me. I brought home a rather nasty little chihuahua, couldnt get along with anyone or anything, which is no doubt why she was at the pound..I had a week of hell with her. as in my home are two cats a laid back easy going dog, and a bunny.
we all have to get along and she was on short time.
I began watching Cesar, and noticed something, the little chihuahua actually sat down and listened or appeared to...may have been the dogs on the tv screen. but,she was quiet, and still, and I could pet her at last.then I applied the methods learned,went online and viewed more and now..a house of harmony. she plays with the tom cat, sleeps with the weener dog and tries to eat the bunnies veggies and has fallen asleep in his box. [bunny has his own nest box in my office, and uses a litter box to go pee etc in] the house is a peaceful eden and is been 7 months now and no trouble. so think what you want, but if you do it the right way, it works. I love Cesars methods. and if Bu [the chihuahua] could talk, she's probably say the same thing.

Answer 6

I think the whole psychology thing is right on point. Some people just project dominant energy, which can be learned. For example, my pit bull listens to me most. She is a puppy, and sometimes it takes several attempts for my husband to get her to obey.
the collars-at the top of the neck-are right on point with the way dogs are trained and handled at dog shows
he doesn't hit or abuse. some people actually wack their dogs and still have no control-proof that the whole "energy" behind the touch is most important.
i disagree that he thinks pit bulls can be harder to handle. but he's a rottie guy, so hey.
all in all, i think he's good, especially cuz he based his techniques off observation of dogs in the wild and in more natural states (say, rural mexico, as opposed to here, were we do some wacky stuff to our dogs)

Answer 7

I think in untrained hands his methods are a fantastic way for someone to get bit by a dog that is already out of control.

Edit: Schnauzer Mom: I have about the same effect on dogs... my daughter who is 19 years old even moreso. Its more a matter of attitude and aura than anything else. I know I'm the boss.. thus the dogs know it and its a rare dog that even bothers to consider challenging me about it.

Editx2: molly s: what if your dog was a large breed dog with that same attitude?

Answer 8

My issues with Cesar:

He makes it all look so easy in a 1/2 hour show when in fact it's not. Retraining serious behavioral problems take a lot of time, experience, patience and hard work and it doesn't always work out.

He never shows failures (there have to be some) which leads people to believe that every single dog is salvageable. Some aren't.

Alpha rolls are a risky technique, can get a handler bit and are usually not necessary.

It's all a little too simplistic.

Answer 9

I think Cesar Milan has helped many people understand their dog(s).
There are those that think he is crazy, or his dominance theory doesn't hold water in a fish tank.
however, I have applied some of what I learned on my dogs, and it has helped. I am the owner of 2 dogs that we adopted from owners who for one reason or another, had to give up their dogs. one is a 100 lb rottweiler, who came from a pack of cat killing dogs, and I am his 4th owner. We have worked hard with him, and with advice from Cesar Milan, which we applied, he has come a long way. He gets along fine with my other animals, including my cat, which he has shown to protect from other dogs that may chase her. he sleeps with her and shares the backyard with her and my other dog. how? with calm assertiveness, taught by the master himself...
and he was at one time, considered a potential Red Zone case.

a lot of it is in learning how to read your dog, and your dog's behavior, and learning how to correct this without hurting your dog. common sense, but seen thru different eyes, a lot of the time.
I do think with dominant-type dogs, it may be having the dog lay on his/her back will help.

Remember, on his show, it is not in hurting or impairing your dog's ability to show them "who's boss" but with a lot of people, saving your dog from euthanasia, and from biting someone, and more importantly, rebuilding a trusting relationship with their dog.
His training may not be for every dog, or every owner.
The cases on his show highlight extreme cases, not run of the mill, naughty pee on the floor kind of things. Sometimes, even a true Red Zone case, where the dog could be labeled vicious in every sense of the word.
You are never going to please everyone, or every dog.
but, if it helps the dog, and the owner, then isn't that the important thing?
and like his show and site tell you, "consult a professional trainer before trying anything..." if you are not a professional trainer, or experienced enough to apply these theories, then you really shouldn't be doing it, should you?

I think people like Cesar Milan should be commended, not criticized! they are willing to help owners and their dogs, when the owners have noone else to turn to... and no one else will touch their dogs, for obvious reasons. and the owners obviously love their dogs, or want them, or they wouldn't go thru the trouble of contacting them....
I am a loyal Cesar Milan Fan...

Answer 10

i love watching the dog whisperer!!! i think it is fascinating how he gets these crazy animals to calm down almost immediately. it amazes me every time i watch it. i agree with your first answerer, an untrained person shouldn't do his methods. even the credits on his show say do not try these methods at home without a professional trainer. as for his methods, i see nothing wrong with what he does. he obviously knows his stuff.