Dog whisperer

[bigdoglover]

The News Sun

By Patte Geary

Cesar Millan, renowned dog psychologist and star of the National Geographic Channel's hit program Dog Whisperer, delighted fans with his humor and expertise during a dog behavior seminar held last weekend in Lake Zurich.

Hosted by the Young at Heart Pet Rescue, a Palatine-based organization dedicated to rehoming rescued adult dogs and cats, the seminar gave 700 dog-lovers a first-hand look inside the heart of Millan and his uncanny understanding of what goes on in the canine mind.

Dawn Kemper, YAHPR's executive director, said the seminar came about as a result of help they received from Millan's Dog Psychology Center in Los Angeles.

"We had a dog returned to us for behavior issues, so we consulted with the center," said Kemper, who knew of Millan's reputation for helping rehabilitate difficult dogs. Upon discovery that Millan was available for seminars sponsored by dog rescue organizations or shelters, in February she began to organize the benefit seminar.

One-third of the proceeds will go to YAHPR. "It meets a large part of our fundraising goal for this year," explained Kemper.

Jim Milio, executive producer and director of the Dog Whisperer series, manned a table at the seminar with Dog Whisperer media. For sale were Millan's best-selling book, Cesar's Way: The Natural, Everyday Guide to Understanding & Correcting Common Dog Problems, the first season of Millan's on DVD, and his DVD, People Training for Dogs. These products also are available online at the Cesar Millan Inc. Web site.

Joey Ngo, founder and owner of www.cesarmillanproducts.com , which offers Cesar Millan's Dog Psychology Center clothing and accessories, sold "Pack Leader" T-shirts at the event.

"I'm donating 10 percent of today's profits to Young at Heart Pet Rescue," said Ngo.



Owners with issues attend seminar


Foster parents, rescue operators, and owners of dogs with issues came from as far as New York to hear Millan speak at the sold-out event. Most attendees were dog trainers, adoptive owners, or foster owners of rescued dogs looking to tap into Millan's wisdom.
Joyce Paschall, of Palatine, said, "I foster dogs and sometimes end up with behaviors I'm not familiar with and don't know the dog's background," she said. Paschall fosters beagles from Rob Dan's Hound Song Beagle and Coonhound Rescue in Hammond, Ind..

Reid Carlberg of Chicago said, "I've watched Dog Whisperer and it's helped me do a better job with my dogs." He temporarily fosters dogs for PawsChicago.org and Chicago K-9 Rescue. "I'm looking to have a broader range of tools in my tool kit so I can do more with the dogs for the few weeks I have them," Carlberg said.

Other dog owners came seeking answers to annoying dog issues, such as fearfulness or pulling on the leash during walks, as is the case for Jane McCreadie, of Lake Zurich. Jolie Simkins and Karen Ortiz of Batavia said their young cocker spaniels have poor doggie manners, such as ignoring calls to "come," and putting their puppy paws on the owners' chairs during meals. Lisa Clark, of Janesville, Wisc., has a basset/beagle mix that likes to scoot out the door whenever someone tries to leave the house.

Linn Tracy, of Waggin' Tails Dog Training in Racine, Wis., said, "I have been training dogs for 35 years and what Cesar says is what I've been telling people for years. I wish his teachings could go to every dog owner."



Cesar Millan shares his gift


While many might have already benefited from Millan's television series or his book, nothing could compare to hearing Millan teach live and in-person.
Millan is hysterically funny. In his presentation, he accurately imitates every dog emotion and body movement from the "play bow" to spastic over-excitement, as well as the giddy or harsh voices people use when communicating to their pets.

Confidently walking on stage, Millan lifted his leg at the audience, and consistently kept the crowd laughing as they learned, clearly demonstrating his intimate understanding of the human-dog relationship as it is, and as it should be.

Passionate about rehabilitating dogs that have developed issues and bad behaviors, Millan said, "I hold these seminars to create awareness that it is not the dog's fault if they have behavior issues."

According to his book, Cesar's Way, Millan grew up on a Mexican farm and always had a close connection with nature. He credits the farm's "working dogs" for teaching him about canine psychology. By observing the dogs as they roamed loose in packs, he quickly learned to read the dogs' body language and behaviors, and to grasp their process of learning and communicating.

It is from witnessing his grandfather's interaction with the dogs that Millan developed his understanding of a pack leader's need to exhibit consistent, calm, assertive energy. He also recognized the dogs' energy qualities of calm submission and active submission.

After coming to America, Millan began working at a dog grooming facility, where he developed a reputation for being able to handle the most aggressive and powerful dogs. He instinctively was able to interact with the dogs as they naturally would with each other, and began to see the "power of the pack" as a way to rehabilitate an unbalanced, fearful, or aggressive dog.

Thus, Cesar's Way was born. He eventually opened his Dog Psychology Center in Los Angeles, California, a halfway house of sorts, where he would rehabilitate orphaned dogs and allow clients to drop off their dogs for "group therapy."

"Americans humanize their dogs, which is unhealthy for the dog, but good for the human," he said during his seminar.

Millan, who often referenced his 13-year marriage to Illusion Millan, said, "Love means giving someone what she needs, and to give only affection is selfish." This, he said, applies to marriage and dogs.

His philosophy is that in the wild, dogs' survival depends on a stable, strong, and organized pack, where each member knows its place and follows the rules set by the pack leader. In order for a dog to be fulfilled, stable, and "balanced," its owner must establish himself as pack leader, a calm, yet assertive force. Additionally, a dog's basic needs must be met, most importantly exercise (walking or "migrating") behind or alongside the leader, discipline, and affection, which is a reward for being calm and submissive.

As if on cue, Sondra Karnay of Chicago, who has slight cerebral palsy causing balance impairment, began walking across the auditorium with her 238-pound English Mastiff. Millan spotted the pair and brought them onstage to exemplify the relationship between Karnay and her service dog, "Little Monster."

"He's working now, so he's very calm-submissive," said Karnay. "When he doesn't have his harness on, he's all boy."

"The key to a calm, submissive dog," said Millan repeatedly, "is to walk him. You must keep the dog tired." He said dogs develop neurotic or aggressive behaviors when they go without adequate exercise to release their energy.

Millan also explained the difference between how dogs and people communicate. People talk to their pets, but dogs are instinctual and respond to body language and a person's state of mind, or energy level.

"Dogs listen to you when they have nothing else to do," he said.

After his presentation, Millan answered questions submitted by audience members, and closed the seminar saying, "Thank you; you were very calm-submissive."