Pack is back: A week of 'Whisperer'

[bigdoglover]

USATODAY

By Ann Oldenburg

No matter how famous Cesar Millan becomes as the Dog Whisperer, his best friends will always keep him grounded, he says.
"Dogs remind us how simple life is," Millan says.

And in three new episodes of his hit show, Millan reminds us how difficult life can be with a dog that won't behave. The shows air during National Geographic Channel's Dog Whisperer Week, starting Sunday night at 9 ET/PT.

Millan burst on the scene in 2004 when The Dog Whisperer premiered. He has numerous celebrity clients, including Jada Pinkett Smith, who hired him when he was still a limo driver to help rehab her pack of Rottweilers. And Denise Richards is featured in a segment this week asking for help with her three unruly pooches. The series was just nominated for an Emmy. In April, he published Cesar's Way: The Natural, Everyday Guide to Understanding and Correcting Common Dog Problems.

Now, although he is recognized wherever he goes, Millan says, "it hasn't changed the guy I am always going to be, the guy that came from Mexico and had a dream and values life."

Now Millan is traveling the country shooting new episodes for the third season. They'll air in October.

"Instability is everywhere," says Millan, whose main tenet for dogs is exercise, discipline, affection. But although his idea is to "train" a person, not a dog, "I never judge a person just because they don't know what to do with a dog. Judging becomes a negative experience." Instead, he's all about "empowering people."

His Dog Psychology Center, home to about 50 dogs, in Los Angeles is well known — and the scene of the "Power of the Pack" episode in Dog Whisperer Week. But Millan's goal is to buy 100 acres and open a new Dog Psychology Center in the mountains.

In the meantime, he continues his work for the show. What sets him apart is that he doesn't use treats to reward good behavior. Instead he advocates being a "calm, assertive" leader to your dog.

As for discipline, he first uses eye contact. If that doesn't work, he employs "a touch" with the dog. "It's to snap them out of it. It's not to hurt them. It's abuse when you're doing it from frustration or anger. This is not done out of anger."

Millan also is the subject of two lawsuits.

One was filed by 8 Simple Rules producer Flody Suarez, who said his Lab was hurt after being put on a treadmill at Millan's center. The lawsuit claims breach of contract, fraud, animal cruelty and intentional infliction of emotional distress, among other allegations. It seeks more than $25,000 in damages. "I don't know the person," Millan says. "It's not a very nice lawsuit. I didn't touch the dog. The dog was at my center."

The other suit is from former publicist Makeda Smith and her partner, Foster Corder, who have sued Millan and other defendants, including the National Geographic Channel, claiming that Smith originally conceived the name "Dog Whisperer" for Millan.

Says Millan: "I believe in integrity. Dogs have it. Humans are sometimes lacking it."

[rmci]

Was that this week or next? Did I miss it?

[Raised By Wolves]

I think Dog Whisperer week starts this weekend and then a full week of episodes all next week, with three new episodes somewhere along the way.

Go Cesar!

[bigdoglover]

I posted that just for you, RBW...LOL

Actually, I thought folks here would want to watch!

[Raised By Wolves]

Originally Posted by bigdoglover

I posted that just for you, RBW...LOL

Awww, I know.

You know, he's traveling the country looking for interesting cases... Maybe that "friend" of yours you mentioned once (wink-wink, nudge-nudge, know what I mean?) with the "challenging" new dog could give him a jingle?

Tell your friend to get the dog a back-pack and go for long day-hikes with the dog - so that they learn to work together as a team with her (the handler) in charge, in a natural environment. Hubby and lovely female dog in household should also be included. Time to get back to nature and be a functioning pack. An over-nighter hike might be a good idea.

Thanks BDL!

[bigdoglover]

Good idea! and Your Welcome!

[Raised By Wolves]

Well now, it seems Cesar's show now has an Emmy nomination for best "reality" series and his book, "Cesar's Way", is the #1) Hardback Advice Book on the New York Times bestseller's list...which he has been on for 16 weeks straight.

Not bad for a young guy with NO college education, NO animal behavioral degree, and NO background in operant conditioning and learning theory.

Smoke and mirrors? Pooh!

[rmci]

Yeah! I didn't miss it! I watched Saturday & Sunday. Can't wait to watch a full week

[fancychicken]

So far the new episodes were great! I love CEASAR!!! The new "format" is a litte weird though....sort of talk showish....but I can live with that since I have incorporated about 3 things already just watching a couple of new episodes.

[Glitzie]

I've been watching it also. VERY educational! I loved the one about the German Shepherds. I hope the woman follows through. I also visited his chat room. I was kinda disappionted. Tons of questions, but only a few were answered. Most were common sense, basic questions. I was looking for more difficult ones as in his show.

[Raised By Wolves]

Tonight's episode looks really good. I think it's a "Power of the Pack", behind the scenes look at the pack of everchanging dogs who help Cesar help other dogs achieve "balance". Should be interesting!

[Beryl]

The Min Pin rescue lady told me to watch tonight and I learned so much in only 15 minutes. She very effectively practices his techniques with her dogs and gave me some pointers, based on Cesar's way, on how to curb my Min Pin's negative behaviors.