Comments on: An Alternative to Cesar Millan?

By: Marduk

Marduk — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 00:00:31 +0000

Well, dogs are animals. Pack hunters and predators to be exact; so if your dog is growling at you and challenging you, would you apply “positive re-inforcement”? If your dog is growling at you, and/or biting you…what would your dog to to a stranger? There are times when tough love is applicable. MHO

By: Jeff

Jeff — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 19:40:13 +0000

“Millan’s methods rely on a theory built around short-term studies of captive wolf packs in the 1940’s – the Alpha/Dominance theory.”

I was under the impression that Cesar was basically self-taught and his methods are based on his experience growing up with dogs.

By: Anne

Anne — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 22:21:11 +0000

To the person who asked if I use only one method to address problems in dogs, the answer is no, but that does not mean that I resort to tactics that cause pain or terror in a dog that I am working with. It also does not mean that I am permissive, or that I don’t successfully deal with dogs that have developed “bad habits.” Actually, I don’t view habits as either good or bad, I view them as desirable or undesirable. That way, I think of the “habit” as discrete behavior, and behavior can be modified. I have found that not assigning motive to dogs is very helpful because it doesn’t make them “stubborn” or “dominant” or “stupid” – it just means they are exhibiting a behavior I want to change. So, I just set about to figure out how to extinguish that behavior. It might involve reinforcing the dog for an alternative, or it might involve ignoring the behavior altogether, or it might mean that I do something else, but it never means that I kick, pin, or hang a dog, all of which Mr. Millan has been filmed doing.

By: doglover

doglover — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 20:24:21 +0000

Well-

I have to say I believe the disclaimer at the beginning of the show is simply to say “If you walk into a room with a growling dog and expect it not to bite you because you’re acting like cesar and you get bitten don’t take this show to court”

Use your common sense people.

Honestly I’ve tried allot of Cesars advice on my dogs in the past and have had the most positive of results- if the man doesn’t know what he’s talking about then it must just be pure coincidence.

Spend your time doing something besides being jealous of a man who spends his time trying to help dog owners and happened to get famous for it….

By: as

as — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 13:23:48 +0000

Re not looking at wolves for dog behavior, it can be a guideline but not the bible. Wolves are wild. Dogs have been domesticated. They don’t live the same lives. Also, if you do look closely alpha wolves don’t “roll” other wolves. That’s a kill move. Submissive dogs OFFER the roll as a way of communicating that they mean no harm and recognize the alpha as boss. If a wolf is gonna roll, he’s gonna kill. In my opinion, ANYONE who “rolls” a dog deserves to get bitten. Mr. Milan included. I do not like his methods at all. His show is not long for this world from what I hear. He has NO formal training or education folks. He is NOT someone to be admired. His you can be a good leader w/out using his methods. Really watch the dogs on his show. If you know anything about canine body language those dogs SCREAM fear and anxiety. I saw one clip online where he rolled a dog – it was resisting and when he was done, the poor dog was a panting, drooling mess – and he was calling it “calm/submissive”. I wish I could smack him.

By: Shaamex

Shaamex — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 03:40:40 +0000

I just wanted to add my two cents. I have had dogs growing up. Most living out their lives with me. The last dog I have was a rescue. I already had a dog so the one that came last got told pretty quick their position. Since I watch Cesar’s show I applied some of the techniques to the rescue dog. Success! The rescue dog behaves much better than the other dog. The techniques? Being calm/assertive. I never hurt my dog to follow any of what I have seen on Cesar’s show. And yes,it is a tv show and I understand how shows are put together. The issues my dog had were food aggression,aggression toward our cat, and chewing everything. With a sideways look I give to the dog it moves away. I don’t have to touch the dog or even get up from where I’m sitting. Anything the dog has in its mouth I can say “release” and the dog drops it. Here’s the funny part about the cat problem..by not focusing so much on the dog and not giving the dog attention when the two are in disagreement the problem loses it excitement. They(both dog and cat)move on. (Ok instead of two cents it was a little more…..Thanks for the forum.

By: MalamuteLuv

MalamuteLuv — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 19:08:06 +0000

WOW all I can say is so many people r so closed mined, almost eveyone on here can olny see there point. Jo and RB BOTH of you get over yourselfs. When it comes down to it your both right and your both wrong. You don’t use aggesive training on a dog who dosen’t need it, but if a dog is try to bit me or hurt me damn rights I will hold him/her down till there calm.
As for not looking at wolves in learning about dogs, I readly don’t understand that, don’t studys say that dogs r 95% wolf? So why wouldn’t we look at then?

By: Michael

Michael — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 22:38:03 +0000

Okay, so maybe I’m a little biased, but if you are looking for an alternative to the Dog Whisperer, an alternative to Cesar Millan look no further than this site featuring The General aka Michael T. Patton.

http://dogtv.com/astounding-offleash-pit-bull-training-michael-calls-out-the-dog-whisperer/

http://dogtv.com

I can do things that Cesar Millan has no idea how to do. And I can do them with pit bulls or any other type of dogs. And I can do them without relying on collar or shock corrections of any kind. I am coming on strong, like a hurricane that cannot be stopped!

–
this is michael
reporting live…

By: jo

jo — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 00:04:59 +0000

Hey, Jeff,

ALL organisms function the same way when it comes to learning. ALL organisms learn by classical conditioning, operant conditioning, extinction, etc… Plants bend toward the sun because it works to get them what they need. Any behavior that is rewarded by getting the organism what they need or want will be repeated, and as repeated, will become habit. At the lowest point, that is truly all there is to it…

By: jo

jo — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 23:57:01 +0000

Joint Press Statements and Supporting Organizations
http://www.dogwelfarecampaign.org/index.php

Problems with aversive dog training techniques

UK animal welfare, behaviour, training and veterinary organisations1 are warning of the possible dangers of using techniques for training dogs that can cause pain and fear, such as some of those seen used by Cesar Millan, who has announced a UK tour next year.

The organisations have joined forces to voice their serious concerns about techniques which pose welfare problems for dogs and significant risk to owners who may copy them. These concerns are shared, and the statement supported, by similar organisations around the world2 and in continental Europe3.

Aversive training techniques, which have been seen to be used by Cesar Millan, are based on the principle of applying an unpleasant stimulus to inhibit behaviour. This kind of training technique can include the use of prong collars, electric shock collars, restricting dogs′ air supply using nooses/leads or pinning them to the ground, which can cause pain and distress. The use of such techniques may compromise the welfare of dogs and may worsen the behavioural problems they aim to address, potentially placing owners at considerable risk. A number of scientific studies have found an association between the use of aversive training techniques and the occurrence of undesired behaviours in dogs.

The organisations believe that the use of such training techniques is not only unacceptable from a welfare perspective, but that this type of approach is not necessary for the modification of dog behaviour. Dog trainers all over the UK use reward-based methods to train dogs very effectively. Where dogs have behaviours which owners find unacceptable, such as aggression or destruction, qualified behaviourists achieve long term changes in behaviour through the use of established and validated techniques of behaviour modification without subjecting dogs to training techniques which may cause pain or distress.

We urge dog owners to carefully consider the help they choose to train their dogs or tackle behavioural problems. Anyone can call themselves a behaviour expert, but we believe that only those with a combination of appropriate qualifications, up to date knowledge as well as skills and experience should be treating dogs, and should only do so in a way which does not put the welfare of the dogs at risk.

Further information on:

* the misconceptions which underlie the use of aversive training techniques
* the development of behaviour in dogs
* the problems associated with the use of aversive training techniques
* finding a suitable trainer or behaviourist

can be found at: http://www.dogwelfarecampaign.org
1 Dogs Trust, The Blue Cross, Royal Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), The Blue Dog, Wood Green Animal Shelters, World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA), The Kennel Club, Raystede Centre for Animal Welfare, Canine Partners, UK , Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour (ASAB), Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors (APBC), Association of Pet Dog Trainers, UK (APDT, UK), UK Registry of Canine Behaviours (UKRCB), Companion Animal Behaviour Therapy Study Group (CABTSG), British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) and British Veterinary Association (BVA).
2 Australian Veterinary Association (AVA), Australian Veterinary Behaviour Interest Group (AVBIG), American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB), American College of Veterinary Behaviorists (ACVB), The International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC) and The Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers, Inc. (CCPDT)(USA).
3 European Society of Clinical Veterinary Ethology (ESCVE), European College of Veterinary Behavioural Medicine – Companion Animals (ECVBM-CA), the Flemish Veterinary Working Group on Ethology (VDWE) and Norwegian Association for Pet Behaviour (NAPB) Norsk Atferdsgruppe for Selskapsdyr (NAS).

More information about organisations supporting this press statement can be found at http://www.dogwelfarecampaign.org