The Dog Whisperer - You Like The Show??

Kay Weber · 10-24-2009, 10:11 AM

Anyone else like the Dog Whisperer on National Geographic Channel?

We saw Cesar Millan speak in OKC a couple years back - it was very cool!

"I rehabilitate dogs - and train people!"

What do you think?

RonE · 10-24-2009, 10:22 AM

If you do a forum search for "Cesar Milan" or "dog whisperer" you'll discover that he is a controversial and divisive presence.

People tend to fall into one of three camps:

Love him and his ideas.
Hate many, if not most, of his idea.
Find him personable and entertaining but would not dream of doing anything that he does on television.

I happen to fall into the third camp. I compare him with Mike Rowe on Dirty Jobs. I enjoy the show and watch it often, but I would not try any of it at home.

If people would actually heed the disclaimer on the Dog Whisperer, I think we'd all be just fine.

MafiaPrincess · 10-24-2009, 11:31 AM

Camp 2 he's a tool.

FaithFurMom09 · 10-24-2009, 11:49 AM

I think he is ok. I dont believe he just walks in and somehow the dog starts to listen.

Marsh Muppet · 10-24-2009, 12:44 PM

I'm in Camp 4: agree some/disagree some with what he does, and have no strong feelings about him either way.

Binkalette · 10-24-2009, 12:52 PM

I like him. I think he's a great guy that really does have the animals best interests at heart and he does his best to help them. I think that his exercise/discipline/affection ideal applies to most if not all dogs, but his techniques for rehabilitating aggressive dogs should not be used by viewers at home on their own dogs. I don't think you can learn everything by watching a TV show.

zimandtakandgrrandmimi · 10-24-2009, 01:14 PM

would love a chance to alpha roll Cesar Milan.

Imma go sit by MafiaPrincess now.

RonE · 10-24-2009, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marsh Muppet

I'm in Camp 4: agree some/disagree some with what he does, and have no strong feelings about him either way.

Sorry, MM. Check the forum rules:

27: You MUST have strong feelings about Cesar Milan one way or another and be prepared to defend them to the death.

You've been here long enough that you should know that.

TxRider · 10-24-2009, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marsh Muppet

I'm in Camp 4: agree some/disagree some with what he does, and have no strong feelings about him either way.

Ditto... I'm camp 4 as well.

sparkle · 10-24-2009, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marsh Muppet

I'm in Camp 4: agree some/disagree some with what he does, and have no strong feelings about him either way.

I agree with Marsh Muppet and know of many many people who feel this way about this trainer O O P S ...person.

I believe we need to add another catagory which reflects this opinion also.

I am happy that he is showing more incentive based training/conditioning in his processes although I believe that it will not change any opinions of him and that he will always be the man who a majority of dog owners and trainers believe "set training back 20 years" regardless of the many dogs/people he supposedly has saved/rehabbed.

It surely is a topic that has been through the wash a million times over and never seems to dry out. ;-)

pittsabowawa · 10-24-2009, 01:49 PM

I would have to agree with MM also...

I like the fact that his show was the first time I saw pits and other bullys shown as trainable and non viscious killing machines on tv (other shows like animal cops etc show them in both lights).

BUT. I really don't believe in his dominance stuff and being the "ALPHA". To me a dog or dogs being in a family is not a pack. You can own a group of dogs and call it a pack but PEOPLE aren't dogs so they aren't part of the pack. I think your dogs should respect you and know that your the boss but I think it should be done through positive reinforcement.

Kay Weber · 10-24-2009, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Binkalette

I like him. I think he's a great guy that really does have the animals best interests at heart and he does his best to help them. I think that his exercise/discipline/affection ideal applies to most if not all dogs, but his techniques for rehabilitating aggressive dogs should not be used by viewers at home on their own dogs. I don't think you can learn everything by watching a TV show.

I agree - we like him. Lots of little problems can be solved with exercise/discipline/affection.

As far as aggressive dogs go, I'll leave that to the experts!

doggieideas · 10-24-2009, 01:55 PM

I think he has a strong understanding of dog behavior. He's not what I would call a trainer, he is more of a behaviorist. He is able to read a dog's body language and help other humans understand what is going on with the dog. When your trying to fix problems I think it's important to understand what is causing the dog to act that way to correct the behavior. No dog trainer is perfect, I think there is always the opportunity to learn from someone. He's techniques, I agree, are very hard to recreate.

Curbside Prophet · 10-24-2009, 02:59 PM

RonE · 10-24-2009, 03:11 PM

Curb, is that one of those new designer dogs? The aardoodle?

Curbside Prophet · 10-24-2009, 03:13 PM

RonE · 10-24-2009, 03:21 PM

Dude needs a Dremel.

RBark · 10-24-2009, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RonE

Dude needs a Dremel.

No... Industrial grinder..

Shaina · 10-24-2009, 04:19 PM

Camp 5: I have never seen a full episode of his show, and have only seen maybe 20 minutes total of his show...and that in bits and pieces that were hardly coherent.

Yes, I am out of touch with pup culture.

Labsnothers · 10-25-2009, 08:45 PM

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl...MGPHL9D1N1.DTL