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Cesar Millan has become a household name in the world of dog training and millions of television viewers tune in to his show every week.
Whether they are more impressed with Millan’s undeniable charm and charismatic appearance rather than his apparent correction of any dog’s behavioural problems remains to be seen.
Controversy grows as many professional dog psychologists, trainers, behaviourists and canine experts claim that Millan’s archaic use of choke collars and physical and mental force borders on animal abuse and cruelty.
Cesar Millan was born on August 27th, 1969. A native of Culiacan, in Mexico, he lived on his parent’s farm in Ixpalino. His parents were poor and Millan grew up without television or any of the things that are enjoyed by youngsters today. Millan does not feel that he had a deprived childhood. On the contrary, Cesar Millan thrived in a loving family environment.
His grandfather was a “campesino” (farm worker) who looked after a large herd of cows. Millan says his love of dogs stems from watching them work on the farm, herding cows and guarding the property. He realised that the dogs never needed training, rewards or commands as they worked through natural instinctive behaviour and respected his grandfather as a natural leader.
Millan’s early teachers were the dogs of his childhood as he watched how dogs on other farms behaved. Having no knowledge of canine psychology, Millan saw how his grandfather, just by being quietly assertive and consistent, managed to establish control over all the dogs.
His family moved to the city as his father was given a job as a government photographer. Proud of their first television set, Millan watched avidly shows such as Rin Tin Tin and Lassie which fuelled his desire to become a dog trainer. He began working at a local vet doing menial tasks such as…
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August 19th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
I believe that Cesar is sensational at training and correcting dogs behavour. The professional dog psychologists, trainers, behaviourists and canine experts would have us believe that his methods borders on animal abuse and cruelty. This is not so. A total untruth.
I firmly believe that they are under the impression that Cesar poses a threat to them and their own training methods. They are desperately trying to discredit him simply because his methods work and they are protecting their own interests.
Keep up the great work Cesar, you have changed many a caring dog owners life and made owning a dog a continuing pleasure.
cheers
Shazza
January 3rd, 2009 at 11:01 pm
Cesar is not and does not claim to be a dog trainer. He rehabilitates dogs with behavioral problems. His methods make sense to the dogs and they work. He’s in a league of his own and I’ve learned a lot from watching him.
If I want to learn a training technique, I look to trainers, such as Ian Dunbar. When I want to correct behavioral problems, I look to Cesar.
February 7th, 2009 at 8:38 am
Cesar does the dirty work that many of the academic elite avoid. In short; Cesar SAVES the lives of dogs that many professional trainers would just as easily put down.
February 7th, 2009 at 8:42 am
By the way; it is a “CORRECTION COLLAR” NOT a “CHOKE COLLAR!” It only becomes a choke collar when it is placed on the dog inproperly.
March 4th, 2009 at 7:26 am
Cesar is a idiot! And yes it is a CHOKE COLLAR! I have Trained many dogs in my time, without using agression or choke chains! And i have dealt with my fair share of misbehaved dogs! I Think cesar’s way of teaching is very old fassion, and i am not suprise that stupid americans worship him! Cesar is BAD!
April 6th, 2009 at 11:58 pm
Does watching Dr Phil make the audience also the next Dr Phil, It tooks years of practice and learning that made him Dr PHIL; in the same way You can learn from Ceaser Milan methods how to train your dog and yourself. One might learn their mistake they might be doing while having an animal let that be THE dog or DOGS.
The show not only benefits dogs but also people who have animal and lost the hope of keeping it, or putting it down..
Hope this show continues and show the pet owners the good and bad things they might have to go through by bringing a pet home.
April 13th, 2009 at 6:07 am
“lufferson Says: March 4th, 2009 at 7:26 am - Cesar is a idiot! I have Trained many dogs in my time… - I Think cesar’s way of teaching is very old fassion, and i am not suprise that stupid americans worship him! Cesar is BAD!”
Charly Reply: As far as I know he [Cesar] is on National Geographic Channel so he cannot be an idiot, as you suggested. Perhaps you can also approach N.G show producers, and they may give you a chance to show the world your dog training abilities for all of us to learn.
FYI - Cesar does not claim to be a dog trainer.
Hail Cesar!
April 16th, 2009 at 7:25 am
The reason professional dog trainers, behaviourists and others in the animal industry don’t agree with Millan’s methods is that the methods are old fashioned. Current methods of training, behaviour management and behaviour correction all focus on positive reinforcement. We don’t use punishment any longer (this includes choke chains which still choke a dog even if they are put on correctly) as punishment hurts dogs and destroys the relationship between dog and owner/trainer.
Positive reinforcement allows the dog to learn for itself what it needs to do, rather than being forced into it. Positive reinforcement benefits the relationship between dog and trainer. It is a much gentler method, and while I do not deny that Millan’s methods may get some results, there are kinder, nicer ways to go about getting them.
Where I live, dog trainers do not take the ‘easy way out’ and suggest euthanasia for difficult dogs. The role of dog trainers and dog behaviourists is to provide the owners with a variety of solutions and only use euthanasia as a very very last resort, if nothing can be done for the dog.
I often suggest to my clients when they ask about choke chains for their dogs, to think about how it would feel on them. Would we, as humans, put a choker chain on another human and pull it around, temporarily causing pain and discomfort? I don’t think so. So why do it to our pets?
Many people believe that because Cesar is on television that he must be correct, he must be the best method, and his advice must be taken. Unfortunately, the television companies really are just after profits (I know - I’m in both industries!). Being on television does not necessarily mean he is correct. Modern methods are gentler, and need to be shown to audiences on a wider scale, to give audiences the choice.
April 20th, 2009 at 10:49 pm
fact is Cesar made his career on red zone dogs that all the other “Professional dog trainers” turned down and suggest that those dogs be put down. He helped those dogs become normal behaved dogs. You guys couldnt do anything then so dont say anything now that hes famous.
April 27th, 2009 at 10:58 am
Of course you wouldnt use a choker chain on a human but we are talking about training a dog. A pack animal that needs to know who is boss. It is like a smack on the bum to a child. What an animal I am. I believe in old fashioned values and methods. They work. I used similar methods with my pitbull years ago and had a very well behaved dog. Behave like the pack leader and you get the pack respect. The reason there are so many dog problems is because people have forgotten how animals think and behave. Too self absorbed to learn another animals behaviour then carry on when they cant control or understand their animal.
April 27th, 2009 at 11:22 am
Using a choker is not “aggressive” at all, it releases straight away, its not like you choke them for minutes on end, get a grip..
April 27th, 2009 at 2:50 pm
Well said happydog (claps)
May 5th, 2009 at 7:50 pm
“I often suggest to my clients when they ask about choke chains for their dogs, to think about how it would feel on them. Would we, as humans, put a choker chain on another human and pull it around, temporarily causing pain and discomfort? I don’t think so. So why do it to our pets?”
Are you serious? Yes, I would use it on another person. As long as you stay nearby, you’d never even know it was on. When you stray you get a reminder as it tightens. Try to run away, struggling and fighting, and you’ll choke yourself.
What positive reinforcement do you use to fix a high energy aggressive dog, exactly?
Lots of degrees in the article, and not a single one with enough hands on experience to have a show.
August 20th, 2009 at 5:47 am
I have to say I agree with what Gentle Pups said. I choose not to use harsh aversives with dogs, because it’s my personal requirement that my own dogs, and the dogs I train comply with my wishes with a willing heart, rather than because they are afraid of what might happen if they don’t.
I strongly believe if a training method causes pain, it’s unsuitable. We humans are really good at forcing animals to do things we want to do, by applying force, pain, fear etc.
Choke/check.correction collars work by causing the dog to feel pain when it doesn’t do what you want…..we’re talking baout walking on a loose leash here…there are plenty of mehtods, and also tools that do the same job wihtout pain.
September 7th, 2009 at 8:58 am
I really don’t care what anyone says. I think Cesar is absolutely awesome. I would love to see some of his naysayers try to handle some of the dogs he regularly deals with. Cesar is a beautiful person, and I will always be grateful for everything he has done for people and dogs and for everything I have learned from him.
September 9th, 2009 at 1:32 am
Simply amazed at the stupidity of people…
-Ian Dunbar is a behaviorist because he has a degree in behavior. Millan is a dog walker who picked up a training book, modified Woodhouse’s techniques, called them his own, made up terms like “red zone” and “dog psychology” so people would be impressed (and so he wouldn’t have to be accountable to real dog psychology/behavior programs), and got a TV show because he is charismatic and gets fast (and flashy) results. He’s not a behaviorist because he doesn’t know the first thing about real dog behavior other than those 20 year old books. His instincts about dog behavior make me cringe, he’s been bitten so many times when every dog-scientist go “no, don’t do that…” and rather than calling it something like ‘redirected aggression’ he goes off on a dominant spiel that doesn’t fit with what happened.
-Where I worked, we worked with the aggressive level 1-5 biters (lvl 6 is they killed another dog or human being. This leveling system was invented by Dunbar years ago to judge the danger level of a dog.) According to actual research by veterinarians, the methods used by Millan increase the danger from these dogs. So we didn’t use them. We used behavioral modification techniques invented by Dunbar that we adjusted only slightly to change the behavior from aggressive to non. Unlike Millan, bites were far and in between, and the results went from dogs who he would call “red zone” to them being able to play with other dogs. And we didn’t have to kick, hit, pin, choke, or basically act like we are bullies to do it. We had somewhere in the 90’s long-term success rate, better than Millan’s. If you don’t think or know it’s possible, you don’t know enough about ‘positive training’ to talk about it.
-On the note of the dogs we took in, we took in the dogs to train who had been turned away from people like Millan. Who pushed, and the dogs pushed back. Dogs like wolf-mixes, pit bulls, bulldogs, confirmed biters, dogs who had tried to kill, etc. Dogs who, when you put them on a choke chain and yanked, would bite you. Or bite at the appearance of a choke chain, e-collar, or anything that they thought could be used to hurt them. His “I take in the dog that other trainers say should be put to sleep” line is a LINE being fed to you. Usually the only other trainers they tried were trainers like him, choke chains and dominance, who caused the aggression to increase. Not behaviorists working from scientific foundations to change the behavior.
-Yes, we should act like the pack leader, a REAL pack leader, not Millan’s bullies who you wouldn’t see in a wild-pack. We should be confident, in control of everything, and have a punishment system that shows that first we don’t have to be aggressive to get our way and second reinforces that we are in control. The methods we use should be as little force as necessary, and should be able to be used by the weakest in the family, so that the dog doesn’t do something like try to discipline a child when the ‘leader’ is out of the room in the way the ‘leader’ disciplines him, by pinning the child. We shouldn’t have to ‘discipline’ as a leader more than a few times and usually not past 2 years old, or else it’s not working. You know what they call a pack leader who has to push everyone around, force them to roll over, and constantly show he’s leader? Insecure about his position and a danger to the pack, take him down.
-It doesn’t bother anyone that Millan wants to branch out into Hollywood? You don’t think that maybe he’s using his show as a springboard to get him into movies? And that really the dogs are secondary? Wow.
-It doesn’t bother anyone that he uses choke chains (and often a leash threaded through the handle) in a way that does not allow them to release, so that the dog is being choked, not corrected. Ie, he’s using and advocating using them WRONG.
-It doesn’t bother anyone when he reads bodylanguage so wrong that everyone who’s worked with dogs and the science of body language just gape in disbelief that he could think that an erection is a sign of dominance when the dog is laying down? (The choking before the erection more than likely caused it, and I’ve seen many dogs pull their sheath back to expose themselves when they are nervous in an attempt to show that they are exposing their most vulnerable spot… it’s like the ultimate alpha roll/belly-up position.)
Amazing how people are so snowballed. If someone is on TV, that doesn’t make him an expert. It means that he has an engaging personality. An expert is not someone who spends all his time around dogs and flailing in the water, it’s someone who’s been trained to swim and then adjusts things to make more effective strokes. You won’t find an Olympic Athelete who never went to a swimming class, even if they have the best instincts in the world for swimming. Basically you’re saying you’d go to Octomom for child problem advice before you’d listen to a child psychologist. It’s amazing.
September 21st, 2009 at 3:06 pm
I have never joined in a blog before in my life but have been compelled to do so after reading this article and some of the comments. I am a small woman and I own 2 large gun dogs who, left to their own devices, would drag me everywhere and to start with did! I started watching Caesar Millan after coming across the show by accident one night. Needless to say, my dogs are not aggressive in any way but, yes, have some behaviours that I would rather they didn’t (pulling when excited, selective hearing etc), however nothing that is that dramatic.
I have to say, I have never seen anything on the dog whisper show that suggests Caesar Millan is agressive or cruel towards dogs. He seems patient and calm when most of the dogs’s owners would be frustrated and shouting - surely this must be a good thing to show that you have hold your dog’s attention without screaming at them in anger and frustration as I so often witness at the obedience and agility classes/competitions I also take my dogs to.
Next, I have never seem Caesar say that you SHOULD use a choke chain. what he normally says is that he will use whatever the owner is already using (unless he introduces the double collar and there is no choke there, it is more a modified halti).
I think that while, yes parts of the training in the programme are not right for everyone to use, there is always something in every programme that someone can use to better the relationship between themselves and their dog. I also think that as responsible adults, it is up to us to know what they are. I find that someone who can be calm, patient, assertive and create behavour by expecting it and not throwing in the towle the minute they do not yet it a strong lesson for us all.
September 29th, 2009 at 9:32 am
I’m so tired of these Dog Expert Elitists. I totally agree with what Tari says. Cesar Millan has never claimed to be a Dog Trainer. If anything, I believe that his philosophies only enhance dog training (and probably vice versa as well!) and it sure does help. I’ll restrain myself from going on an angry rant now. Blaaaauuugggghhh~~
January 28th, 2010 at 2:08 am
I love him, his attitude his training and love for dogs and animals. My Pittbull mix wore a training collarout on walks his entire life. He was ‘dog aggressive’ and I could not take the chance of him hurting another animal. So for all you Haters there are more of us LOVERS out there!! Go Mr. Millan~
February 13th, 2010 at 12:29 am
Well. I’ve watched Cesar’s show a several times. I have not seen him hurting a dog, and most important what he does seem to work.
February 20th, 2010 at 12:38 am
It’s simply amazing that almost all the people commenting here and the main article itself completely misses the point of Cesar Millan’s ‘message’.
He advocates intuitive reading of a dogs energy as well as the less subtle form, body language. This can also be applied to relationship with anything including other humans.
It’s that non-intellectualisation, the understanding of the power of the now, the moment, and living in it, that understanding on different, more refined level, that that if you don’t understand you won’t ‘get’ Cesar Millan and will only see choke collars.
I wholeheartedly agree with the with Shazza that this article is based on self-interest of the ‘dog training’ fraternity who’s approach is based on obedience rather than mutual respect and understanding are now looking completely outmoded.
Also whether somebody has a ‘degree’ or not is irrelavent - or perhaps even a disadvantage. If somebody has qualifications and degrees it means they have studied in a classroom and been taught second-hand ‘knowledge’. Give me somebody self-taught through their own experience every time.
March 8th, 2010 at 6:42 pm
I don’t think it’s fair to say that “Millan’s approach to dog training has not…….sprung from his own natural rapport with dogs but has been well documented by canine experts in the past”
Are you saying Millan has actually copied other behaviourists? I hope not, because he certainly did grow up with dogs and from what I’ve seen, certainly has a natural rapport with them. Why wouldn’t he have come to the same conclusions as other dog behaviourists? Can it not just be that different people AGREE on the subject? I haven’t heard that he claims his methods to be new or radical in anyway - all he’s doing is trying to show people how dogs think and behave which frankly, after living alongside dogs for thousands of years, most humans really should have some grasp of by now.
I agree that there is a danger that people are going to misuse his methods. The Alpha Roll is hugely misunderstood and, in my own experience hugely misused. It is in fact a move only to be used in ‘red zone’ cases and therefore, very obviously should only be performed in exceptional circumstances by professional behaviourists.
I am a behaviourist - such as one can be since there is no actual qualification that allows someone to formally describe themselves one, but do work as one and have completed courses to the affect with Lincoln University and The Canine Behaviour Centre. I agree with the basics of Caesar’s methods because simply, the man knows dogs. Sadly, the vast majority of people I meet do not. There is no doubt that his methods have worked where all others have failed and I don’t think he’s ever claimed that he has a 100% success rate.
I think it’s also obvious that his methods have to be adjusted for individual circumstances/dogs. It is stated clearly in the program not to try his techniques without consulting a professional dog trainer. This isn’t just an idle disclaimer, it’s serious. People will ALWAYS take good things and muck them up, does that mean Caesar Millan’s methods should never have been made public?
Please also be aware I don’t find Caesar Millan remotely charming, in fact I find his constant toothy smile fairly irritating, but I respect his methods. The only criticism I agree with is that by making a TV programme it opens his methods up to abuse; no reason not to have made the programme. And if it pulls in a zillion viewers and makes him and the TV company rich and famous, well good for them.
Chalice
March 8th, 2010 at 6:48 pm
And regarding choke chainsn (or whatever else you want to call them) - when my clients enquire about them, I simply tell them that there is little point relying on such tools to stop a dog pulling because (as I’ve seen myself) a dog who really wants to pull will do so even if he’s going blue or bleeding. Choke chains and the like are merely a tool and no subsitute for, and no use without, proper training. I believe this is something that Caesar Millan tries to get across.
March 8th, 2010 at 9:22 pm
I am so fascinated by the comments related to Cesar, his methods and his television show. I am a huge fan so obviously my comments will reflect that.
However, my admiration for his teachings does not come without my own positive experiences with my own dog. My Westie has shown significant behavioural improvements by using Cesar’s philosophy…and none of the change in my dog behaviour management has involved ‘beating or choking my dog’. Where does this feeling that beating a dog is a part of Cesar’s philosophy? I have read all of Cesar’s books and his main focus is “Exercise, Discipline, then Affection”…I don’t remember dog beating to be any part of this threesome. Who can dispute that exercise and discipline (setting rules, boundaries and limitations, as Cesar puts it) would not be benefical to a dog?
And I am flabbergasted that there is a notion that because Cesar is on television that there will be an increase in animal abuse…again, I feel Cesar’s techniques help you manage the bad behaviour so that the owner doesn’t get so frustrated that perhaps abuse may be a result of frustration. Cesar’s teachings talk about having calm assertive energy (do not get mad, do not get frustrated)..how can this be interpreted as being aggressive toward your dog?
And the idea that really it is the human that is being trained…and the dog rehabilitated…it rings true to me. It makes sense. Pick a dog that has less energy than you and your family so the fit is right.
Makes perfect sense to me…I’m sticking with Cesar.
May 1st, 2010 at 3:57 am
First, there is not one solution to have problem…so get off your high horses…those of science who claim the best solution are poor scientists.
Secondly, when I read all these “hater” comments everyone talks about dog behavior but 51% of his show is about training people to pick up on animal cues to the interpret the animal.
July 9th, 2010 at 11:41 pm
I, for one, wholy agree with the way Cesar Millan does things. It’s firm, but it’s not abusive. Dogs are like soldiers, and Cesar is all about teaching how to give proper orders to your soldier, because who wants a rogue soldier without proper orders…? You need to be the sargeant and take the reins, otherwise your dog will start thinking that, since you’re not acting like a leader, that he needs to be one and the stress will just cripple him and cause all sorts of behavioural problems.
I mean, let’s face it.
There will ALWAYS be haters. Always. This is due to the simple fact that you can’t please everyone no matter how hard you try. Humans are despicable in that sense. There will always be jealousy, like the kind of jealousy you find from people who studied years in dog psychology only to be overshadowed by an illegal immigrant who got a lucky break and how has a widely popular show.
Let’s face it, even though he didn’t study, Cesar knows what he’s doing because he’s been around dogs all of his life, he knows how they react and he can read them on a whole different level than someone who sat in classroom reading dog books can.
Cesar enjoys what he does. That’s all there is to it. Haters, keep on hating. Meanwhile Cesar will completely ignore everything about you, down to your miserable existence, and continue to do what he loves, which is to help dogs live a happier life.
July 26th, 2010 at 4:50 am
whether dogs could read? nice