Dog Whisperer

[JLC]

So I guess I really have no right saying I don't like him....because I am at fault for not training my dogs enough.

LOL...that's kind of like saying you have no right to be critical of abusive parents because your own kids can be bratty sometimes. Not that I put Caesar on the same playing field with abusive parents...but the logic is about the same, I think.

Dogs will be dogs, for sure, unless you break their spirits. Some are just more energetic and imaginative than others. It sounds to me like your dogs are better trained than the majority of dogs in this country...certainly looks that way if you go by all the dog-training shows on Animal Planet.

[snakey68]

I dont think you will get a definitive answer where Cesar is concerned as people will always be divided on whats best for a dog or any animal for that matter.

What I will say is he is obviously passionate about what he does and truly believes what he does is best for him and the dogs he works with.

I find myself raising the odd eyebrow when he is doing his thing but being a dog owner for most of my life I see alot of stuff that makes a lot of sense on his show as well. He has a very good understanding of dog behavior for sure and personally I wish more people did train or look after their dogs properly.

It amazes me when you see a dog on a lead pulling like crazy outside and the owner just falls behind trying to hold on , or dogs going crazy at a window when you walk by.

My biggest annoyance here in the uk I dont know what it is like anywhere else but alot of the people round my way just let their dogs crap all over the place on paths and roads and don't clean up after them.

As far as Cesar goes I would rather people who own dogs follow his principles than none at all but I truly think that you should find the least invasive softest way of working your dog rather than the constant dominant nature that cesar professes is best for every dog.

I do see the logic behind the pack leader mentality as they are pack animals but they are very domesticated over hundreds of years as well and are not completely in tune with their ancestory IMO anyway as far as behavior goes.

You can dissagree with his methods for sure its everyones right but I think overall the fact that he is so popular and raising dog awareness and debate about it is a good thing and he should be commended for that at the least.

He is coming near my town here in Scotland in March 2010 but he was sold out everywhere before I could even get a sniff at a ticket.

[WesleyTF]

I disagree with a large portion of his methods. I think a lot of the behaviors he uses are NOT the way to the top of the pack--his methods mimic those of a beta wolf, not an alpha. Alphas tend to rule by ignoring, not by direct aggression. Besides, the life we want our pets to lead is not parallel to one of actual wild animals. His techniques are band-aids, not true solutions. They are based in anecdotal experience and I think there are much more effective ways for most dogs to be trained.

Someone mentioned patricia McConnell--she's a trainer that I can really get behind. We used her techniques with our two alaskan klee kai and people cannot believe how well trained they are--NO barking--our neighbors think we drug them--and that's from a breed known for being loud. There is no way they do not know who is in charge... You can be firm without imposing physical methods in training.