Dog Training Myths

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1. 

   A. W. Clark says:

   04/25/2010 at 5:35 PM (UTC -5)

   This video was recommended to me but I was disappointed. It dealt more with the general behavior of dogs rather than ways of training a dog to respond to various commands. A more specific training book was what I had in mind.
   Rating: 1 / 5

2. 

   Ethel May says:

   04/25/2010 at 3:56 PM (UTC -5)

   Cesar Millan at his best. Pure and Simple.
   Rating: 5 / 5

3. 

   Bright Eyes says:

   04/25/2010 at 1:33 PM (UTC -5)

   I was impressed by what he said and pleasantly surprised, too. I don’t get National Geographic channel so I have not seen his show yet. I would have liked to see more interactions with dogs. What I saw was that he had excellent timing and was very sure of what he was looking for from the dog.

   He has it right for the most part. “Calm/Assertive Energy” is hugely important when handling dogs. I like his emphasis on being aware of the type of emotional energy you put forth and how your dog responds to that.

   “Rules, Discipline, and Boundaries” are so necessary. That cannot be emphasized enough.

   I very much like his emphasis on treating the dog as an animal first, then a dog, then a breed, then a name.

   The main point he made that I hope he will be able to get “out there” is that we have to meet their needs as dogs in order to have a “balanced” relationship.

   This requires using leadership (teaching them to wait, walk with you, work for their food) and providing them with DAILY outlets for physical and mental stimulation, not just when we feel like it.

   He has a beautiful family, is a handsome man and he presents himself well.

   One annoying thing was his constant reference to “dog psychology” vs. “human psychology.” This is my personal peeve with him and it’s a minor point other than it makes him seem different and more special than other trainers.

   There is no new information on this DVD but from reading the other reviews I realize I take it for granted that people already know that dogs are not the same species; that dogs’ physical, emotional and social needs must be met; that dogs need guidance as well as affection; and that if the humans are nervous, tentative, rough, or angry, they are not communicating the right message.

   What does this remind you of? And why the constant references to being a “pack?” Doesn’t this describe how a good parent acts? Why not emphasize the relationship as bringing a dog into your human family and home and understanding what it needs as a dog? They have to live in a human world. We don’t dig in the dirt and eat garbage.

   Apparently many people buy into the idea dogs think we are two-legged dogs and they all live in a pack. If the dog behaves, it must be because it knows you’re “alpha.” Whatever floats your boat. It’s kind of silly, really.

   I think it would be better to state that humans err when they place human emotions, intentions and thought processes on dogs to a degree that leads to misunderstandings of a dog’s nature and misbehavior.

   Clearly there is a hierarchy. We control their access to food, water, shelter, reproduction, medical care, access to toys, walks, our attention and affection. We are not competing with them for breeding rights, territory or food. How much more dominant can we really get?

   I am bored by the constant references to the pack, dominance and submission – I think they are unnecessary and confusing to people as I notice that people tend to think of dominance as physical dominance and aggression. I wish he would have stated that the way to show dominance is controlling the dog’s access to food, water, affection. That key point was missed and too much emphasis was placed on getting the dog to “submit.”

   I think the core issue of leadership with dogs is more a matter of giving the dog what it wants CONTINGENT UPON good behavior. Enough with piling on the template of magical thinking around “pack” and “dominance/submission” gobbledygook espoused here.

   I realize putting that layer on everything is way more sexy than saying, “hey, stop with inadvertently rewarding bad behavior” or “hey, dogs need exercise,” or “hey, if you are emotionally out of control your dog will be, too.”

   If you buy this video, know that it is not a how-to. It is a lecture on Cesar’s training philosophy and an expensive commercial for him…not that there’s anything wrong with that.
   Rating: 2 / 5

4. 

   Theodore Gregory says:

   04/25/2010 at 11:46 AM (UTC -5)

   The biggest waste of money. The DVD gave no specifics on how to train a dog. A big come on for future DVD’s.

   I will never purchase another of Millan’s products again.

   My daughter recommended the DVD based on his TV appearence and she was ,also, disappointed.
   Rating: 1 / 5

5. 

   CelticRaven7 says:

   04/25/2010 at 11:29 AM (UTC -5)

   Cesar Milan, the so-called ‘dog whisperer’, bases his training methods on a dog behavior model that is so out of date as to be archaic – from the dinosaur age. He teaches that dogs base all their behavior on their pack status, and that you need to use painful ‘corrections’ to convince them that you are Alpha. This idea hasn’t the slightest shred of evidence going for it.

   Yes, dogs do have dominance roles, but that hasn’t the slightest thing to do with problem behaviors. Dogs do ‘bad’ doggy behaviors because they work. Dog guards his food bowl? Dog wants to keep food and knows that growling keeps you away. Dog pulls on the leash? Dog wants to get somewhere faster and knows that pulling speeds things up. The dog doesn’t care whether or not you’re alpha; he only cares that what he’s doing works to get him what he wants.

   Technically, Cesar’s methods work. But they use force, fear, and pain to teach the dog, when you can teach the same things faster and longer-lasting with the proper positive motivation and non-forceful techniques. Cesar’s methods also tend to create long-term problems, that obviously don’t show up in a half-hour show. I have two hyper, active, highly driven rescued Border Collies, and they’re both very obedient and mannerly. They don’t haul me around on the leash, nor do they leap at guests, nor do they ignore me when I tell them something. I’ve also worked with many other dogs of various breeds, and easily trained them to be mannerly, obedient, even submissive, without the slightest bit of the kinds of ‘correction’ that Cesar endorses. I don’t need to be ‘Alpha’ to get them to behave; neither does anyone else.

   I strongly suggest that you don’t buy this item. Good books to start with are Karen Pryor’s ‘Getting Started: Clicker Training for Dogs’, Melissa Alexander’s ‘Click for Joy!’ (also with a great problem solving section), and Jean Donaldson’s ‘The Culture Clash’. You can easily have a happy, obedient, well behaved dog without causing him fear and pain.
   Rating: 1 / 5