THE DOG Whisperer...what are your feelings on him??

[Hutchebs]

Find him entertaining, and at times in our dog lives(labradors before pug) we have tried his methods. I think the same goes for dogs and kids... you do what works for your family. If I took Gordie on three walks a day he would collapse into a napping coma! :) He is such a well behaved little guy and always has been, minus some poop eating in his younger years. We have not had to do a lot of "training" with him because he is just an easy going boy. So we do what works for us... which is lots of love and hugs and kisses and we still get a well behaved young man :)

[Hellas]

I dislike (that's putting it mildly) Milan's focus on dominance-based and negative training. Pack theory has now been debunked. I feel strongly that good training is built on mutual trust, routine and positive reinforcement. And "At the End of My Leash" .... well ..... @#!&. At last summer's Woofstock in Toronto, Pattison was yelling at passers-by, including some pug owners, about the idiocy of using harnesses instead of collars - WTF?????!!!

I agree with every word of this. There is no scientific basis for his teachings what so ever. In fact, a lot of what he says is patently untrue. His focus on a collar and leash is idiotic. It's perfectly possible to train a dog without it. It's inhumane to use the collar high up on the neck as he recommends. It causes pain and anxiety.

I think pugs are easily trained. I use clicker training and other positive methods and my dogs love our training sessions. They're not perfect dogs and we don't need them to be, but they come when called and know 'heel', 'sit', 'lie down', 'stay' and 'no'. We plan to start working towards obedience competitions in the near future.

One thing that I do agree with Cesar on is the need to excersise and mentally challenge your dog. Personally, I would say that pugs are not lazy but they do get bored. If your walk consists of the same trip around the block, it's not surprising if the pug doesn't want to do it. Mine don't either. But if we set them free on the beach, they have boundless energy. It can also be that he/she doesn't enjoy walking on the leash. I know a couple of pugs like that, one of them my own male. I have two pugs of 1,5 years respectively, and we take at least one long walk (1-1,5 hours) in the woods or on the beach per day. During that walk they are off the leash and run and play constantly. After resting a couple of hours, they can easily go to dog agility class or to play with their doggie friends.

We try to make the walks as interesting as possible by giving the dogs challenges, like jumping up on rocks, balancing on stuff, doing tricks, searching for treats that we throw on the ground etc. They love it and it's a great way to let your pug be a dog.

[*Leenie*]

Ugh cant stand him. Every time that moron "fixes" a dog aggressive dog, there is ALWAYS a dog fight and one dog always gets hurt. One time one dog got half her lip torn off by one of his dogs. Ive worked with and helped train DA pit bulls for years as well as my own lab Emma who is hotter then any fighting dog ive encountered. After 16 months of hard dedicated training she can be walked in public and within 2 feet of a dog without reacting. And I sure as heck didnt throw her in a yard full of 25+ dogs so a massive fight could break out.

[*Leenie*]

i admire his championship of the pit bull and i think that he has a way with certain breeds, but his methods in the wrong hands (and most of them are) are a disaster.

I also hate dominance-based training and that damned alpha roll. Too many people are idiots and can't incorporate his methods with any degree of competence or effectiveness.

Without naming his name, victoria stilwell told me exactly what she thinks of this type of training method. And yes, i name-dropped there.

i love her!!!

[tall grass pugs]

I don't think his methods are relevant to pugs, especially the alpha roll. And until the dogs can open their own cans of food or wash up the dishes, I remain the authority figure---pack behavior is not tolerated.I prefer to think of my people as family or as a group. I think we have animals as house pets because we love them, so positive reinforcement seems right and comfortable. By the way, Milan does do work helping animals in border town shelters and from the get go was verbal about helping pits resolve issues rather than be discarded. I have seen him swap a gentle mixed breed in need of a home to a woman who had a pit she couldn't manage under any circumstances and that made sense to me.

[Hellas]

I agree that Milan does some good work. He does really love dogs and his advocacy of dogs needing excercise is so needed and important. However, as I said, I really don't agree with many of his methods. Using your own energy to influence the dog absolutely works and is very important. So I agree with him there. But the collar high up on the neck, provoking mistakes to enable "a correction". That's not my thing at all.

When I first got Winston, I was a rookie dog owner. I had taken care of other people's dogs my whole life, but had never had to actually TRAIN one. Naively, I read Milan's book and diligently used the alpha roll. Thankfully, we only did so a couple of times, since we quickly realised it wasn't working. Much later, a certified dog trainer and dog behavioural specalist told me that the alpha roll, in dog language means "I'm going to kill you". Literally. Imagine saying that to your trusting, playful puppy. I can only thank my stars that Winston was such a spunky, self confident little guy. An insecure puppy might have been truly harmed by that sort of treatment. It makes me shudder that I did that to him.

[CountryPug]

I used to watch him a lot and even tried some of his methods on Roxy. The tsst and touch on the neck thing got her attention all right....by provoking her and making her more aggressive. I did a lot of reading and have decided there are much better methods than his. His methods might be good for super aggressive dogs or maybe not!

I do like to watch for entertainment value, but I personally would not let him touch my pugs with a ten foot pole...and I have to wonder what happened with his marriage.....did he alpha roll her one too many times or perhaps use the dreaded tsst technique on her LOL

[puglover22]

I am not impressed.....and dare I speak for others, I'd say most on this forum aren't nuts about him either

[Uggapugg]

I hope it's ok that I post a video link on here......

Cesar Millan Kicking Dogs - YouTube

I don't watch the show, but I've watched some of his videos on you tube. I have a hard time believing in some of his techniques. I don't think there is a reason to kick a dog in the sensitive parts.....ever.

[Pugpillow]

i have to wonder what happened with his marriage.....did he alpha roll her one too many times or perhaps use the dreaded tsst technique on her lol

lol