[Lara's mom]

That is what I wanted to say and just couldn't find the appropriate words! He is very impersonal and I always feel that when I watch his show, I'm watching a drill Sargent with new recruits! I don't see the dogs enjoying the training at all and training should be fun for both the pet parent and the pet!

As for shelter animals, there is no doubt that a few have just been too badly damaged by cruelty and neglect to ever be rehabilitated. However, they are the minority. Most of them are wonderful loving dogs just waiting for someone to come along and give them the love and care that they so rightfully deserve. All they need is a second chance in a home full of love and they blossom into the amazing dogs they were always meant to be!

[Piti Longstalking]

Originally Posted by sandyh

cesar millan is dog psychology not behavior training.

Cesar is a self proclaimed dog psychologist. He doesn't use the science on his show. He's actually an outdated dominance theorist.

and every thing he says makes sense.

Very little of what he says makes sense to me, as dominance theory is highly flawed to begin with.

[sandyh]

Originally Posted by Lara's mom

Another thing I don't agree with Mr. Milan about is the issue of dogs being allowed to sleep on the owners bed or share the furniture. I just don't see how the three of us sleeping together (four if you count the cat) in any way causes them to be dominant. .

________________________________________

Sorry i shortened up your quote to save room.

Its not dominate as long as you tell them to come up

I saw several shows were he addressed the dogs being on couches or in the beds all of which the owners did not like them jumping up uninvited or growling at them when they would try and remove them. Thus the dog being dominate. He showed them how to have the owner in control of the dog and if the owner wanted the dog in the bed or up on the couch the owner could call the dog up to sleep or cuddle or whatever, but when the owner wanted them off the bed or couch he just had to give the command and the dog would submit without question. not where they would tell it to get down over and over and over again It had nothing to do with not letting your dog sleep with you. He even made a seperate bed the same height as the persons bed with blankets because the dog was a bed hog and insisted on taking up the whole bed in between the partners. the dog loved it.Have you seen his home? He has cages and animals running all over the place and he sleeps with his dog and cat. I myself sleep with two dogs and 3 cats on my bed but when i tell them to get down they get down right away. They conform around my body not the other way around.

[sandyh]

Originally Posted by Lara's mom

I just visited his official website to have a look around and I was not at all impressed to discover that Milan discourages people from adopting from shelters and rescue organizations. In my book, that is one HUGE insurmountable black mark against him!!! To my way of thinking, no dog lover would take this point of view. I cannot have ANY respect for someone who claims to love dogs but who would advocate such a thing.

____________________________________
Wow i spent the last hour and a half going through every link that he had on his web page and did not come up with anything that says he discourages people from adopting from shelters and rescues. However I did find this:

The Foundation's primary goal is to provide financial support and rehabilitation expertise to shelters throughout the United States, better enabling them to maintain the highest standards of care and assistance to animals under their protection.

Specifically, the Cesar and Ilusion Millan Foundation will offer financial support and expertise to:
Assist select non-profit dog rescue shelters and organizations engaged in the rescuing, rehabilitation, and placement of abused and abandoned dogs with funding and expertise.
Support no-kill shelters and other organizations committed to saving dogs from euthanasia, as well as relocating misplaced and/or misunderstood animals
Provide Cesar Millan books, DVDs, and other aids at no charge to shelters and rescue groups for both fundraising and educational purposes.
Create and support regional and national projects targeting education and awareness of proper dog behavior and care; separate outreach will be conducted for both adults and children.
Produce and create national public service announcements to create and foster awareness of important animal-related issues including spay and neuter programs.

The Foundation, which has long been a dream of ours, is intended to benefit needy dog shelters and rescue centers throughout the United States. Our many years of experience in the rehabilitation of dogs of every breed and background has taught us that most animals can make excellent companions, and all that many of them need is the proper care and a second chance. Too often it is the owner who has given up on a pet, or mistreated it in some way that has made it inhospitable."
These centers work diligently to rehabilitate dogs and find them good homes rather than exterminate them, a resort we think is never acceptable.Some of these shelters are woefully under funded, though their hearts are in the right place. We hope to provide assistance to the best of them whenever and wherever we can, so that these great animals will continue to make great companions."

- Cesar and Ilusion Millan
_I sure would like to know where you found your info from

[sandyh]

Originally Posted by Piti Longstalking

Cesar is a self proclaimed dog psychologist. He doesn't use the science on his show. He's actually an outdated dominance theorist.


Very little of what he says makes sense to me, as dominance theory is highly flawed to begin with.

Do you have anything to back up your remarks here. i dont just believe everything i read

[Piti Longstalking]

Originally Posted by sandyh

Do you have anything to back up your remarks here. i dont just believe everything i read

Enjoy.

Dog Whisperer, Dog Psychology and Cesar Millan

The Dominance Controversy and Cesar Millan

http://www.4pawsu.com/dominancestatement.pdf

Cesar Millan - The Dog Whisperer: Critics Answers

[Lara's mom]

Thank you for the research. I read it all and I must say I agree with all of the criticism. Milan comes across to me as nothing more than a big bully with an ego to match. He wouldn't get anywhere near my girls if he was the last dog trainer on earth!

[Piti Longstalking]

I would probably stop short of calling him a bully. I've never met the man, so I would not generalize him in those terms. No doubt, much of his logic used on the show is archaic, backwards, and potentially harmful to dogs - in spite of the warnings. And, no matter how much they say not to, people will try his methods at home. But, not all of his message is bad. Exercise (in moderation) is a good thing for dogs, for example. It's the choice of ethics on the rest I find disturbing, not Cesar.

[Lunareclipse]

I watched one of Milan's shows once and he training a German Shepherd and he didn't even know what kind os dog it was. He had to ask the owners. It's easier to train a dog if your know what each breed's ups and downs are. You would think he would, as a dog trainer, read up on most breeds background and train them according to what they were bred for. Some things are the same same for training different breeds, and some things are different. If he can't recognize a German Shepherd when he sees it, then there is no way he can train that animal up to it's full potential.

[Lara's mom]

I use the word "bully" to describe him from watching his shows and seeing him try his dominance theory with various dogs. What I saw were dogs who looked frightened and very uncomfortable. I don't believe that frightening a dog in any way assists with his/her training. Mr. Milan's methods are outdated and for some reason, he refuses to advance with the new and better theories.