Cesar Milan: Not Positive Dog Training
Jun 25th, 2008 | By Rosana Hart | Category: DVDs, Dog TrainingRecently I was at a party, chatting with a man who mentioned that he is a fan of Cesar Milan. I couldn’t help but make a slight face. “Don’t you like his show?” the fellow asked. I said that I don’t watch it but that I had seen several episodes and I didn’t care for his approach. “What’s not to like?” demanded my acquaintance. I said I did like how Cesar Milan emphasized the need for exercise, and let it go at that.
Another time recently, I was talking with a couple who said they watch the program regularly. They know I have a dog training website, but they didn’t ask my opinion so I kept quiet.
But I don’t want to keep quiet any longer. I am really in a different place than Milan and it’s worth saying why.
I think it’s beneficial that Milan has increased interest in dog training, but a lot of his techniques are not what this website is about. They are not positive or pain-free dog training methods, and that is what I think this world needs. Milan makes dogs afraid of him if that is what it takes to have them obey his will. I would never hang a dog by his neck. While I used choke chains in the past, I have not in some years now.
The belief that you have to be dominant over your dogs in the pack you form is part of the problem. I have read in various places that this is based on bad science. I think that is likely true, but what I do know is that clicker training is based on how animals — not just dogs — learn most effectively. So I will stick with positive, pain-free dog training.
I was very pleased to see that there is a new two-DVD set at Dogwise, with Dr. Ian Dunbar and Jean Donaldson, two of the dog trainers/writers/public speakers I respect most. It’s a bit pricey but I’ve put it on my wish list, to learn more about dominance theories and how true they are. This is pertinent not only to Milan but to the work of many other dog trainers.
The DVD set is titled Fighting Dominance in a Dog Whispering World, and it is about four hours, from a seminar given in the summer of 2007.
Here is part of the blurb at Dogwise:
Watch Jean Donaldson and Ian Dunbar take on the controversial and often misunderstood concept of dominance behavior in dogs. Do dogs really try to be “the boss”? Learn what science knows, and doesn’t know, about canine behavior. A timely subject given the popularity of television shows featuring dogs behaving badly and trainers rehabilitating them–all within an hour!
Often, viewers are told that the problem is that their dog is trying to be “dominant” and that the owner simply needs to assert him/herself as the “leader of the pack”. While this may make for compelling TV, dominance in dogs has not been subject to much scientific research… In this new DVD, leading canine authorities Jean Donaldson and Ian Dunbar take on this sometimes-controversial subject.
Click on the image or the title to go to the Dogwise page and read more. There is a very interesting short online video clip you can watch, where Jean Donaldson is talking about what really constitutes a wolf “pack.” I’d way rather watch Fighting Dominance in a Dog Whispering World than get all upset by watching Milan’s methods.
Dear Rosanna
My 6-year old Greek shepherd was not trained as a puppy. He is stronger than I am (weighs 110 lb). He abruptly lunges at every dog he sees and has pulled me down causing serious knee injury and has dislocated (!) my son’s shoulder. I am glad that after recent training by a Milan disciple and using a choker collar he “heels” and our walks have ceased to be dangerous battles. Its an unspeakable relief.
Of course I would prefer more humane methods, but is it possible to achieve control otherwise at this age? I am hanging on your words!
Thank you, Dolores
Dolores, I am sure it is a great relief. I’ve seen too many unmanageable dogs pulling their owners around, and I certainly appreciate that you feel better. I trained my first dogs back in the day when choke collars were the norm, and I used them with several dogs before positive dog training came along.
You ask if it is possible to achieve control via more humane methods with a large, strong six-year-old dog who has developed some bad habits, currently being managed with a choke collar…
I would say yes, IF…
IF you find and pay a good dog trainer skilled in using positive methods. Check references, and plan on paying for a series of sessions.
IF you and your family members follow through on what the trainer advises.
It will take both time and money, but I think the potential at the end is a dog who cooperates with you much more willingly.
Alternatively, if you are one of those people who can learn things on your own from DVDs and follow through on what you learn, that might work too.
Other readers, what do you think?
Best wishes to you, your dog, and your son!
Rosana
A reader posted another comment in this series which I was afraid to approve because I don’t know whether the trainer she went to in Canada would be as harsh with people as he is with dogs. Sorry, I really don’t feel able to give his name or other details. The reader commented, “This man must be stopped, ” and I am not able to take part in a such a crusade on this blog, however worthy it may be.
I will say that trainers with attitudes opposite to mine do exist all over the world. Before you hire a trainer or take a workshop from one, CHECK REFERENCES! Ask questions. Choose carefully.
Hi Rosana.
I have to say I am a fan of positive training and am learning a lot about clicker training right now to ensure a proper “crossover” to positive training methods. I also am a fan of Cesar Milan’s, but not for the reasons many others state. I do not think “bad” behaviours are dominance based and I do not agree with physical corrections (especially the “alpha roll”) as I believe they are truly not necessary.
If anyone should take anything from Cesar’s show and books it is that fulfilling your dog’s needs is the utmost of importance. Exercise, discipline and affection. Calm assertive energy. Never reacting to your pet out of anger or fear.
The other “techniques” he uses, and his dominance hierarchy jargon are just plain wrong. I occasionally see a happy dog at the end of his segments, but often the result is a dog that is “shut down” and we all know that a shut down dog eventually regresses to the previous behaviours and that often these behaviours have escalated in severity.
I have seen him rely on positive reinforcement techniques, and it is becoming more frequent…maybe he is a crossover trainer in development?? Unfortunately the damage is done for many that are fans of his show. I hear all the time about “dominance”, and have seen people totally misinterpret their dog’s language because of it.
Looking for a trainer is as easy as checking the APDT website or, here in Canada the CPDT to find a positive based trainer. Speak to your vet. Talk to the trainer, watch him/her in action before commiting to any one class or session. Use your instincts, know your dog and don’t believe everything you hear. There is a wealth of good information out there when you take the time to look. We owe it to our four footed friends, who rely on us for EVERYTHING to only choose positive methods for helping them to deal with the human world.
Thanks for the great site…I will be back!
Maggi, thanks so much for your comments. They provide an excellent addition to my own. DO come back!
Rosana
Have you watched Victoria Stillwell… It’s Me or the Dog? Now her I LOVE. All positives, and the creative ways she comes up to train dogs is amazing.
I don’t like Cesar either and I have a post about him buried somewhere on my blog, too. It is good that he advocates exercise… LOL. But so does Victoria. I highly recommend her shows. And would love to boycot Cesar!
As for pulling… get a Halti or Gentle Leader!
oh and I love Jean Donaldson and Ian Dunbar! Culture Clash is my favorite dog book ever. :)
Haven’t seen her, Cynthia, but will keep an eye out. I agree about the pulling, have a Gentle Leader on order for our Rottie after my husband said it wasn’t fun keeping her out of the trash when he takes her walking in the neighborhood.
Does anyone have any advice on what to do if you can not find a certified trainer in your area? I went to the APDT and there are none even close to me. I live in a small town and my two dachshunds are running the house and it is out of control! I was going to buy some of Cesars dvd training courses until I did more research…does anyone have some other home based dvd training they could recommend?
Lisa, I have been in same situation as you. I love learning from DVDs and also from books.
I reveiewed a really nice general dog training video at this page:
http://www.training-dogs.com/blog/train-your-dog-dvd.html
… and if for some reason, that one doesn’t grab you, click through on the Dogwise link and see what else they have. Seems to me that they screen what they carry quite well.
Also, there may be dog trainers in your area who are not certified but with whom you could work if they are pretty much on the same page as you regarding training methods.
Best wishes!
I find it odd that so many “dog trainers” criticize Caesar about his methods. If you took the time to watch his show or read his books you may change your mind. Cesar is the last hope for some of the dogs he works with. His methods are based in pack theory. This takes into account the dogs instinctual behaviors and drives. For some of the dogs, if Caesar can’t help them they have no other hope.
All to many “dog trainers” today are not equipped with the knowledge and skill to deal with aggressive dogs. I have countless clients that have failed other training programs or not allowed because their dog is aggressive. I suggest that unless you can solve the problems that Caesar, me and other dog trainers who deal with aggression successfully, you keep you re-think your dislike. There is sometime more than one way to make a dog successful in training. A good trainer knows more than just the one way.
Clearly I don’t agree with Rod’s comments just above here, and find it annoying that he says “if you took the time to watch his show” when my article above indicates I did watch some of them. I also wasn’t too thrilled with his putting the term dog trainers in quotes as a way of denigrating them.
But I approved his comment to be listed here because I do agree that dealing with aggressive dogs is a tremendous challenge and one that in many situations a trainer may not be successful. I do agree too with his final comment that a good trainer knows more than just one way.