What other methods have you researched? Have you tried a training class or behaviourist? I am sad that you have taken a TV celebrity`s presentation as a bible for your way of treating your dog. The programme is heavily edited, the dogs are only shown when appearing to respond to his methods, and no follow-ups are shown. Try watching the behaviour of the dogs with the sound off, and watch the submission signals they are desperately giving out.

As I think I mentioned, I have used the method successfully i.e my dog is cured there is no need to consult a "behaviorist". I find this reply somewhat patronising if not a little vitriolic. There is no need to be sad, I have had dogs all my life and know how to treat them, they are very happy balanced dogs and I am very glad that I saw the program concerning obsessions as it has helped one of my dogs.

I have tried Cesar's methods on many little situations that have occurred with my six Chis I currently own. I have found his methods and advice invaluable. A couple of my Chis wouldn't walk. Wanted carrying all the time. I tried his 'positive' thinking and was amazed at how it worked. Instead of walking along, basically asking the dogs to walk, beckoning them on their way, I now just hold the lead short, head up high and off we go. Admittedly, one of the Chis is still a little apprehensive but I don't make her walk far as she is so tiny but the other one that was a nightmare walker, is now a little rambler, trotting off on her merry way

I've yet to control the barking when a stranger knocks at the door but, as I live in a detached house, next to a field, perhaps it's not such a bad thing They may not be big enough to "attack" a burglar but they would give him a severe migraine

Hi All,

I agree with some of the theories that Cesar Millan uses, such as being calm yourslef in order for a dog to feel calm etc; but his approach is a little difficult to swallow.

As far as collars are concerned, both Zane and Ellie wear a flat colar as standard (with their ID tags on). I use a halti mostly for Zane but also for a short time for Ellie when they needed to be controlled on lead and they were pulling like express trains. The y didn't mind them at all, but I introduced themslowly.

I have also use a half-check with Zane and sits quite loosely arounf his neck neat his collar; certainly not high up on the neck. Whenever he pulled I would just stop. I dind't need to jerk or yank the lead or collar because the half check tightened anyway when he pulled. it took all of about 4 minutes for him to suss it out.

Now I use a slip lead with both zane and Ellie. I don't use any devide to keep the lead sitting high on the neck an dalthough I'm starting train Zane to competition standard, I will nevcer allow anything that high up on their neck.

The slip leads tighten up when they pull (which is quite rare now) but it give me a little extra control when I need it. it's also quite soft on the hands and easy to hold onto when they do pull.

having a disability as a result fo a dodgy knee, I have to be careful so that if they (particularly Zane) pull unexpectedly, my kneecap doens't dislocate. it;'s so weak that even a little bit of force can result in me spending a day or two in hospital.

I don't use force with my dogs but I absolutely HAVE to have a high level of control. The leads and collars I use ONLY tighten up when the dogs pull me; not because I have pulled them.

It's taken a lot longer than i thought it would to achieve this, but I'd rather take it slowly and get the results I want without upsetting or hurting my dogs. After all, I hope they live a very long time. If it takes the rest of their lives to train them, then so be it. So long as they're happy, pain/discomfort free, enjoy their walks/exercise and are disciplined & know the boundaries - that's all I can ask for. I just want them both to be who they are; not what they can turn into if they are restricted too much.

Someone mentioned calm and submissive. At the moment bothe of them are clam submissive as they're both aslep on their backs with their legs in the air. If when they're awake they are calm and submissive, I knwo they are ill. Zane is 12 months old and Ellie is 8 months old. Young dogs and puppies should NEVER be calm!

Laura xx

Okay, I can't stand all these people here bashing Cesar Milan for whatever reason they just dislike the man. What he does is help out a lot of people who without him would be lost and in the end would give up there dogs to a shelter. I think what he does is excellent. He is not cruel as many on this site would say. He doesn't abuse these dogs as many would like to think, maybe in these "Cesar Milan hater's" mind they are looking for some reason not to like him. Is it because he's successful, or American, or has his own TV show, maybe they hate him because he's better looking than they are? I don't know but for those who think he's a bad trainer or a cruel person and dislike him, you need to look at yourself and see that maybe what you do or how you train is cruel and mean. Maybe since you are so smart and so much better than him, you too! could have a successful TV show, oh, guess what? You don't. Get over it. Everyone has their own methods. Apparently the people he helps have used methods that didn't work for them, his methods did. His collar that he developed is not cruel or aggressive or hurting the dog in any way. It simply redirects the focus of the dog's attention away from where it shouldn't be. So everyone that hates the way he trains dogs should just get over themselves and their self righteous and pious attitudes and get a life.

Having watched the dog whisperer I was amazed that so many dog owners in America, who obviously cared about their dogs, didn't know that the dogs need to be walked each day.
I find Cesar interesting. In particular I was intrigued by the following episodes.

• The ex laboratory dog which the owners had saved but would not interact with them. Cesar was immediately able to make contact with this dog.
• The dog brought up in the country who was scared of traffic in the city and was helped by having his tail held high.
• The girl who was disabled and had a walking frame who was able to walk her dog after help from Cesar. This is an example of a child controlling a dog.

I think he has something to offer even if you do not like all his methods.

Sorry you were upset by my questions , but you haven`t answered any! Most people I know use a variety of methods to train their dogs - along with a lot of their own instinct and common sense. Vitriolic? I refute that! I wasn`t nasty - just surprised by this unquestioning support of a controversial method.

Hi Salmonhater, welcome to Dogsey .
Isn't it rather simplistic to dismiss peoples opinions so glibly ? I doubt for a moment people disapprove of CM for the reasons you mention.

I wouldn't let him with a mile of any dog of mine, not because he is American /successful/ better looking than me (I have no desire to look like a man thank you) but because I don't like his methods. Oh I don't doubt that his methods do overcome some behavioural problems, but I would think in some instances they create different problems not least of which is a lack of trust between dog and trainer.

Some time ago Jenny posted this video featuring CM and a supposedly 'dog aggressive' dog, CM advocated the use of the alpha roll to 'release this dogs aggression'.

I watched the video and saw what to me appeared to be a friendly / exuberant/excitable/untrained PBT which may not have been well socialised with other dogs. I do not see a dog aggressive dog, look at the dog's body language, the expression/set of the tail/the sound it is making none of them suggest aggression to me. Note how the owner contributes to the problem with the use of his over excited voice .

For me the voice over is laughable in its misinterpretation of the behaviour of this dog. It may be that CM used this particular dog to illustrate the point because it happened to be availible even though it wasn't as he suggested 'dog aggressive' , or perhaps he is unable to observe a dog and read its body language, either way it is misleading. I can't see what possible effect swinging a dog round on a lead then rolling it over could have on a dog if it was dog aggressive except to make it human aggressive too.

http://video.msn.com/v/us/v.htm?g=a79c1025-1fdb-44f2-9d3a-9307dc4021bf&f...There is a brief warning lasting a couple of seconds for people not to follow this technique themselves .
..if any member of the public watched this video and tried the technique on the wrong dog they could be badly bitten .

I will stick to the training methods of people like Donaldson and Dunbar who use similar methods to those I was taught. Dogs learn so much better if they are not fearful, subject to painful training aids and have trust in their trainer.

Welcome to Dogsey
I don't think ANYONE on this site would 'like to think' that a dog is being abused just because they don't like CM, or for any other reason in fact! However for those of us who use positive methods and find them very effective it is hard to understand why you would use methods such as alpha rolls, pinch collars etc because they are not conducive to a trusting relationship between dog and handler/owner. I have worked hard to gain my dog's trust. If I were to alpha roll my dog or constantly poke and prod and sidewards-kick him he would loose all trust in me, and I'm sure many on here would say the same.
My own training methods are based around 'I'll show you what to do, lets make it a game and you can have a treat whenever you make some progress or show me you've remembered'. Nothing cruel or mean about that, apart from dissapointment when the game ends!
I too would say that CM's TV show is sucessful largely due to good editing. People like the idea that this guy can solve any dog's problem in a short amount of time because he knows what they are thinking, and that only he holds the key to getting a 'balanced' dog. As evidenced in Mini's post, he is not always right. Unfortunately the outcome of him being wrong, or people who see his show and interpreting their own dog's behaviour wrongly, could well result in the problem escalating. This isn't true of positive methods, another reason why I prefer them. Programs where positive methods are used will unfortunately never be popular as they are not nearly so dramatic.
Personally I don't dislike him, there are dogs out there whom for them CM or his methods are a last resort and have worked, but that is exactly what I believe they should be- a last resort, when all other methods are exhausted and the only other option is euthanasia. The overwhelming majority of dogs do not require such harsh handling to get them to act civilly.
JMO

I use positive training along with one aversion technique and CM's philosophy of being calm and assertive.

I don't alpha roll my dogs (although anti CM people seem to think that every person who likes CM spends 23 hours of their day alpha rolling anything that comes within a 3 mile radius) and I don't prod or poke them (unless I want to sit on the settee and they are in the way)

The 'sh!' noise isn't mandatory either - I personally use 'pack it in!'. Other phrases could be 'Oi!', 'Behave!', 'No!', 'stop' or any number of phrases that people use to distract their dog from what they are doing.

I don't like his use of prong collars but I think he has much to teach the numpties in America who don't even realise that dogs need to go out for a walk.

After reading what people have to say about him I have re-evaluated my thoughts on him and realised I don't like everything he does. But I still believe his underlying philosophy is good.