Update! Guess who’s going to see Cesar Millan?

Hey dog friends!

Sorry I’ve been so absent lately, these past few weeks have been extraordinarily busy!

I just wanted to jump in quickly with some exciting (albeit belated) news: Yours truly is headed to Cesar Millan Live!

Cesar is finally bringing his popular tour and unique approach to Canada and you had better believe that I got myself some tickets! Being the huge fan of The Dog Whisperer and Cesar’s Way, how could I justify missing it?

I couldn’t, obviously.

Sponsored by National Geographic, Cesar will present different aspects of his dog pyshology method in an audience setting. If you’re one the lucky “Pack Leader” ticket holders, you’ll even get to stick around after the main show for special Q&A session. Sadly I’m not one of those lucky ones, but I’m pumped just to be going at all so you won’t hear me complaining!

I’ll be catching Cesar’s stop in Hamilton, Ontario on October 30th. Except a complete review and write-up!

Are you going to any of Cesar’s tour stops or have you been to one before? Leave a comment and let’s chat! If you can’t make it out, be sure to check back here for more details. You can also follow Cesar’s progress on the official Canada tour blog.

 

Scuffle in the dog park: Critics nip at Cesar Millan’s dog whispering

Cruising through my favourite news sites on Monday morning, I spotted a headline on the Globe and Mail site that caught my attention. It read “Fighting the myth of the alpha male” and featured a photo of the Dog Whisperer himself, Cesar Millan, working with his pack. Intrigued, I read on and was not exactly impressed with what I found.

Cesar’s popular approach behind “being the pack leader” has always had its critics. This article shines the spotlight on some of the “professionals” who are making the claim that not only are the Dog Whisperer’s methods unorthodox, but they may also be harmful and even dangerous.

Now, just in case it wasn’t already clear, I am a big fan of both Cesar Millan and his approach. Since puppyhood I have been working with Jasper using the techniques I’ve learned in his books and have never seen any adverse affects. In fact, I’d venture as far as to say that by asserting myself as a calm and assertive pack leader has only helped to strengthen the bond I share with my dog. Jasper is by no means perfect, but neither am I. We made the best of it.

I understand that there have always been, and there always be, people who don’t necessarily agree with Cesar’s methods for a variety of reasons. Even I wouldn’t ever claim to follow his word to a T – for starters, I’m really bad at the whole “exercise, discipline, affection” order. Sometimes Jasper gets his lovin’ first.

A friend of mine maintains that her biggest issue with the Dog Whisperer isn’t actually the man himself but the show that has gained him so much notoriety. Like every other reality-style television show, The Dog Whisperer undergoes a great deal of editing before it makes it on air. What looks like an hour with Cesar that leads to a perfectly rehabilitated pup is usually a much longer and drawn-out process that has been expertly clipped together. Furthermore, a lot of the techniques he uses don’t always get explained to their full benefit. Take the “tsch!” technique that he sometimes uses to correct a dog – Most of the time the correction just involves making the sharp sound, whereas other times it might need to be accompanied by a quick nip-like pinch to the shoulders or neck of the dog. Out of context, the pinch could appear to be a cruel way of getting a dog to behave. In reality, the move is meant to simulate the way mother dogs teach their pups or alpha dogs correct the rest of the pack. The nip is not the same as a bite, trust me.

Ultimately, if you want to follow to follow Cesar’s methods, I highly recommend reading at least one of his books first and just use the show for supplementary learning. You don’t get the essential breakdown of why certain techniques might be used and the books also go into depth on the psychology of certain issues (many of which related back to our own human behaviors).

Anyway, the whole article struck me as highly uninformed. Reading it kind of felt like the “professionals” being quoted had watched an episode or two of the show, didn’t like what they saw and decided to rant (I’m going to go ahead and say that’s not the case, but it’s certainly how it feels). They make reference to Cesar’s training as being “punitive” and to be completely honest, I have no idea what they’re talking about. Cesar never advocates for physical punishment. That’s not how dogs teach each other. Within a healthy pack, dogs do not hurt each other, they correct. The main pillar of his method is to maintain a calm and assertive energy to help establish dominance. So where are they getting this from?

There’s more of course, like the “removing the ticker from the time bomb” comment from a vet named Ian Dunbar. Some of the vets and psychologists in the article feel that Cesar’s methods only aim to “correct” the bad behaviours at a surface level and don’t address the underlying issues that have caused them. Again, if you’re familiar with the way Cesar does business, you’re probably shaking your head right now and asking, “How do they figure that?” Half of the magic in watching Cesar work is seeing how he dissects an issue. Yes, he shows a dog’s owners how to correct the behaviour itself, but he also explains where the behaviour most likely stems from and also teaches people how to fix those triggers and avoid them going forward.

I like Cesar’s quote in the article:

“It’s the difference between going to school and the dogs being your school – One is the intellectual knowledge, the other one is instinctual. I am instinctual.”

I understand that these people are supposed to be trained experts in the field of dog psychology, health and behaviour. Still, I also believe that there is a lot to be said for learning all of these things by actually observing and working directly with the animals instead of just studying to grasp the theory. Cesar has been at this his whole life and has successfully applied so much of what he has learned. Should it really matter that he doesn’t have a PhD to prove his qualifications?

Again, I am biased. I stand by Cesar’s teachings and have learned a lot from his approach. That having been said, I understand that there are people who feel differently and, as long as the methods they choose aren’t bringing harm (mental or physical) to a dog, then who am I to argue? But this article is the sort of thing really gets to me.

Where do you stand? Are you a follower of Cesar’s methods or do you disagree? How do you feel about the opinions expressed in the article? I’d love to hear what you have to say!

 

Last minute ideas to make the holidays bright for us and our pets

With just a couple of days left before Christmas, I wanted to share some of my favourite ideas (gift-giving and otherwise) to remember our four-legged friends this holiday season and make it just a little brighter for everyone.

1) Christmas gifts to “luv”

While I do my bets to buy local when it comes to my pet supplies, if I had to choose a favourite chain store, it would be PetSmart. One of the things I love the most about it is the affiliation with PetSmart Charities.

PetSmart Charities is a non-profit organization that works to save the lives of homeless animals by working directly with local and national animal welfare agencies. By selling merchandise, fundraising and accepting donations, PetSmart stores help to make a positive impact on the lives of pets in need.

Last Christmas I found out about the Luv-A-Pet ornaments, adorable collectible tree decorations that you can get every year. They’re a beautiful addition to any pet lover’s tree (there are cat ornaments available as well for those of us who prefer felines) and 25% of each one goes to PetSmart Charities. Here are mine:

Christmas Luv-A-Pets from 2008 & 2009. My collection isn't very big right now, but it's growing!

There are a lot of different ornaments and other gifts in the holiday collection this year, all with portions of the proceeds going to PetSmart Charities. So whether it’s for you or a gift for someone else, I highly encourage you check it all out here!

2) 2010: A year of hope

As we quickly approach a new year, it’s time to think about replacing those old calendars. To help make 2010 extra special, The Dog Whisperer‘s Cesar Millan is offering up a wonderful item called the Portraits of Rescued Dogs Calendar.

Portaits of Rescued Dogs, 2010

Lovingly captured by photographer, Frank Bruynbroek, each month features the portrait of a rescued dog that has been fortunate enough to find love and new life with a special forever home. Not only is it a beautiful calendar, but proceeds from each one go to the Cesar and Ilusion Millan Foundation which works to rescue, rehabilitate, and re-home abused and abandoned dogs.

3) Lend a paw to those in need

Finally, Christmas is a time of love and good will. This year, don’t forget to show a bit of compassion to animals who are waiting to share their love with someone special. Our local humane societies are always in desperate need of donations, both monetary and in supplies, but the holiday season is especially stressful.

Check out the website for your local shelter (Here in and around Belleville we have the Quinte Humane Society) and find out what you can do to help. Whether it’s giving a gift of cash or picking up some much needed food or other supplies, you’ll be giving a gift that will go a long way to help animals in need this Christmas.

You can also look into rescue programs that may be in need of support. This programs, such as the Shiloh Shepherd Rescue/Re-Home Program, are run by volunteers in order to ensure that dogs that are unable to live with their families anymore because of behavioral concerns, abuse or neglect, are able to get the care they need and find their forever homes.

Happy Holidays!

 

Could play better with others

Jasper and I took an epic, off-lead, hike the other night along the Hastings Heritage Trail. We were having a great time, minding our own business when all of a sudden we came across two big unfamiliar dogs who were also playfully making their way towards us. Jasper spotted them long before I even realized we had company. Both of them were wearing tags and they seemed friendly enough. Still, I stood there, glancing between Jasper and the strangers and back again, trying to figure out how to proceed. I didn’t want to have to turn around but I also wasn’t sure what would happen if we all crossed paths.

Even though I knew it wasn’t helping the situation, I was nervous. I looked at Jasper – his tail and hackles were down but he stood in rigid conformation, completely alert and focused and by now the other dogs had assumed the same position. I took a few calming breaths and stepped in front of Jasper, forming a wall between him and what was causing him anxiety. Be the leader, be the leader, be the leader… Jasper backed down behind me, sulking, but the other two didn’t budge. I took a couple of steps forward, determined for this showdown to end well. I was met with a couple of barks before the dogs before they turned tail and darted into the bush.

So, here’s the thing: Jasper is not an aggressive dog. He is, in fact, quite submissive. He’s great with the girls and the pups in our own pack (although because he and our other males are part of our breeding program and therefore are intact, we tend to keep them separated. I guess his manhood is definitely part of the problem but I know it’s not all of it). Unfortunately, he’s also a bit of a baby (I’ll take the blame here) and as such, he can be somewhat anxious.

With people he’s an absolute prince – gentle and respectful. But when it comes to dogs he doesn’t know, he’s can be apprehensive. In teh grand scheme of things, he’d prefer to just ignore them. Given a nice, calm one-on-one meet n’ greet and he’s fine. But as soon as a hyper dog with an unrelenting desire to be in our space shows up, Jasper gets a bit snarly.

Back in puppy kindergarten he didn’t pay any attention to the other dogs until they had “play time”, at which point he would opt to meet with his calmer classmates over the more rowdy ones. To help him socialize, I brought him to dog parks as often as I could. Unfortunately for him, most of the dogs in those parks are the rowdy ones. He’s antisocial tactics included hiding under benches and sitting on the laps of whoever was closest.

But of course, somewhere between puppy hood and now, testosterone kicked in. While he would still prefer to ignore other dogs when we’re out walking on the lead or sit under a bench when I force him into a dog park, he’s also become much more, shall we say, expressive when it comes to rambunctious dogs getting up in his face.

...Okay, so he's actually just playing with our youngest male, Tanner in this picture. But you get the idea.

Now, it’s important that I point out that Jasper has never once hurt another dog. He will, however, give a warning nip or two with a side-order of terror-inducing guttural growls if a dog tries getting too friendly without permission. For example, when he was about 6 months old, I would drive him, my friend @omgdance and her hyper Golden Retriever, Beckham around in my little car like one big happy family. Of course, the two of them always had the chance to sniff and such before hand.

Then one fateful day, Beckham jumped into the front seat before Jasper had the chance to check him out. Needless to say, he wasn’t very happy about that. We tried to let them sniff it out after but Beckham was too worked up and Jasper wasn’t having any of it. Still, months later we tried again. We brought them together in a calmer, more controlled environment and they were able to have a great lil’ play date.

Jasper + Beckham = BFF

Unfortunately, not every encounter we have with unfamiliar dogs can be that controlled. This social anxiety is what I consider to be Jasper’s primary behavioral concern and I want to see him overcome it.

I know that in a big way, change needs to start with me. As Cesar Millan (Oh yes, I am a fan) always says, stay calm and assertive. I need to be a more balanced person in general if I want to be able to properly lead my dog. But as far as working on Jasper’s socialization is concerned, I’m open to suggestion on safe and effective techniques that can help. For now, I’m makingmy way through Cesar’s Way in hopes of some guidance but I’d love to hear from anyone who has experienced similar issues! What do you do to socialize your dog? How do you work with unfamiliar, hyper dogs?