This concept is one of the hardest ones for me, whenever I would come home from work or wherever I was I would get this chaotic gretting from both of my german shepherds.
They would both carry on and do their little happy dances all over the house.
This was the hardest thing for me to finally grasp-especially ignoring them when I come home. However I have been doing that and I have also been making sure I take care of their exercise and disciplinary needs before I give them pets and let them lay on my lap.
When we do come in from our hour long walks-they are so completely contented and satisfied-you can see it on their faces. It's hard to make sure I don't give them affection until we are done with our walk and our other exercise-like playing frisbee and ball.
But it does make a huge difference.

I was wondering about the walk thing.. I just became owner of a mini toy poodle (she will weigh about 4 lbs at her prime give or take. Right now she barely weighs 2 lbs at 7 months).. My question is, how can I incorporate a long walk during the winter months and not risk the dog's safety for her excersie? I live in NY,, I'm scared she will go into hypoglycemia from the cold.. my breeder stressed this ... any suggestions will be appreciated. Thank you

Hi Viv,

I've seen Cesar use tredmills to help dogs get exercise, indoors. Although, he does stress the importance of walking outside as a more fulfilling and natural form of exercise, based on a dogs "design" by nature.

There are coats and all kinds of outdoor wear, made in all sizes for dogs who do not have the natural coat and/or body size to keep warm in cold weather.

Try an internet search. I'm sure you'll be able to find something to help keep your dog warm, so you can both get out for some walks in the fresh air.

I have a coat for my own dog, because the winters are cold and wet where I live. She is a single coated dog, with no natural undercoat. The insulated dog blanket style coat she wears, really makes a difference!

Deb

So many times when I am discussing training methods and philosophies with dog trainers, the split between the work you are doing and their belief system comes right down to this very topic of the ability to put our emotional needs aside, and doing what's best for the dog, first.

There is a lot of human emotionality and psychology interwoven into many training methods, almost everwhere I have researched.

Of course, being human, it's only natural to start from our own point of reference, based on how WE think and "feel". I often wonder why humans became so emotionally based, in the first place. It doesn't seem to serve us in our interactions with each other, any more than it serves us in our interactions with our dogs!

But, at least we have the ability to self modify our behavior and frame of mind through knowledge, reason, and personal effort. We can do this, because it's part of human psychology and our gift of a higher thought process.

I often hear comments from people about having an "equal" partnership with their dogs, conditioning a dog rather than clearly communicating what you want, allowing a dog to "decide" to cooperate, and behavior problems mostly being based on "fear".

I read this quote a long time ago, I'm sure I've mentioned it before, but has always stuck with me and bears repeating:

"There is no equality in a dog's mind" Author unknown.

Our dogs can be our partners, if we are first their leaders. Communicating what we want from a dog is much less confusing for them, then we can move on to conditioning and training. Decision making is what leaders do, unless the dog is functioning "on the job" in certain situations. And, it seems submissive body language is often misinterpreted as "fear" or hurt feelings.

Another thing I've noticed, is people often relate to dogs, based on what other people will think of them.

If I walk into a someone's home, fall to my knees speaking in a baby voice and start petting a coo-ing to a dog, the owner may think I'm a wonderful dog loving person. But what I did, was not in the dog's best interest!

If I walk in calmly, claim space, and ignore the dog for a few minutes before interacting with it, the human may think I'm cold and uncaring. But, it's the best thing I can do for the dog.

This is a very complex and important topic!

Deb

I have a Siberian Husky named Kiev. She doesn't hate men, but she knows she can take advantage of them (men cannot resist the good looks of even a dog). She will walk all over almost any man. When a woman is eating, she'll simply lay down and wait for me to get up, go to her food bowl, and drop a small scarp (unless it's bad for her) in her bowl, after she sits and does hatever trick I say to do. She won't beg. I don't allow it and can resist those puppy eyes. People think I'm cruel but I got a stubborn, alpha Husky and she listens to me very well and shows me more affection than the boys in my house. She'll beg when they eat and the more annoyed they get, the bigger her smile gets on her face. But they let her do it and yelling only means triumph on her part. Male visitors will be eating on the couch and she will take food off their plates. Not women though. But it's the women of the household who trained her when she was young so she applies it to the rest of the world. Smart girl, I know. But this is soo true, you get more affection from a dog who respects you more. People ask while I'm walking my dog, "How old is your dog? She doesn't look old but she's so even tempered. She doesn't jump or anything" My dog is four and has calmed down over the years but she respects me. I can't handle her pulling the leash and I don't allow it. The only dificulty I have is when she makes another dog go wild. She's very charismatic and provokes other dogs to pull on their leah to get to her. She simply raises that tail and smiles and gives them one little howl and they come running. Little kids are dificult for her too because she feels it's very necesary to clean their faces, especially if she sees one crying. When my brother walks her, she pulls. She's broken choke chains from pulling so hard when he walks her. You got to train them and you got to be boss. End of story.

I have been watching the show for a while now, and really get a lot out of it. I worked in the pet industry as a vet tech and also on the retail side, and I can say from experience what he [Cesar] is doing works.

I have always had big dogs and trained using a choke collar, used correctly (not to actually choke the dog). My wife and I recently aquired a Chihuahua and have wondering if a choke collar works with small dogs too. I am sure this may spark some debate, but I wanted to see what everyone thought. Oh, and he is not "toy" sized, but still a small dog.

In response to Amanda:

Wow...your husky is so much like my Boyfriend's dog. She is 4 and is beautiful. She totally has had my BF and his father completely wrapped around her paw. She pulls like a complete sled team and begs like crazy. She too has broken choke chains. She became fast friends with my Chow however, they fought. My chow is the alpha and the husky doens't like to back down and assume the beta position some times.

I started a doggy boot camp at my place and have the husky staying with me now. By following Cesar's techniques I have been able to walk both the chow and the husky together at my left side. The husky almost always needs correction to keep in line, but I can do it. Both dogs together is about 100lbs and they can launch me if I let them.

My chow accepted the Cesar techniques very quickly. I was very proud. The husky is a different story. I has become obvious to me that a husky is a more difficult nut to crack when it comes to discipline. I really have to stay on it and completely ignore her before we walk or she thinks we are back to the "old way". She doens't beg from me anymore and actually will lay down now and wait her turn while my Chow eats her dinner. As long as I make sure I go out the door first then the chow then the husky we seem to be making strides.

My BF came over the other day and the husky acted all cute and kept putting her head in his lap. He knows he's supposed to ignore but feels bad and misses her. Needless to say, it has taken me a couple of days to undo that day.

Wow....never would ever think that a social dog like a husky would be more difficult to get the pack leader picture than a chow.

I have just recently been exposed to Cesar Millan's program and I am sooooo impressed with his abilities to "control" dogs and teach humans that dogs are dogs.I wish it were possible for Cesar to be in every home where there is a dog. There would be no "barkers" keeping people up at night, dogs would be more loved because they would be more loveable. My dog is "perfect" compared to some I have seen on his program, but she tried walking in front of us when we walked. Since walking her the way Cesar instructs, she is a delight to take on walks now. She knows her place and is happy there. Even with a good dog, his techniques and psychology have made a remarkable difference.
THANK YOU CESAR. YOU ARE A GOD SEND!!!!

Ok, I have a 6 month old Aussie mix. I take her on walks every day. I thought she was pretty good with other dogs until today. We were walking and a lady came up with her dog. I noticed that its hair was standing straight up. Then Valentine(My dog) Started barking and getting REALLY nervous. So now I'm wondering, was it her dog who triggered it or was it mine????

Haydn

K2,

I think that on the walk your dog should walk beside you even if he does not pull. If you keep your dog to your side it will also be a better example for your dog that does pull. If your dog is or isn't pulling, he is still in front making them the leader not the follower. Just follow Cesar's exact guidelines to his structured walk. Both of your canines should be walking beside or behind you to know that you are the pack leader. In the wild the pack leader is always in front. Good luck with your dogs :D

~Chantel

Thanks! I think one problem was that My dog saw the dog and its owner before I did and got really fixated before I even noticed. After that it was kinda hard to get her focused on the walk again but soon she was back to her old self.

K2,

There is NEVER a time you're dog should walk in front of you. Even if it isnt pulling. It probably isnt because you're willingly following so there is no need to. You're other dog might even be pulling all the time because he might want to be the dominant one instead of you're lab/shepherd. If you have you're lab/shepherd beside you and you're other dog still pulls it might be a good idea to take it on a walk alone so you can just focuse on it for a while. Like Cesar sais' dogs live in the moment so it shouldnt be long till you have to good dogs on you're walk!!!
Good luck!!!

The Power of the Walk

Some people just think the walk burns off physical energy, which yes it does, but more importantly if you do the Ceasar walk that burns off even something better, Mental energy. When you challenge a dog to do exactly the things you want it to do during a walk that is such a mental challenge for a dog and that really drains all the energy out of him.

Remember just think of someone who is running for a really long time and their body is so tired and they just want to stop, but if you put your mind to it , you can finish off what your goal was.

Basically , Mind over Matter.

Or think of people who get stressed out at work and are mentally drained, they just come home and are so tired. Think of that with your dog too.

That's why not only the walk is important, but just practicing discipline with your dog is just as important.

All I know is next dog I get i'm getting a low energy dog, lol.

*If it's cold outside it's okay to not have your dog walk for a couple days, no need to risk your dog getting sick. Your dog will live and won't hate you cuz you kept inside for two days.

I have learned so much from the Dog Whisperer episodes, I think it should be classified as a public service and be required watching by all dog owners. Now when I see dog owners kissing their barking dogs or holding on for dear life to their leash straining ones, I think, "You should be watching Cesar Milan." I tell them out loud if I think they'll listen. I feel I have learned even more by watching the episodes three and four times. There is so much information, I pick up a little more each time I watch.
I too wonder what is the best way to handle a loose neighbor's dog who comes charging in at you unprovoked, and just saying "hello" is clearly not their object. I've had many occasions where these dogs have actually attacked mine, but my 100lb German Shepard always came out the winner. Though my dog was never hurt, I still felt helpless as to what I should have done to prevent it if I could, and I really didn't think it was the best thing for my dog to participate in a fight, even if he didn't start it. I hope one of the episodes will touch on the subject. I'll be watching faithfully.

Hayden and K2,

The energy from a human can trigger this, yes. Even when you're trying to make your body speak calm, dogs seem to have this sense that you're not. You're really happy, sad or nervous. We can hide it from humans, but animals can tell. Some animals can hear the increase of a heartbeat, or recognize the smallest amount of more tense muscles. They know the things about body language we don't know so when the owner gets excited or nervous, usually the dog does too.

I remember when a rottie ran out the door of a house straight for us. Now any dog running out barking can be a little bit nerve wrecking. You don't know if that dog (whether it be husky, jrt, or rottie) is being territorial and has an owner who allows it. I admit, I froze. Kiev (my dog) did too. So it's good to keep calm because Kiev did bite the rottie. I have horrible eye sight and need my eyes checked so I can't see faces from far away. I didn't know if the dog was showing agression in his face until he got a little closer. I saw the biggest smile you could ever see on a dog. I calmed down immidieatly even though I wasn't THAT tense to begin with. The dog came to me with a wiggly butt and I started petting him on the head to show Kiev he was a friend and she got friendlier. But then the big goofball had to tower over her. This was her first encounter with a dog bigger than she so she freaked out, but in a calm way. I was calm so she just lowered her head. He wasn't trying to be dominant though, he wanted to play. When he started pawing at the air she bit him on the face. He didn't yelp. He backed away and cocked his head at her. That was the only bad meeting with the rottie though. Now she gets excited.

One thing did happen once that I really don't understand fully. I have ideas but don't know for sure. Huskies aren't supposed to be guard dogs. I'm sure they can sesne if something is out of whack bubt generally, they're sled dogs and are used to being friendly with everyone. They're pack animals that rely on a functional family (pack/team). Disfunction can be very depressing for these dogs and they can show agression because of a threat to lose the alpha position. Kiev has never been dangerously agressive towards anything. She has made her hair stand before but without showing teeth. Well, Kiev loves kids and is verysensitive toward them, even though she didn't grow up with kids. She lvoes the little girl living next door and we pay visits. Kiev sits and the little girl pets and laughs when kiev howls. Well, the other neighbor just got a new dog. The kids beat the dog for no reason. He's still a puppy but they punch this dog; I talked to them about it. They don't know how to properly train this dog. Kiev never liked this puppy. She would always growl at him. Never tried to bite him though. Well, the little girl is scared of the puppy because he tackles her. The kids don't train manners and beat the dog so he still bites. The mother is afraid the dog will grow up to be afraid of kids so the little girl is even more afraid of the dog. Well, the little girl was petting Kiev when the dog got out. The little girl jumped in her mother's lap in fear and Kiev just lost it. She wasn't just growling, she was SCREMAING at this puppy. If he got near me (he loves my mother and me and always runs in our yard if he doesn't see us) or if he got near the little girl, she would scream and growl and show her teeth. She only tried to lunge once but I got her to stay by my side and not move. I made her sit and held onto her lead and if she moved forward I would pull her back and say, "No" I got her calm even though I was afraid she'd rip this puppy to shreds. Finally the puppy urinated while standing and got low to the ground. Then Kiev stopped all together and I let her slowly approach the pup and check him out. She had her fur and tail up high but the puppy let her check him out. I was so angry with her because she's never displayed this behavior before and hasn't since. What do you guys think, was she reacting te way she did because of the little girl's fear? Huskies aren't known for guarding but when she was a puppy she used to be possesive over my mother and me. She'd get upset, but not agressivly so if my father held my mother. I had a bf who put his arm around me and she jumped on him, hard. If my brothers would play hit me, she'd bite their pant legs. She wasn't agressive though, she was only a few months old and thoguht it was a game. And it was, we were too stupid to realize it could become a proble when she got older. It was always boys versus girls in wrestling. Her and me against my brothers. It was fun until she got bgger but we quickly stopped it after that. But could she be displaying this posessive behavior towards this little girl? I couldn't tell if she was just mad or protecting.

Hi John you are so right about that-as I walk my two german shepherds we practice obedience on the walk as well, I have themlay down in front of neighbor's houses fpr a few seconds, I ask them to sit and stay-and another command that used in obedience training called "finish" where the dog comes around to your left side and calmly sits.
By the time we come in inside after an hour they are extremely content and happy.

Shari,

You're welcome. I've only owned toy breeds and found that all the toy breeds can suffer from this and it's recommended that no kind of collar is ever used, just the V harness/halter.
Your'e right, it is a scary thing and extremely scary to witness. My guy's trachea can collapse just when getting excited. Thankfully, the episodes don't last long.

I have 3 Chihauhas. They have quite the personality. The Male thinks he is a mean big dog that will lick you to death if you get past the growling and barking. The Female she is Loving and sweet and quite till someone comes near me or comes in the house then she attacks. The puppy is Very sweet and Loving then unexpected attacker who just wants to play.
I LOVE the Dog Wisperer show I talk about Tecniques with people that own dogs but they never take my advise and so I tell them about the show I LOVE tell them to watch it their.
I have all kinds of trouble with my dogs they know no basic commands and just run wild and crazy. The female does #1 and 2 on my daugters bed almost every day regardless of the times they go out.
The show Has helped me in so many ways. Dog training is just like horse training so I understand it. Now if only I can train them to be happy healthy Disiplined Dogs LOL.

Hi Pam- I was having a similar problem with my 2 female shepherds. The best advice I can give you is RELAX and stop anticipating the attack, one thing I have learned from my experience if you walk around worried about it it WILL happen.
Just make sure when see you signs of a problem you squash it before it escalates. From watching Cesar's show I got great at reading body language, as soon as I see any kind of weird eye contact between the two, or if my older dog's tail starts to rise to a certain point, I block her path, snap my fingers, point at her and say "hey!" she gets the message very quickly and the situation is diffused before anything happens.

Cesar says dogs live in the moment, so they are not sitting around anticpating a potential attack-you have to stop doing that immediately. Its like a self-fufilling prophecy otherwise.

HI Pam-You're welcome, i think my old neighbors in the co-op I used to live in wouldn't recognize my 2 girls these days-they walk perfectly next to me and don't care if other dogs bark or if people are around. My problem is within my own house-my older dog started attacking the younger one when she hit adulthood. I used to just sit and wait for the other shoe to drop-since I started watching Cesar's show I dont worry about it anymore and I did learn to step in when I see my older girl giving a certain look or starting to "puff up."
By the same token I am correcting the behavior of my younger one, she kind of "slinks" by putting her head down and ears back sometimes and that triggers the whole thing at times too. It's a work in progress, and getting them to obey you on the walks, and stopping certain aggressive behavior takes a while, but in the end you all will be alot happier.
Definitely try to have the attitude that what happened on your walk today will not happen. They totally pick up on any negative feelings or fearful behavior coming form you.

Frank, With my Lab/Shepherd, I will walk towards
him, standing very tall, without speaking or anything
when he exhibits unwanted behaviour. It stops him in
his tracks. But it is something I have to do over and
over and over. The leash idea in the house would be good
for a short period of time, but don't get dependent on it.
You want to be able to take care of problems even when you
don't have equipment (or treats) with you. Any time, any
where.

I stopped at my vet's office today to pick up flea &
tick drops (already that time of year!) and I was AMAZED
at how many people I could've said "WATCH THE DOG
WHISPERER" to!! LOL. There was one lady who had 3 dogs
and two human friends to help her. She was in the parking
lot and she told the two humans to take the other two
dogs over to the tree around the side of the building and
wait til the coast was clear of other dogs. Boy, have I
been there with my two. Like, exactly there, in that
same parking lot, with an extra human to help me!
How funny that I now know the solutions,
which are simple, and so obvious, but not easy. LOL.

What do you do with a dog that doesnt listen to you and only listens to what your other dog says? I have an almost 5 year old chow. I got Layney, a lab mix, at 5 weeks old. The Chow Princess, will literally keep Layney away from the gate when i go out to bring them in! Im am so fustrated right now. Neither of them will walk right on a leash neiter. Though i have been trying with a halti. Layney cant stand being away from Princess. Thank god that neither of them are agressive. Any ideas as to what be happening? Its like, Layney is PRINCESS'S DOG!

Hi Kele,

Cesar's show and DVD are still good resources, even if there aren't any puppy episodes, yet. You'll learn something useful every time you watch, and listen to what he has to say.

Yelping and walking away is human psychology. All it does in a dog's mind, is show you are weak, and puts you in the follower position. This will tell the dog, it is in the leadership position. IMO

Personally, I would use a boundary word to block the behavior, eye contact, and point at him. Just stand there calmly, with no anger, and expect compliance.

I think a lot of people think "assertive" has to be backed up with a little anger. I find that if it is backed up by the "calm" Cesar's speaks of, it exudes leadership and confidence.

To me, an angry or intense expression on our face and in the tone of our voice can indicate aggression, and won't say "confident and stable" to a dog. So, it doesn't say leadership, either.

You didn't mention how old your pup is. But, puppies cut teeth, bite, and use their mouths to explore. Be careful not to play any hand-biting, muzzle-slapping games with him. If your hands are gentle with him, it will help teach him what kind of touching feels good.

Remember this is a youngster, and has to be taught boundaries as he grows. A puppy book would be a good idea.

You can really turn a dog into a puddle of joy and distract him with a good massage, too. Give him a gentle scratching and message, and set a boundary if he starts to bite. Don't give him a massage if he demmands it. Initiate this when he is already being calm/submissive. I've found this to be helpful, once you get the hang of it. :)

Hitting is not a good option. This can be perceived as attack by your pup, and you can damage his trust in you. Also, stable leaders don't attack their followers.

Although Cesar uses "the claw", poke, and other forms of touch, these are hands-on corrections which should be shown to you by a professional.

Enjoy your new puppy, and keep your fingers safe!

Deb

Kele,

A puppy class for socialization would probably be a good idea. The trainers also have a lot of good tips, and can help you learn to handle your dog correctly.

I just noticed Cesar's Dog Psychology Center site is starting to help people find canine professionals in their area.

You can also ask your vet who they would recommend.

Deb

I have a half doberman and half bansji mix, two years old. Loves to walk, but only wants to go a short distance, when we get to a certain point, he turns around sharply and wants to run back home.
Tried taking him to a dog park to socialize, and he was shakey and scared. Other dogs approached and he showed teeth and was on high alert.
Has anyone had a similar experience. I cannot get him to walk all the way around the block ever. I beleive he is scared but am not sure of what.
Any thoughts?
Thanks

Kele,
As concerns the "bite" that Cesar demonstrates, it
needs to be of a certain firmness. Not too soft, or
the dog will think you're petting instead of "biting."
I'm lucky enough that my Lab/Shepherd expresses pack
leader activity so I know exactly what the "bite" should
feel like because he does it to me and to the other dog
all the time. It's sort of like a nibble and he pushes
with his nose at the same time. Now that I'm working on
being pack leader, I use it on him when he misbehaves.
It works, but you may not get it right first try. Keep
at it!

Isn't it ironic that none of the Dog Whisperer episodes
are about puppies? Everyone says you can't teach an old
dog new tricks, but that is not true! You can!

Today, I took it easy on our walk and I let my Lab/Coon
run loose while I walked the Lab/Shepherd on leash with
just a regular collar. We stayed on the dead-end dirt
roads where we live. Just around our own house. I tried
a new command with the Lab/Coon -- "LOOK!" and it works
unbelievably! He comes running to me every time I say it.
Every time! You have no idea how frustrating it has been
to say his name, or "stay", "stop", "hey", "come" -- and
get no results. I didn't even have treats with me, but I
made sure I congratulated him every time he came back.
It is amazing how just one small change can make all the
difference. Back to real walks (training) for the weekend!

I realize that strays are a problem for some people. However I can't help but think that they are the poor dogs, that nobody wants, that have no food and shelter on regular bases. They are hungry, scared, cold, wet, hot, flea infested etc. It breaks my heart to see them, and I always leave some food for them. Right now I spotted a dog (I have no idea if it's a stray or abandoned) living in the small woods close to my home. I feed it regulary, and left a bowl with water. I saw it three times, but as soon as he (or she) sees me, he runs away scared. I can imagine that he must have been abused by people, that's why he is so scare.
I feel if I call animal control, they will take him to the pound (that is if they will be able to catch him) and he will be put down. I would rather have him live in the woods, making sure that he has plenty of food and water.
I never get mad at strays, they are not bad dogs that we have to keep our dogs away from. They are just the unlucky ones.

Hi-
Thank you for your thoughts on handling my aggressive neighbor dog situation. I now have some great ideas on how to improve my energy and socialize my dogs.

SJS-
Yes, you are exactly right...shame on them for letting this dog go to waste! You hit the nail on the head. So many times I've wanted to rescue this dog, or take it on one of our walks. I actually think that was the bad energy that may have triggered this attack. Instead I need to channel that energy and be a leader to him. Thanks again!

SJS,

Thanks for your ideas. I have contacted animal control, I'll see what they say.
The stories of Mickey and Luke are beautiful.
I have an autistic son, and he has formed a very special bond with Sparky, my pit bull mix and the third dog in my house. Even though I feed and walk the dogs, it's so nice to see how much my son cares for Sparky, makes sure she wouldn't go in the front, and if she sneaks out, he will go and get her.

Hey guys! I was wondering if any of you could offer advice on how to be patient before getting a dog. See, the apartment I live in currently doesn't allow anything not suitable for a 10 Gal tank. I am moving into my own house come the end of May opening up the opportunity for me to get a dog! I know this sounds stupid and minor, but reading your posts inspired me to ask.

I already have the dog picked out and everything! I found him on Petfinder.com, such a cutie! I just have to wait now ... but I am going insane (and feeling very, very juvenile over this!! haha). Any tips on what I can do until I can bring him home? Oh, and trust me, I will be the pack leader for him. Something I've always believed in and feel so greatful there's someone like Cesar out there promoting it!

Bee,

I know what you are going through. I am only two months away from getting my dog and am very excited!!! I've been waiting for over a year to get a dog and now it's two months away!!!!! I have been researching and researching, but I'm still not sure of what kind of dog to get. I was thinking of using petfinder.com because they have almost every breed, and they are from shelters, which makes me happy :D I'm waffling though. I don't know. I would like to get him from a local shelter so that I can meet the dog before I adopt him, and I wouldn't have to go and get him or pay for shipping fees. If anyone has advice I am all ears.

What kind of dog are you getting Bee? My dad wants a boxer (so he can look cool when walking it)/LOL. No, but my dad just loves boxers, doesn't every guy? Hehe. I could live with pretty much any dog but I would like to get a dog that suits my lifestyle best.

Hope everything turns out wonderfully with your coming dog. Oh and don't go crazy waiting (I think I'm on the verge of going crazy)/JK

~Chantel

BW-
I was once in a similar situation, not with the cat and squirrel issue, but with the car issue. Someone then told me that a car kennel works best. It saved my life literally, because the dog that rode in my car was so scared of everything that he could have caused me to wreck. The car kennel was a challenge at first to get my dog into, but after time he learned that he felt safest in it. Why? because it serves as a den, a safe, secluded plcae, which really helped him to learn to be calm and relaxed. He now pefers to ride in the kennel when we travel, but if i do not have it at the time, and hes gotta ride with me, he is calm and relaxed in the car.
About the small animal chasing, you may want to find a behavior specialist in your area for her as well as keep watching the dog whisperer, infact as i am speaking, the dog whisperer episode that is on is covering that very issue. It is a re-run, but check out the episode about 'buddy" the pitt bull mix. Cesar teaches people to say "shh" and a quick calm and assertive yank on the leash sould be done right as the dog starts to look in the cats/squirrel/bunnys direction. This stops the thought process before it starts to roll. I hope that this helps, or at least that you will find something that works for you=^_^=

I know this is double posting ... but I think I broke the blog with
that last post o0!

I'm sorry!!

Viv, With regard to walking your poodle in NY, I think you mean hypothermia and not hypoglycemia, which is low blood sugar. Also, think of yourself waiting for a bus in the cold, if you're just standing rather than moving you're going to feel the cold more; it's the same with our dogs so keep that puppy moving. My younger dogs love to be out in the cold and the snow, but I notice the older ones go to the door when they've had enough so it's important to pay attention to them. They will let you know.

About riding in the car... during the first 3 years I
had my Lab/Coonhound, we had a doggie barrier in our
station wagon. He'd stay in the "way back", behind the
barrier, and the Lab/Shepherd would be either with him
(on longer rides) or alternate between the back seat
and the front seat. Last summer, I got an SUV, and there
was no doggie barrier accessory available for that model.
When we go for rides, if I make any stops at all
the dogs go nuts. Because we take frequent
trips to our beach cottage -- three hours each direction,
this is not good. I've thought about getting dog
harnesses that buckle with the seat belts. But, on
a 3-hour drive, the dogs want to sleep. Can they easily
lie down wearing these harnesses? The other thing I could
get is a removable barrier net -- but I figure they'll
just claw it down. They've made claw marks on the
leather on the doors when they see me coming back from
the bathroom stop or the store I've stopped at. I've
got them to the point where they now wait til I get out
and give them the all-clear before they get out of the
car, one at a time, but they are incredibly high-energy
when we finally arrive at a destination, I can barely
control them. I've never used crates with my dogs, and
I don't have room in the SUV anyway. I never had this
problem with my previous dog, who would stay in the car
for hours without a care in the world. I must be
projecting some kind of bad energy, but I haven't been
able to pinpoint what I'm doing wrong. When the Lab/Shep
was a puppy, I trained him to wait in the car by giving
him cookies when I returned. I also trained the Lab/Coon
to do the same. I always have to have cookies with me
when we go for rides now. Perhaps I should break them of
that -- maybe that is causing the excitement -- "here
she comes! Time for cookies!!!" Any suggestions?

K2,

Congratualtions on being a great "pack leader" and being well on your way to having balanced dogs!

It's hard to seperate human psychology from dog psychology, but it's a must for the dogs.

I think it's normal for us to think we're being abusive, but in reality we're creating a balanced and happy world for the dogs. What you did to cause your dog to back down from the barking was not abusive. Your dog blinked in submission, not fear.

Again, congratuations on the success of applying Cesar's techniques! :)

Chantel
I am glad you are thinking about getting a boxer...are there any other breeds!! I am really a boxer nut. I have had 2. Daisy lived to be 7 1/2 and died of a stroke 3 months ago. I cried as much as if a human had died. Now I have Beulah, who is almost 4 months old! They really are a joy to have around. They LOVE their family and really require a lot of human attention. They don't like to be left on their own. I read somewhere that if you didn't want a dog to be everywhere you are, with their head in the dryer while you are trying to put clothes in it, in the dishwasher while you are loading it and looking in the tub when you are trying to bathe....then don't get a boxer! This is so true! I know with Cesar's techniques you can curb a lot of this, but by their nature they love to be everywhere their family is. They are head strong and you have to establish pack leader right off the bat.
Well I have rambled on enough, but you get the picture! I really will always have a boxer...they are wonderful!

Bee,

Sorry about my error -it is your adorable dog I saw in the posting.

He looks like he has a wonderful personality.

Please excuse my mistake.

Bee-

Adopting an older dog, like one or 2 years old, is an excellent idea. My 2 older cockers are now 7 and 12 and when I adopted them, they were already housebroken and not too wild.

If you find that you want to adopt a second dog, it is very important to let your dog help make the choice. Dogs in foster or rescue care are already socialized and you will know what to expect but if you do to an animal shelter or the pound, it's quite different. You really won't know the temperment of the dog until you get home.

Another thing to remember...just because you and your existing dog like a particular dog and they seem to play or ignore each other there, you are on neutral territory. Bringing a strange dog home to HIS HOME is entirely different. He may go into attack made because an interloper has entered his domaine. As Cesar says, dogs live in the moment. He won't remember that he met that same dog an hour ago and got along with him (I would suggest getting a female). Either way you go, rescuing dogs (and cats) is the best thing to do and it's a win-win situation for everyone.

Good luck!

KathyB-

Good Morning. It sounds like your big guy isn't too fond of car rides. Have you , tried a ramp? Some large breeds find it difficult to jump up into a car and it can cause some pain to him, in his back or legs that you are not aware of. I got a ramp from a Dog Fancy magazine that seems to work fine. My older girl has arthritis and I taught her to use it. I also have a small step by the side of my bed if she wants to come visit me there. With the ramp, you place high value treats all along the ramp until he gets into the car then you give him major praise. The ramp will also help you when he gets older and can't make those jumps anymore.

It's just a suggestion but I wanted to share with you someting that I found very helpful.

Peace

Wow, I just say "wanna go for a RIDE??" and my dogs
fly into the car! Sometimes, I don't even have to say
it, they somehow know, by my energy I guess, that I'm
THINKIN about taking them for a ride. Spoooky, huh?
When my Lab/Shepherd was small, I used to let him put
his paws on the seat and then I'd lift up his back legs
the rest of the way. Once he got bigger (80 lbs) I
couldn't do it without hurting my back, so he just started
hoppin' in. Once in a while, if my Lab/Coonhound starts
trying to be dominant during the ride preparation, the
Lab/Shepherd will not be able to get into the car, and I
have to make them both calm down beside the car, and then
invite the Lab/Shepherd to go first. Then, he's fine.
I would suggest using treats, dog biscuits, to make it
rewarding for him to get in. He may associate getting in
the car with something bad (going to the vet, or just bad
energy because rides have been a problem so far??) so you
need to make it into something he'll be happy to do. He
may think you're trying to take him away, so maybe a short
ride around the block, and then return, to make him under-
stand that he gets to go home after the ride. Good luck!
Try not to get so frustrated -- he is probably picking up
on that.

When dogs have exhibited the ability to do something and then won't in another situation or another time it can feel very frustrating. Frustration definitely changes your energy around the dog and they sense it. The dog cannot be a "jerk" because that implies that the dog is intentionally trying to upset you and that isn't possible. Dogs are amoral they do not know "right" from "wrong." Cesar has stressed several times on a number of episodes that when dogs do things people don't like they don't go through a thought process first or know how it affects the people around them. I understand when people get frustrated they say things they don't mean or feel like the dog is just being a brat (I do too), But the reality is that their behavior is lawful and has a consequence that is either punishing or rewarding. Sometimes it takes an objective observer (like your trainer) to see what is going on.

hi everyone,
i am not a dog owner but since watching the dog whisperer
i became more aware of what a dog is all about..
i do hope cesar would make a program about what to do when one is walking and all of a sudden out of nowhere a stray dog appears menacingly.
what should we do other than being calm??
and maybe wetting myself?
i hope he dedicate a segment just on this subject..so with the knowledge on what to do there will be less hospital visits for both dogs and humans!!
i do do hope cesar would consider teaching us this safety aspect which will be so useful to us adults and children when facing with such danger.
it is better to know what to do other than panic/fearful which woill only aggravate the situation.
thank you.

Hi Maureen,

You must establish yourself, and the rest of your
family, as pack leaders immediately. Watch Cesar's show,
but seek the help of a local professional, too.
You can't go on living like you've described -- you need to get your lives back! Your dog will be happier if you
establish yourself as the leader, and you have to do it
100% all of the time, no matter what. The key phrase I
noticed was "he runs the entire house". You need to run
your house. I also believe no pet should have to be on
prescription drugs to calm them down. Make sure you are
walking him, on a leash, at least 45 minutes a day. If
you can't control him on leash, you need to have a
professional trainer teach you how. The exercise will
automatically calm him down, thus eliminating the need for
tranquilizers. Also, if you express fear in front of him,
he picks up on that immediately. Try to "act as if" you
are not afraid. It really works. Stop feeling sorry for
what he went through in the past. As Cesar always advises, "live in the moment." The dog does not dwell on what happened to him before, and by feeling sorry for him all the time, you are projecting that negative energy on him and letting him get away with bad behaviour.
Forgive me if I sound harsh, I don't mean to, but this
is a serious situation. You can correct your dog and make
him a happy member of your family. Good luck, and
please watch Cesar's show -- the reruns play in the
a.m. all week. Tape them if you can. But remember that
when the disclaimer "don't try this at home" runs along
the bottom, and you think that applies to your situation,
then you have to seek help of a professional dog trainer
for that. Other stuff you can do yourselves. You can
do it!! If I can do it, anyone can.

Maureen,

It sounds like Eddie is more dog than you can handle at the moment. You need to find a professional immediately,
one that you are comfortable with, to start some serious training. With a dog this aggressive, it will take more than Cesar's magic to make your house safe again. The people who are lucky enough to be on his show get a great head start due to the fact that Cesar is so calm and assertive. By watching him closely you can learn to make your beast behave, but you need a leg up first. Doing this on your own (or with your husband) could be quite dangerous, based on your previous post.

Eddie needs a Doggie Boot Camp and if Cesar can't fit you in, find another one. I hope and pray that the next post we hear from you, Eddie has turned his and your lives around. He can be saved. If he gets into a boot camp, it is very important that your whole family participates so you are all on the same page.

Best of luck!

Maureen,

K2 is right. Eddie is bored. The breed mix is right on the money. Needing a job and keeping him busy should make him a happier boy. Cesar has shown on his program that putting a dog backpack filled with someting will give him a job and the dog seems right at home doing it.

Also remember, dogs live in the moment so you can't feel sorry for him for what happened to him in the past. He has no past, only you. You might try breathing exercises for yourself. Breathing calms you. If you center yourself, you will be a calmer leader for Eddie. We all want nothing but success for you and are behind you 100%.

Good luck!

hi, i love the show and have been able to impliment many techniques. when walking, i have a hard time keeping the collar right behind the ears up high. i have a masstif mix and german shorthaired pointer. i saw this collar on one on the shows, it looked like 2 collars joined together, so it can't move. anyone know what it was called? i can't seem to find one on internet. thank you.... true doggie lover

I have a Cairn "terror" Terrier named Sandy. She is a little over a year old. She is very hyper when people come to my house. Today, I decided enough is enough and established myself as Alpha when a friend came to visit. I had my friend sit down and I blocked Sandy with hand signals and my body (pushed into her with my knees). It only took a couple of minuted until she lay down and relaxed. At that time I allowed her to come and say Hello.

I could not believe how short a time it took.

I have a problem with Sandy, she is a horror to walk, so I don't.

I am known as the "crazy lady who gets pulled down the street by her little dog".
I have tried the corrections Cesar talks about, but I get so frustrated because she wants to smell EVERYTHING and runs around my feet.

HELP!!!!

A helpful hand is needed..
I have two cats, and two chihuahuas.. I have had the cats for 8 yrs, and rescued Chalupa ( my first Chihuahua )about 4 yrs ago.. When I bought Chalupa into my home The first thing she did was to chase my cats, and take their toys.. I thought after awhile this would end,But it did not... So I thought if I had another Chihuahua... Chalupa would leave the cats alone and stop taking their toys....
I took Chalupa to look at other Chihuahua's and she seemed to be happy with one....I took the other puppy home and now I think I have the other Chihuahua from hell.... Although Chalupa stopped chasing the cats she is now biting the puppy and taking her toys away... At first I thought chalupa was trying to disapline the puppy CoCo ..
But now I see that it is becoming more intense... Chalupa bites the puppy so hard she being to cry and hides under my bed...When I try to say no in a stern voice.. Chalupa comes after me like the dog in the steven king movie Cujo...
Please I am at my wits end...

I have a 5 month old pit bull who is a very good dog, most of the time. I follow Casars's walking guidelines and walk him 45-60 minutes every day. He also plays at the dog park and goes to dog daycare 2 times a week. He is well socialized. Recently, on our walks, he has started lunging at dogs behind fences, not aggressively, he wants to play with them. I tried keeping him focused before the house and while passing by, but he always breaks concentration as soon as the dogs start barking. I even tried standing in front of the house and bringing him back to the calm submissive state (sitting). He is getting bigger and stronger and I just can't seem to prevent him from lunging at the dogs. Any other tips?

Hi K8- I don't know what type of chain you are walking your dog on, but I have 2 germanshepherds that I walk on a prong collar-a cahin collar is effective too-but as soon as you see your dogs head start to turn you give him a quick correction on the leash- I have to do it with my girls occassionally-as soon as I see they are not looking straight ahead ot looking at me I give a quick correction and they immediately start looking forward again. Cesar does it on the show-believe me it works.

Hi Tiffy,
Thats the Illusion Collar Cesar's wife designed....we are all waiting for it to become available...I think its still in the production state.
At least I know a lot of us are. KathyB

Hi Stephanie- I can tell you from my experience that it really depends on your first dog and how you introduce the new pack member. My first German Shepherd "Chris" was 8 years old when we got our second shepherd "Ginger" who was 8 weeks old. Chris was well socialized and LOVED puppies so we had no problem there. They adored eachother-and Ginger became Chris' dog. Unfortunately we lost Chris to Cancer in 2003-she was 10 when she died. Ginger was beside herself-as we all were.

We got another pup- a relative of Chris (her great niece CJ)-we expected that the same love affair would occur between Ginger and CJ-no such luck. Ginger was fearful and angry and bit CJs ear the first night we brought her home. Then they got along-puppies have whats known as a puppy license until the hit adulthood where an older dog won't harm them. When CJ hit 2 years old Ginger started to go after her-attacking her.
We have it under control now thanks to obedience training, prozac and Cesar's techniques. So you see it can go either way. I learned that the best thing to do is to bring the two dogs to neutral territory and let them discover eachother (smelling one another-typicla dog greeting type things)-then take them both for a walk which helps them bond with one another and with you.

Look for the dog whisperer epsisode that features "Buford" who is also a boxer.
Cesar finds him a female mate, and shows you how to choose the right dog.
I think you'll find it really helpful-especially since it's the same breed-NGC repeats that episode quite often..........

I have a 3 year old pit bull, Onnie that I adopted 2 months ago from my local animal shelter. She's a hurricane Katrina dog, and very timid about rain and wind (which is understandable). However, whoever had her before took excellent care of her as she is house trained, leash trained and knows a variety of tricks, and she's excellent with my nephews & nieces of ages 2-7. I happened to catch what I think was a very important episode of Cesar's show about a pit bull who was not quite so social with other "4-legged furry things" so to speak. I have the same problem with Onnie. On two occasions now she has "eaten" a mouse from the field behind my house, and she cannot be in the company of other dogs or cats. I've worked with her consistently and we are now able to walk past other animals on our daily walks, but they are on the other side of the street. If they are on the same side as us and I cannot cross in time, she goes into attack mode. I feel horrible because I'm not able to take her places with other dogs, and I'd love for her to be able to socialize and have "play-dates" with other dogs. Any help that anyone has to offer for Onnie and I is greatly appreciated.

-Holly

we have a blue heeler name Blade,who became delf as a puppy, he is a wonderful dog, but he jumps, and barks, and is really hipper, and we cant seam to get through to him,have you ever worked with one like this,?
sincerly .
Jerry

Hi,
I have an 8-year-old Irish Setter, Ruby, I rescued her three years ago and she is a total angel. Of course she has the normal Setter tendancies to be slighty manic and forever a puppy at heart! But she is a really good girl in every situation - very subsurvient at first with other dogs when we are on walks but after a few minutes she 'acts' all brave and plays really well. My only gripe with her is with car travel. She whines constantly and is SO excited regardless of where we are going! It's really hard to stop her noise when I am driving and as I am normally on my own I don't know how to stop it. The journeys we go on are short ones (luckily!) In my old car she was in the back of the car behind a barrier - which I deem safest. I had to sell that car and use another for a short time, in which she had to be in the back seat. I was able to reach back and comfort her when she whined and it did seem a little better but I really don't think this is the safest thing for either of us. Has anyone been able to calm their dogs with this problem? Thanks in advance.

Good Morning Joe!
Have you caught any of the episodes where Cesar uses his left foot to tap the dog on his back area/side and correcting at the exact same time??? I have noticed that when Cesar is working with a dog that goes nuts with certain objects or people he has the dog in a sitting posiyion right next to him and right before he knows the bad behavior is going to happen (level 1 Cesar calls it), he taps the dog with his left foot somewhere on the backside of the dog and checks him (checking him towards Cesar) at the same exact time.
My suggestion would be to give that a shot as Cesar says it snaps the dog out of it and redirects him immediatly as he all of a sudden has something else he has to concentrate on (something touching his back/leg area). I hope that made sense!lol KathyB

Good Morning Joe!
I have a DVR, so I watch certain episodes over and over again, to get a particular thing Cesar is doing down pat. I can relate to the falling down!lolololol
I almost fell the first time I tried it and I realized it was because we were walking and I'm uncoordinated!hahahaa
I use that technique only when he is sitting and we are both stopped. If we are walking and it starts I check mine and use my hand on his back end to make him sit until he calms down. Good Luck!!!!! :) KathyB

All the posts I've read are very encouraging. I live with my mother and younger sister and we have 2 cats and 2 Aussies. The pups mother was hit by a car when they were just 5 weeks old. One puppy, a black tri, my sister got at 7 weeks, he followed us everywhere, even nosing our slips and tugging our skirts. He's had some behavior problems, but they were pretty easily corrected.
We got his brother, a blue merle, at 3 months (3 people backed out of taking him, one took him home and brought him back the next day). In the time before we got him, he and a bunch of other pups were chewing walls, clothes, furniture, and running amuck. The owners had no rules or discipline; they loved their dogs to much to discipline them. The first company that came to our home after we got him was bit in the face. This dog chewed a hole in a wall (at a place we were renting), challenged authority in all aspects and was extremely fear aggressive. He was extremely intelligent but very independent. He had to remain on a leash for some time because he had no reservation about wandering away from the family. Mom thought I would be the best trainer for him, because I have the patience of an oyster.
Both dogs are over a year now. Guess? (the black-tri) is a big loveable galoot. He is pretty obedient, when he can't get away with being lackadaisical that is (his attitude is love me, feed me, never leave me), and he's a good watch dog (he lets you know when anything's out of place- like the soup pot boiling over). We had a problem with him growling and nipping a couple of times, but it seems to be a habit he enjoys less and less (thankfully); that 5 year old was a real test on our training- she was walking him on a leash (all 59.4 lbs.) and he stayed at her side and at her pace (did I mention that she was afraid of dogs). SUCCESS! He does growl at me once in a while, but seems to catch himself without a word from me. His favorite hobbies are basketball, suckling stuffed toys and cats ears, and nosing nylons and slips. Very family orientated! His worst problem is breaking things when his back end wiggles with excitement.
Baloo Riddle! (the blue merle now at 47.9 lbs) is better. Now he only chews on his toys and sticks (or trees), and he is more obedient to me and Mom, though he still has a hard time with my younger sister (15). He obeys commands off a leash and can be really lovable and quite comical. He no longer digs holes. He loves to play soccer. He desires to be near the family; even if he wants to play alone he stays close to the rest of us. He loves herding the cats, but has to be corrected when herding turns into aggression (the cats are good at telling him too). He reads my face too well, and with only facial expressions he follows commands. He can be really friendly with company. When he's afraid he now cowers by me rather than attacking, but when there's commotion or excitement he bites. He gets aggressive when in pain. The first company that got bit by him, took on the challenge of teaching him not to be so afraid, and has done a good job. Our friend is a little rough (men and boys will be boys) but it has taught Baloo not to be afraid of quick movements or of being roughed up a little, or to be afraid of unexpected things (jumping out from behind a door for instance). The only problem with our friend’s teaching is that he encourages our boys to jump all over him as soon as he walks in the door, and to nip his hands. We curb it as best as we can but they have brute strength on their side. He was tested about a week and a half ago, after introducing him to that same 5 year old, on a leash. After correcting his desire to jump on her, she was able to feed him treats from her hand (he knows to be extremely gentile when being given food). He was almost a gentleman. When she was giving hugs goodbye, Baloo (who was short on a leash) bit the sleeve of her coat and started jerking backward (she almost hit her head on the kitchen table) I grabbed her away at the same time she sucked her arm into her coat. The only thing Mom could do to get him to let go was shout no a million times and hit him on the nose, hard; even then it took a couple of whacks to make him release. Needless to say the girl, once again, is afraid of dogs. Since then he's growled or nipped at 4 others, including me about 30 minutes ago.
This aggression however is like nothing I've ever dealt with. He doesn’t seem to understand the boundary between play and aggression and I think that has a lot to do with his problems. He even hangs off his brother's back end and will not submit in a fight (Guess? never knew how to fight 'till Baloo drew blood and fur out of him one too many times). Baloo thinks (not something I'm familiar with), and he pre-meditates- I think anyone with Aussies (or herding/sled dogs) knows what I mean. Both boys get their exercise every day and training sessions, and free time. Baloo seems to be regressing though- getting more stubborn in his bad behavior. It’s a constant work out to get him to submit and every day we have to start over.
The owners where we got our dogs have the same problem with their dogs biting (but add running away, chewing everything, licking inside peoples mouths and disobedience). When at our house (dog-sitting) their dogs knew the rules in 12 hours and were so obedient I wanted to keep them. They actually appreciated knowing who the boss was. The day after they went back home they ran away. I felt so good that they respected my family as leaders and learned their place so willingly; I felt that I was doing something right.
It also drew me to the conclusion that there really is something extra Baloo needs as far as training. I believe his aggression stemmed from before he entered our home, but it certainly has not stopped since living with us. I also think genes have a limited part in his aggression (blue merles have more genetical defects). He's so much more “wild” pack orientated than his brother. My greatest fear is that he will have to be put down because of his biting. I'm not ready to give up though, I plan on neutering him next month (which I feel he should not have to be neutered to be obedient, but I’m running out of options). I wondered how Cesar Millan’s techniques can help him with this, or help me help him. I've seen some clips of Cesar Millan and appreciated what I saw. I’m hoping to buy the DVD in a week or two, and find the right training technique to get through to him. This truly is a last resort. Though I have an idea of the triggers, I don‘t know how to stop the reaction. The posts are encouraging because so many of the problem behaviors mentioned are ones I’ve already gone though with him. I feel more confident that biting problem can be corrected too with the use of Cesar Millan’s techniques, so thank you all.

P.S. Sorry this post is so long. Thanks for bearing with me.

Who has ACD Blue Heelers and can you tell me something good about them? I have 2 very sweet one minute and out of control the next. Anyone out there have the same problem?
THanks JAN

I am a recent fan of Cesar's and have found his input to be phenomenal! I have a 1 yr old Mini Ausse. Since I started watching the show, I realize how many mistakes I made with my American Eskimo, I was perpetuating the same thing with the new pup. Thank heavens for Mr. Milan!!!

I can also comment on Aussies. They are VERY smart!!! Mine is also very defiant at times! He knows exactly what I want from him, yet at times he will simply refuse. I have started rolling him on his side till he submits. Most of the time that works. Even the trainer I have been seeing noted that he is a "tough" dog. I have been socializing him since day one and he is very well adjusted. At dog parks he is very submissive. He loves everyone and everything. The biggest issue with him is his will and the fact that he gets bored very fast! It just about kills him to sit at dog school and do nothing while the trainer is talking or demonstrating. Once we start working and moving, he's awesome! I am a bit concerned about the long sit-stays they want from us though!

Between obedience school and Cesar, we have BOTH come a long way in a short time!! I know the road ahead requires a LOT of time and work, but I WILL endure! Just seeing the progress so far is very encouraging!

Any comments from other Aussie owners would be appreciated!!

Thank you Cesar!!!! ;-)

Hi:

I have had German Shepherds for some 30 years and have had them in different disciplines--Self-Protection Training, Pet Therapy,Search & Rescue. I've always had at least 2 German Shepherds at the same time; and one time had 3. These dogs have all been through Basic & Advanced and other training. The problem I have currently is with my 5 year old German Shepherd who got along well with my other shepherd who recently died, until he/Dietrich was fully matured. Then he started attacking the older (8 year) Shepherd unmercifully. That's when we sought help from Behavioral Specialists. I have followed their guidelines and it helped somewhat, in the sense that the two dogs finally got along well outside but never inside; and they were both occupied with balls which took the focus off of them. I am a very strong Pack Leader; however my husband isn't; but is improving. Now I have a new German Shepherd, a rescue and a spayed female. We introduce them both on leash 6 feet apart and things have improved. However if my husband isn't on guard Dietrich, my 117# male will lunge and try to attack Olga-Joli, 62#. Olga-Joli used to bark back and is willing to be submissive. Dietrich is extremely jealus & doesn't want to share me with anyone. He gets along well with other dogs and people; but has been told by behavioralists that he has an Inferiority Complex. My husband has been found to be careless on 3 occasions in the house and forgot where each dog was; consequently Dietrich corneredd Olga-Joli and bit at her. It happened so quickly I didn't see much but went into action and pulled him off her. Luckily for all, Dietrich's teeth are blunt due to playing with balls; so no one was hurt. Olga-Joli is "untrained"--was kept in a backyard for 5 years with little to no attention. I am enrolling her in Basic Obedience and then Advanced Obedience. I feel that I need better control of her before I can expect satisfactory relationships between my two dogs if ever. I can't walk the two dogs at once because Dietrich is too big and she is untrained. My husband has a bad leg and has more excuses; and it's a struggle just to get him to keep Dietrich on leash whil I have Olga-Joli on leash for practice and set-ups. I'm hoping that when the weather improves I can have two balls outside & that both dogs will play and have fun together. Has anyone satisfactorily solved a problem like this one? I have Cesar's tape and have ordered his new book. I have watched many episodes of his but have not found any problem similar to mine. I have been told by Behaviorlists and Dog Club Presidents that they don't have too much confidence in Cesar, thinking that he only has a gift which works for him; and that when the owner returns home, what worked with Cesar no long is working. Thanks for any help or suggestions you can give me. Anita

my dog, adelaide, has a barking problem. every time someone even walks by her she starts barking for no reason. sometimes my grand niece, alissa, come over and she will bark at alissa if she is even in site of her. The only way i can get her to stop is if she is pick up and held in my arms. If i tell her to stop she wont. Also, she nips at peoples feet. She used to be a show dog and she always follows me around and barks at people. she also pees and poops when she gets scared. Sometimes i come home to pee and poo in my house and i am sick and tiered of cleaning it up. Dog whisperer PPPPPPlllllleeeeeeeaaaaaaaassssssseeeeee HELP ME!

Don,

With ANY correction, you MUST follow through. If you tell your dog to lay
down and he does not, you need to make him. Otherwise the dog wins and you
have no control. As for the kennel, perhaps you should find a new one.
They may be mistreating him? Try watching the clips on this site till the
DVD arrives!

Interesting post there. I am a 'dog lover'. I have raised a border
collie, american pit bull terrier, golden retriever, miniature schnauzer,
and now a chocolate lab/border collie mix puppy. All were lifetime
friends or roommates dogs. Definitely establish boundaries and be a
dominant force, but remember to give affection the entire time. I say
you can do this while training and have perfectly obedient friend.
I am the dog commander, and I am a dog lover. And they love me.

I too am a huge fan of Ceasar Milan. We have six large dogs including a great date and a pit bull. I have learned soooo much from watching his shows. He absolutely amazes me at how he works with the animals. We are still working with our pitbull who have a tendacy to be very aggresive towards outside dogs. But I have no doubt that this can be resolved. Thank you Ceasar Milan!!

Kathy B.-

I certainly appreciate your advice, especialy with his specific problem. I am hesitant, however, to allow my dog to be in the care of another. My family used to rescue sray and abused dogs and cats, and we reformed them on our own (i.e car chasers became goafer digger-uppers instead). One time we had a dog that just grew to stong for us, lovable though he as, and we decided to take him to a professional trainer. The first experience with a trainer I think is a lasting one, and our first experience was devistating. When we got him back, he was no longer fit to be near humans and he had seizures because of the abuse he received while in the trainer's care. I hear many good things about trainers, and I'm sure there are a lot of good ones out there, but I don't think I could really ever trust just giving Baloo to a trainer. Cesar Millan has shown time and time again that he really believes in the welfare of the dog (or pig, or whatever else he rehabilitates) and I guess that's why I'm hoping this DVD will help. I will be working with Baloo, physically, but with the audio/visual guidance of a dog whisperer. Thank you again though for your concern, it really is appreciated.

Lynette-

I've been trying that roll to the side and it seems to do little good even if he's there 5 minutes. He just get up and runs after the next destructive thing he can do. What seems to work for me, at least for 10 to 20 minutes at a time, is making him heel beside me (off the leash) before he is allowed to play. It seems that he focuses on play afterward rather than wondering how long he can sink his teeth into his brother for. And, alas! Progress! About 4 days ago the neighbor kids were out again (I din't know or I would have put the dogs in the house) and the boy came into our back yard and was teasing the dogs (for the 4th or 5th time- after being told to stay out of our yard). Needless to say the dogs tore after him full speed (FULL AUSSIE SPEED, you know how they can take off like a Cheetah!) and I felt like a turtle chasing after them just to stay in hearing range. I shouted NO,NO,NO,NO,NO,NO! (echoed by a bunch of No's shouted by Mom, who was inside the house) which they do recognize as an immediate wrong. I stopped in the middle of my back yard and shouted for the dogs to "Come". Baloo (the biting blue-merle) was about 6 feet from the property line, and he turned around without hesitation and came prancing back and sat at my feet (Yeah!) and he stayed as commanded. Guess (the overgrown black-tri) was standing 4 or 5 feet away from the boy, just on our side of the property line, cornering the boy in between the low branches of a big pine tree. The boy was terrified (or so I thought). Guess looked at me like "What do I do now, boss? Do I eat him, or is he playing hide and seek?" (a game we play with the boys in the woods). It took everything I had not to burst out laughing at the dopey expression on his face, but I mustered up seriousness enough to command "Get over here!" Guess came trotting back, happy as a lamb and sat at my feet. I grabbed both their collars, while all 3 of us calmed down, and as I was bringing them in the house, Mom shouted to the boy, for the third or fourth time since we moved here, to say out of our yard. I guess the boy recovered from his freight quickly, since he mustered up the boldness to mouth off. I was a very proud dog owner at that moment because my boys came back so quickly, and that no one got hurt. Of course there is room for improvement, like not running after children at all, but I know that will come in time and with the proper training.

Also, he recently got in trouble twice for somehing he hasn't done in quite a few months; chewing a rug to pieces (something he was allowed to do freely before we got him). He got into so much trouble I'm surprised he didn't bite me over all the comotion; believe me he had pleanty of opportunity if he wanted to. I've worked long and hard to curb these bad habbits, but if I think he got the message and move on to another problem, he brings back the other one, and I have to start all over again. I'm soooooo glad he didn't try to bite me though.

I try to be patient with both dogs thinking of their mentality level right now (about 8 years old in dog years) but I also try to keep a firm handle on the important issues, namely don't bite or terrify people (unless they terrify me of course), and don't chew up the house (literally). Now I really look forward to that DVD, which I ordered 2 or 3 days ago. I can't wait to see how Mr. Millan's training brings out their full potential!

We have a 4 year old Chihuahua/Rat Terrier mix and she constant suckles on a couple of her stuffed animals. She wraps her paws around them and opens her mouth and just hold it there in her mouth. Anyone know why she does this and if we should stop the behavior?

I am having a problem with my dog (cairn terrier mix) and my fiance' getting along. My fiance' has the pack leader concept down with his choc. lab, and I have always treated my dog like a member of the family (letting him sleep in bed with me and get on the furniture). Now, I am training him not go to get on furniture and trying to make myself the pack leader in his eyes. But, the challenge is that my dog is overly submissive and depressed around my fiance', I guess because he has a more dominating voice, is more stern than I am, takes much of my time, and he has disciplined my dog before. Anyway, to show my fiance' his anger, my dog will urinate on his sofa when I am gone. When I am there with my fiance', my dog will cower down, stay in between my legs, mope, and won't play. He spends much of his time laying down (but not relaxed) on his pillow. It seems as if there is a bit of a battle of wills going on. As a result of the urinating, my fiance' doesn't like my dog. What can I do to show my dog that my fiance' and I are both pack leaders now and not to be afraid when we are over at his house? How can I bring peace back?

I'm looking for "clyde voebel" my Great Dane and best budIdy, since we were seperated in Huricaine Katrina. Anyone please google his name and you can see a pic of me and him sleeping on top the car during the flood. I know he got rescued early. and someone is keeping him for them selves. Sorry Ceaser, but he did not know he was a dog and unerstood english better than most humans...
not a day goes by that I dont think about him, nor the emotional hell I put my self in..... I'm a 100% disabiled veteran... and could not manage swimming out with two dogs as I was bitten by a water moccian snake the first day ot hte flood while trying to build a raft for us. On the second day Irealized that the water had goten deeper & I could not get the dogs on the raft. I I took clydes control collar off and told hin to "swim for the levee" and he did I could see him swimming down middle park placeas I had struggled to the roof. Lated that afternoon a boat ame and got me off the roof they told me they could not tahe my Bonnie blue fem rott/border collie mix who was in the house on top of the floating furnature. They told me HRS would come and ges all the pain back....t her. I was in the Hospital facilith in Nichols statee nursing school for almost two weeks... on my third trip back to new orleans I found bonnie blues body on the right side of the back yard, she probally drank salt water and died. My home has been looted.... State Farm Ins Co Ripping me off saying all damage was from flood. As even I told them the back room emploded during the storm and ruined everything in side. I dont know why Im telling you all of this... as it bring

Wow, what an amazing community :) I just bought Cesar's DVD and totally love it! It's wonderful to see how fast dog responds to the right way of correcting them. Our 3 yrs old border collie is aggressive towards dog and lunges at skateboards, tricycles and rollerbladers. On top of being aggresive towards other dogs, she will try to bite me if I try to give her a correction or grab her when she's lunging at dogs. I've been putting Cesar's advice into action and now just have to be consistent.

My question - when she starts getting better would it be a good idea to let off the leash in the dog park with the muzzle on?

Cheers from Vancouver, BC :)

My dog (female)is a mix (part schnauzer & terrier-we think). We are her 3rd owner and think she was abused. She does not like strangers; constantly growls and barks. Can't have people over. She thinks she's the boss. Nipped at me a couple of times but I laid her on her back for a few minutes, which calmed her but she will go right back at it when someone comes in. She loves her cage and doesn't want anyone to interfere with it or she'll growl if she's inside it. She sleeps in the laundry room with the door closed (her cage is there) and she likes it. I'm afraid she will bite someone and I can't take the barking and growling anymore. I can't afford to go to a trainer, no money. I love the dog and want her to be good. We know she thinks she's the boss. Can someone please help me.

I have a 4 month old chocolate lab.. When I'm alone with him he is fine.. When my 23 year old daughter returns from work he gets aggressive with her,... when hubby returns home from work he gets aggressive with me?? What's going on and how can I control this and stop it??? I love him to death but I hate him using us as chew toys.. :( .. Aside from putting him in the other room and closing the baby gate what else is there to do..Sometimes he even takes this fit on a walk..Thanks so much to any responses..

Kiss me w poker ruresxx

I have a 14 lb. Peke-a-Poo who I've started walking on a leash, instead of letting him just roam the yard. He will walk down our road and when we get back to our driveway, he won't budge another inch. He'll sit, pull on the leash, and absolutely will not go any further, no matter what I do. I've tried dragging him with the leash and by the collar, but to no avail. Does this mean he's tired and has walked enough? The total walk is only about 200 yards, and he's built low to the ground (really short legs)