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April 2006 Archives
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Who's the Boss: Desert Bulldogs
In nature, dogs have only one pack leader. The followers naturally fall into rank depending on the strength of the energy they are born with. Every once in a while, a higher-ranked dog will get sick, and a subordinate will fight or kill him to move up a notch. That's nature.
However, I do not believe we should ever nurture dominance among domesticated dogs. First of all, it can be dangerous. A person or another animal could get seriously hurt. When we nurture dominance, it's not that different from nurturing insecurity, nervousness, tension, or fear. In the wild, it's a natural state, but there are consequences when dogs live with us behind walls.
In my pack, I am the leader, number one; and they're all number two, all considered equals. When I'm away, my assistants become number one, but all the dogs remain in that number two state. We don't want to create number three, four, five, because that can create a chain reaction of dominance, which can lead to violent fights.
Rehab Behind Bars: Pups on Parole
Las Vegas's "Pups on Parole" program is a great example of "The Power of the Pack." In working with the women inmates who rehabilitate dogs for "Pups on Parole," I wanted them to understand that dogs are able to experience more than one human pack leader. This is important because once the dog is successfully rehabilitated and adopted to another household, they will know that human equals pack leader.
As you know, I believe that all humans should be seen as pack leaders in order for our dogs to be able to instinctively follow. Dogs only have a problem with this when they are confused as to which pack position is theirs. If we don't demonstrate to them where they belong, they will naturally try and take the leadership role, even if they are not temperamentally suited.
Remember, nature tells them that someone's got to take the wheel!
Approaching a Lost Dog: Global Pet Finder
If I see a dog that is acting like he may have run away, the first thing I do is study his mental state. If he is in a frantic state-of-mind, I'll follow along on the other side of the street, without trying to catch him at first.
But if he seems lost or tired and just looking for direction, I will try to get near him, without making eye contact, and create a space for him. He will become curious and most likely, approach me. Remember, staying calm is key. Sudden moves could cause the dog to become fearful, nervous, or tense. He is in unfamiliar territory and he doesn't know or trust you.
Cesar in Washington, DC This Weekend!
Cesar will be making an appearance in our nation's capital this weekend, conducting a seminar at National Geographic Headquarters! While this event IS sold out, you can find a schedule of Cesar's seminars on his Dog Psychology Center Web site. He may be headed to a city near you soon!
Can Dogs be Picky Eaters?
Storm, the Newfoundland, was the world's pickiest eater--and a prime example of a dog that wasn't being challenged enough. Just like humans, animals need a purpose in life. It's programmed in their DNA to want to work for food and water. But because Storm was living a life with constant room service, even when he hadn't ordered it, he'd lost the desire to do what regular dogs do--go after the food!
I do want to stress that there are some times when a dog's lack of appetite is a red flag for physical problems. If your dog's appetite changes suddenly, especially if the condition continues for a few days, please contact your veterinarian. If the doctor runs tests and finds there's nothing medically wrong with the dog, then it's time to look at other aspects of his relationship with food. Here's a tip: A really strenuous rollerblade session first thing in the morning will make most dogs eager to wolf down a hearty breakfast!
Cesar's Chat Transcript!
First and foremost, a big thank you to Cesar for his time and expertise and another huge thanks to everyone who logged on to participate or to just check out the chat! We apologize to those of you who did not have a chance to have your questions answered. We had over 4,000 submissions, which shows how many people are tuning in to learn about Cesar's training methods.
To find out what Cesar said about walking your dog, stopping excessive barking, dogs and cats living in peace, and much more, log on to http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/dogwhisperer/chat.html to read the entire chat transcript. Remember to tune in this Friday at 8P et/pt for an all-new episode of Dog Whisperer!
Take Back Your Couch
Leadership and hierarchy are natural in the animal world. Their places in the pack start to become established as soon as it enters the world. So it amazes me when I have clients who give up some of their comforts of home to the dog! The client will say, "Oh, that's Baxter's couch" or "My husband and I can't even see each other in our bed because the dogs take up all the room in the middle." Wait a minute! You paid for your house! You go to work to pay for that couch, and that bed and yet you can't use it because it "belongs" to the dog? Something's very wrong there. If this describes you, then it's time to take back your own home.
Once again, it all comes back to establishing a leadership position. You must feel in your bones that you are the pack leader in the house, and project that calm-assertive energy. If you assert true leadership, your dog will not be sad, or hate you, or resent you, even if you take back the place on the sofa. But you have to really mean it. Having a leader is hardwired into your dog's brain - that's what he both needs and wants. Take advantage of that and go ahead, sit on your couch again!
Animal, Dog, Breed
We tend to forget that human beings created dog breeds. From the first wolves and "proto-dogs," humans selected certain dogs for special traits and physical features and manipulated their genetics so they would fulfill specific needs that we had. In my opinion, most dogs, even mixed breeds, still have that genetic disposition, that "cultural background" that gives them skills that allow them to accomplish things that actually go beyond just being an "average" dog.
For a beagle like "Snoopy the Sniffer," it's in his DNA to know when he smells something; he must track it down, and then howl. When the dog in him doesn't have enough activity to be fulfilled, the breed in him takes over. In a beagle, that frustration comes out in an excessive amount of howling and sniffing.
It's important to remember that all dogs are "animal" first, "dog" second, and "breed" third. Even though the breed in them has certain needs and tendencies, if you fulfill the animal and dog first, through exercise, then discipline, and then affection, you can avoid a frustrated dog's genetic tendencies from going over the top and driving you crazy.
It's Not Nice to Tease
Teasing your dog may seem funny or cute, especially when the dog is young and "gullible," but it's not fun for the dog. It just creates frustration and that frustration has to go somewhere, whether it takes the form of aggression, dominance or fear.
I have many clients who adopted powerful-breed dogs as a puppies, such as Pit bulls or Rottweilers. They enjoyed playing dominance games with the pups, like tug-of-war, or teasing games like hiding a ball. The problem developed as the dog got older and stronger and got used to winning the tug-of-war games, making him the dominant one in the household. In a teasing game, the older, stronger dog can take its frustration out on the teaser, establishing dominance.
In a dog's natural pack, they play, but they don't "tease" each other. Don't inflict this quirk on your dog.
Finding a Compatible Companion: The Battle for Eppie
Your dog's energy should be the same or slightly lower than yours. Before you adopt a dog, make sure the dog's energy is compatible with yours. Someone with a laid-back personality may not be well suited to a dog like a miniature pinscher, a breed known for its high energy. An athletic person who may want a running companion may not want to consider adopting the sleepy shitzu.
I feel that the dogs in my own pack have each in their own way taught me how to be a better man. There are times, however, when a person and a dog are simply not compatible. How do you know when to throw in the towel? I counsel my clients to work as hard as they possibly can on their leadership skills, their calm-assertive energy, and on mastering the walk with their dog. This needs to happen every day, for a minimum of two months. If after all that time of honest hard work, they truly cannot commit the time, energy, and discipline it takes to make the relationship work, then it may be time to think about finding a more suitable owner for that dog.
The Dog Whisperer Chat Transcript is Coming!
Thank you to all of you who logged on to our first Dog Whisperer chat last Friday! Please check back for the full transcript!
Home Sweet (New) Home
Editor's Note: Josie's segment aired on Friday, April 7.
Sometimes household change can to trigger odd behavior in a dog, like renovation work, installing a new floor, or moving to a new home. The truth is I haven't seen a case yet where the problem was created by that one single change. In nature, one traumatic experience does not create a phobia. Often, it's layers of previous experiences that build up and are then triggered by one particularly traumatic experience. But most of the time, it's a person's reaction to the experience that influences the dog's fear or neuroses.
When your dog is about to undergo a new experience that could be frightening for him, it's important to condition him in advance. If you are moving to a new home, there are several things you can do. The biggest mistake would be to just let your dog jump out of the car and expect him to acclimate to the house on his own while you unpack.
Take the dog for walks to the new house before you move in. The day of the move, give him a one-hour walk around the new neighborhood to experience the feeling of "migration." Once in the house, don't let him wander around while you are getting settled. Put him on his leash and introduce him one room at a time, letting him sniff around to familiarize himself with his new home.
If you use your calm-assertive energy to communicate to him that this is a positive experience, that's the experience he will have. It's up to us to create and maintain the leadership that keeps a dog balanced through every new situation.
Chat Live with Cesar Tonight!
Editor's Note: A transcript of the live chat will be available next week!
Attention Dog Whisperer fans and dog lovers everywhere! National Geographic Channel is hosting its first-ever live online chat with the Dog Whisperer himself, Cesar Millan. Log on to www.ngcdogwhisperer.com on Friday, April 7, at 9 p.m., ET, immediately following an all-new episode of Dog Whisperer. From canine aggression to puppy problems to introducing a new dog in to your "pack," Cesar will be on hand to advise you about your beloved canine companion.
How Many Rescue Dogs are Too Many?
To me, there's no limit to how many dogs you should adopt, or how many dogs you want to share your life with, though it is a little different for me because this is my job and something I've devoted my entire life to. Fortunately, I have the resources, time, and experience that these rescue animals need to develop into a cohesive, balanced pack.
People really need to research how to care for multiple rescues and understand what it takes to keep them balanced. You also need to be able to provide the kind of life that will fulfill them mentally and physically. Knowing that dogs' most important activity is walking, we should be aware that if we don't have sufficient time, energy, or resources to exercise them, we shouldn't rescue them.
Just a Reminder: Chat LIVE with Cesar Millan, April 7 at 9P ET
Attention Dog Whisperer fans and dog lovers everywhere! National Geographic Channel is hosting its first-ever live online chat with the Dog Whisperer himself, Cesar Millan. Log on to www.ngcdogwhisperer.com on Friday, April 7, at 9 p.m., ET, immediately following an all-new episode of Dog Whisperer. From canine aggression to puppy problems to introducing a new dog in to your "pack," Cesar will be on hand to advise you about your beloved canine companion.
Respecting Boundaries
Some people become concerned when they see a number of dogs together in one place. The reality is that you don't have to be so concerned if their boundaries are respected. For example, if a person were to swim into a pack of sharks, most likely they're going to be bitten, not because the sharks were waiting for them, but because they were in their territory.
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