I'm really looking forward to this episode for techniques with my youngest dog. She started out as a confident pup, but my aggressive male made her a bit fearful. Lately (she just turned 1 year old) she has been scared of ALOT of things. Most particularly, skateboards and cars. I don't give her affection when she's fearful, but I'm wondering if I should correct her (or will that make her more insecure?).

Dave,

Are you sure? What an injustice!
I hate it that in this country everyone has a right to sue, for even the smallest and stupidest things.
Cesar, no matter what, you are a hero loved by many people.

Guess we should have seen that coming, (being sued). I'm sure his fantastic success has ruffled a few feathers in the dog training world.
Apparently, with success you best have a slue of lawyers on retainer...too bad.

I hope this all turns out to be just a bump in the road for Cesar and his family, though it sure won't feel that way in the process.

We have become a sue hungry country. I don't know the whole story but I do know that Cesar through his TV show has helped me and my little pack of 3. We are all happier although gosh darn that smartie pants lab pup of mine! Wish she's quit thinking my mini dachshund is a stuffed toy! I continue to learn so much from each episode of the Dog Whisperer. Thanks again Cesar! God Bless.

I just wanted to tell you how much we enjoy your show. Your lessons make so much sense to us. We had a 100 lb. white Akita who was just a joy to us. We miss him.
Best of luck with those nonsense law problems.

Cesar we are praying for you and your family in this awful time of stress.
We LOVE your show and I am just finishing your book. You have taught us all SO MUCH, Esp. the Dog Psychology part of Dog ownership. Please keep with it.
These people that are so negative in their opionon of you is just nonsense.
Please continue your Good Work. We will continue to support YOU!!!!!!!!!

What a shocker!! But on the other hand, it tells how popular "Cesar's way" is becoming. Featured in South Park, sued for name infringement and being asked for five million, etc. etc.
There are always people who are jealous and who want to take advantage of celebrity. I do not know the background of the story and as someone said, there is always more to the story than what is said on the surface.
I pray for you and your family, Cesar!! We love you and we are so so grateful for what you have done for humans and dogs!!

I'm looking forward to episode 16. In the hope that I get some helpful ideas on how to help a scared dog. He is terrified of the outdoors,he ate his way out of a chain link kennel from fear,the only time he goes out is after dark and then if there is a noise he runs for the door. I have never had a collie who didn't like to be outside. I expecred some problems since he came from a rescue but this is hard to understand and has me stumped.

I read the news story. It sounds just AWFUL about what happened at Cesars facility. I cant beleive that they would make up MEDICAL RECORDS of the dog dying in an oxygen tent from over exertion and bleading from its mouth and nose just hours after the owner dropped off the dog. Very sad its what happens when the celbrity gets too big and doesn't manage his staff.

This show sounds interesting, though I'm not as interested as I would have been a little over a year ago when I first got my own dog who, at that time, was the most skittish creature I've ever seen. Now, however, she's made almost a complete turn-around after I've implemented techniques learned from both Cesar Millan as well as another dog trainer; in fact, in only the past few days she has made a tremendous progression with the use of mostly Cesar's methods. Cesar's an amazing dog trainer (which entails owner training as well) and truly a dog whisperer regardless of what copyrights say.

Which brings me to the point of the lawsuits. A dog dying after a few hours, especially like that and with someone like Cesar in charge, sounds purely ridiculous. Only a fool would over exert a dog to that point, and Cesar's no fool. The other lawsuit, I'm not sure about the copyright and all that it entails, but I do know that there are a number of dog trainers that are referred to as dog whisperers. The difference is probably that Cesar is making money of off the title, which could possibly be copyright infringement. But five million? I'd knock that down if I were the judge, at the least. If the title itself is copyrighted, the people in charge of copyrighting have done a poor job as that's not a far stretch from the term horse whisperer, which is now widely used by anyone with gentle methods to rehabilitate dogs. In my own opinion, this is frivolous because the copyright should not have been granted for that term if that is indeed what the suit is over. I'll have to check into that, though.

I wish all the luck to Cesar and his family, he's clearly helped a large number of people, myself included. I'll always refer to him as The Dog Whisperer, I'm sure a number of people will because it's an accurate title. I also thank him for the help that he has indirectly given to both me and my dog, who is much happier and more relaxed than she has probably been for as long as she can remember.

i have had a dachsie/chihuahua mix since june 05. she is very special and i have been using cesar's techniques to train her. she still is a bit skittish toward children, but mostly when they come running up to her and startle her. she starts to bark when people come over, but when i whisper to her and talk softly, she relaxes and stops the barking. this all i have learned from watching the show. cesar is very gifted and i will continue to watch even if they change the name...what's in a name? it's still about the skill and compassion of the trainer...who is cesar!!

In response to Betsy, let's not jump to conclusions. All the facts are not before us. That's the job of the judge and the legal system. I've been on the receiving end of a business lawsuit, it was ugly and unpleasant in the extreme, and there was a whole lot of lying going on. We don't know all the details of this situation. It is unfair for the general public to automatically assume there was wrongdoing. As for the copyright thing, been through something like that, too. Again, it's just ugliness. As bad as a nasty divorce, or worse. Yeah, in America we sure are "sue happy". Keeps the attorneys employed, I guess!

CJ, what a great suggestion. I'd like to write a letter to the DPC to support Cesar. He has a natural gift, something that he was born with, not something that anyone in Hollywood created. Hey, they can always call him "A" dog whisperer, instead of "THE" dog whisperer! LOL!

Tonight's episode was, once again, excellent.

On a completely different note, if anyone watched the repeat of Stewart and Buddy after tonight's first-run episode... the dog, Buddy (Beagle/American Coonhound), who was afraid of the water hose looks EXACTLY like my Lab/Coonhound, Hector. I mean exactly. Except Hector is like twice the size of Buddy. We sometimes call him "Hector Huge" ha ha ha.

Hang in there Cesar, we love ya, man!

I just watched tonight's episode. How sad it is that one of those Min Pins was euthanized!! I love Min Pins and they are my first choice (as I posted here before). But Min Pins are not for everybody!! Cesar said it right. You need to choose the right dog for yourself and your family. As one of the owners in the show said, Min Pins would test your patience, try to manupulate (in dog's way, of course) and they have abundance of energy packed in their small bodies. You need to be ready to treat them as if they are big dogs.
I do not know the circumstances why the dog was put down and I hate to criticize anyone when I do not know the whole story. I just feel very very sorry for the dog.

Does anyone have any suggestions about working with a spouse that is not consistent with supporting training methods? My husband likes to "have a party" when he greets our dogs in the morning when we let them out and at night when he comes home for work, and it has been creating an enormous problem with my dog in a work environment because she expects everyone to want to have a party when they come in the door. My husband enjoys this method of greeting and doesn't see the harm in it and I have been trying for two years to resolve this, and have explained to him what a problem it is creating and how important it is to have a calm greeting ritual and then he can be exuberant after the dogs have greeted him quietly and politely but I'm just not having much success. Thank you for your help, Patti.

Patti--

Treat your husband's behavior as something out of your control. A distraction, just like a squirrel or a bike or another dog. Insist that your dogs behave as you want them to, NO MATTER WHAT! Your husband will likely feel bad that the dogs are being penalized because of what he does, and also will likely stop! The only reason the dogs respond as they do is because you relinquish your leadership position during that moment. This is as bad or worse for the dogs than your husband's behavior.

"One of the dogs is “my husband’s dog” while the other dog is “my dog” and she is the one that goes to work with me. He won’t allow me to take a leadership role with his dog in the greeting ritual which does reduce my status with both dogs."

Dogs are perfectly capable of learning that 2 different people have different requirements of behavior. Plus, you do have another choice, if you are unsuccessful in changing your husbands behavior: don't BE there during his "greeting" ritual. Just leave, go out of sight. But you must THEN insist on fair play from your husband...that he do the SAME when it is YOUR turn to greet the dogs.

At the VERY least, he can back off and not be involved in YOUR greeting. Then you can insist the dogs behave by YOUR rules, and acknowledge YOUR leadership role. You don't HAVE to let HIS behavior put YOU is a lesser position. If he chooses a lesser position, that's HIS problem!

On a seperate note, I would watch Cesar's show no matter what it is called... and as for the lawsuits I think that it is a crying shame... there is no perfection in life but Cesar has done so much for so many... people that he has never met have bebefitted from watching his shows and there are many wagging tails out there in full support!

Cesar's techniques have made a huge difference in my 4 dog household. I can now walk my two brazilian mastiffs together - 140lb and 115lb and am in control (basically.. lol). They are all behaving so much better... and at the dog park everyone is saying, "well, cesar says..." I don't know what happened in regard to the lawsuit but I don't believe it has anything to do w/ Cesar directly. Maybe someone wasn't watching the dog on the treadmill and his collar got stuck or something. Cesar - we all love you!!!!!! You are amazing. I started rollerblading w/ my very active queensland/boxer mix - initially he did great and now he refuses to go. He sits down on the sidewalk and pulls me towards the house. I so can't figure this one out. This is a dog that can go 10 miles and look at me like when are we going to get started?

First of all, I was refered to the Dog Whisperer by the technician who installed my digital cable. I am an avid fan and have learned so much about my pets and myself. Thank you, Cesar.

I need some help! I adopted a beautiful, clever husky who was an abused, fearful, humane society death-row husky who is now leading a great life and knows her role in the pack. She is polite, smart and fun. The problem: wetting in the house, when I am gone or asleep. I have tried so many suggestions but nothing seems to work. If I walk her more often, the bad behavior is more frequent. I have had several animals, dogs, cats and horses, and always thought I was on top of the pack but this dog has a passive/aggresive streak that I don't know how to counteract. I never catch her "in the act". She will even mess her kennel during the night, on occasion. She is let outside frequently enough (every 2-6 hrs). I have ruled out all physiological issues via the vet. She does well for a while and then--regression. She is 9 years old. Is there any help for us?

Hi everyone,
The $5 million dollar lawsuit concerns Cesar's former publicist and her partner. They say since they wrote and produced the original pilot for "The Dog Whisper" that they are entitled to a share of the profits. They also say that they were in the process of selling it when Cesar "went out on his own" and negotiated a deal without them, so they are not getting a percentage or making any money off the current series, merchandise, lectures, etc. The suit is claiming breach of contract, copyright infringement and breach of confidential relationship.
Apparently Makeda Smith and her partner Foster Corder make their money from introducing potential "stars" to the "inside" track of fame and fortune.
The bottom line here must be GREED...What do ya think??

The other law suit concerns the injury to a Lab owned by producer Flody Suarez....
What can anyone say....
There are going to be problems with problem dogs!
Surely Cesar and his company are smart enough to have clients sign a waiver and carry company insurance for this type of situation.
I feel certain that the injury was not purposely inflicted or caused by negligence by anyone at the Psychology Center!
If the dog was wearing a choke chain it was most likely provided by the owner.
It is so sad that people now expect Cesar to "perform with perfection." He is after all only human!

The claims seem outrageous and the facts are not in yet but this has become the American way...to have the case tried in the Media first... both cases being filed after Cesar became what they percieve as a "Cash Cow."

Hello Rainy! Welcome to the blog -- hope you can get Cesar's show on your cable or satellite provider -- it is the BEST!! You must love your Beagle/Coon mix -- they are the greatest dogs. My co-worker has a purebred Coonhound. They have the most wonderful disposition. So easy-going and just big goofballs. Mine is a Lab/Coon, so he is very big -- 85 lbs of pure muscle. He was born a week after "9/11" in 2001, on the farm of a very close friend of mine. My Lab/Shepherd actually picked him out of the litter. We went over to the farm, and we had all the puppies there -- they couldn't even see yet, and Hobie walked over and "flipped" this little puppy over with his nose! I said, "That's the one!" And then I visited him every week until he was 8 weeks old and ready to come home. He HOWLED the whole way from the farm to my house in the car. Oh it was heartbreaking. So, I've known him literally since he was born, of which I am very fortunate. The second he came home, he never left the yard, never needed a leash, and always followed me everywhere and obeyed every command. Very smart in some ways, but very goofy in others. He is a master at playing with a tennis ball. He can drop the ball, letting it bounce a couple of feet, and then catches it again in his mouth -- entertaining himself without my help ha ha! It is very funny. I've often thought I should bring him on Letterman and have him do stupid pet tricks ha ha. It is the most silly thing I've ever seen. He loves to play with toys, and he is not possessive over them at all. As for fears, he has quite a few! My friend's purebred has the same fears. They both hate water. I live on a lake year-round, and have a summer place at the ocean. It took about 4 years before he would even get his FEET wet to take a drink out of the lake! Whereas all of my Labs and Lab mixes LIVE in the water all day long in the summer! He's half Lab, but wants no part of it. My Lab/Shepherd loves to go for boat rides. Hector won't even go near the boat. So if we're out on the lake with Hobie riding in the boat, he stands on the shoreline and HOWLS. He is not much of a barker (unlike Hobie who barks constantly). He only barks when necessary (in his opinion LOL!) and if we leave him at home alone, he will HOWL the whole time. He is incredibly sensitive to my moods and energy, and if he senses that I'm angry about something (having nothing to do with HIM) he will run downstairs into the basement and hide. Poor guy! But his fears have never turned into any kind of big problems. He doesn't like hair dryers or vacuum cleaners and will hide in the basement, or in "his corner" of the kitchen. Today when we were on our walk, we had to go by someone with a leaf blower and he was really scared. I had a Beagle when I was a child, and so you may have different challenges because your dog is full "hound" -- Beagle and Coonhound. Whereas mine is sporting breed and hound. Beagles need a lot of exercise and challenging "hunting-like" activity. What size is your dog? Are his paws big? When my vet saw Hector for the first time, he looked at his paws and said "This is going to be a BIG dog!" And yup, he was right! When he was a pup, his paws were enormous. Now, they are the same size as they were then! But I love mixed breeds, they are the greatest and they're so gorgeous -- People ask what kind of dog is he? And I will asy "He's a one-of-a-kind dog!" So, I hope this helps with your questions about personality and breed -- of course every dog is different, but I think that Coonhounds do have a bit of a scaredy-cat side to them, but they are loyal and loveable. He makes me laugh every day!

Hi everyone. This is a timely post for me, because I had to get my dog licenced and a rabies shot, and he just freaked out. I rescued him from a shelter last year, and he has really come a long way (as have I from watching this show).

But he cannot go to vets without totally freaking out. I try to stay calm, and "correct it", but then the vet starts to freak out, and he of course wants to confine him. Well, trying to confine this dog is like wrestling an alligator, and I do not feel safe doing it, and neither does the vet.

I feel I need profesional help, and was wondering if anyone knows someone in the south jersey/ philly area who could help me, and the dog.

I second SJS's post and back everyone who has said positive and supportive things about Cesar.
It irks me to no end that there are more and more people "out to get" others whenever they finally achieve sucess.
I came here to get the scoop after reading a scandalous complaint at Bark magazine's blog/site- apparently somebody there has "read" Cesar's Way and trashed it in a review.
I can't see how that would even be possible since it's more of an autobiography and belief system and not a "how to" book.

It's sad that more people in society can't do the adult thing and keep their mouths shut if they don't have anything nice to say. Some people just can't be mature and handle their jealousy in a responsible, acceptable manner.

Cesar has my support, his methods are right in line with other established dog behaviorists I appreciate and follow and I hope that the truths will come to light and his family will make it through this.

Dave - did he have a particularly bad experience at the vet's? If you have the patience, you could try bringing him to the vets' and have him just reach a relaxed state (while you help), and then just bring him home. A couple times of that should work. What kind of dog is he?

As a seasoned insurance litigation specialist, I can tell you that there are always two sides to every story. Clearly the lawyers are seeking to twist Cesar's arm (or his insurance company's arm) by bad-mouthing him in the press.

If some members of Cesar's staff did hurt that dog, I know that Cesar will give them the calm-assertive boot! The law usually limits injuries to dogs to the value of dog (with depreciation, depending on its age), and this might be why the vet bills have not been paid by Cesar's insurance company. Unfortunately, the law sees animals as nothing more than property, and people normally don't get pain and suffering money for damage to their property, as this claimant is trying to do. He just isn't entitled to it under the law. If Cesar's staff did the damage, Cesar will be responsible, but only up to the value of the dog, not the value of the vet bills. It's sort of like getting into a car wreck and having your car declared a total loss, only to find out that the value of the car is much less than the amount you still owe on your car note. If the dog is worth $300, the it is what we call a "constructive total loss". The cost to repair is more than the dog is worth. That is the grim reality. Perhaps Cesar can come to some settlement with this distraught dog owner that doesn't involve lawyers and insurance adjusters.

As for the copyright lawsuit, I think that one will get thrown out. Nobody owns Cesar's skills but him, assuming he didn't contract them away.

On another topic, and as a personal note to Cesar, I want him to know that I am very glad that he immigrated to this country. He is great example of how immigrants have made this country great. To those who fear that immigrants are "changing our culture", let me point out that when our culture stops changing, it will then be dead. Cesar, you have added much to our culture. I am particularly glad that you have proven that even so-called "vicious" dogs do not necessarily have to be put down. You have saved many lives...canine and human.

Well, here we go...and the Cesar bashers are dancing in the streets, rejoicing in the fact that a dog was injured at Cesar's facility...before even knowing all of the complete facts. I guess they won't have to sit by and eagerly await the dog bites from people trying his techniques at home now. Sad.

These are the people who would much rather have a dog put down, than rehabilitated using method they don't "approve" of. At least they don't have to SEE the dog being killed. That's always done behind closed doors. Outta site-outta mind.

Some of these same folks are already stealing his ideas and passing them off as their own, in a slightly modified form. One person has even trademarked "Dog Psychology Method" as their own. Another hasn't even bothered to change Cesar's wording much, before passing it off as her own idea, and trademarking phrases all along the way.

But hey, do your own "web search", and see what you find...

Trainers are attending Cesars seminars, and claiming to be "trained" by Cesar, while belonging to organizations which condemn him. Good way to get people onto their sites by "namedropping" and hooking into the search engine though.

Yes, in reality, there are also the mathematics of the number of dogs going through rehab at Cesar's center. It is an impossibility that there will not be an "incident" or a failure along the way. There is no such thing as a perfect record when you are dealing with that many "problem" dogs. Something is going to happen eventually, no matter what precautions are taken.

Get in a car and drive enough times, and the mathematical probability that you will have an accident, increases each time you drive. It's only a matter of time.

Cesar's critics don't see this. They are too busy rejoicing and hoping to see him fall. I've long been afraid that he would become a "sacrificial lamb" for some much needed changes in man's relationship with his best friend. And his success coming so fast, has made him a target.

But, his philosophies are right on the mark, the wheels of change for the better are in motion, and there is no turning back now.

Hang in there Cesar, keep the faith, and remember all the dogs you've saved from "death row", all of the owners you have helped, and lives you have changed, (and will continue to change), for the better.

Deb

ok. nevermind my last blog, I just read about it. That does not seem right at all. Cesar is a good person. I think that the story is way exaggerated, or Cesar has a crooked person working for him. What is wrong with people?!

Deb,

GREAT entry! I so agree with you. Cesar's critics must be partying after the news (not that it's doing anything for them). Sadly thier dogs are probably imbalanced and not under control.

Your right to say that accedents DO happen, believe it or not. No one is perfect, not even Cesar (I know, shocking). The truth is that all we can do is try, and Cesar has done a great job trying and succeeding in changing our views on dogs for the better.

There are so many dogs that need Cesar's help, it is unbelievable! Cesar can't give up and we can't give up. We can't let the bumpy roads tire us out. We need to keep informing people about Cesar (whether they become critics or fans).

I hope Cesar and his family know that they have support from all of us, and that we believe in Cesar and his ability to change the world.

~Chantel

THis whole lawsuit thing is just ridiculous. The copyright thing just sounds like a bunch of people trying to get money. And the guy with the lab? He obviously has no clue what he's talking about either. How do you "overwork" a dog on a treadmill? Even if it was tied, it would jump off to the side. Plus, I don't think Cesar makes dogs run on the treadmill. Don't they usually walk?
And since Cesar has like 6 gazillion dog, he probably has some sort of contract/deal with a vet or two. If a client's dog gets injured, he seems like the kind of guy to foot the bill.
I think this lab's owner is either making everything up... or he tried the technique at home, got frustrated and messed his own dog and now trying to find someone to blame.

I don't care what anyone says about Cesar's methods. A guy who can get 40 dogs to follow him around off leash is obviously doing *something* right. You can argue it all you want, but the results speak for themselves. Unhappy abused dogs don't follow the abuser around..... DUH!

To all who responded in regards to the incontinent husky, i.e. Penny, K2, Joanna, thank you. My female husky was spade about 1 month after I adopted her (she would have be 6 mos.). Her incontinence is definitely in the form of a puddle. The incontinence has been an issue since day one with her. I don't she does this due to separation anxiety. When I am home and NOT sleeping, she will find me and ask to go outside. Truth be told, I am the third person to adopt this dog from the humane society (hence, her name is Repo-because she kept getting repossessed). I have had her for 8 years. It took me close to year to socialize her to me and my friends and family. Her self-esteem and trust were completely destroyed when I met her. She will remove all exterior diaper aids--in record time. I just had all my carpets cleaned (again) and "pet urine treated" and she blew her good behavior streak within 24 hrs after carpet cleaning. I don't punish her as I am not aware when these events are taking place. I am either gone or sleeping. For a while, I thought she was "cured" until a find a distant corner in the basement office that she decided was her new urinal. Sometimes she knows right from wrong but for some reason, needs to urinate every few hours on some days. I had not seen this topic addressed on the several episodes of Dog Whisperer that I have watched. I didn't know if there is maybe another angle on this issue that I hadn't heard of yet. It is frustrating to not be able to replace your flooring/carpeting or buy a new house, for that matter, due to these lovable four-leggers. Conversely, I hate to confine her to her kennel for hours at a time when the retriever and the cat get to cruise around the house unsupervised. A dilemna that would be wonderful to fix. Thanks.

Laura,
"Get Serious" is a cleaner that works well on everything. It removes All the enzymes so the dog can not smell any trace of urine in the house and it removes all stains.
I have had to deal with some frustrating "pee-pee" dogs.
Here's what workes for me:
I keep the dog on a leash 7-24 for about 2 weeks. When sleeping I loop the leash around my ankle. I also take the dog everywhere with me. This way the dog can not sneak off to pee in a corner. You will be able to catch her in the act. It forces the dog to "ask" to go potty. If you put her on a schedule you have to stick to it. With an older dog I would take her out in the morning and then wait until she "asks" before taking her out again. This may help you recognized what time and how often she needs to go. The are some piddle devices that contain enzymes to signal the dog to go potty. You can put them in your yard in a spot where you want her to go and take her there. With this problem I would use positive reinforcement when she gets it right and a consequence when she gets it wrong. If she is crate trained you can take away her freedom as a consequence. Make her understand that she can get out of the crate when she pees at her pee spot. Don't worry about the other dog having the run of the house. Feed this dog in the morning after she pees in her pee spot. This way she is working for her food.
Good Luck!

It is one thing for a trainer to purposely injure a dog. It is quite another, when it's an accident. When one works with as many dogs as Cesar does, accidents can and will happen. they're accidents, not on purposes. Most likely the people sueing, are just people with ugly, pitiful, personalities.

Darla thank you for the excellent information. I have been feeling so sad for Cesar. I have been through what he will be going through with these lawsuits. My family, and our business, was hurt by "sensationalized" newspaper reports (filled with LIES, I might add) about our case. Even in this hick town we live in! It still bites us in the butt every so often -- 15 years later. Unfortunately, the court of public opinion makes up its mind very early, and there are a lot of people who don't change their minds, even when the defendant is cleared. Our business survived, and the truth prevailed in the end, so we got our justice. There are two sides to every story, and yes, accidents and mistakes do happen. The copyright case is just pure greed and jealousy. But if you can see the humorous side, when we were going through our lawsuits, we always said "there's no such thing as bad publicity" LOL!

Dave-

Try asking your vet if you can bring your dog by when there is no appointment... just walk in, stay for a while, give a treat then leave... if they have a room available then ask to go into the room, offer a treat once the dog sits... then leave. Try making the vet a tasty place to go. My chihuahua pup had the same problem at the Vet (or as he saw it, the while coat that pokes things that are better off unpoked) and we did this for a few weeks. Now he looks forawrd to stopping in for a hi and treat, the vet techs are given treats to give him when we stop by and even the vet gets into the act.

Try making the vet's office just another place to go, but one that is associated with calm fun times and tasty snacks.

Good Luck!

Dave, have you tried tiring out your dog on a long, challenging walk before going to the vet? Does your dog "know" you're the pack leader? If he is physically tired out, he won't have the energy to protest and his mind will be more willing to respond to your commands. If he knows you're the leader, he will submit to you and not give in to his fear.

A while ago, I posted about a dog I know of whose owners are never home and he never leaves the house (this is a yellow Lab, so a big dog). He only goes outside, on a very short tie-out, for two minutes twice a day to "do his business" and then it's back in the house where he is alone all day long and many, many overnights. This dog is incredibly unbalanced. Everyone in the neighborhood is deathly afraid of him. His owner is out of town right now, and the guy taking care of the dog for the week came over to let the dog out today. The dog got away just as I was stepping out of my driveway with both my dogs for our morning walk. I didn't panic, I just stood calmly, gathered up my leashes so the dogs were close to me, and everything was fine. The problem was the guy -- he was SOOOO angry (when the dog took off, his finger somehow got caught in the choke chain and he said it could've broken his finger). This is a person who uses 1950s methods of dog training, if you know what I mean. He was chasing the dog, and the dog kept running away, and that just made him more angry. We headed off on our walk, and when we were on our way back, he drove by us in his car. He stopped to apologize about the dog getting loose. I said no problem. Then he proceeded to tell me that the dog would not come to him, and he got angrier and angrier, and so he figured he would just pick up the dog (80 lbs dog!) and when he did that, the dog BIT him!!! Then he had to wait until the dog laid down on the ground for about 10 minutes before they could go back to the house (the only thing he did RIGHT!!) I said, "You guys need Dog Whisperer." His reply was "He needs dog BEATING!" (he was joking, I know this guy pretty well and know his "sense of humor" if you want to call it that). He said to me, "I was so angry, I had to leave" (Doggone would tell ya, he missed an opportunity LOL!) I think he really was afraid he would hit the dog, and I know he doesn't want to, but he knows no other way -- it's so sad. All I kept thinking was HE DID EVERYTHING WRONG!!! So I told him, as I stood there calmly and assertively with my two dogs just being so good (!!) I told him about this TV show "The Dog Whisperer" and how it has changed my life, and now I have complete control over my dogs. "I mean, just look at them!" I said. He said, "Yuh, that's the problem, that dog has never been controlled." UGH!! Funny, this is the one guy whom I've always thought COULD handle that dog -- turns out he can't! This guy has to take care of the dog for the rest of the week. I'm concerned that his anger might get the best of him. I feel like giving him "Cesar's Way" to read -- I know him well enough to suggest it. At the worst, he'll just refuse to read it, right? At best, maybe he'll read it and get out of his 1950s way of thinking! But the thing is, he's not the owner. It's the owner who really needs Dog Whisperer -- or, IMPO she needs to give that dog to rehab or give it up to someone who has more time to devote to the dog. The whole situation just makes me so sad, happening right there on my own street.

Re: the impending law-suit from the owners of the injured dog that was at Cesar's DPC.

I don't know much about it but it SMELLS like a set up to me! Wait until Cesar is out of town and take advantage of his staff by sending in a very out of balanced dog. Hmmmmmm......

To Laura and her Husky - You are not alone!

It is common for Husky females to become incontinent after being spayed. Don't know why, but the vet told me so. Our Husky is 4yrs and she has an incontinance problem. The vet put her on Phenylpropranolomine 2X day and that has stopped the "leaking".

I too have had my carpets cleaned and have learned the hard way that certain cleaning methods leave the urine odor in the carpet pad and it wicks up into the carpet when it dries. The Husky sticks her nose into everything and when she smells that smell in the carpet (that I can't smell) she'll pee there on purpose when I am not at home. My chow doesn't do that at all, only the Husky.

So now I'm on a mission to fully clean the carpet (again, with those enzymatic cleaners) and will put a new area rug over the area has been pee'd on.

Take your Husky to the vet, you might be helped by the Phenyl stuff.

k2,

That is a sad situation. The dog should go to a new house, where someone would care for him.
Today I was working on a house (I am a painter) owned by a well to do family. They have anything they want. They also have a dog, sweet Rosie. It's a similar situation to what you described. Rosie is let out of the house on a tie out a couple times a day for a few minutes. I used to work in that house before, and every day I would take her on a couple of walks. She was so happy to see me each morning, she new she'd have a chance to smell the grass.
Well, today the owners weren't home, and the doors were locked. Poor Rosie followed me from window to window as I moved around the house, looking at me with her sad eyes. I was heartbroken, because I couldn't even touch her. It was a really sad day for me, other people would laugh, but I know you guys will understand. I left before the owners came back home, leaving Rosie as she looked at me through the window.

K2,

Good for you for trying...maybe the owners when they return will be open to reading Cesar's book?

It should be required reading BEFORE anyone takes on the responsibility of owning a dog and maybe have to pass a written exam..lol!

Its a shame with all this going on with Cesar. He has helped so many animals and thier owners. I think any animal lover who watches his show is touched. If it wasnt for watching him i wouldnt have a career path. I was formerly a dog groomer and now im going to school to become an obediance instructer at a well known school in nc. I realized after watching him, by helping owners with thier "problem" dogs we can stop so many animals from ending up at the pound. I really hope these lawsuits wont effect him or his show in a negative way. Thier is so much more i can learn from watching him. And for all the bashers out there they are just mad they dont have his natural skills with animals.

#72 "He's done..."

On the contrary, oh most unenlightened one. Hold on to your clicker and bag of super-yummy-treats, and scurry back to your "collective", where you will be safe in your assimilated group mind.

Practice your "happy voice" montra of "Pain, and Force, and Fear, oh my!", and see if you can't come up with just one shred of proof that Cesar's philosopies are not accurate, true, and save the lives of many dogs, which can not be "manipulated" or "conditioned" back into stability with your methods.

Oh darn, there goes my compassion again...

For that idiot who thinks Cesar is a phony, yeah well a phony can't walk with 40+ plus dogs, breeds including pits, germans and rotts offleash can they?

Yeah so shut up.

I don't see any other trainers who are able to do that.

My 3 year old dog is scared of any loud noise, raised voice and just shakes uncontrollably until the noise is gone and it takes us forever to comfort her..but now i read into this it isn't good to comfort her but i am not sure how we can fix this?

In response to #72.

First, the dog didn't die. What happened was a tragic accident probably caused by an inattentive employee. Martha's dog wearing a backpack was Cesar showing how you can give a dog more exercise when you don't have time for a longer walk. Ideally, Cesar wants us to walk our dogs for at least 45 minutes every day. That's tough for some situations, hence the backpack and the treadmill. I don't personally like the treadmill. Part of the walk is mental work for the dog. Stopping, paying attention to you, the leader, and not other stimuli. It is all part of the dog doing his daily work before getting food and affection. I have five dogs and have not been able to have two of my labs around each other for five years because of aggression issues (vet bills and wounds to prove it!). In the past two days, the two girls have walked together with me, their calm assertive leader and I have had no problems. I am becoming much more attuned to my dogs and their "language". I understand the meaning of their looks, moves, body language and other behaviors that I never understood before. I owe all of this to reading "Cesar's Way" and watching "The Dog Whisperer." I watch the shows over and over and study everything that Cesar does. I am amazed at the little things I pick up on that he does. The best part is that it is all simple, natural and it really works. I have also been able to get friends to save a dog from being put down because they tried dealing with their pack in a new way. I hope someone is passing along some of all of your comments of support to Cesar. He should know that he has a solid fan base of support. My advice is: Pay the vet bills and damages, apologize for what happened and address the problem that led to the accident. We are humans, unlike dogs, we make mistakes...(They just respond to our mistakes!).

Greetings fellow dog lovers: I hope that someone can shed some light on a problem I am having with my border collie Nikki. I live in Philly in the city, and on a very congested street. We have a lot of traffic and I used to never walk my dog, but since I have become a fan of Ceasar's and am reading his book, my husband and I have been taking Nikki out on daily walks around the neighborhood for the past 2 months. Some days she does well, others she gets freaked, but we are consistent.

My problem lies with another aspect of her behavior. She has been peeing on our bed for the past few weeks, in particular, peeing on my husband's "side" of the bed. At first I thought it might be one of our cats, but have come to realize that a cat cannot pass that much water!! Help! I am weary of changing the bed (and thank goodness I have a waterproof mattress pad), but I would sure appreciate some input. My husband seems to think it is a territorial issue. I do not know what to think. Otherwise she is a reasonably "balanced" animal. Anybody have ideas/suggestions? As of now, we keep our bedroom door closed.

Thanks Much!!!

Peace,

Joanie P

Yo, #72 that was not what happened.

Dear JoanieP,

My dog has done this a couple of times. I had her checked out and she is now on Thyroid medication and a special meds for spinal pain. You might want to see you Vet.

I have nothing but praise to Cesar Milan. I live in a suburb outside of Boston, and we could sure use someone like you in this area. My family and I wait every week to watch your program, as well as learn your techniques with dogs. We are so amazed at how much we don't know about our dogs, but have learned through watching and listening to Cesar Milan. I have two maltese dogs,they're half brothers with two completely different temperments. One is 18 mos, the other just made a year. The older one is very territorial and VERY protective of me, the younger one rarely barks, more playful and doesn't seem to let anything bother him.

I just purchased your book and educating my family with it, as well as the dogs. My dogs are like my two children, yet through Cesar Milan, I have learned to be the "Pac Leader", more so with the older one.

I commend you Mr. Milan, you are truly an angel for a lot of people. I would love to see you come around the new england area, even for a book signing.

Thank you for your knowledge, Lucy

I just read the news and I was shocked. I will say this. Cesar has helped so many people with their dogs, including me. His techniques and his realism about dogs has turned our jack russell into a very obedient, well adjusted friend. His caring is evident in his shows and his book. I am not sure what happened that day but hope that Cesar can/will stand tall with this. God does not give you anymore than you can handle threw him. Hang in there!!!

I have an interesting problem with my neibor's dog (I walk her). I've been working with her on and off leash, and she's doing great aside from one thing. She is so afriad of moving cars, she sometimes refuses to walk on the sidewalk. I was able to work with her and bring her down from exited-dominant to calm-submisive, but I'm not sure what to do about her fear. I've tried "introdusing" her to parked cars, and that helped a little. But her main fear seems to be with moving ones. Any suggestions? Thank you ^_^

Sandy,

It's a *possiblity* (and I'm not a vet, so take that as a warning) that your dog is actually having a form of seizure when the weather is bad. A friend of mine had a dog like that and when she went out of the house through a window during a storm my friend thought she'd feel safer outside, right up until the day she went INTO the house through a window.

You can try associating storms with something nice, like playtime or feeding time, or training time. But if he doesn't seem to get any better, you might need to do one, or more, of several things.

I have a dog that, unlike yours, is fine in the house, he just can't be outside during storms...so if no one is home to let him in, he stays in a nice big dog crate with a comfortable bed. That might be a choice for you. Make the crate a pleasant place for him - maybe feed him there every day. At the very least, it'll limit what he can destroy. BUT, and this is a VERY BIG BUT - don't get the kind that has the 2 inch by 4 inch openings in the wire, make you sure you either get a good plastic crate with small, square wire openings on the door, or a wire crate with square openings all over.

The ones with the bigger holes are too easy for a dog to get their mouth caught in, or even too easy for the dog to bend and twist until they break. The ones with small, square openings don't give the dog something to bite. But the good quality plastic crates, like the ones made by Doscosil are probably the best.

The other option is a tranquilizer prescribed by your vet. The main problem with those is that you can't always be home to give them when they are needed, but they can help take the edge off the dog's anxiety.

There are several alternative things you can try - no guarantee they will work though. YOu can try, when he is inside anyway, putting a T-shirt on him. Some people have said this works well for their dog, others say it had no effect...so all you can do is try it and see. Another thing you can try is a homeopathic remedy called "Rescue Remedy"

You can get Rescue Remedy in sugar pill form that is very easy to give, but you have to know that homeopathic remedies are not meant to be absorbed in the stomach, they are meant to be absorbed in the mouth - so you put them under the dog's tongue, you don't shove them down his throat! Any good homeopathic store can help you get the proper dosage. Homeopathic remedies are completely safe (don't confuse them, though, with HERBAL remedies) and you can't possibly hurt your dog by giving them.

If you choose to try those, discuss how often to give them with the store clerk. Or do some study on them first. Sometimes you have to give them quite often - like every 10-15 minutes for the first few times for them to have an effect. It's a bit hit or miss, trial and error, until you find the right amount and the right timing interval for YOUR dog.

As I live overseas I have been unable to watch the show, but have just ordered his book, online as I need help with my rescued 7 month old min pin. I am trying to pee sheet train her at the moment and when I cannot be with her, I pop her in a pen with her pee sheet tray, blanket and toys. I usually try to cuddle her for 20 mins before penning her, and never pen her for more than 2 hours, except at night (midnight to 7ish). When she starts to get frustrated and yappy, I try to let her cry and settle herself for a little longer. However, at least once a day, she will pee in her bed, in anticipation of me coming to release her from her pen. What can I do to aleviate this? She when we go walking in the am and evening she is terribly agressive to most people and dogs and gets almost frenzied. I have just started trying the shush! and yanking firmly on her harness (not to hurt her though), picking her up and holding her belly up in my arms, but she has not improved. I really want her to feel that I am in control and that she enjoys her walks. I would appreciate anyones advice on what I may be doing wrong... thanks!

I have a question about very limited fear aggression. I have a 5 year old neutered male bouvier (about 90 pounds) who has a history of dominance issues, but is currently happily calm submissive.

He has never been fearful of anything EXCEPT:
1)he would bark and whine and push us over when we went to open a window and
2)he goes totally red zone over the vacuum cleaner. He has actual ripped the hard shell plastic body of one of our vacuums. He has never aggressed against us, just the evil hoover.

Using Cesar's methods we have beat the window issue.

The vacuum is still a problem. We've got him to the point where we can take the vacuum out and roll it across the floor (turned off) but the second it's turned on he still goes ballistic.

This is his only problem, but it is shocking to see this calm quiet animal turn into cujo at the flick of a switch.

We're really tired of one of us having to take him out of the house just so the other person can use the vacuum.

Does anyone have any ideas?

I have a wonderful purebred Akita, and I would like you to train him. Currently, he lives in a very rural area, however this may change very soon as my husband may very well be reassigned to Dubai, UAE and that would mean we would have to live in a building with other people and dogs and we would need Amir to adjust and behave in that environment. I saw your program and we are very impressed and hope that you would help us and train our dog, because he definatly IS the ALPHA male in our house, he is very spoiled. Please help us unspoil our dog.
Thank you,
Sonia Artino

Hi Andrea,

After reading your post, I have to wonder about your statement "There are always comments through out are neighborhood about how well behaved our dogs are. Unfortunately Nano has bitten four people. Luckly, we have not yet been sued. I have never witnessed Nano’s biting so I am not sure as to what is state of mind is when he lashes out......" How on earth has your dog been unsupervised so that FOUR times he's bitten people? Something is amiss and you seem to be trying very hard and wanting to make things right for Nano. I think that your own statement provides you the clue as to where you need to begin. If Nano is afraid of people, he should not be unsupervised for his exposure to people. He needs to have positive experiences with people in a 'controlled situation' where you are there as the pack leader. This way he'll build up his own confidence. Good luck. It's a tough situation for you and for Nano.

An update on my prior post:

As for the lawsuit over copyright infringements, it seems to me that the plaintiff is just trying to make a lot of noise and get themselves some publicity (especially after reading one of their comments that seemed more like a plea for sympathy, especially after she brought in her family and her "minority status"). It did say that they made an attempt with a show called "The Dog Whisperer" prior to Cesar beginning "Dog Whisperer" on National Geographic; depending on the wording of the copyright, however, there could be a loophole through this aspect of the lawsuit (the lawsuit also includes breaches of contract and other things). I have a strong doubt that this case is substantial, my feeling is that it's a frivolous case for them to gain publicity.

The case with the dog at the Dog Psychology Center is either a very elaborate scam (which I doubt) or legitimate. It's common, and wise, practice to list anybody and everybody involved as a defendent in such cases; therefore, the Dog Psychology Center as a business is being sued, not necessarily Cesar Millan as an individual. I've only heard that Cesar was not there at the time that the dog was. My honest opinion, and advice based on my limited legal experience, is for the Center to settle outside of court and address the cause of the lawsuit...That means that somebody would be rightly fired. I personally would fire whoever was involved with working with that dog.

Those are my opinions on the cases from the limited knowledge that I have (I have absolutely no evidence from the lawsuit regarding copyrights and contracts, I can only base it on what I've read and heard).

Noah,

Thanks for the update on your previous post and sharing your thoughts.

About the plantiff bringing up her "minority" status...where does that leave Cesar's "minority" status? Seems like that would be a wash at any rate.

I've had a rescue dog for nearly a year, he's my 2nd Australian Cattledog (first was not a rescue) and was nearly 2yo when he came to live with us. He had some terrible fear issues which we have slowly been resolving, but he's my first ever shy dog. All my dogs have been bold and unfearful, and he's got me stumped. We were 'interviewed' privately for entry into a very well run doggy daycare facility (for him to become more friendly & outgoing) and he sat trembling next to me during our interview. I've been around canines and done some training over the years to know what not to do (reinforcement of fears) but I'm stumped as to what I *should* be doing. I can't tell if the type of dog he is was how he was born (nature) or how he was raised (nurture) before he was rescued.

SIGH. I have an extremely fearful rescue dog. The rescue cannot pay $500 for training. I don't know what we are going to do with her. In this state she is totally unadoptable. I wish Cesar were coming to Washington DC to shoot some film, that would be so great for her.

Andie, Do I dare respond? Well, here goes... I consider Marley & Me one of the top 5 BEST books I have ever read. Ever. I laughed out loud, and cried out loud. I sat and hugged the book and cried and cried for an hour after finishing it. I think you're taking it way too seriously, and seeing all the awful things and none of the beautiful things. The story is a true account of what this poor bumbling couple did with their first dog. I think it was the most touching piece of literary genius I've come across in YEARS. Sure, there were some scary moments during their life together, but haven't we all had frightening moments with our dogs and families? Haven't we all made stupid mistakes with our pets from time to time? I thought the book was a honest, heartwarming account of a young couple and their beloved first dog.
There ya go! That's my two cents. I keep the book on the top shelf of my bookcase, photo up, so I can smile when I walk by. I've recommended it to all my dog-loving friends.

K Miller, I would suggest a "nothing is for free" policy on toys that DO belong to her, and keep everything that does NOT belong to her out of reach. When my dog was in the first two years of life, he was the same way. He tore up anything he could get ahold of. He didn't destroy furniture, just small things. Books, shoes, paper, TV remotes, towels, underwear, socks, etc. If she has toys or chewy bones or whatever, keep them in a toy box that she can't access and make her sit or do a trick before she can have one. Keep all HUMAN belongings in closets, or high up where she can't reach them. Close all closet doors, etc.

Get the books by Patricia McConnell. She has written one that is about things like this, I can't remember the name of it, I'll re-post when I find it. But just go onto Amazon or anywhere and look for Patricia McConnell. Her books are very common-sense and written in perfect explanations of how things should be done. She has a lot of the same techniques as Cesar Millan.

Thank you both for the help. I will get the book and get to work. She only stole a washcloth and a plastic bottle today. Your suggestions are much appreciated.

Chiharu(#101),
I have the same problem with my female boxer. She is terrified of cars, bikes, and basically anything moving with wheels. My suggestion is to have her sit in a calm-submissive state in an area where alot of cars will pass by. She will probably panic a little, but you have to stay calm and get her into a calm-submissive state. This will probably take MANY times of doing this before you see any results, but she should eventually realize that you are calm, and nothing happens to her when she's around the cars. Good luck!

Sonia (#109),
Cesar does not answer questions on this blog and probably does not read it.

However, if you've seen the shows and read his book, you will know some techniques on how to assert yourself within your household. First and foremost, you will need to master the walk, which means walking your Akita with him beside or behind you and not pulling. He should be in a calm state and should not get distracted by anything. If he does, a quick jerk on the leash should be used as a correction.

Secondly, you need to control all aspects of his life. There is a program called NILIF (Nothing in Life is Free) that you can institute. This means that he must work for everything that he gets, toys, food, treats, affection. The "work" can be as simple as a "Sit" command or anything else he knows how to do. Most importantly, he needs to maintain a calm-submissive state of mind before he gets any type of reward. Also, it might be a good idea to withhold affection for a week or so until he gets the message that you are not in control. It would be wise to seek out a professional to help you institute these policies and get him under control before the move. Moving can be very stressful on a dog and especially so if he feels the need to be in control. Best of luck on your upcoming move!

Vivi #105, are you my friend Vivi from Bordeaux, France who once owned the Golden Retrieve, Winston???

Hi Vicky,
Cesar addresses this issue of fear of thunderstorms/firecrackers in the Live Chat transcript. You might want to check that out.
But just to add on to what he says, because I have a dog who is also fearful of firecrackers and thunderstorms. What I have found to work for my pup is a distraction of something he REALLY loves. He happens to love tennis balls, so I do not let him have any tennis balls until a thunderstorm comes (or people start setting off fireworks). Then I get out the tennis ball and actively engage him in a game of toss in the living room. I just throw the ball up a little, he catches it, drops it, and then repeat. I wouldn't suggest making it a game of fetch with a ball in the house unless you have space for this. But definitely keep his/her attention on you and his favorite toy and NOT what is going on outside. It really helps to calm my guy down and it also tires him out, which is great anyways!
I've been having trouble implementing this technique lately b/c all the thunderstorms have been in the middle of the night and there is NO WAY I am getting out of bed at 2AM to play catch with the pup:)haha.

Good luck with your situation, another suggestion that some have proposed is to put a t-shirt on the dog. Seems to calm down some dogs. Didn't work for mine though, but the distraction technique works GREAT so long as the distraction is REALLY enticing to your pup.

Esther,
I would suggest consulting an animal behaviorist. Fear aggression can be a diffult situation to deal with. First and foremost, you know from watching DW that you need to step up and be the pack leader to your bulldog. These are "gladiator" breeds and need TONS of exercise and discipline. Also, you MUST NOT feel sorry for him because of his past abuse. That only projects weak energy and he will feel the need to be the pack leader. Continue to watch DW, get his book, and watch the DVD. They will help you to become the dominant one in your pack and that will allow your pup to feel more secure in his pack. You will also need to address his fears, but I would work on asserting yourself with him first. If you'd like to post more specific questions, there are some great people on this blog that might have better suggestions! Please keep us updated!

Esther-

I agree that you need the help of a canine behaviorist, we can offer tips and suggestions but without actually seeing the triggers and reactions in person no one can help you best deal with and help your dog, but there are a few general things you can try.

Your dog never got the benefit of early socialization with dogs or people, so to him this is a whole new world with strange rules that he just doesn't understand, and what we don't understand we tend to fear. And with dogs, fear becomes fear agression... they want to scare off what they are afraid of.

When your dog exibits the starting indicators of fear, tucking his tail and hindquarters, lowering his head...etc, you want to avoid coddling him and moving to protect him. Instead you want to do gentle things to snap his mind out of it, to distract him... carry a squeaker from a squeaky toy in your pocket and when he starts tensing squeak it once... the noise will distract him as you continue to walk as if nothing happened. Before he knows it he will be past the object of fear and he would not have had his usual bad experience because his mind was elsewhere... wondering where that squeak came from.

My pup, Loki, had some fear issues, and this is a very bad thing in Service Dogs and one that shows fear can never be considered for Service Dog work, but I discovered by accident that if I make a game of the scary thing he forgets that it is scary... the first time he heard my cell phone ring he freaked, scurrying away peeing the whole way... the next time it rang I made a huge fuss "yayyyy... woohoooo... yipppyyyyy" and he got so caught up in my excitement that he forgot he was scared of it... the next time it rang he looked at me with his tail down and again I cheered the phone and he immediatly started barking and running around with his tail wagging like mad... the cell phone doesn't bother him at all anymore and he can even hold it when it rings.

Inside that dog of yours is an animal that very much wants to live in your life... he just doesn't know how, but he will take his cues from you... act calm and he will be calm... act nervous because of how he acted in the past and he will grow nervous and defensive... act excited and he will get excited.

Don't make him a victim of your sorrow over his past, he lives in the now... now he is well fed... now he is clean... now he is taken care of physically... now he has to learn how to be a ballanced dog when he never had the chance to learn before.

#108 Elizabeth-

Where is your crate?

Your dog needs to go through potty 101 again, not only for your sake and the sake of your health but for your dog's sake. It is not natural for a dog to want to 'mess' in it's home.

A word on sedation for dogs...

Remember that dogs are not people, they do not know the reason that they are all of a sudden more tired and sleepy, all they know is that something scary is happening and they do not feel good enough to react to it... they feel doped, lethargic, out of touch... you can't explain to them that the pill will make things easier to handle, instead your dog will not only fear the innitial trigger, but the new sensations that are happening.

Immagine yourself in a foreign country, you do not know the culture or the language, you get hurt or sick and someone babbles something at you and forces medicine on you, you can't ask what it is for and you are scared, you have no idea what is going on and now you are drugged... you cannot protect yourself if something happens... this is how your dog feels, they can't understand why they feel loopy, they just know that not only are they scared but they are now helpless.

You will never hear a dog owner say "my dog ran up to me and begged for a pill because fireworks were going off" but what you will hear is "I had to hold my dog down and push a pill down their throat before he would calm down"... if the pills really worked the way they do on humans then a dog would get the association over time and WANT the pills, but instead they run from people when the trigger happens because people force things down their throats and things get worse.

Fear behaviors are deeply instilled, they take patience and time, they take dedication and understanding... you might not know what started the fear, but you know it is there and you probably know the triggers. You can interrupt the cycle of fear by replacing the sensations with something positive, but it will not be an overnight cure.

Just remember, sedating a fearful dog makes things easier for US... not for THEM... if you are out for the best interest of your dog then you have to do it the hard way... it will be time consuming and there will be setbacks, but there will also be a better understanding and trust bond that makes every minute well worth it.

Since this blog is on fear of dogs, I figured I'd ask advice here:

My dog is afraid of loud noises....what do I do? While my other dog is afraid of the keyboard slider and won't even go in the same room!! And they both are afraid of the vacum...what do i do?

Jackie-

Look at post 140, you can use these same techniques

I also rescued an abused corgi mix dog (female/ 4yrs.old) and while she is somewhat fearful of people and noises it is her interaction with other dogs that is most concerning to me. She is curious about them and wants to sniff them but if they make a move toward her or try to sniff her she will growl or do a fearful snapping motion with a bark toward them. How do I socialize her without injuries to anyone? Or should I just wait a while until she is less fearful overall? We've had her a month. Thanks for any help in this matter.

Years ago, while wandering through one of those mall petstores, I spied a papillon pup cowering in the back of the cage. He was about 6-8 weeks old, had just arrived the night before by plane from somewhere (probably a puppy mill, since no reputable breeder would have removed a papillon from it's mother this young, much less sold him to a pet store) and was in a state of sheer unmitigated terror. I've never seen anything like it.

I took him into the "little room" where prostpective buyers can interact with the puppies. He dove under my winter coat, shoved hiss head down the armhole and spent the entire time there. He did NOT want to come out. I just stayed calm and let him settle down, no moving or talking or petting; finally after about 20 minutes he stopped shaking and you could feel him relax. Until they put him back into the cage, at which point he was in total terror again.

Over the years, I've often wondered whatever happened to this dog. So many families would be wrong for him and I wonder if he found someone who could nuture his self-confidence, or if he turned into a fear-biter.

We got a dog named tyler about a year ago he was abused as a puppy and was scared of every thing he got use to the family but when every we put hiim in the kennal and leave he barks and cries and we get fines for it when ever someone comes over he hides he gets scared to easily.
We also got a dog named pete he was a good dog for about a half a year but he always runs off and now we don't let him any more but now if we try to touch him when hes out side he tries to bite us so we have to let him run but then the neighbors call the cops cause he is running around .

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I am heading out to the bookstore to buy "Cesar"s Way". I have 2 shelties 15months old who are brother and sister. The male I obtained at 3 months and the female at 6 months. Max is well adjusted and Isabelle came to me as a neurotic mess. Unwittingly, I have been reinforcing the neurotic behavior by attmpting to reassure her that she is well loved. I think she might be a result of the chaotic atmosphere in the breeders home--the breeder"s illness, multiple older dogs as well as grandchildren. Max on the other hand had my undivided attention in the form of training for the first 2 months.

Jen
Thanks for the response. Pumpkin is about 8yrs old. I got her from an animal shelter on the west coast of Fl. I will try to distract her if the storm is during the day when I am home. However when the storm is early hours of the morning and she wakes me up it is difficult to be in the mood to "play" She is such a sweetie I hate to see her so streesed out. Thanks again for your imput.
P.S Do you know anything about the problems situation that happened at Caesors kennel in Calif.? What happened to one of the dogs.? I can't imagine Ceasor allowing anything to happen to any animal deliberately.

We have a 5 yr old female cocker spaniel. She tends to act submissive initially around some people and barks when she is around others. Even after acting submissive, she can instantly growl and snap and anyone, children or adults. Concern on our part as she leaves us apprehensive about her behavior in many situations. She has not bitten anyone yet; but has put her teeth on them.

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I just found out about Cesar by watching a few of his shows this week and am wondering where I can buy that special double collar he uses... the one where one collar is high on the neck and the other is low with a piece in between to keep the two apart. I need one of those because my dog shakes the collar down to his shoulders before attacking another dog and is too powerful for me to handle.

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