Wow! How cool! This will be a great way to add more information beyond the book is tight concise ideas to focus and work on. I think we will take this tip of the show and really discuss our understanding of what it says and what we see in the show on the yahoo dog whisperer email list.

This will give us a chance to really bring in ideas of what we have seen from the other shows! I dont know about your guys, but I am just not a left brain kinda gal. The more examples I see the deeper my understanding of how to apply it!

With the wonderful index that is in the back of his book "Cesar's Way" that makes everything so easy to find, combined with the instant gratification of looking up the episode on the season 1 DVD, a really clear 3-D picture should come out that will help me with my new adoptee of 2 weeks.

This time, I made the decision to do a difficult to work with adoptee from Pets911, something I had never done before and have to admit that I am in a bit of a loss, back in newby mode because she is terrified of everything! I didnt realize that I had been working with agressive dogs, so this is really the opposite problem. While she is coming along incredibly fast thanks to what I had already learned from "Cesar 101 school", I am slightly ashamed to admit that I never paid much attention of the "scardy dog" episodes, except for the "dont reinforce the scardy dog behavior". Also (thank heavens for the Cesar provided insights) on letting "big brother" Signal Bear teach Meja how to be a member of the pack AND use the doggie door!

A new DVD ? On pack leadership ? When will it come out ? I wil sure but it !

I would like to see more programs on how to work with a dog who is frightened. I have a German Shepherd 6 year old female who runs from most situations, and all men. We have a dog-door and when a male enters my home, OUT she goes in a gallop with tale tucked. I have had the dog 1 year. Leash her and MAKE HER sit and stay with me when company comes? I would send a picture, be the sound of the digital camera turning on also makes her bolt.
I have seen 1 episode of frightened dogs. I am sure there are more of us out there... Thanks

1st time GSD-

Yes, definately try having her on a leash with you, and just have her in a calm submissive state when people come over. Do not let the person pet her or approach or make eye contact with her. That sends out a different message to dogs than we intend. By using the leash to keep her there, you are kaking her face her fear and she is taking it all in and learning that that starnge person, object, anything is not there to harm her. use the leash in other situations as well, but remember to associate the leash with good things because you dont want that to become another fear of hers. Always let her sniff and check things out before anyone is allowed to look at her or reach out to her.

my adopted dog used to be fearful of men and kids, but no one would ever know that now.

Oh! I am so excited! Cesar, I am like your BIGGEST FAN! I have watched every single one of your shows and you are amazing! Dog Days of Summer are great and all, but I just wish I could see you in person. Now don't think that I am just some crazy person off the street who is a fan of yours just like all the other people! I am just like you, helping all the people in the neighborhood with their dog problems. I'm just not as popular as you because, let's put it this way, I'm a little young. Oh, Okay! I'm a kid! Ughh. Peer Pressure.

I wish season 2 would hurry up & come out on dvd. LOL tianna Kaking. cya Danessa

Dear Cesar Milan and his fans:

I too had been a big Milan fan. Until recently. I used to watch his program whenever it came on. Even if I had already seen it several times before. I loved studying and watching his rehabilitation techniques. It was like watching true magic happen right in front of my eyes. Until the Katrina rescues...and his actions and beliefs regarding the sterilization of the rescued animals. And tonight, after I visited this website, I learned several other things which disturbed me and caused me to lose a great amount of respect for him. In fact, all respect I had for him as a person. I still believe he is a fantastic canine rehabilitater, however, I will no longer be watching his show. I will not be contributing to his assets by purchasing any training videos, dvds or books. For me, he crossed a line and I'm very doubtful that he will ever willingly step back across it. I spent several hours reading through a particular blogfest with nearly 500 entries and the emotions were running wild. I am not writing this blog with the purpose of re-animating the bashing of both Mr. Milan nor any of the people who participated in said blogfest. I am writing to inform people that I most strongly do not agree with his belief nor actions in the forced sterilization of canines.

When I saw the Katrina rescues he accepted, I thought, "How fantastic!" Until he sterlizied the animals in his care. The dogs were in his care because he accepted the responsibility of locating their owners. They had gotten separated from their pack because of a natural disaster of massive proportions. I do not believe he had the right to alter any of those dogs. He did not own them. They were not his to do with as he pleased. Certainly, he felt he was doing good. And I would certainly be grateful to find my pack member alive. Although disfigured, against my wishes. The dogs were not altered when the owners lost them. Therefore, the owners did not wish them to be altered. What gave him the right to do so? These were not necessarily "shelter" dogs and it was not necessarily a lack of responsibility on the part of the owner to get separated from their pack member. Although I will say that I will not now nor ever leave any of my pack members behind. Either you are pack or you are not. However, I don't know the circumstances as to why they were separated in the first place so I am reserving judgement.

I believe that he is a very good animal rehabilitator, but no longer believe him to be the best. The best would not feel it necessary to alter an animal. They would be able to control the animal. It may take extra work. But they could do it. Speaking from experience with aggressive, unaltered then altered dogs (a very protective pit bull for his "girl" who is my neice), it does not have as much affect as he believes. In the wild, wolves have pack leaders. Only pack leaders are allowed to breed and produce young. The rest of the pack assists in caring for the pups along with the Alpha pair at the top. Pack leaders in the wolf world generally do not allow subordinates to breed and reproduce, the consequences can be harsh...from expulsion from the pack to death. So he does not have the control that he thinks he does if he believes castration and hysterectomy to be the solution to problem dogs.
I do however understand the need to sterilize in some circumstances and his facilities are definitely a prime example. He has a great many dogs, though I myself will not own more dogs than I can supervise if they are unaltered. (Remember pack leaders control the breeding and any who disobey and breed can get booted.)

While reading that blogfest, (which took several hours), I have to admit that I skimmed it (there was an amazing amount of bashing each other and Cesar) as well as giving it the comprehensive reading it deserved because of some things I learned. I didn't want to be misinformed because of careless reading. I myself have an unaltered male dog who I have no intention of ever castrating. Not unless it is medically necessary to his survival. It is not his natural state. Nature says the male species has testes. However, I have complete control of my dog and have had so since I purchased him from the breeder. I do this for love. And because by accepting this animal, I am accepting responsibility for his welfare. Even routine minor surgeries can go wrong and cause more harm than good. The skin is the body's barrier against the world and all the things that would feed on it if given a chance. Microscopic organisms, etc., you get the picture.

I have this control because of my first experience in dog ownership. A lab mix puppy was given to my four year old son (he's 19 now). I had no idea what I was doing but I was utimately responsible for the animal and I blame myself for what was to follow. At 1 1/2 years old, she was sweet but uncontrollable. She lived in the back yard and we would occassionally play with her. But with no manners, a rambunctious dog and small children do not mix well. So we would also play in the front yard. One day, she couldn't stand it anymore. She broke through a chain-link gate, the back door and then through the front screen door to come and play. Boy was she excited. Running in circles around us, knocking down my children and just having a blast. She then darted into the road. The Ford Bronco was driving much slower than the posted speed limit, but it was still too fast to stop. He hit our dog as we watched in horror and heard her brief yelp of pain. He stopped and carried her back to our yard because I would not have been strong enough. He had been driving slowly because he was looking for his lost dog. He cried as hard as the rest of us as she bloodily gurgled her last breathes of life. I learned something that day that made me the dog owner I am today. Neither I nor the man looking for his lost pooch had any control of their animals. If your dog is lost, you aren't in control of it. My lack of control was obvious.

Now, I insist on control. At all times. I insist on complete obedience. At all times. This starts from day one. I use a leash briefly until they figure out who is boss. Me. Always. After Tina, the lab mix was killed, I knew that things had to change if I wanted to own a dog. Within a year, I had Roscoe Peco Train (aka Rocco), a Queensland Heeler/Jack Russell Terrier mix. I previewed and purchased as many training books as I could afford. I'm not rich so it wasn't as many as I wanted. Too bad Cesar wasn't around then. Perhaps I would have made a few less mistakes. To figure out what makes a dog's thought processes click, I turned to a documentary in both video and book form, Never Cry Wolf, about a man who actually lived with a pack of wild wolves and who eventually accepted him as a pup in their pack and who fed him in the manner of a pup. (gross...but I'd do it if I had to...I think) Rocco lived to be 13 years old. All who knew him could not believe the level of training and obedience he had. It took a lot of hard work and consistency but I knew I had to do it. The first 6 months were the hardest. I kept it short and sweet. A few minutes at a time, many times a day. June 2, 2005, at 13, I held him in my arms while the vet put him to sleep. A skeletal shell of what he had been, as a cancer had eaten his life force and took my baby from me. My husband and I drove him, wrapped in his burial shroud, on the quad to an area he enjoyed in the mountains to bury him. We found a place that spoke to us with the beauty filling our eyes. Looking around, we spied a cairn of rocks and decided we could use those to help keep predators away. The rocks were a headstone for Tigo, beloved hunting companion who died in July of 1987. That gave me such chills as you could not believe. I have no idea who the owner had been, but we knew then that we had found the right spot. Rocco was buried next to Tigo.

Reyna, a 20 month female German Shepherd, came home with us 8 months before Rocco died. Hers was a planned pregnancy. In fact, I had to wait for nearly two years before she could be born as my sister-in-law had to first acquire her mother, Tanya, then wait until she was of breedable age. Needless to say, I was anxious but patient. I knew my baby would be special. It was 6am when Tanya first started birthing. I wouldn't be off my graveyard shift for awhile and figured it would be over before I could get to my sister-in-law's house. But she wasn't done, in fact had barely begun! Pup number 8 had just been born when I got there. I carefully climbed in with momma and thoroughly inspected each pup. None were mine yet, but I just knew that there would be one for me. Then we left the room to give momma some space to relax for a bit. We checked on her occassionally and discovered # 9 but still none for me. Then another check and a new pup. There she was. Mine. A gift from heart to heart. I almost called her Ren Ten Ten :)

And now, I own an eight month old Parsons Russell Terrier, Elmo. AKC registered as El Moroccos Joker. He was acquired with haste on a road trip. I finally wore my husband down and he said I could have another dog. A small one. I got him when he was 11 weeks old. He did occassionally get away from me when I first got him by darting out the door. I stopped that by making him sit and wait at the door until I was out and only if I gave him permission to come out. Before I put him on the leash, if he got away, he was quickly caught. How? Reyna, we would send her to knock him down as we were running after them. If it hadn't been for her, he would have been leashed much earlier. Needless to say, he eventually learned he couldn't leave us in the dirt. And the one time he got out and away from me when Reyna wasn't around? He thought it was a great game, keep away from mom! Only I didn't like the game. I picked up a shoe intending to throw it close to him to let him know I didn't appreciate it. Except...I'm not a very good aim and I hit him with it. SMACK! Yip Yip Yip and he came running straight to me. I felt horrid and checked him carefully but no permanent damage. I haven't done it since and won't. I could have killed him on accident. My dogs obey, are rarely leashed, do not act aggressively towards others and even in a panic, will obey me. Two mean and aggressive Saint Bernards proved that as they chased Reyna while I called to her to COME! She had to run in a big circle but she came. And there I stood as those dogs came, all 5'2" of mean little Native American woman. Thankfully, there were some other people around too who helped scat them away. (and with a few of my foot prints on them) Reyna got away with a raw mark on her inside leg where the fur was gone from being bitten but no blood and major damage.

Those are my credentials as a dog owner. Many of you complain that the Cesar bashers don't know what they are talking about. And really, I'm not bashing his techniques on dog behavior. He can spay or neuter any of his own dogs as he wishes. I draw the line at being forced to do it by people who push a law through the legal system because of the irresponsible behaviors of others. Don't penalize those of us who do the responsible thing and keep their dogs under control. Who don't breed indiscriminately. But what deeply offended me the most? He freely admits that he broke our laws by crossing our borders and yet he wants to pass a law requiring me to go to jail if I don't sterilize my pet. And I'm not a border crosser hater either, remember the Native American thing? Well, the Mexican people were also a part of this continent long before there was a United States of America.

Also I believe only one katrina dog actually found his home so more than likely wouldn't that mean the other to were strays meaning they had no owner so what owner didn't want them sterilized?To me a owner which leaves their dog unaltered is irresponsible, no matter what.

KathyB, feel free... I for one will not attempt to stop you. I believe in freedom for those responsible enough to handle it, and I responded to that on that blog as well. I must say in my own defense that this is the first time I've blogged as I have not had internet access for over 6 years and blogs either didn't exist or were relatively unknown. I didn't realize that it would offend you so greatly but I don't regret doing it either because as I stated in the top blog, I'm looking for feedback.

Tazibrat,

Everyone is entitled to their opinions whether or not to sterilize their pets. It is what's right for each individual, because each case will be different. There is also a thing called RESPECT. I respect your opinion to not sterilize but you in return should respect the rest of us who do. Cesar has a right to his opinion, as do the rest of us, about sterilizing and you should respect him for it. I didn't see that from reading your blog entry.

Tazibrat,

I've never read such a load of baloney in my life.
You've come to Cesar's blog in hopes of what? My opinion, it was just to toot your own horn and vent someplace other than at the choir.

Since the ONE dog whose owners were found aren't complaining, give it a rest.

Please help!!!
My Chihuahua barks and goes bananas every time we see another dog.
It happens on walks, while we are driving in the car even when we go to the park to play with the other dogs. Any advice anyone? Please?

sarah #26, If you happened to see last night's rerun of the little maltese, he did the same thing as you're describing with your Chi. If you didn't see it last night, I believe it runs again this afternoon (Saturday) at 1:00 eastern, and I think again on Sunday but I'm not sure, and again NEXT Friday afternoon at 4:00 eastern. Hope I'm right -- you should check the NGC web site for the schedule. It's the re-run of Opie & Flirt and I can't remember the Maltese's name and then the German Shepherd that chases its tail. The Maltese is a small dog who goes nuts when it sees other dogs on walk.

I think you're fortunate that you have a small dog, because like Sarah said, it will be easy to correct as long as you're consistent and in charge. For starters, make sure your dog is not walking in front of you. Then, when another dog approaches, you should stand in your dog's line of vision, and face YOUR dog. Do not look at the other dog, look at your dog, and make your dog look at you (make a special sound, or a slight touch with your hand or your foot like Cesar shows on DW). Make your dog sit and stay for a few seconds. Either let the other dog pass by while yours is sitting, or you can walk past each other but only if your dog is right by your side.
I have two BIG dogs, and this is really hard for me, and I envy you having a Chihuahua -- I think it would be easy to control a small dog in this situation, after what I've gone through!
Good luck, read the book, get the DVD's and watch Cesar's show and keep us informed!

We adopted a 3 year old female Rhodesian Ridgeback from a breeder about 4 months ago. She was raised with 8 other Ridgebacks but was not socialized too much with humans. At first she was fearful of everything and everyone that came into our home. She would bark and growl, tail totally tucked. After 4 months she has settled down considerably but is still very leary of new people. She was petrified of our neighbors 1 year old son as she had not been around babies or children at all. After working with her, she now loves the 1 year old. She follows him around, is very gentle with him and allows him to do anything to her, even walks slowly on the leash when the baby holds it. But she still growls at other children and adults she first meets. We have been committed to socializing her by trips to work, the store, the park, walking every day in the neighborhood, introducing her to many people. She is not aggressive, but fearful. If we could spend an hour with every person we come in contact with, she would be fine, but that is unrealistic. Any suggestions on dealing with this would be appreciated.

We just rescued a lab pit mix. We have only had him 5 days but I am worried. He keeps biting and lunging at us in a playful manner, but will not stop. We have tried yelling no, holding him down and using a spray bottle. We have been giving him 4-5 walks a day with a total time being around 2-3 hours. I got concerned today when he growled at the girls next door and their mother. Should we keep him? I don't know where to go exactly for help. I have called one trainer and waiting to hear from another. We think he is a little under 2 years old.

Janis, That was great info from Tianna so I just wanted to say you can ask your vet to recomend a class in you area and if I were you I would not wait. Trainers are great but it sounds like he needs to be exposed to numerouse people and other dogs. i would also have my children if they were young feed the dog and not give him anything unless he works for it even just to sit and stay while the food is put down. If you have to keep putting him back into a sit stay if he gets up before the food is put down. This will help to show him that you or your children are infront of him in the pack. Don't give up it is great you rescued a dog! All mine are rescued and it has taken alot of work.

Dee, is the dog neutered, and have you had him checked by the vet to rule out anything medical? What kind of crate do you have him in? If it is to big the more likley he will go in it. In the past training dogs/puppys I have kept a lead tied to me so I knew where they were when they were out of the crate in the house. With him going on your bed sounds like it is a dominant thing going on, that is where your smell is the strongest. I know of people that have come home to a hole in the middle of their bed. By marking it he is owning you. Do you walk him daily? He is a mixed breed that needs alot of exercise. Good luck!

MH-

A dog is never too young to start training. When you have a baby human in the house, you would not allow them to crawl up to an electrical outlet and stick their fingers in it. You want to break these issues before they become habits. When she does this, do not give her any positive attention, do not pick her up and hold her. Push her away, tell her "no!" and put her on her back so that she learns to submit to you.

Hi,
I'm new here and hope you can give me advice on my Bichon puppy.
He is currently 12 weeks old and extremely aggressive. He lunges, bites, tears at our clothes, bites continuous when you try to hold him. I have never seen a dog so aggressive at this age. He has been like this since the first week we brought him home. We are aware now....that the owner allowed the dogs to run her house like a pack of wild animals....we found this to be true with an unexpected visit. We have tried everything possible, read a ton of books, searched forums on the internet etc. He has toys, exercise, and love....the minute you do not pay attention to him he destroys something or starts the biting process. Any suggestions?