I have been reading Cesar's Way and came to the story about how people train dogs to be aggressive and fight them. I was moved to tears and when I read Cesar's idea about having a place where these dogs can go live out the rest of their lives instead of being euthenized was inspiring me, I cannot sotp thinking about it. I have even spoken to my family and friends about this. It is something that I would love to be a part of. My father in law owns a large amount of land in Nebraska my dream is to build a home on this land someday for my family. I told my husband last night that I would love to have a dog sanctuary on this land as well. We have wildlife sanctuaries all over the U.S. why can't we have one for dogs. Professionals deal with lions, tigers and bears everyday, why can't people like this also work with dogs. We need to take responsiblity for these creatures we bring into our lives. By "we" I mean humans.

I love everything cesar does I have taken a lot of his technniques.
I have not been walking the dog and now with the cold weather comming It doesn't look like I'm getting out anytime soon. we both need the treadmill but don't have one
(and I'm lazy) to tell the truth.
I need encouragement.
thanks

Dear Cesar,
Please bring to the attention of the public the horrific dog cull that is going on in Beijing. Use your voice to help trusting dogs in Beijing who are being rounded up for slaughter and often killed in the street in front of their distraught owners. This is a misguided attempt at rabies control, an effort to "clean up" China for the Olympics. Please help!
Thanks,
Sadie

Whitney,

"I’ve had my rottweiler lab mix for 4 months now, and she’s impossible to train. She is 7 months old. I’ve tried being the dominant leader in the house but she is relentless. Her energy never stops and waring her out is impossible. I’m so frustrated, I can’t get her to listen or stop biting. Please help"

Cesar doesn't answer questions on this blog. However, let me point out a few things and see if they help:

1.) she’s impossible to train." - no she isn't. YOU need to realize that what YOU are doing isn't working. You are making the all too common mistake of blaming the dog for YOUR failures. We've ALL been there, done that.

2.) "I’ve tried being the dominant leader in the house" - as Yoda said "There is no try, do or do not"...you have done "not". YOu have not SUCCEEDED in becoming the pack leader. Or, in other words, your DOG is the pack leader, not you.

3.) "Her energy never stops and waring her out is impossible." - then you aren't going about it correctly. Are you REALLY giving her a focused, STRUCTURED walk EVERY day? Playing isn't enough. Chasing a ball isn't enough. You need to walk her PROPERLY in order to get the benefit.

4.) "I’m so frustrated, I can’t get her to listen or stop biting. Please help" - you need to consider getting professional help. If you are frustrated you are NOT being a "calm, assertive pack leader" and you are, basically, shooting yourself in the foot trying to PRETEND you are the leader. Obviously, your dog isn't being fooled one bit. GET HELP!

If you haven't seen the episode that was just on the other day about the Dalmatian puppy in the fire station then you need to see it. If you don't have Cesar's video about becoming a pack leader, then GET it. But above all YOU need to work on becoming calm and assertive. The INSTANT you allow yourself to become frustrated you have lost the battle for dominance.

Cesar makes it look easy on his shows because he is experienced and he is an expert. For the rest of us, it takes more work because not only do we have to work on our dogs but we HAVE to work on OURSELVES too. If you have to repeat something 100 times to make it stick, then you have to DO it.

You can't say something isn't working if you aren't being consistent about it. If you try to be the pack leader today, but tomorrow you don't feel like bothering then you are allowing your dog to become the pack leader. A pack leader is the leader EVERY MINUTE OF EVERY DAY.

I don't know why it says that"thank you for your comment etc"
i already dread going out in the car with her tomorrow

Rottie mom,

This is a very trying age with a pup and it is also a time when it is VITAL that you learn to be the leader if you haven't yet established that.

I agree that you should seek assistance from a local trainer especially with a powerful breed like this.
The biting is NOT acceptable. No ifs ands or buts and this dog MUST learn boundaries.

It will NOT get better.
In the meantime if you don't have a crate, get one.
If you don't know how to crate train search on google.
Try keeping the dog on leash in the house and remember it gets NOTHING unless you say OK.
It is a lot of work and not a magic fix. YOU must pay attention to everything YOU do around your dog.
Get a training collar and learn how to use it.
If all she knows is SIT make her sit for EVERYTHING until she begins to learn that you mean business EACH and EVERY time.

Right know I am working with a large breed adolescent male who had no boundaries until he came to me at 7 mths old.

He does not even take a drink of water unless I say OK.

He was the same at first and the primary thing was enough exercise to remove the stress. The walks are great but if she still is antsy she may need more outlet. If there is a SAFE fenced area (with NO other dogs)where you can let her burn some energy off, that is what I would do. Dont give up the walk but add another outlet until she settles.

I just took in a Miniature Schnauzer who's owners could no longer keep him. The dog is a good boy. He's about one year old. Not too excitable or anything, comes when he's called (almost all of the time). Thing is on walks, he is pulling all over the place. I've watched Cesar a lot, and am being firm, confident and calm. On the walks I am trying to keep him close by, not allow him in front of me, and walking straight ahead. I give a quick correcting tug every time he stops walking where he needs to be. Thing is, I'm constantly having to give those quick corrective tugs, and it seems to cause him to cough and even gag sometimes. We walked a couple blocks with me doing everything I see Cesar do when he takes the dogs for an instructive walk, and he never relaxed like I see the dogs on the show do. I'm doing my best calm and assertive alpha dog, and I'm used to having to be very calm and assertive as my previous dog was an extremely strong willed 80 pound Shar-Pei/Lab mix (she became very infirmed in her old age with tumors and digestive problems and even then was a tough old girl).

He won't sit on command when we stop either. I have to push his bottom down and then hold him there firmly, telling him to stay. He does stay seated for a few seconds, but then as soon as I stand back up he's back up, so then of course I'm back down immediately trying to correct him. In the car he won't remain seated either. (which could be dangerous for the little guy.)

I'm worried that constantly giving corrective tugs as I just walk on calmly is only hurting his neck.

Is it just too soon to be trying to correct his behavior, as he has just been transfered to a new home and all.

Rich

It can take time to really get up to the walk with a new dog especially one that hasn't had boundaries.
Are you doing the other things. Not going out door until he is completely calm, you go out first.
are you walking fast enough?
The walk IS important but so are all the other leadership lessons.
don't forget sometimes Cesar burns off the dogs energy too if it is too pent up.
I would suggest that (as I did it myself with anew dog)and then work on the walk.
There is no rush..you'll get there and so will he.
We are just syncing really into the walk after 3 months. Every day got better and now we have it. I just kept practicing everyday and listening to him and what he needed and sometimes he needed to burn off energy first and I just had a feeling I wasn't quite getting it..into the groove myself.
I applied "all the other rules "towards calm submission.
Make sure he is calm before you give him "anything".

keep on walking! you'll get there!

We have a 1 1/2 year old pit/boxer mix. He he wonderful around our children/grandchildren; however he is very nervous around strangers, especially children. He recently tried to nip a visiting child. After that incident, we scolded him and leashed him while the child and his parent were present so that we could control him. How can we make him more visitor friendly? We plan to have him neutered soon. Will this help calm him down? I don't want to be responsible for him biting or hurting anyone. His breed has a bad reputation, but he is loving and wonderful with us and we don't want to lose him.
Glenn Leissner

Four years ago I was asked if I wanted a sheltie pup. She was 4 months old at the time and already very aggressive to her owners, an elderly couple. Upon visiting her, I could tell she was smart and knew exactly what she was doing. She was running their lives and scaring them. I took her home and within a week she learned that she was not the alpha female in this household. Over a few months she learned a few tricks and learned that certain behavior is simply unacceptable. She's funny sometimes. She seems to sense unhappy energy, even when I'm trying to do something and it's not going well, and gets unhappy herself. I reassure her that all is well. I know I was given a very smart dog. She learned her boundaries and mostly good behavior with, what seems to me, very little effort. Maybe I was just more consistent than I thought. She treats my son as an equal and only listens when she feels like it but he won't change his behavior toward her. She's his buddy. The only problem that I haven't been able to break is how she is on a leash. She pulls ahead of me till she's choking and then cries because she can't go faster or farther. I watched the show today and saw Maya. I plan to try Cesar's technique the first chance I get. I know I spent a lot of time with Salli, my sheltie, but didn't realize how it had paid off till I saw the show. And it was easy.

My 15 mth old, male Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier (Riley), constantly chases SHADOWS!! ALL DAY

Dear Cesar- My husband and I got a 1 yr old female border collie from the humane society about 5 mos. ago in St. Augustine, FL. They said that she was a mix, but we later found out that she is a pure bred. She has improved in some areas, but the most serious problem we have is her inability to get along with other dogs. She is a very sweet dog with humans, but turns into Kujo whenever she even sees another dog. We had a one on one session with a trainer a few times and she gave us a gentle leader collar which has helped control some of her bad behaviors. We also have watched the dog whisperer dvd's and we got her a doggy backpack. The backpack has helped prevent her from trying to herd cars while we walk her (most of the time), but still does not prevent her from going off when she sees another dog. We think that she probably wasn't socialized with other dogs as a puppy or possibly she was abused. We feel like her aggression toward other dogs is getting worse. Unfortunately, we live in an apt. (in a busy neighborhood) but we walk her 30 min with her backpack on and we exercise her in this private secluded area (to make sure she is not around other dogs) everyday. We also run with her a few times a week. We don't know anyone that has a balanced dog that we could practice having her come up to. She is also aggressive towrds skateboards, motorcycles, bicycles, scooters, trucks, and anything else that moves. She also misbehaves while in the car. Everytime we pass a car or truck or someone on a bicycle she goes nuts. She tries to jump out of the window it seems and she starts to growl very aggressively. We tried having her wear the backpack while in the car but that did not effect her behavior at all. My husband and I are both usually very calm and assertive when dealing with her behaviors. Please give us any advice or any tips we may use to help control our dog's aggression.

Hello - I have the same problem as T.W. I have a 1 yr old shepard mix that will destroy all chew toys and other things that are not hers. Shoes, clothes, plastic, metal.. whatever. She has plenty of toys, balls and loves to chew those but will frequently choose other items to obliterate. ANy ideas would certainly help. THANKS!!!