Thank you for mentioning Atlanta's "beautiful Piedmont Park." We couldn't agree with you more, which is why we are now working harder than ever to improve Atlanta's first and largest public dog park.

Joshua Rush
Piedmont Park Conservancy

I cannot express how much Cesar's show and books have aided me in truly understanding and dealing with our 2 dogs and every future dog I will ever have. I've had dogs since I was very small and I learned quite a bit about how to deal with dog behaviors that are unwanted, but up until first watching and realizing the things I didn't correct could turn out to be the most important ones, things changed. My mother and I are both disabled and our dogs are both working dogs that we trained ourselves due to specialized requirements they needed to have. Both our dogs are rescues, coming from abadonment and neglectful situations that were also physically abusive. Storm, our now 14 yr old German Shepherd/Malamute cross was very well trained in terms of word commands when we got her but she had some rather major agression issues. Even now she has agression issues but I have full control over them so she isn't a danger to herself, people or other dogs. She came to us food agressive, child agressive and definately what Cesar would term a "red-zone" case. She bit one of the workers at the Humane Society where we got her. They let us adopt her because we demonstrated a working knowledge of how to deal with that agression. Before she even really knew me I was forced to step in and establish dominance because she had gone after another of the staff while I was walking her to get a feel for her real temperment. We adopted her because we knew no one else would. She was scheduled for euthanasia the next day because of her agression. Today she's a happy, healthy dog who enjoys having direction from someone who's willing to step up and give it. I cannot express how much I wish more people would step up, learn how to deal with agression issues effectively and without injury, instead of trying to use the "ignore unwanted behavior and simply reward "good" behaviors" path because so many otherwise very good dogs are euthanized needlessly.

Our second dog, Loki, is a 125 lb Belgian Shepherd/Grey Wolf mix that was taken by the Humane society from a breeder of wolf hybrids. Out of over 50 wolf hybrids seized by the Humane Society of Ohio, only 4 were adopted out to capable homes. The rest were sadly euthanized due to temperment problems. Loki came to us in the summer of 2003 as an 18 month old "pup". He had a very large range of problems from chewing of furniture, going to the bathroom in the house, food agression, fear agression towards ordinary handling and necessary grooming due to his thick coat. It took 6 months of constant work with him to eliminate these behaviors and then a further 4 months of training to be a service dog. He needed confidence condititioning as well as removing the fear agression he displayed.

I use many dominance rituals with both my dogs. They are both very powerful animals and could do a lot of damage if not properly handled. I recognize this and the last thing I want is to have an animal thats a danger to anything. Loki requires a bit more forceful and frequent reminders of his status as a follower but it has come to the point that all I need to do is look at either of my dogs in a certain way and they immediately slip into a submissive state even if seconds ago they were in a highly excited state. With Loki I have complete control of him with just body language and tone of voice. Storm takes a forceful touch once in a while to get the message.

I am immensely grateful that someone like Cesar exists in this world because the world needs him and more importantly the dogs need him to teach their owners they aren't just toys. That they have needs and requirements just like a human does, its just that their needs are different from human needs.

I love my dogs unconditionally just like they love me... but they aren't human and treating them as such is simply dangerous but all too prevalent in today's american society. I guess what it comes down to is that many people are unconsciously afraid of their own dogs when any hint of agression is displayed and to their reasoning, trying to touch a dog while its in an agressive state is going to get them bit.. and it very well may.. but if you fear your own animal you shouldn't have it unless you're willing to let go of that fear for the good of yourself, your dog and everyone else around you. I've been bit in the past breaking up fights between dogs because no one else was willing or able to do so. I suppose it comes down to having to be unafraid of the possibility of being bit and being able to not even think that it is a possibility. Cesar is so right, a confident attitude, body language and energy are the all important projections someone needs to have when dealing with any dog and if you can project it strongly enough, even during the agression of a fight, its possible to break it up by simply walking into the center and being that stabalizing energy, redirecting the agressive energy of the entire group into the psychological challenge of accepting that a "pack Leader" disagrees with that kind of behavior. I've seen dogs turn agressive towards other dogs in a single instant and then respond completely to a total stranger stepping up to them and making a simply, sharp sound and dropping into a submissive state just as quickly, like a light switch had been thrown. I haven't gotten personally to quite that state but I know people who work with police dogs, guard animals or other controlled agression training that can do so. It always amazes me and I strive to reach that level as well because I know the world needs more people capable of doing this, especially with powerful breeds. The world would be a poorer place without even the most notorious of "power breeds". They all have their place and the right to live correctly and in a balanced setting. I applaud Cesar and others like him, for dedicating their lives to this cause, because it not only saves lives, prevents pain and suffering, but also makes better people out of those he helps and that is a true gift.

It's great . . . IF the area in which you live ALLOWS dogs in the parks. In the county where I live, dogs are banned from almost all parks, even if they are on leash. I am lucky in that I am close enough to a neighboring county that DOES allow dosg in most of its parks.

you are great ive been trying to teach my dog the same way you do im a big fan so is my familly bye.

Where can I find roller blades like yours (big wheels)?

Thank you,
Jay

Hi, we are family of 3 adults, 2 children, 5 birds and 5 dogs. Recently we adopted a 4 year old Pomeranian to add to our other 4 Pom's she was gift to our grandson who lives with us. We found that she was not house broken so we are working on that. My question to anyone is how to break her from her food aggressions. The other dogs know to wait while the family eats, but the new dog is guarding the table and will attack any of the other dogs that dare to approach the table. I will be crating her while we eat, but I do not feel this is a correction of the behavior any suggestions. Marty