My Life on the Dog List

In America, most people are experts at giving affection. While we reward people for jobs well done and hand out Emmys and Oscars for achievements in entertainment, we give dogs affection for just being dogs.

Dogs in this country get more affection than anywhere else in the world. Unfortunately, affection is often the only part of the equation that American dogs are getting consistently. When we meet a dog for the first time, our first instinct is to pet the dog before he has done anything to earn it. But it is important to recognize that affection that has not been earned can be detrimental to a dog, especially when that affection is nurturing an unbalanced state such as territorialism, fear, anxiety, aggression, and even excitement.

My fulfillment formula consists of three parts: Exercise, Discipline, and Affection, in that order. A dog must be exercised. In actress and comedienne Kathy Griffin’s case, Chance and Pom Pom weren’t getting the exercise they need. Of course, they have a yard and a hill they can run up and down, but that is not exercise. I found out that she has a wonderful exercise room that her dogs can use too! So while Kathy works out, her dogs run alongside her on the treadmill. And when she's out of town, her assistants help her maintain this exercise and discipline routine her dogs need. As far as dogs go, a balanced life is the best award they can get!

Categories: S4:Ep424:Life on the Dog List
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3 Comments

Hi Cesar,

I've always wanted to ask you this but didn't realise your blog now has comments enabled (always read your site through an RSS reader).

Do you believe that exercise, discipline, affection - in that order - is also the recipe for balance with humans?

You always talk about how lack of exercise and / or discipline leads to an unbalanced dog, does lack of exercise and discipline for humans also lead to imbalance and manifest in anxiety, drinking, drugs gambling etc?

Also, by being a good dog-owner and providing exercise, discipline and affection do you think that humans will also benefit from this and help them to achieve balance? If so, do you think dogs could be used in alcohol and drug rehabilitation?

cheers!
Jackmo

Cesar,

Your show has not only inspired us, but it has given us great sense of pride and sort of "respect" in our neighborhoold for how great our dogs are. With all due respect, we don't need your assistance (so far). My husband and I have 2 Rottweiller's, Jake - our beautiful male full breed at 7 years old and Chico - our adopted/rescued male 3 year old. Jake's breeder warned us against getting another male. We didn't believe in her thoery that "you can't have 2 males together without fighting". I knew that I could overcome that "theory". And our 2 boys are like brothers and could not be happier. My husband and I are equally active as the "pack leaders" of our house. We have a very happy home. (oh, and we also have 2 cats) We have been asked by several of our friends on how to help and I believe it is from our hard work that our dogs are so easy for us.

We just wanted to thank you again for your help in exposing the idea that "it isn't the breed, its the owner" People are now so much more positive in their response to our dogs than ever before.

I am not trying to sound prowess, but if you ever want to expand your efforts to SW Florida, I would love to be a part of your organization and share your vision with more people. We just want every owner to be as happy as we are.

I think the world has you to thank for exposing them to and challenging everyone to be a better pet owner. You have enspired and taught all of us how to be better pet owners!!!! Thank you

Very funny show. From both shows viewpoints!. Although Kathy talks a little rough at times, she's really very funny. And just from myself having been married to someone from Mexico City, he was very unique in coming up with phrases that would crack you up. He was also calm and assertive. But it took me awhile to figure out he wasn't bossing me around. Some of Cesar's mannerisms remind me of my ex so much. Ilusion you must be a strong woman. We should talk. The bit about the Emmy was really funny, but it really cracked me up when Cesar said "Give it to me now" LOL

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