September 2009 Archives

National Geographic Channel is proud to kick off season six of Dog Whisperer, as Cesar goes back-to-basics on Friday, October 9 at 9P et/pt. The ultimate pack leader is adopting four adorable pups this season, filming them living with him and his pack for their first eight months. Here's the chance to learn how to avoid problems from the beginning!

And if you live in the Washington, DC-area, get a sneak-peak of the premiere episode, plus the chance to meet Cesar as he signs his new book, "How to Raise the Perfect Dog: Through Puppyhood and Beyond," and takes questions from the audience. Details are below.

Pre-order a copy of the book here!

Cesar Millan: How to Raise the Perfect Dog: Through Puppyhood and Beyond
Monday, October 5, 2009
Program begins at 12P et
National Geographic Headquarters, Grosvenor Auditorium, Washington, DC

Tickets are free and available on a first-come, first-served basis at the ticket desk in the Grosvenor Auditorium lobby. Unfortunately, no parking is available for this event, but Metro is only blocks away! More information available here.

NAME: Tipper
BREED: Tibetan Terrier
AGE: 3 years

ABOUT THE DOG:
Tipper joined Pam Ovlen's family as a companion for her other dog Piper, in 2008. Tipper was the peacemaker among the dogs at the shelter and got along fine with Piper, but now when Tipper goes on walks, she squirms, flips, and makes horrible screeching sounds at the sight of other dogs.

ABOUT THE OWNERS:
Pam Ovlen is an interior designer and teaches interior design in Hollywood. She is married and has one daughter.

BEHIND THE SCENES:
A Dog Whisperer's work is never done. During this shoot, John Patterson, a British reporter for the Guardian, was on set to observe and interview Cesar. His article appears here.

NAME: Brooklyn
BREED: English Mastiff
AGE: 15 months

ABOUT THE DOG:
Woody Diaz and Balinda Ballinger got their English Mastiff Brooklyn from a breeder when she was just nine-weeks-old. As Brooklyn got older, she became very excited when guests came to visit; charging down the driveway toward them. She has even flipped Belinda's nephew in the air!

ABOUT THE OWNERS:
Balinda is a bartender and nursing student. Woody works in event and concert production and is a drummer for the Debonaires, a local band in Riverside, California.

BEHIND THE SCENES:
When the Dog Whisperer production staff reviewed Brooklyn's submission tape, they gasped when the large Mastiff flipped young Michael at the bottom of the driveway. They were in such disbelief that they actually rewound the incident to see it again!

NAME: Maxwell
BREED: Welsh Sealyham Terrier
AGE: 2 ½ years old

ABOUT THE DOG:
Owner Sabrina Peukert fell in love with the Welsh Sealyham terrier breed while visiting Essex, England. She had two Welsh Sealyham terriers before Maxwell, but they never gave her any problems. For Maxwell, everything is on his terms. He will even try to bite Sabrina when she pets him.

ABOUT THE OWNERS:
Sabrina Peukert lives in Yucca Valley with her daughter Shannon. Together, they have a menagerie of animals, including a Persian cat named Miss Coco Cadbury, two birds named Cuca and Captain Green, and two other dogs named Yucca Willie and Millie.

BEHIND THE SCENES:
Maxwell and Millie, Sabrina's Welsh Sealyham Terriers, recently won the "Best Couple" award at the annual ARF Osker Awards for Animals Samaritans in Rancho Mirage, California.

Name: Maxie
Breed: Pit bull
Age: 2 ½ years

NAME: Booker
BREED: American Bulldog
AGE: 2 years

ABOUT THE DOG: Jaime Luna adopted and Booker when they were 8-week-old pups. He trained both dogs with the help of a professional dog trainer. Until recently, both dogs visited children's hospitals through the organization, Love on 4 Paws. After Maxie got into a fight, killing the other dog, she was removed from the program.

ABOUT THE OWNERS: Jaime Luna was diagnosed with a genetic disorder known as Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease at age 5 and wheelchair-bound since high school, but he has not let his disability slow him down. He holds a job as a taxi dispatcher, purchased his own home, and volunteers for Love on 4 Paws and K9 Connection. He walks his dogs daily and follows all of Cesar's methods.

BEHIND THE SCENES:
Love on 4 Paws came to the attention of Dog Whisperer producers through staff member Catherine Stribling. Her black Lab Rupert is therapy dog and often visits children in hospitals.

NAME: Miles
BREED: French Bulldog
AGE: 10 months

ABOUT THE DOG:
Owners Matt and Ace fell in love with French bulldogs after a chance meeting with the breed. After some research, an 8-week-old Miles arrived from a breeder in Oklahoma. From the beginning, Miles acted strangely dominant around other dogs. His behavior soon greatly concerned his owners.

ABOUT THE OWNERS:
Matt Sorum is the former drummer for Guns N' Roses and currently performs with Velvet Revolver. His girlfriend Ace Harper dances with The Darling Stilettos, a punk/rock-and-roll dance troupe. Ace had several Labs when she was younger, and Matt grew up alongside Standard Poodles before owning a Lab and a Schutzhund-trained German shepherd as an adult.

BEHIND THE SCENES:
Dog Whisperer producer Todd Henderson brought his 4-month-old son Hunter to the set. Matt Sorum gave a pair of drumsticks to the young rockstar who held on to them like a pro.

NAME: Boo
BREED: Border Collie/Lab Mix
AGE: 4 years

NAME: Khia
BREED: Border Collie/Lab Mix
AGE: 3 years

ABOUT THE DOGS:
Boo and Khia both came from a local rescue near Santa Rosa, California. Because owners Shawn and Phaedra live on a busy street, the dogs must be driven to a nearby trail to be walked. But once the truck starts, Khia paces and barks, distracting Shawn while he's driving.

ABOUT THE OWNERS:
Shawn Glidden works at a facility that strives to improve and develop new hydroponic technologies. His wife Phaedra works for a wood-working company specializing in the planning, design, and execution of custom furniture.

BEHIND THE SCENES:
Phaedra was pregnant when the Glidden's segment was filmed. The couple soon welcomed son Sawyer Lee into their lives.

NAME: Mafia
BREED: Terrier/Shepherd Mix
AGE: 3 years

NAME: Jack
BREED: Miniature Pinscher/Chihuahua Mix
AGE: 8 years

NAME: Grady
BREED: Rottweiler Mix
AGE: 5 years

ABOUT THE DOGS:
Mafia joined owners Alice and CJ Pavlisko in 2005. She was originally named "Princess," but they felt the name didn't quite fit. From the beginning, they noticed Mafia's aversion to strangers. Alice is afraid Mafia's fear aggression may cause her to lash out.

Jack is a Miniature Pinscher/Chihuahua mix that lives with owner Michael Pourmohsen. Jack has never been to work with Michael at the advertising firm because he barks at other dogs.

Because TBWA/Chiat/Day promotes rescuing shelter dogs, Romy Flint was inspired to adopt Grady, who was scheduled for euthanasia when Romy found him. But he bit three people at the firm and was banished from the workplace.

ABOUT THE OWNERS:
Alice Pavlisko is a project manager at TBWA/Chiat/Day Advertising. Her husband CJ is great with dogs and has actually been called a "dog whisperer."

Michael Pourmohsen is a print producer for the ad agency. Together, he and his partner Beto Dominguez care for ten-year-old Raspberry and 8-year-old Jack.

Romy Flint is an account management supervisor at Chiat/Day. Though Romy has had dogs in the past, Grady is the first dog she's owned by herself.

BEHIND THE SCENES:
The hardworking dogs at TBWA/Chiat/Day unwind at the company's own "Central Park," a small off-leash dog park. And for the humans who work like dogs, there is an indoor basketball court.