Be the Pack Leader: Use Cesar's Way to Transform Your Dog...and Your Life

We have had dogs our whole lives (we're seniors) and never really had a dog with issues we didn't know how to address. That changed when we got our most recent dog from a rescue organization. We've had rescue dogs and cats before and highly recommend it, but being a good pack leader is even more important when you get an adult dog that hasn't been socialized well.The first thing I would tell folks is to get one of Cesar's books or videos BEFORE you go get your dog. Knowing how to bring a dog (especially an adult dog like ours) home and introduce them to your family is very important and can nip some problems in the bud. We "fell in love" with "Tara" and brought her home and showered her with love and affection because we felt sorry for her and because we had missed having a dog since ours passed and because we love dogs. She responded with love and affection, but was beginning to show signs of taking over the house. On top of that, we found out that our sweet lovable little ball of fur, HATES, HATES other dogs. Not people, thank heaven, but she went ape whenever she saw a dog - I mean, crazed growling and barking and snapping. Not cool in a neighborhood that where almost everyone has at least one dog and they spend quite a bit of time outside in their yard or walking. Then we started noticing she was fixating on my cockatiel and licking her lips whenever she saw her. She even jumped up and knocked over her cage. Scary. Then she started barking at everything that moved outside the window, birds, leaves, people. For the first time in all my dog years, I was at a lost as what to do, but there was no way I was returning her. We took her into our lives for keeps. I already was a fan of Mr. Millan's show, so naturally I turned to him for help. I bought a video on picking out and bringing a dog home. It pointed out several things that we had already done wrong. As suggested by Cesar's book and video, I talked to a local trainer too. She said that Tara appeared to have been bullied by her previous owner, and/or by their dogs. (she had a very aggressive brother that we did not select for that reason) and had a serious problem that was fear based. (fear aggressive in Cesar's terms) She gave me some tips that I am using in conjunction with this book to help us be better dog owners and to tackle the issues we were having. We really want her to be a big part of our lives which includes travel, camping and walking our dog down the street without fear of offending the neighbors or worse, having our dog attack theirs. We wanted a happy dog and to be a happy family. This book has helped so much. I learned some things we needed to change and immediately began to follow Cesar's exercise, discipline, affection structure. She loved the exercise part, but that created more tension because of her reaction to dogs. We found a slot of time when most of the rest of the dogs were indoors and walked, walked, walked. Taking charge of our house was easier than I thought. She fell into line fairly quickly when we set rules and followed up with calm, no nonsense correction. I couldn't believe how LESS talk and more energy could make such a huge difference. Now my husband and I laugh at each other whenever one of starts "explaining" something we'd rather she not do to Tara. She doesn't get it, but she understands our body language and energy. One word or sound works much better than all the pleading or cooking in the world. He books reinforced what I already knew, that dogs sense how we are feeling and our energy and that makes a huge difference in how they react. If we lose it, they will too. We have to stay calm and strong for her so that she knows she is safe and can follow us anywhere.Outside was harder, but we have made great strides. It's been two and half months and we can actually walk by a fenced dog that is barking without her going crazy and wanting to eat him. HUGE progress! We still haven't done the actual meet another dog thing, but I think we'll take Cesar's recommendation and include the trainer for that part. I really don't want to use a friend's dog to see if we can all keep our heads. She should be ready for that step soon. The bird issue is also getting better. I have established the bird as "mine" and even though she still rushes toward her at times when the bird is squawking, she will back off with a look or hand signal from me.Cesar's book is full of helpful advice and examples. The only drawback is that is seems rather disjointed in the way it was edited. I can overlook that for results like we have gotten. It will take time, and my husband and I both have to be on the same page and be consistent and continue to be calm and assertive (this does not mean bossy or mean!). I will never be have the magic he has, but reading his books and watching his video has put us on the road to a happier life with our dog and to staying calm when our dog isn't. I wish I could hug Cesar.

Worth a read basically Cesar but I doubt if the book was written by him.

I have 2 dogs. An 11 year old bitzer female, Reg, and a 10 month old Australian Cattle DOG, ralph. Ralph replaced my 13 year old Ridgeback/Bull Terrier, Woody. Ralph was coincidently born the day Woody passed. I brought both Reg and Woody up from pups. Having seen The Dog Whisperer, I checked online for a book by Cesar Milan. I chose Ralph from a litter of 3. They were on a cattle property just outside of the small mining town I live in in Western Australia. The owner of the mum was a bit upset that the pups had been romping through his vege. garden (They were born there). His plan was to knock Ralphs brother and sister on the head and tie Ralph up. I was not having that and took them home to my house. I had been visiting Ralph every day since he was 3 days old and would handle him and his siblings, mum is very gentle but sadly has been bitten by a snake and passed away. I got good homes for the other 2 and Ralph has settled in with old Reg who keeps him in line. Reg actually picked out Ralph to play with, she virtually ignored the other 2. I enjoy Cesars book as it delves into the phsyche of the dog. That appeals to me as I treat all people by who they are, and dogs have personality of a sort and establishing the pecking order in our lives is as important in the life of a dog. Belonging and purpose are manifest to our lives and I find the same with my best friends. I find if you respect your dog, love is inevitable. Even when Ralph destroyed all the cushions on my furniture, due to me being away for work for 3 weeks, I realised that I had to start from scratch and not punish him for something I virtually allowed him to do by not being there for him. I naturally had a person coming in each day to feed and water them. Going for long walks with two friends is a pleasure for me and them. Reg has always been a well behaved happy girl with no bad habits, Ralph is getting ahead in his life as a companion for Reg and me and a happy healthy big boy. Thank you Cesar for your writing. It all makes sense.RegardsDennis J. Shaw JP

It is true that you don't get to techniques until about 70% into the book. Even then, more example stories are intertwined with the tips. But overall, there is good advice and I believe in the calm assertiveness Cesar preaches. We have to be in control of our emotions whether we're training our dogs or not. In my case, I expect that it will take a while to see a change. Even when I walk my 6 year old hound/pit mix with high confidence, her 70lbs nearly pull my limbs out. (I'm trying to reverse 6 years of non existent or inconsistent training.) She doesn't have any issues at home. Outside it's fear aggression and pulling on the leash. I don't want to continue scaring people with other dogs; especially with little ones. I find that the diversional sounds work and giving her lots of exercise opportunities.My critique is actually on a side comment Cesar made in the book. I have to disagree with this statement in the section regarding patients and therapy dogs: "Doctors and nurses are trained to be more impartial, but often their energy isn’t nurturing. They come using a purely intellectual energy." I don't know about doctors, but one of the first things we discuss in nursing school is compassion, therapeutic touch, being available to listen, therapeutic silence, and so on...even our exams tested how compassionate we are.I work with some of the most caring and genuinely nice nurses and our patients become attached to some of us and ask us to be assigned to them again the next shift. While it is true and sometimes obvious that some nurses are just there for a paycheck, it is not the nursing schools or your managers that teach you to be impartial. It is all about your own work ethic and it is the compassion that drives you to advocate for your patients and give them the best care possible during your time with them.

forget the bad press of this man, he loves his dogs but he takes no nonsense, and you can find fault with every dog trainer - but there is always something you can learn and often it is through others experiences or a fresh pair of eyes. I found this book interesting and although more about cases Cesar has already dealt with - I would recommend and would buy another of his books. If you are grown up enough to make your own informed judgements without the do-gooders and nay slayers - you will get a lot from this book. Critics of this man by the way tend to e either trainers who are obviously wanting you to believe their way is best (as everyone!) and those who haven't got a clue. It is the middle of the roaders who appreciate different aspects of training from different trainers.

This book is quiet verbose and the principles that Cesar proposes are contained in about 1/2 of the total page count, as he labours some of the points he makes. If you overlook this the actual contents are very good and it delivers what it says on the cover. I have a little experience of dog training and this book has made me think again about my approach with the puppy we have just bought. This is NOT a book that shows you how to train. What the book does show very vividly is how easily the handlers behaviour and state of mind is picked up by the dog and how it affects it. The book advocates the need for facing your own issues to gain good responses the dog rather than blaming the dog for misbehaviour. The book also proposes a frame work, in some detail, that will provide a productive and stable environment for the dog to flourish in.Well worth the money

I didn't initially set out to buy this book, but I picked it up rather cheaply with 3 other's and they arrived in an extremely speedy fashion! Although the book itself is slightly tattered.... thats not the point of my review.I haven't fully read the book yet (and I will update this review as I finish the book) but from the small sections I have read, I can say that the book is thorough and informative, drawn from many experiences, which are detailed in the book with helpful tables and an appendix to quickly look up a particular problem or trait. It also looks at the "psychology of the dog" in detail, not just the cursory glance over that "training manuals" all seem to have. It certainly is a worthwhile purchase and now proudly takes it place on my bookshelf, taking precedence over my training manuals

Mr Millan really understands dog psyche, if his methods are followed, the dog is instantly happier and under control.I tried it for the first time today with my intelligent, bossy terrier who is inclined to do his own thing on a walk and tries to take charge out of doors. He was amazingly obedient, stopped and waited when told although he was 50 yards away, came back when told, and came out of a hedge when told. The crowning glory was when he saw a running squirrel but of his own volition, turned to ask me if he should chase it before doing so! When I said OK go for it, he accelerated off in the normal Jack Russell way.Unbelievable, and all I did was practice Mr Millan's 'calm assertiveness' instead of anger or irritation.

Worst items purchasedas discovered via working with many professionals in various k9 areas...This person is most certainly not a dog trainer and his ways are definitely not recommended to follow .... does total opposite of how dogs should be treated.