RW> I finally got his book in braille  recently, and am in 100% agreement
 RW> with his methods and philosophy. I may not have thought it through,
 RW> but over my years training dogs find that a lot of what he says
 RW> dovetails with my own experiences. It's caused me to rethink much of


 Precisely why he is so popular and successful. He explain quite
elaborately and politely as possible - this aspect is missed by those
who take a dislike to him for one reason or another one being that
he came here as an Illegal Immigrant WHY so many of our dogs need help
to be well behaved, well balanced dogs. It's because WE are not
balanced! If you want your pet to be happy, well balanced YOU have to
be. Dogs read our energy. If you project negative energy at your dog
they will not understand why but they may react either fearfully or
aggressively as a result. This is obvious.

CM has taken great pains to explain how dogs need to be dogs.
Humanizing dogs creates a neurotic animal who does not know who his
pack leader is. Dogs like children need limits and boundaries. They
WANT THEM. Dogs prefer to be followers unless they're of the
temperament of natural leader but even still it is with Assertive Calm
we the human are the pack leader.

You do not get your dog's respect or a fellow human's respect for that
matter via fear /aggression tactics. OH you may get obedience but you
do not get respect and that forced follower will disobey you every
chance they get. WHy? Because the dog who is coerced into behaving
just as humans too- only obeys when under a threat. They do not obey
out of respect which as you know is the truest of loyalties.

I was shocked to read two critics of Cesar Milan. One being the SPCA.
They accuse him of FORCING a dog to take walks/ use the treadmill etc
and DOMINATING the dog. How they get this lie out of what all he says
is beyond me!

Perhaps semantics is the problem even though he clearly explains his
words! When he says submissive calm he does NOT mean a quivering
cowering fearful beast! He means a dog that is obedient and relaxed!

He explains why most animals including human would rather be
followers. It's easier. He explains you do not need to LORD IT OVER
your dogs to get them to mind. You don't even need treats(bribes for
which they only obey if you give them one)... It's our energy that
gets them to mind us. Assertive calm.


It's simple! and for 'forcing dogs to take walks to drain off excesses
energy'.. Forcing???? I think the critics must be couch potatoes. Most
animals including humans find a great deal of satisfaction in taking
long walks! It releases tension! Clears the mind. And CM is absolutely
correct that having a dog walk at your side instead ahead an pulling
your arm off is the most wonderful thing in the world. It's not about
power. It's about enjoying a good walk together.

A dog that will walk at your side and not be distracted, is peace and
balance. Even better: off the leash.

Being a good pack leader isn't about being a dictator. It's about
being the one who sets the limits and boundaries and thus a secure
happy environment for all.

PS: There's this person I read of in a message group elsewhere who
complained of having spent a thousand bucks to have his dog trained
not to take food off the table. It didn't work. Well guess what! Want
to know why? The guy kept feeding the dog from the table! He was
UNDOING the training.

Thing is the trainer isn't the magic pill. YOU the owner has to keep
it going consistently always ... otherwise it fails. Because if you do
what stimulates undesired behavior that's what you'll get!

CM also stresses that you should not comfort the dog if he shows fear
or aggression because that REINFORCES the fear/aggression. Wait for
the dog to be calm relaxed (he will be if he sees you are)... and THEN
reward him with nonverbal affection. IT works!


I know this is long and wordy and I hope you understand I mean not to
be lecturing or bossy. I'm expressing Cesar's Way in the hope people
will not miss read him- which I find appalling. !



C.


... Life is a tragedy for feelers and a comedy for thinkers.

--- PPoint 3.01