Cesar’s Way: The Natural, Everyday Guide to Understanding and Correcting Common Dog Problems
Fans of the National Geographic Channel's The Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan will be grateful for Cesar's Way, an accessible guide to help new and current dog owners better understand the needs of their beloved pets. If you are not yet a fan, try to catch a couple of episodes of the remarkable show--you will be amazed, impressed, and motivated to create a healthier, more fulfilling relationship with your dog. In Cesar's Way, Cesar explains that dogs are not complicated, and despite what various owners think--not human. They rely on three key elements in their lives: exercise, discipline, and affection (in that order). "Problem dogs" can be attributed to "problem owners," owners who don't understand and misinterpret their dog's behavior. Cesar's Way is really a training program for dog owners, with chapters devoted to understanding the "power of the pack," taking responsibility for "how we screw up our dogs," and learning how to manage aggression. Cesar's book (a must-have for new and old dog owners) moves beyond basic obedience school techniques, and teaches owners how to change unwanted behavior by better understanding their "best friends." --Daphne Durham
Exclusive Video from Cesar Millan
Watch a Clip from the Show
Watch Cesar in action in this clip of The Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan, courtesy of the National Geographic Channel. Or, tune in on Friday nights, at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
Cesar Millan's Top 5 Tips for Going to the Dog Park
1. Make sure your dog is spayed or neutered, has all her shots, and is in good health. Under no circumstances should you bring a sick dog to a dog park!
2. Do not use the dog park as a substitute for the walk! If you drive to the park, leave your car a block away and take your dog on a vigorous walk of at least thirty-five minutes to drain some of her energy. Never take an over-excited dog to the park.
3. While at the park, don't "punch out" on your calm-assertive leadership. Be aware of your dog at all times, and take responsibility for her behavior.
4. A calm-submissive dog will not attract another dog's aggression--but an excited dog, a weak, timid dog, or an aggressive dog can become a fight-magnet.
5. Know your dog! If your dog has poor social skills, is overly fearful or is dog aggressive, or if you have not yet established your calm-assertive leadership with your dog, find a more controlled way to introduce her to the company of other dogs, such as "play dates" with one or two other dog owners.
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
10.98
Cesar Millan, Melissa Jo Peltier,Cesars Way: The Natural, Everyday Guide to Understanding and Correcting Common Dog Problems,Three Rivers Press,0307337979,mon0000043330,Behavior,Dogs,Human-animal communication,Training,Pets,Dogs - Training,Pets Dogs General,Dogs - General,Animal Behavior (Ethology)
October 2nd, 2011 - 05:19
It is quite amazing how “Cesar’s way” works. I tried using the principles I picked up in order to manage our 4-month old puppy.
October 2nd, 2011 - 20:13
As an avid fan of Cesar, I could read his books and watch is programs all day long. My only regret is that this book is too short – it merely served to whet my appetite.
October 3rd, 2011 - 13:16
I have owned purebred field Springer Spaniels and a pure bred Border Collie. I didn’t believe in yelling or punishment myself. I found that my dogs paid more attention to my talking quietly and to a quiet rebuke than yelling ever did. It worked well for me in the past and some arrogance on my part assumed that I knew it all. I didn’t.
When the last of my dogs died this year, I decided I wanted to have another Border Collie as my last dog before I died. This dog I would find, would be my ultimate challenge though. At 12 weeks of age I excused his behavior because I’m told he is a Taurus. A few months later he began to attack his food dish in what I can only describe as “rabid”. Shortly after that he bit me when I walked by him while he was eating.
I was at a loss to what to do. He was a puppy. …But a puppy like this you don’t want to grow into a dog I thought. Then I saw a show called the Dog Whisperer. It made sense to me (hell I was brought up English! – if not for me why not the dog?) I was really worried that I might have to put this dog down until then.
I tried it Cesar’s way. I started walking and running the dog in my backfield for at least 45 minutes. What a charmer he became! I added some new rules “no couch” and he got even better. If my husband would stop letting him into his lap he would be much better I am sure!
Finally, I would like to add that as much as I worried about my dog (which I no longer worry about) at least one dog owner I know gave up on his once. He regretted his decision. Thanks to Cesar I don’t have to make that same decision.
October 4th, 2011 - 05:23
If you are really interested in learning about dog training, you must read John Bradshaw’s book Dog Sense.
October 4th, 2011 - 09:11
I was so excited when I read this book. I was getting a doberman puppy in a month, and wanted to be prepaired, since it’s a more powerful breed than some.
October 6th, 2011 - 17:47
I have read the negative reviews of all the “spoiled-sports” who disagree with Cesar Millan’s philosophy of the dog-human relationship. I feel they are merely jealous of the fact that he has become a “media idol” in the dog-training arena and is now pulling in the big bucks.
As a dog rescuer who has taken in and re-homed over a thousand dogs over the past 10 years, I just wish Cesar had been around back when I first became so deeply involved in “pack mentality.” I’m sure that I could have made some better decisions, saved even more dogs’ lives, and dealt more effectively with some behavior issues.
Of course, time breeds experience, and by the time I first saw Cesar on the National Geographic Channel last year, I realized to my great pleasure that many of the things I had learned and was now utilizing myself were based on the very premise Cesar promotes.
Cesar’s philosophy is based on common sense: humans are human and dogs are dogs. Most dog owners become oblivious to any common sense they may have possessed prior to adding a dog to the household when they bring their “new baby” home.
There is nothing wrong with a “calm and assertive” approach with dogs, and nothing equally wrong with the dog being “calm and submissive.” This does not mean that you will have a frightened dog that will submissively urinate, cower in the corner or become a fear-biter.
As the supposedly more intelligent and sensitive being, you have to approach your relationship with your dog in a common sense manner and tempered with consideration for the natural temperament of the particular dog. But I do share and support the premise that dogs are much happier when they know that their human is the one “in charge.” They are relaxed, content and much more prone to “be good.”
I’m sure there are many other well-qualified dog trainers across the country, some of whom have written good dog-training books, utilizing equally-effective methods of training. There is and never will be “one” form only, but to trash Cesar Millan’s methods is to me nothing more than an undeserved “cheap shot.”
October 8th, 2011 - 04:42
Cesar’s book is excellent. It makes a lot of sense and his TV show proves that he gets results. Don’t carry the Dominance Theory idea too far.
October 9th, 2011 - 12:17
I’m an experienced dog owner, and I purchased and read this book when I first adopted my current dog. I read it cover to cover in about a day.
October 9th, 2011 - 18:09
Loved this book. – I found myself hanging on Cesar’s very word !! We have 3 boxers and have practiced many of Cesar’s instructions – with great success !!
October 10th, 2011 - 13:08
This is a wonderful reference book and makes for good reading as well. I bought the book to give as a gift to a young couple whose dog needs some behavior modification. I planned to quickly scan through it to get an idea of its contents, wrap it up, and give it away. However, I ended up reading it word for word and will add it to our library! (I can think of several dog owners and parents who could use the concepts in this book for raising both dogs and children. I’ll probably end up buying several copies as gifts.)
I notice that one reviewer complained about the frequent reference to the pack leader concept Cesar writes about. Perhaps that reader is unaware that in a reference book clarification in the form of repetition is needed for those who are looking up only one or two segments at a time, such as “Rules, Boundaries, and Limitations,” or “Dominance Aggression.” I found Cesar’s personal history and anecdotal material about him and others (Oprah Winfrey has a whole section on the relationship between her and her dog, Sophie) very interesting and enlightening. The book is clearly and concisely written. It is easy to see that Melissa Jo Peltier’s writing abilities were very helpful to Cesar.
Cesar was born in Culiacan, Mexico, and came here in 1990. He is now applying for U.S. citizenship. He has quite a story to tell about his childhood and his special relationship with dogs from the time he was a small boy. When he came here he noticed with dismay that American dogs had a number of “issues” related primarily to the fact that we Americans view our dogs as “four-legged humans” instead of dogs (animals). Our dogs need us to be calm-assertive pack leaders and to provide them with exercise, discipline and affection in that order. Cesar gives many illustrations of how this concept works and the fact that dogs use smell and the sixth sense of energy to evaluate other dogs and animals, including humans.
I highly recommend this book to dog owners and, as mentioned earlier, to those contemplating having children or who already have children who need help. In a nation with increasing numbers of obese children, I was struck by the #1 need of dogs as stated by Cesar: EXERCISE. Perhaps, we might consider the same order of needs for our children: exercise, discipline, and affection in order to grow happy, healthy, productive human adults.
Carolyn Rowe Hill
October 11th, 2011 - 13:01
Although I’m a big fan of the show “The Dog Whisperer”, I never knew exactly what “calm-assertive” or “calm-submissive” meant until reading this fantastic book.
October 12th, 2011 - 10:41
I purchased Cesar’s Way after we acquired a very difficult 8 month old beagle. We have a lot of experience with beagles, having owned many of them over the years, but this one…
October 16th, 2011 - 23:03
I was not at all interested in his life, where he was born and grew up, or his family. The only reason I bought this book was to be given guidelines to correcting common dog…