Cesar's Way: The Natural, Everyday Guide to Understanding & Correcting Common Dog Problems

*Calm-assertive leadership projected through body language and energy; you should always be the leader or the dog will feel they need to fill the void; need leadership, not sympathy; too much emotional energy is seen as weak - p. 68, 107, 118-9
Calm-submissive behavior from the dog - p. 73

Greetings: let dog approach/come to you; don't make eye contact or touch or verbalize at first - p. 78, 90
Treat dogs like dogs, not people; different ways of being and thinking; recognize as animal first, dog second, breed third, individual last - p. 84, 94
Importance of dog senses (in order): nose, eyes, ears
Don't nurture negative/insecure behaviors - p. 123

*Need consistent rules, boundaries, and limitations - p. 126
Love and affection to reward stability and calm submission; should be earned and given after exercise and discipline - p . 151

Violent aggression isn't a natural behavior but outcome of instability - p. 182
Correct, don't punish - p. 184

*Need exercise, discipline, and affection - in that order!! p. 199
1. The walk: short, non-flexible leash; don't put on until the dog is calm submissive; you walk out first; dog walks beside or behind you; don't let them stop until you say it's okay a few minutes into the walk (think if migrating wolves); project calm assertive energy - p. 205-7
2. Corrections should be given with the appropriate energy, mindset, and timing, which are more important than the method; use eye contact, energy, body language, forward motion toward the dog, and sound/touch correction; never correct out of anger, though - p. 219
Behaviors you should never allow: jumping, separation whining, possessiveness, nipping/biting, aggressiveness, incessant barking; have to re-direct or replace negative behaviors - p. 224, 8
3. Share affection after a dog has exercised, eaten, and become calm submissive OR after corrected a behavior/responded to a rule or command; NOT when fearful, anxious, possessive, dominant, aggressive, whining, begging, barking, or breaking any household rule - p. 229

Should you get a dog? Questions to ask yourself p. 234-6:
Can you commit to at least an hour and a half of walking every day, becoming a calm-assertive pack leader, setting clear rules/boundaries/limitations, providing regular food and water, taking to the vet regularly, socializing the dog, cleaning up after him or her, educating myself on dog psychology, and putting money away in case of an animal-related emergency?
Look for a dog with compatible energy - p. 236
Sample routine p. 240: start off with little attention (touch or talk) - walk first! feed calmly and quietly, once calm submissive give some affection; don't make a big deal about leaving and restrain from giving affection when you first return (repeat AM ritual first); every human in the house should be a pack leader; add in extra physical exercise with playtime; regularly bathe your dog; socializing as mental stimulation for dog rather than replacement for exercise

Excitement is NOT the same as happiness - p. 253

In summary (p. 273-5):
1. Be a calm assertive pack leader all of the time for your dog and assure that they are a calm submissive follower.
2. Give them exercise (minimum of 1 hour of walking correctly), discipline (non-abusive rules, boundaries, and limitations), and affection (reward for calm submission) in that order.
3. Remember that dogs do not see the world as and are not people (nose, eyes, ears for them - reverse for us); don't humanize them but do treat them with the deserved respect of a fellow living creature with their own unique psychology.

If you own a dog or are thinking about owning a dog or ever owned a dog, you MUST read this book. It will change how you related to dogs forever! It has helped me relate to my new dog and made him a happier member of our pack. READ THIS BOOK!!

A spring/summer read I picked up after the advent of a "wee-doggie" in our lives: Callista, a "Great Wolfenese Hound" LOL...half Great Pyrenees - half Irish Wolfhound.

I saw Cesar's follow-up book, "Be the Packleader" and wanted to read the set in order, so I grabbed Cesar’s way along with a few other “dog books”. I'd heard about Cesar but had never seen his show nor read any articles about him—just talk here and there about the "dog whisperer."

As can be gleaned from my rating, I was impressed. No, it is not literature as some have complained; the writing reflects this, but it was not meant to be. Cesar and Melissa Jo Peltier, his co-author who I believe did most of the writing up of Cesar's observations and ideas, were presenting a book about dog psychology and how to deal with problems related to it, not trying to write the Yearling or n  Where the Red Fern Growsn. It drives me nuts when folk try to make that comparison and complain that it doesn't read like literature—it’s not literature, nor does it pretend to be. It’s the first effort on the part of a guy who first language is not English and on the part of a gal who is trying to remain true to the ides she’s being presented by said guy.

Also, this is NOT a training manual. It was not meant to be a training manual. It should not be used as a training manual. If some one wants to teach their dog to sit, stay, heel, lie down, etc., etc. there are plenty of great resources out there, from wed-sites (I recommend "webDogTrainer.com") to books (try The Monks of New Skete: How to be Your Dogs Best Friend: A Training Manual for Dog Owners, to classes. Go, Dogs, Go! But if you want practical advice as to why your dog is tearing up the couch cushions while you're away at work and what to do about it, this is a great book.

I think what is so challenging to readers, particularly the American audience, is that we demand the quick fix. Even though we love them dearly--to the point of anthropomorphism--we often don't want to deal with our pets beyond how cute they are, how they give us comfort or as a status symbol. Got a headache? Take a magic pill. Want to change the channel of the T.V.? Use the remote. Need to mow the lawn? Hire cheap landscape labor. Anything but face the fact that we are lazy and don’t want to make the effort. We want dog ownership to be like fast food: pay, scarf, enjoy, eliminate, repeat if necessary. Don’t ask me if I want it with a seseme seed bun or a kosher dill. If I wanted a groumet meal I’d go to Denny’s (LOL)…if I wanted to deal with my dog that way, I’d become an animal trainer for Sea World. We don’t want to entertain the idea that we may be part or the source of our dog's problems and to do anything lasting about it, we must engage them on a different level than we have in the past. We MUST take responsibility as owners to see that our dog are happy and balanced NOT simply sitting and staying and heeling. Cesar’s Way challenges the reader to do just that.

Cesar's formula for dog rehabilitation is simple: Exercise, Discipline and Affection from a "calm-assertive" positive owner-packleader. As mentioned above, the book also begs the question: How are you contributing to your dogs problem? Both of these points make American readers uncomfortable. The former because it ironically sounds too simple...or should I say "familiar":

“What? Walk my dog? I've heard that before! I didn't buy this book for 20 bucks just to hear what I a already know. Besides walking each morning and evening for a minimum of 45 minutes?! Are you mad! He's got a huge backyard to roam in and, besides, I don't have time to go on "walkabout" each morning! My grandfather's dogs go a walk everyday wandering around on the farm, and they still bit people! Isn't there a new-agey Bavarian word you can teach me along with a spiffy collar I can put on the pooch and, bam!, instant Rin-Tin-Tin? I mean really, if it doesn't come in matte black with an Abercrombie and Fitch logo, I'm just not interested.”

The later point makes folk uncomfortable as well because few want to entertain the thought that a dog who chronically poops on the carpet or bites guests or goes crazy when someone rings the door bell, might be more the result of our lousy ownership skills than because the dog, “…just isn’t quite right in the head.” The attitude reminds me of asking a student to pick up a bit of trash they dropped on the ground only to be met with surly excuses as to why they shouldn't have to pick it up, why it isn't their fault and why am I picking on them. The great American pass-time: passing the buck. We don't want to look at ourselves and have to make hard choices, decide if I part of the solution or part of the problem, and act accordingly. Cesar's book, when read thoughtfully, forces dog owners to do just that and act accordingly.

The book is part autobiography as Cesar outlines how he came to America…yes, he showed up as an Illegal—sorry if you were waiting in line for that dog-groomer’s spot and lost out to Cesar—get over it. Some may feel this is extemporaneous material. Fine, skip the first chapter, about 60 pages, and get on with the book. Yes, the writers of the book are at pains to make sure the ideas behind Cesar’s simple formulas and methods are clear to the reader and this may make the book seem drawn out at first or dawdling toward the point, but I believe the attempt at clarity is important to understand how deeply affecting the simple methods are when taken seriously. Further, the need to get the reader beyond the common mis-perception of our dogs as our “babies” or “children” is also mandatory for successful implementation. Cesar teaches dogs are animals first, dogs second, a specific breed third and the “name” I.E. our babies last. This is anathema to owners who want a source of unconditional affection first and an animal last. One must fulfill the needs of the animal first then move on to the name. We want to see our pets as little people and not the animals that they are and in the process we lead them down the role-playing path to neuroses and when we arrive wonder what could have possibly happened?

Cesar is at pains to point out that our dogs do not live in the past as we do. They do not ask themselves: shall I shat on the carpet today? or plot: I’m feeling a bit feisty today, I think I’ll chomp the UPS man/woman, muuuhahahah! They react to and live in the moment. He urges us to understand this fundamental fact. We are afraid if we show our dogs strong, calm assertive leadership, afraid we might, “…hurt Fluffy’s feelings…” or that, “…she’ll be mad at me if I tell her ‘no’ ”. We feel sorry for them to the point of enabling them, “…I rescued Barffy from the pound where he must have had a traumatic experience with other dogs that picked on him; I’m sure that’s why he cowers when around other dogs—poor baby” never realizing that each time we coddle them and sooth them under such circumstances, we are reinforcing certain behaviors…many of them negative, some of them downright dangerous like aggressive dominance.

I recommend Cesar’s Way to any dog owner who is ready to take a cold hard look at their relationship with their dog. I recommend Cesar’s Way to any dog owner who is willing to entertain the idea of simple methods applied honestly and with effort over a course of time. I recommend Cesar’s Way to any dog owner who is willing to read discerningly. I recommend Cesar’s Way to any dog owner who is willing to change their own negative behaviors for the sake of their canine friends. I recommend Cesar’s Way to anyone who feels strong enough to look in the mirror and acknowledge their own negative attitudes and misapplications…as well intended as they were…and make adjustments.

I do NOT recommend Cesar’s Way to anyone who is looking for a dog training manual to learn how to teach their dog simple commands. I do NOT recommend Cesar’s Way to anyone who is looking for quick fix to a dog’s negative behavior. I do NOT recommend Cesar’s Way to anyone who what’s to read a dog-story. I do NOT recommend Cesar’s Way to anyone for whom a dog is a fixture rather than a living being worthy of respect. I do NOT recommend Cesar’s Way to anyone who cannot look at themselves honestly and entertain the idea that it may be their behavior that needs to change first.

This was a book that I read on my lunch breaks at work. And having just adopted a rescue dog, it gave me some great advice for helping to keep our new pup balanced. Although I don't agree with all of Cesar's methods, I did find quite a bit of the content useful, particularly around the importance of exercise. I do think this is useful for someone just wanting to better understand their dog and how they might be able to help keep things balanced.

The training tactics Cesar Millan recommends are inhumane, outdated and abusive. Most of the theoretical explanations that Millan gives regarding causes of dogs' behavior problems are wrong. His methods are dangerous to both dogs and their owners, check out "Dog Training for Dummies" or "Don't Shoot the Dog" or "Parenting Your Dog" instead!

I don't agree with many of the author's beliefs...

I have no desire to physically assert my dominance over my dog (such as pushing my dog down and forcing him onto his back with his belly exposed to show him he's submissive to me).

I don't believe that affection is the final thing my dog needs from me (after exercise and obedience). To me, my bond with my dog is built on mutual affection and trust. Without those things in place, I don't think my dog would enjoy exercising with me nearly as much, nor would he respond as well to obedience training.

I don't believe that my dog jumping on me when I come home is a sign of dominance. If that were so, why wouldn't he do it at random times throughout the day? Instead, he only does it after he's been alone for a few hours and is suffering from loneliness and/or a desire for some exercise.

I do agree that a well-exercised (and therefore tired) dog is generally a better behaved dog than one who hasn't had any physical activity all day. But I disagree that exercise is the most important part of a dog's life.

Also, the author keeps talking about how his techniques are related to the pack system wolves live in (and that dogs lived in when they were first domesticated). He fails to address how much dogs have changed and evolved over centuries of domestication. Just because dogs acted a certain way a thousand years ago doesn't mean that those principals still apply. While I do think that we need to respect dogs as animals, we also can't ignore the numerous ways living with humans has influenced them.

This book is just making me angry!! I cannot finish it.

Cada vez hay más detractores de las técnicas de César Millán y a favor de que prohiban la emisión de sus programas.

Aunque no comparto parte de sus enfoques a la hora de rehabilitar perros como su visión de la dominancia/el perro quiere escalar en la jerarquía (ya que en la mayoría de casos está relacionado con un problema de protección de recursos), o el tenemos que ser líderes 24/7 o el perro se nos sube a la chepa (qué tensión de vida xD), y que me da la impresión que no acaba de entender de qué va el refuerzo positivo, ya que sí es posible rehabilitar casos difíciles con esta técnica... sí explica muy bien la tremenda humanización que sufren en países ricos y cómo les afecta que si fiestas de cumpleaños, ropita de diseño, tratarles como niños malcriados... o el creer que si viven en una mansión con un jardín de varias hectáreas el perro ya es feliz, cuando lo que necesita es ejercicio físico, mental, educación y que se colmen sus necesidades básicas.

Y sobretodo que si aparece un problema, la culpa no es del perro sino nuestra por no proporcionarle los estímulos necesarios o no cubrir sus necesidades básicas, que busquemos a un profesional. Sólo por ésto y la forma en la que lava la no merecida mala imagen de los PPP, creo que son mensajes importantes que transmitir a la sociedad, y que a través de sus programas repite hasta la saciedad a ver si entra en esas cabezas tan duras de algun@s...