I decided to read this because we have just become owners of a fabulous 2-year-old Belgian shepherd dog. Dude is close to perfect, but we do need to work on a couple of things - jumping on us when we come home and pulling on the leash when we walk him.

Cesar gave me a lot to think about. I've already tried his technique with the jumping and it seems to work, as Dude is very intelligent. The walking will be harder because I'm such a pushover.

I like Cesar's way of saying that dogs need Exercise, Discipline and Affection in that order. I think Dude probably gets enough exercise (or nearly enough) but maybe too little discipline and too much affection, but I'm working on it.

This is not strictly speaking a "how to" book. Rather it attempts to change the reader's way of thinking. Think of your dog as a dog and not a human. His emotions and thoughts are different from yours and knowing this and working with this knowledge will produce a happier dog and happier dog owner.

My neighbor Cathy lent me her copy of Cesar Millan's book, Cesar's Way: The Natural Everday Guide to Understanding & Correcting Common Dog Problems. She insisted I borrow it. "Lucy owns you. You don't own Lucy," Cathy told me. She described my female Dalmatian's dominant behavior in my "pack", which is Cesar's way of speaking about households with dogs.

A friend years ago recommended watching The Dog Whisperer starring Cesar Millan on the National Geographic Channel. I don't have a television and have never seen this charismatic TV character. What I gather now after reading this self-made national dog expert's book is that most of his charisma is derived from his own personality. It doesn't shine through in the book. Yes, it's a New York Times bestseller and it has a million copies sold but it is not very well written. There's too little advice for someone like me who has lived nearly half a century with dogs as part of my everyday experience.

Lucy is an alpha from birth, smart and headstrong. Reading about how to handle such natural born leaders from Cesar Millan described Lucy; how she has needed to be led, challenged, and demands so much more from me. And like many of the famous celebrity clients...from Oprah to Will Smith...Cesar challenges you to be your best pack leader. Get behind Lucy, Cesar.

I didn't get my real diagnosis until almost the end of the book. There on p. 267 is a key sentence for me and Lucy and Scooby and our pack. "There are no strong pack leaders in a home in mourning." Lucy is a daddy's girl and daddy is gone. Mourning is still in process, although I know I am called upon now to be a stronger pack leader.

Cesar's suggestion of walking your dog longer and more often is a good one. Wearing them out and running down their internal batteries is Cesar's way of being the best master of your dogs. I wish I could run or walk four or more hours a day with dogs in the hills of Los Angeles.

With all the common sense advice he packs in his book, those fans who watch his television show have a handy reference. Cesar Millan has built a platform for a book from his viewing audience. It doesn't have to be written all that well.

Melissa Jo Peltier is Cesar's ghostwriter and she's at least given credit on the cover of the book. Yet the voice throughout is that of Cesar's. And he says a lot of the same things over and over again. Did I say this was a quick read? No; not really. It's a long and painful read.

The brand identity of Cesar Millan sells his video tutorials and lesson plans and private sessions. He's not writing books. He's selling leashes and dog toys and has a website and a newsletter. He's building a corporate empire based on the millions of dog owners north of the Mexican border. Cesar's rags to riches story of immigration is a bit sketchy and he waxes over things by name dropping the rich and famous with dog issues. He also pulls the heart strings by his case studies of rescued dogs and their rehabilitation in a pack.

It's not really a book about how to train your dog. But how to let your dog be more of a dog and healthier, happier and more balanced as a result. Ultimately it's not about changing your dog's behavior; it's changing your own. Dogs follow.

I really need to stop reading the negative reviews on books I enjoy, because they just make me angry.

I'm not a dog trainer, but my boyfriend and I recently (and unexpectedly) became dog owners. I haven't had a dog since I was a kid, and I wasn't the one responsible for them. We now have a beautiful, 6-year-old border collie depending on us. We would like to provide her with the best life we possibly can. I do what I always do when I feel overwhelmed and not informed enough, I turned to books. I have about twenty titles currently checked out from the library including 'Cesar's way' and 'Be the Pack Leader.' We thought we would try using Cesar's techniques because they seemed simple enough to apply.

Our dog came to us after having pulled two adults to ground after being spooked by loud noises on two separate walks. We knew it was going to be a challenge. Before I read Cesar's books walks were a nightmare. I suffer from Fibromyalgia (a musculoskeletal disease) and trying to take her for a walk was too much for me to bear. She spooked one night when I had her out and she wrenched me so badly I am still suffering the after effects. I was grieving the fact that I may never be able to walk my own dog again.

I started reading 'Be the pack leader' first and thought his theories sounded valid. We got the first season of 'The Dog whisperer' and we started watching it. After reading the 'mastering the walk' appendix in the back of the book, I girded my loins and went to get the leash. And guess what......It F*****G worked!! First shot, I didn't let her go ahead of me out the door. She stayed by my side and as long as I remained calm and confident she was calm and happy to be right by my side.

I'm not going to say it has all been easy, Rome wasn't built in a day. She has had some backsliding and so have I, but we now go out for our walks and we both enjoy it!

So, I don't imagine any of the negative reviewers will ever read this, but I need to vent my anger.....so here goes:

The repetition is there to get it into your brain. Repetition is proven to work for memorizing. So yes his book is repetitive and so is his T.V. show, and do you know why? Because it is just that simple! There is no need to complicate things, just remember the easy steps.

Don't say you read this book with an open mind, because it is very clear that one of two things is true. Either you had already made up your mind about this book before you opened its cover which is why you glossed over a lot of the pertinent information, and warnings about trying them without a professional on hand, OR you have absolutely no reading comprehension whatsoever, which means none of your opinions can be counted upon, because you don't understand what you have read.

For example one reader mentions the "alpha roll" and how it is unnatural. This reader even posted a link to a youtube video that shows how wolves do it without contact in the wild. May I please submit page 222 in 'Cesar's Way', where he is shown doing the same thing as the alpha wolf, making a dog submit without ever touching the dog. The example this reader stated was of an episode of the show where cesar had to do it manually, That at the end the dog wasn't calm submissive, but shut down with fear. To that I have to say.....nuh-huh! Body language people, I saw that episode too. It was a pit bull that was locked onto a target, in the so called "red zone" which can be very dangerous to anyone in the vicinity! That dog was calm by the end of the "roll" want to see a dog shut down in fear? look up the episode about the dog that was afraid of water.....totally different body language. Similar in many aspects, but hugely different in others. That you can't tell the difference concerns me for your safety around dangerous dogs!

And I will again quote directly from the book. page 223:
"...I caution anyone who isn't a professional-or at least extremely experienced in dog behavior and aggression- never, ever to forcibly put a dog on its side. With a dominant or aggressive dog, someone who is inexperienced could easily be bitten, mauled or attacked. This is serious stuff, life-threatening stuff." Forgive me, but if you feel your dog is dangerous and don't expect to get bitten trying something like this on your own, then you are not responsible enough to look after yourself, so the last thing you should be doing is looking after another living creature!

Oh and I have to say to the people who complained about the amount of walking he suggests. Do you honestly think your dog is happing sitting around the house all day? You think he just chills and watches T.V.? If you can't unselfishly give your dog two hours of your day then find him a different home, and get a house plant, they don't need exercise!

And as to the treadmill comments, he never says to leave the dog alone while it is tied to a leash to the treadmill. That is the training period when he says, "Proper supervision is required," he also says to "hire a professional to teach you the safety basics about putting a dog on the treadmill." After the first two weeks the dog doesn't need the leash it is just happy to be walking.

Oh and one more thing. There was a comment on not wanting to have a dog walk behind or beside the person while they keep good posture because they can't see if the dog is eating stuff off the ground. First, I do that using my peripherals, I can still see what she's up to without slouching, or making direct eye contact. Second, train your dog for cripes sake!!! In less that a month I have stopped that behavior in my dog by using a gentle tug to the side with a regular leash and collar in combination with a stern "No!" No unnecessary yanking or pulling, no choke chain, and my dog knows better than to eat a damn chicken bone off the street! Yeesh!!! Also, if you are truly present on your walk with your dog, and not off in la-la-land, you can feel the second her attention wavers to something other than the walk, regardless of if she is beside or behind you. Also, it is not that he "looks down on obedience training" it's just not what he does. I agree with him, that until you have your dog's trust, obedience training isn't going to help much. Common sense folks, do your dog a favour and get some.

It is very simple. If you don't agree with his methods, don't use them. If you think something is cruel, don't do it. But don't tear down a professional with more than twenty years experience, who gets healthy results and who checks in on his clients to make sure everyone in that family is safe and happy, using his techniques correctly. My dog is happier for it, and all we have done is mastered the walk! We can't afford a professional or a treadmill, but thanks to increased exercise, and some rule enforcement it doesn't look like we will need either.

Finally, Thank you Cesar! Our walks are now an adventure in discovery for us both. She walks with her head proud, sniffing the air and discovering new places, without having to stop every two feet and without pulling. My health has improved for the walking and I believe hers has as well! The arm that her leash is in never goes beyond a relaxed position. Now that we know to be calm-assertive, and she can rely on that from us, she hasn't spooked nearly as often or as badly. Every day I get to do what I thought was beyond me. I now have a bond with her I was worried we would never have. Now that my boyfriend and I have that bond with her we are going to further stimulate her psychologically with obedience training, that is responding to commands. I believe she is truly happy, and she now greets me by being happy to see me...but she does it without jumping all over me! We still have a ways to go, but I am happy with the start we have all made together.

Thanks all for letting me vent!

I picked this up without knowing anything about Cesar Millan – I have been working my way through my library’s collection of books on dog training to learn more about how to best care for my dog. Apparently, he’s a controversial figure in the dog training world.

He makes a few good points, as he highlights the importance of exercise and setting boundaries. He states that many dog owners fail do acknowledge or focus on these ideas, which can be the root of behavioural issues. He also mentions that dogs live in the moment, which is also a key idea when it comes to training – disciplining or scolding too late after an undesirable behaviour is ineffective and will not successfully eliminate the behaviour.

That being said, I don’t agree with a lot of Millan’s methods – forceful training and the idea of the pack leader is outdated. He focuses too much on the idea that (domesticated) dogs are just like their (wild) wolf counterparts. He generalizes with the idea that all dogs are trying to be dominant with certain behaviours (waking their owner(s) up to be let out at obscene hours, walking ahead of their owners, etc.). In my opinion, he misinterprets and problematizes behaviours that can be considered reasonable when considering standard obedience training and the dog’s perspective.

Zak George’s training methods are better and more compassionate that Millan’s adverse and punitive techniques.

Great book in my opinion. I saw mixed reviews on here and believe the readers opinion of this book will have as much to do with how they see the world as anything Cesar writes about dogs. If you think our society and in turn the way we treat ourselves and our dogs has become dangerously weak and unbalanced then you will enjoy this book. If you believe our society is on the right path and we just need to be more compassionate and accepting of instabilities than you will not enjoy this book.

This is one of the FEW books that have induced action in me. It has changed me, and I have a relationship with my GrandDog that is different than any of her predecessors, ever. I trust him, and am thrilled about what I learned from him.

I saw the show The Dog Whisperer and I found it really interesting to see this person who seems to understand dogs really well and who can help and rehabilitate even the those dogs who seem the most agressive.
I got this book from a friend a few years ago and finallly decided to read it to get a little bit more insight into how Cesar Millan does what he does, and his understanding of dogs. I see that there are some people who don't really like or agree with his techiniqes but to me, when I saw the show on television, a lot of it made sense. It also seems that it makes sense to a lot of dogs he works with. He corrects them and leads them to become their better selves. The dogs seem happy, relaxed and just... good. So he must be doing something right.
I did like this book because he touches on quite a few different and important, fundimental topics of who dogs' brains work and how we can better understand them. For me, this was quite helpful and I think it would help, especially to a first time dogs owner. You do need to understand how dogs 'operate', how their mind works in order to take good care of them. I see a lot of people who have dogs but don't walk them the right way aka the dogs are walking their people, or dogs who constantly bark when you pass by their gate etc. and I see who those people struggle with their dogs because they almost never listen to them. Cesar does a really very very good job at explaining that dogs AREN'T PEOPLE. They don't have our concepts of morality, right and wrong etc. and that by correcting their behaviour (without harming the dog obviously) they won't get mad at you and you won't hurt their feelings because that's just not how dogs work.
Also, with my own eyes I saw that his techniqes work when I took care of my friends' dog for a day and a half. Dogs do need the right amount of exercise and they do need discipline, and then they need affection. I don't see why some people find this wrong. Just by exercising/walking your dogs (the right way) you are spending quality time with them. That's at least how I see it.

So I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is going to be a forst time dog owner and knows a little bit about Cesar Millan or to anyone who just wants a little bit of insight as to how dogs function.

Self-congratulatory, posturing "novel" about all the dogs he has worked with. Very little actual advice, and most of it is borderline abusive.

Try Karen Pryor's "Don't Shoot the Dog," or Jean Donaldson's "The Culture Clash," or even Bashkim Dibra's "Dog Training" instead.

I wouldn't let Cesar touch my dog even if he payed me. Thanks to this book and Cesar's advice, I pretty much ruined my dog. If you want to know what you should NOT do to your dog, read this book and see his tv show!

Although I greatly admire Cesar, I found this book repetitious and its ethos a bit pompous. It's also riddled with name-drops; I am fascinated by canine behavior, but I could care less if it's Oprah's dog or Jada Pinkett Smith's dog under observation. To be fair, there *are* some insightful sections, and yet I imagine that the entire book might be boiled down to a really beautiful essay. Still, for someone who's never been around a dog, it's probably a great read!

If you have a dog you would be irresponsible not to read this book, or watch Cesar Milan's various TV programs. You will learn so much about dogs and what they need and why, and you will also learn about yourself. As Cesar says "I rehabilitate dogs, I train people". It really will beneficially revolutionise the way you look after your pets and your relationship with them. I loved this book.

There's a lot going on in "Cesar's Way." Part of the book is a Ragged Dick tale of Cesar Millan growing up poor in Mexico (which by Mexican standards may have been upper middle class, as his family seemed to have owned land and been able to send the kids to school), studying dogs both on his family farm and in the city, and then, with nothing more than $100 in his pocket and a dream to become a Hollywood animal trainer in his heart, having a coyote -- and yes, I do get the inadvertent dog-coyote connection -- smuggle him across the border. Within a few years Millan becomes a dog trainer to the stars -- Will and Jada Pinkett Smith and Oprah Winfrey are the among the names that get dropped repeatedly here -- and, of course, ultimately lands his "Dog Whisperer" television show, which every single one of you reading this has seen.

I'm sure there's tons of self-mythologizing in the memoir section of "Cesar's Way" -- and, hey, we all deserve a bit of self-mythologizing, don't we? -- but you've got to admit it's still a pretty incredible story. Not to get all patriotic here or anything, because I'm really not like that, but the U.S. has to be one of the few places on Earth where someone can start out by sneaking into the country illegally, speaking just snatches of the native language, and within a few years become a wealthy, nationally known celebrity -- and, in this case, by doing something no one has ever done before. OK, granted, for every Cesar Millan, there are millions of people living below the poverty line, unable to get the education or training they need to break through, but, still, most places in the world this guy would have had zero chance, and may have ended up dying on the streets. If Republicans want Americans to be patriotic and given to chanting "USA! USA! USA!" all the time, they should just hand out copies of this book. The problem is, of course, that most Republicans would never have let Millan into the country in the first place.

Only the first part of "Cesar's Way" is a memoir, with much of the rest of the book dedicated to Millan's beliefs, backed up as needed by data and scientific studies, on the psychology of domestic dogs -- the same as the psychology of wolves, coyotes and other wild dogs, really -- and how we humans who live with them can best connect with them, both to make them happy (or "balanced" in Millan's parlance) and to make our lives easier. Anyone who has seen at least a couple episodes of "The Dog Whisperer" -- and, again, that's all of you -- will find few surprises in this part of the book. But is is a reasonably well-argued, in-depth discussion of a philosophy that on the TV show is seen only in bits and pieces between commercial breaks and fancy edits.

The book's far from perfect. It's incredibly repetitive in laying out its ideas -- while reading it, I kept thinking of the Talking Heads line, "Say something once, why say it again?" -- but there are worse things to be for what's basically a instructional/self-help book. Millan's trying to pound his ideas on dog psychology into our heads through sheer repetition -- and he's probably justified in doing so, as his ideas are so different from how most American dog-owners treat their dogs. And that brings up another of the book's shortcomings: Millan is so reluctant to offend his readers that every time he criticizes a particular way they treat our dogs, he has to spend a sentence or two soothing them. Screw that, Cesar. Just as you advise us not to baby our dogs, don't baby your readers. Tell us how fucking stupid we are, and correct our behavior with your calm, assertive energy, just as you would with a fearful-aggressive German Shephard.

Millan spends much of the book's pages lauding "the power of the pack," saying that living in a harmonious group with one strong leader and a bunch of other canines is the way dogs are meant to live. (He maintains a pack of his own at his dog-rehabilitation center.) But he never goes balls-out and says what I kept expecting him to: that those people who own just one dog and one or two people in a household -- and that would include this reader -- are never going to have a fully balanced dog. He almost hints at it, but eventually pussies out and starts giving a lot of lip service to packs with only two members (the dog and the owner), an obvious ploy to keep his readers happy with themselves. Come on, Cesar, man up and tell us we suck if you think we do.

As mentioned in his far more succinct and humorous review at http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/.... Brian highlights the section of "Cesar's Way" on homeless people's dogs. Most of them, Millan says, are far better balanced and closer to living near their natural states than are dogs with homes, he said, because they migrate daily and receive food at the end as a reward, as they would in the wild. Millan tries to head us down a similar path, advising us to take our dogs on looooong, energetic walks or runs several times a day, particulalry before they eat or are left alone, to try to replicate their natural state as much as possible. But, let's face it, if we really did everything Millan advises to do to keep our dogs well-balanced, we basically would all have to quit our jobs and devote ourselves full time to them. Again, Cesar, if you think most of us don't have enough time to be good dog owners, just say so. Man up!

In the last section of the book, which feels almost like an afterthought, Millan gives readers tips on common dog issues -- how to move houses with a dog, how to deal with them at an off-leash dog park -- but this seems tacked on for those readers who may be annoyed that the book has few step-by-step instructions. Again, Millan should have stuck to his guns, decided that this is indeed a dog-psychology book, and not tried to also make it a how-to manual as well.

Personally, I'm already trying some of Millan's ideas with my dog -- using a calm, assertive energy around him (this is explained pretty well in the book), and telling him what I want from him not with words but with body language and sounds (like the "tschhh" sound you hear Millan make on "The Dog Whisperer," and which his mother used on her children) -- and it does work really well.

So I'm giving "Cesar's Way" four stars. I was tempted to give it three because it's not by any stretch of the imagination great literature, and does suffer from a lot of repetition and coddling of its readers. The celebrity name-dropping grates a bit too. But, ultimately, it does exactly what it sets out to do in changing readers' perceptions of how their dogs' minds work, and what dog owners should do to connect with their pets. And, as a bonus, it gives a kick-ass rags-to-riches story that will have some readers chanting "USA! USA! USA!" -- well, those readers who aren't Lou Dobbs, that is.