Jako dobra knjiga za sve koje zanimaju psi.

Čovjek je očito velik znalac i još veći talent. I, po svemu sudeći, pravi zaljubljenik u pse.

Korisni, koncizni savjeti. Dobra objašnjenja potkrijepljena primjerima. Zanimljive auto-biografske crtice, ako izuzmem intermitentne bljeskove privatnih sladunjavosti koja kvare štivo.

Svakako ću uzeti i druge njegove knjige u ruke.

This book is an easy to understand introduction to the philosophy of understanding dogs that allows a dog owner to be better. It is not meant as a step-by-step textbook, but for someone who wants to better understand their dog and get some insight into how to better provide them with security and stability it is quite good.

Cesar is not a trained professional, I could not find any reference to him claiming he was. So when he is dismissed for this fact, I shake my head. I have known other people who are naturally good with animals after living in farms, as he did. I do quite well with animals as well because I was raised around them as well

Cesar's approach works. Plain and simple, it works. I have two rescues currently, both what Cesar would describe as powerful breeds. The male is very large and very dominant, and was found wandering the streets. We have tried training him with a professional (who is great and her methods work with our other rescue) and he goes along but it doesn't stick. One day of Cesar's method of calm-assertive behaviours and he is a different dog. Walking on the leash without pulling, checking in with me while we walk, and beat of all I could stop him fixating on people or cars.

Other reviews have claimed (falsely) Cesar advocates physical hands-on punishments. He states just the opposite in the book. The so-called Alpha Roll (which is putting a dog on their side on the ground) is mentioned but with the caveat it should only be used by professionals in extreme circumstances, so-called Red Zone cases. He stresses no striking or physical punishment should be used.

Some other reviews have pointed to his TV show, an entertainment programme that is edited to show drama, as "evidence" he makes mistakes. Nonsense. Show me anyone working with dogs who has not made a mistake.

Whether or not you believe in the author’s methods, it is obvious he has a connection to dogs that would make many dog owners envious. If you struggle with a difficult dog, this would be a good book for you. Although, discovering the difficult one may actually be YOU, could be challenging to anyone with a fragile ego.

You know, I wanted to like this book. I also wanted some HELP from this book. I don't have a terrible dog, but I would like her to stop chewing on things and barking insanely. I was 200 pages into this book before he offered ANY suggestions as to what to actually DO with a dog. And at that point I was screaming at the book "okay, I get it, be a pack leader, let your dog know you're the leader, don't let the dog be a leader: but HOW, HOW, HOW?"

The answer is...wait for it...walk your dog. Seriously. Walk them for an hour and a half minimum every day.

In fairness, that was run-of-the mill dogs. If you have a dog with serious problems send them to a professional for hundreds of dollars so they can walk them.

Maybe what he teaches on TV just can't be translated into a book. Or maybe I just need to walk my dog and see if he was right. We shall see.

Started reading this book when I was anxious about bringing a puppy into our household. Have now finished this book, a year and a half later and found it pretty helpful. Informative to know the primal needs of a pup and how to satisfy these to have the best relationship with your doggo!
While some method’s may be controversial, I took out of this book what I wished, which was, ‘my dog needs more exercise’ and the effect a human’s energy can have on our canine buddies.

Needed some guidance...any guidance...before saying goodbye to my dog. So I read this book. I think it helped. BTW, concept of Now being used...I like it a whole lot better than "Power of Now".

BE WARNED: 10 Reasons not to copy Milan

This is a very interesting book as far as dealing with your dog goes. I was most impressed by the techniques discussed, until I got near the end, where he gives additional tips. Millan seems to have forgotten that not all dogs that are bought are adult/from rescue centres. This means his little idea about taking the dog for an hour long walk before introducing it to your home falls completely flat if you have a puppy. No pup will last for a walk that long! (in fact, you would probably do more harm to it than good by exercising it so hard)

That said, a truer word has ne'er been spoken when he states (on page 143) The problem is that we are making assumptions based not on what canines need but on what humans need. By humanizing dogs, we damage them psychologically. This book is all about aiding your dog psychologically and this is the area in which it deserves six stars. I've tried being a more calm-assertive pack leader to our pets, and it's working wonders! But, remember, I have a fair amount of dog training knowledge behind me belt, which does help!

A few weeks before we brought our new puppy home, I spent all my reading time trying to figure out how to care for and raise a happy and healthy dog. By the time I’d finished my stack of books, I was convinced I knew everything about dogs, and would be able to handle any situation we might encounter. You would think four kids would have taught me otherwise. Now that we’ve had the puppy for three weeks, I’m sufficiently humbled. I’m not sure any of the books I read could have totally prepared me, but I really enjoyed Cesar’s Way by the renowned “dog whisperer” Cesar Milan.

The first part of the book reads like a personal history. Milan describes his early experiences and connection with dogs on his family’s farm in Mexico, and what it was like for him to immigrate to the United States. The autobiographical portion of the book is relevant to his overall message, because he approaches dog training and his work with dog rehabilitation as an outsider to the American way of perceiving dogs and pets. Milan believes that American dogs often suffer under the care of well-intentioned owners because they are treated like people instead of like dogs, and this can cause anxiety, confusion, and fear.

Milan’s basic premise is that dog’s need strong ‘pack’ leaders to follow, and that dog owners need to exert a certain kind of energy. He calls it “calm-assertive” energy, “relaxed but always confident that he or she is in control.” This is a point he emphasizes again and again throughout the book. He encourages dog owners to transform themselves, if they lack this kind of energy, to visualize it until it becomes natural to them. I can’t refute or validate his premise about pack leaders and “calm-assertive” energy as it pertains to dogs, but the week I spent reading his book I found myself suprisingly calm. I don’t think I raised my voice at my kids a single time. I was channelling the “calm-assertive” energy. It worked so well, that I’m not sure if I should shelf this book in the parenting section of my home library, or put it with the other dog books. (I’m kidding. Kind-of.)

Milan concludes his book by giving readers a simple formula for working and living with their dogs: Exercise, Discipline, and Affection – in that order. According to Milan, dogs need frequent exercise to calm and center them. He calls walking a dog a “primal activity” that puts dogs in tune with their inner canine. It also creates a bond between dog and owner. I’ve tried very hard to follow this step of his formula, though sometimes I feel I’m overdoing it a little when I put my 11 week old puppy on a leash and try and get her to follow me around the park. She’d rather sit and watch the birds fly by. The next step is discipline, which basically means sticking to a routine, and keeping expectations firm and clear. And affection comes last, after the first two steps have been met.

Cesar’s Way gave me a lot to think about, and was a quick and enjoyable read. Milan’s methodology is largely based on intuition and his extensive experience with dogs. It doesn’t always translate into understanding and solving everyday problems you might encounter with your dog. I still don’t know how to keep my puppy from chewing on everyone’s feet, or my four year old from taunting her. I tried coaching my four, six, eight and ten year old into owning their “calm-assertive” energy when they interact with the puppy, but I think that is asking a little much. I’ve resisted calling a trainer because of the impression I received from Milan that dog training amounts to teaching a dog tricks, while his methodology builds strong relationships between dogs and owners, and healthy, balanced, naturally obedient dogs. But with all the biting and nipping around her, I might have to call a trainer anyway.

I just picked up a copy Dog Sense: How the New Science of Dog Behavior Can Make You A Better Friend to Your Pet by John Bradshaw. I’m eager to add it to my doggie bibiliography. We’ll see how it compares with Cesar’s Way.

The information in this book is worthwhile but it isn't technical and it often repeats. I did notice when I followed some of the general advice ( running the dogs ) they behaved better. The book also made me perceive the dogs in a new way which was probably the biggest benefit this book can give you. Reading a dogs energy can tell you a lot of things about their current mind state, all you have to do is look into their eyes. Realizing they also read my energy ( my voice, and my body posture ) was something that I may have been aware of subconsciously but now I more cognizant of it. Overall the book helped and it's worth the twenty-something dollars it cost, though I do wish it was more detailed in its instruction. If your dog is acting up and you don't know why I would in fact purchase this book- you probably are unaware that you are doing things that are making your dog feel like he/she is the pack leader. Something as simple as leash pulling or running out the door before you is all the evidence you need to know where you stand ( not at the top if this is occurring ). This book will open you up to the idea that being a pack leader is a 24/7/365 job. If that doesn't sound appealing to you then you will have to get used to the idea that you will never be able to control your dogs. I only rated this 2/5 for a few reasons. #1 It is repetitive and could be condensed. #2 It lacks detailed instruction #3 He gives two corrective techniques, one a "shush" and one is a cupping motion with your hand that simulates a mothers gentle bite. If your dog doesn't listen to these--then you are on your own to find a technique that works.

This book is fantastic (and strangely self-help-y for the human... one of the better “self help” books I’ve read

Cesar's methods are too punitive for my taste. I do believe in some of his theories of pack behavior, but I don't like how he excercises his dominance. Plus, I didn't learn anything new about dog behavior in this book.

As someone who has spent over a decade studying canine behavior and learning theories and has made the switch to rewards-based training, this book is a difficult one for me to read, and even harder to review without allowing my very strong opinions to get in the way.

On a personal note, I find Cesar's personal story inspiring. And I truly believe he loves dogs and wants to help them. One could even argue that he has done just that. I have no interest in attacking him or his opinions, and that's not the point of my review.

My biggest concern with this book (and Cesar's television show) is that it takes a philosophy which is a theory (now also a disproven one) and portrays it as undeniable fact. Others have done a great job explaining the flaws of dominance theory in their own reviews, so I won't even go there- however as someone who used to be a fan I feel compelled to share how this philosophy and methods turned my friendly, happy-go-lucky but "stubborn" malamute/wolf into an insecure and mouthy dog who became unsure (and worried) of my intentions. Assuming that a dog knows what you want (like get off the sofa), and that by not doing it he is "challenging your dominance" creates a downward spiral that not only ruins the relationship between dog and owner, but creates a brand-new frustrating situation that was never there before (and opens the door to worse ones, like aggression).

Once I realised my dog wasn't challenging me- he was completely clueless about what I wanted, and then afraid of me because of my seemingly unwarranted punishments- I was led to the world of positive reinforcement training (ironically what is widely used to train captive predators like wolves for husbandry and management purposes) and applied behavior analysis. I learned to proactively teach my dogs the behaviors I wanted, and then use life rewards to reinforce them. My malamute/wolf changed 100% for the better, and far from "dominating" me, he stopped mouthing me from the start, and once he understood what I wanted him to do, gladly complied with perfect obedience.

In the book, Cesar states his approval of positive training "when it works". I really wish this was something his followers would take to heart as I have been publicly trashed and degraded (and witnessed it being done to others) by his fans multiple times over. I respect his open-mindedness to other ways and opinions, and I would encourage him to look into how these methods are being used in every aspect pf behavior modification (even what he may consider situations where it "doesnt work"). Grisha Stewart's Behavior Adjustment Training (BAT), Constructional Aggression Treatment (CAT), Systematic Desensitization & Counter Conditioning, are all very effective and valid methods of dealing with challenging behaviors such as aggression without the use of "dominant" force or intimidation. In my view, if a behavior can effectively be trained (or replaced) without the use of force or intimidation, then to use them anyway is morally wrong.

Perhaps most importantly, aggression may also be caused by a physical or chemical condition in the dog, such as hypothyroidism (which, when corrected with proper medication, can cause aggression to go away without any training) vaccine injury (I find Cesar's description of the differences of the dogs he experienced in Mexico and America fascinating, and am willling to bet a big part of this is in tye number of vaccines the dogs received), physical trauma and brain injury, etc. Ergo, to assume aggression is a pack-structure issue is just wrong, and these factors must be considered and ruled out at the first.

Bottom line, not all of Cesar's advice is bad (i.e., remaining calm around your dog, lots of structure and exercise) but I cannot endorse a training methodology that relies on force and intimidation, and is based on an outdated and disproven theory about how wolf pack structures work- especially when there are kinder and less risky methods that are proven to be effective available.