Cesar Millan Opinions

Hmmmm. Not a fan of some of his methods, I wouldn't use him as his personality irritates me intensely, so no matter what he could do for my dog I couldn't work with him. Having watched his latest fiasco with the pig killing dog actually made me think what a silly man he is, silly and irritating.
 
I wouldn't let him anywhere near any of my dogs unsupervised. For the most part I dislike him and feel that his methods and the TV programmes are dangerous. I've seen a couple of people trying to do things his way and the results have been awful.

The only thing I like about what he says is that dogs need exercise, discipline and affection in that ratio and that it all needs to be consistent. But that's where it ends. I don't like the idea of 'consistent' poking, prodding, pinning, use of electric collars, pronged collars etc. There's a video of him with a collie who's so scared it's weeing itself. Such a sensitive, intelligent, willing breed and that's what he does with it :(

There are far better methods used by people like Roger Mumford, Victoria Stillwell and others who use positive training methods.

If I ever met him I'd give him a little bit of my time and let him near my dog (supervised at all times) just out of curiosity but I certainly don't condone his 'methods'.
 
His general manner and patronising attitude annoyed me greatly, but I could tolerate him, sort of.

That was until I found out (can't remember how) that he was an advocate of using "spiked" collars.......... IMO that is absolutely BARBARIC and there is no excuse EVER for using something like that on a dog. If a dog is so traumatised, and so messed up in its head (because of humans basically), that the only way to control it is to use one of these things then I for one would be going for the PTS option.

Awful man. I wouldn't touch him with a bargepole for this reason.
 
Like most of these trainers, for me it's a case of pick and choose. Same with Parelli, Monty Roberts and the like. I can't remember any pointers I liked, but I watched his show a few times and thought "Oh yea, I can see why you'd do that" or "Oh dear, no. I will not be using that"
I don't think there is a single trainer which I follow to the letter.
 
Chan said:
[...] for me it's a case of pick and choose. [...] I don't think there is a single trainer which I follow to the letter.
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This, absolutely. Different techniques depending on the dog, the situation etc. I include telling off my dog in that too. Most of the time we use positive methods but just occasionally he'll get told off for pushing his luck too far.
 
Good trainers adapt their methods to each individual dog and handler. Please note I say trainer as this is very different to a behaviourist. My obedience trainer is amazing if she sees something isn't working (which she manages to do very quickly) she changes her approach. The dogs adore and respect her and every one will work their socks off for her. I am very privileged to have been invited to train with her.
 
There's a discussion about Cesar Milan going on in the OMG thread at the moment.

I think I make my opinions fairly clear in there! (Here's a clue ... I've been known to buy his books when seen in charity shops and use them to light the fire).
 
no, it's in the clubhouse ... easiest thing to do is click on quick links towards the top of the page, and then 'todays posts' - you have to be logged in to see the club house. It doesn't start off as a Cesar Milan thread ... I think it switches about page 2 or 3
 
I like him too...can't stand parelli (horses!) like Victoria Stilwell too...again you can take some training methods from each trainer, sadly most people aren't very clued up to start with when they acquire a dog, hence the amount of strays...so more education from 'trainers' the better
 
I think a lot of what he does is common sense and I find some of the solutions interesting....he consistently says that it is not the dogs who are at fault but the owners. he also says exercise is very important and it seems that,in America, people just have dogs in their back yard(although big in comparison to englands gardens) and don't think it is necessary to take them for walks..most of the so called red zone dogs would be put down if he didn't take them in hand..,, I like to see what all of the trainers do and take different ideas from all of them. what puts me off of Victoria Stillwell is her kinky outfit....but some of her ideas are good..
 
The problem with CM is he talks the talk, but if you really look at what hes doing it doesnt match what hes saying, well apart from all the alpha roll crap! Plus its a TV show, its highly edited. I absolutely detest him! I really struggle with anyone who doesnt use positive reinforcement. There would be outrage on here if people were trying to use physical strength and dominance to train horses, why is it ok to train dogs by fear? Plus, it just doesnt work!
 
i like him. I follow his programs and enjoy it.
like previously said, you take sections from each trainer to adapt to your needs/situation. (For example, I don't like dog harness's, as I too, believe it encourages dogs to pull, I like slip leads as Cesar does, and have always used them.)
I like some of Victoria too, but I couldn't watch her as much as Cesar.
 
FrankieCob said:
There would be outrage on here if people were trying to use physical strength and dominance to train horses, why is it ok to train dogs by fear? Plus, it just doesnt work!
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Don't we use bridles to lead horses that are over excited? Chiffneys if they are needed? We use crops and spurs ... It's all the same thing to me - making some choices unpleasant and others pleasant.
 
In 2010 Milan toured in the UK. 15 animal welfare organisations and numerous individuals worked together to put out information warning people of the problems with Millan's work

quote

Aversive training techniques, which have been seen to be used by Cesar Millan, are based on the principle of applying an unpleasant stimulus to inhibit behaviour. This kind of training technique can include the use of prong collars, electric shock collars, restricting dogs’ air supply using nooses/leads or pinning them to the ground, which can cause pain and distress. The use of such techniques may compromise the welfare of dogs and may worsen the behavioural problems they aim to address, potentially placing owners at considerable risk. A number of scientific studies have found an association between the use of aversive training techniques and the occurrence of undesired behaviours in dogs.
http://www.dogwelfarecampaign.org/press-statement.php

The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behaviour have released position statements on Dominance Theory and Punishment in dog training as a result of their concerns of Millans dangerous and flawed approach to training http://avsabonline.org/resources/position-statements


A reality check
ANY good dog trainer will tell you that 95% of the job is training the owner ...
ANY good dog trainer will tell you that appropriate mental and physical stimulation is vital for your dog's well-being and will make living with, and training your dog a lot easier (and guess what, that doesn't involve putting them on treadmills!),
There are many, many excellent trainers and behaviourists who work with dogs harder than Milan does on his shows every day of the week and do not break a sweat. Neither do they resort to heavy handed bullying and intimidation to force compliance. These dogs do not end up being put down just because CM does not deal with them - they improve and continue to live happy, useful lives with their families.
Milan pushes dogs to the extreme to show their behaviour at its absolute worst. He then scares them witless. barbaric 'entertainment'.
His entire theory of dog training is based on flawed and outdated notions of wolf behaviour. Forward thinking trainers and behaviourists across the world now take on board the current research about dogs (and wolves where appropriate) and allow that to inform their training approach.
The approach Milan uses isn't even 'his' approach - alpha rolling was originally brought to the public's attention by the Monks of New Skeet. The author of the original book by the MoNS now says he wishes he had never disclosed the technique.
He took the title 'the dog whisperer' from a guy called Paul Owens, who was calling himself a dog whisperer 5 years before Milan appeared on the scene, and uses positive reinforcement training.

Cesar Milan is a self serving individual who, for the sake of his own ego and bank balance has traumatised numerous dogs and set back dog training by 20 years. The most serious dogs I have seen for behavioural problems have, without exception, been subject to alpha rolls and dominance style training, which has only reinforced the dog's fears and destroyed its relationship with its owner. I would bet money that, if the true statistics could ever come to light, CM and his popularisation of dominance training has been responsible for having more dogs destroyed than all the positive reinforcement trainers put together.
 
Honestly, watch one of his shows with the sound off. What he talks about doing is not what hes actually doing! Hes very charismatic and easy to watch. With the sound off its a very different experience :)
 
FrankieCob said:
Honestly, watch one of his shows with the sound off. What he talks about doing is not what hes actually doing! Hes very charismatic and easy to watch. With the sound off its a very different experience :)
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^^^ This. Without the rubbish that comes out of his mouth, you see a totally different picture. The Holly resource guarding clip is a prime example. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siCOAuOEEPw
 
I like him. I like that he bangs on and on and about exercise, and it is not the dogs breed it is how you treat it.
He has amazingly white teeth!!
 
Alec Swan said:
The discussion is around his abilities with dogs, NOT the question 'Would I'? Hussy! :p :D

Alec.
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I really don't fancy him, he is really short too! His teeth just kind of stand out...like neon! fburton, the Americans must despise our yellowing nashers. :-)
 
I've been following this thread with interest. I freely admit I know nothing about training dogs and all I know of Cesar Millan comes from watching one of his shows fairly regularly for the six months or so that I lived in Spain. Everything I saw there made sense to me, but I have never really looked into any of the controversy surrounding his methods. I do, however, respect the fact that he came to the US as an illegal immigrant with no English and made his fortune.
 
HashRouge said:
…….. . I do, however, respect the fact that he came to the US as an illegal immigrant with no English and made his fortune.
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The problem with his 'methods' is that they should arrive with the codicil; 'Don't try this at home'! He's both experienced and skilled, but without those two qualities, the average pet owner who's both poorly advised and experienced will end up only worsening matters. Those who criticise Milan will all so often have little by way of experience, and therein all so often, lays the problem I suspect.

Alec.
 
Teaselmeg said:
^^^ This. Without the rubbish that comes out of his mouth, you see a totally different picture. The Holly resource guarding clip is a prime example. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siCOAuOEEPw
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What the ******* is that clip about? What does he thinks he has achieved? I have never watched the guy and I am now totally baffled by his behaviour in that clip. i have to take other peoples' word for it that he is a dog trainer but if I saw anybody else do this I would shake my head and walk away (white teeth are overrated in my opinion!)
 
Alec Swan said:
Those who criticise Milan will all so often have little by way of experience, and therein all so often, lays the problem I suspect.

Alec.
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ah, yes, inexperience ... that'll be the problem. Clueless, every one of them ;) http://beyondcesarmillan.weebly.com/index.html

Thanks fburton for reminding me of this one ... God bless Sophia Yin, what a loss she was https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sI13v9JgJu0

and here's an alternative approach to resource guarding (re the Holly clip above) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDeAKj2etMs
 
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