The Dog Whisperer confuses me sometimes.
HERE is one that I just didn't understand. A yellow Lab who's food aggressive. This whole thing confused me. Cesar knows WAY more about Canine behavior than I ever will, but, I would never let some man give my animal a bowl of food and then hit or scare it for trying to eat the food. I'm sorry, but, no. I'd ask him to leave, even though I respect him a lot. I confess to being the shittiest dog trainer on Earth, but, I'm real good at making animals my friends. I couldn't treat any animal like this over food. Food should be given freely and plentifully. It sucks to be hungry. These people sure shove a lot of sticks in the dog's face too. There's the ball stick, a broom stick and what the fuck? In the end, he convinces the owners to give the dog up, because they have a baby. I thought that was right. I would never trust an animal like that around a child, no matter how much he re-habed it. But, from a woman's perspective, my solution would have been much different. I would have loved the dog up, held it close and fed it's whole meal to it out of my hand, one piece at a time until it learned that food is love and there's no reason to need to 'own' it. That, is why I'm not a good dog trainer and he is, I guess. I think he was mean here, not dominant.
The next dog case on there confused me too. I had no idea what was wrong with that dog in the first place. I still don't. It seemed like it was already the perfect dog before it ever met him. I obviously know nothing about dogs, I would have been like, ''Oh, prwettty puppy! I wub YOU!" That dog wasn't offering to bite anyone. He was just warning strangers, with his tail wagging. Isn't that what you want your dog to do? See? I'm confused.
15 comments:
I have 1 ½ year old black lab. Thankfully I ran across you tube channels kikopup and tab289. My previous experience was with the American Kennel Club back in the 90’s. I don’t know what methods they teach now, but the positive clicker training that I’ve learned from those two you tube channels have made a huge difference in the results I have gotten with my pup. Nearly all of her food is given to her by hand in exchange for the different tricks and games we play with her. We leave a free-feed bowl of food for her available at all times, but she rarely eats from it. Instead, she comes over and offers a trick or brings a food puzzle toy to us to add kibble for her.
Cesar uses some methods that are old school and can seem harsh. There is a lot of doggie psychology around control of resources, food being the major one. I read a book about dog language and was having trouble with my pup trying to hump legs. The book said a lot of behavior problems can be minimized by requiring your animal to do something before feeding. I kind of thought we had that covered since our pup offered a trick for most of her food already, but the book explained that from the dog’s point of view, she was commanding us to retrieve her food for her by “ asking”. I started asking her for another trick she hadn’t offered before I gave her the treat, and the humping stopped.
The dog owner in the video did have his dog do some obedience moves before feeding, so apparently it doesn’t work for every dog. I hope they found a dog that was safe around the baby.
I agree, the second dog seemed just fine to me
I never did like Millan. If you look closely at his training techniques, they are all abusive. I'm surprised he hasn't been reported by some animal activist. I guess that would cost plenty and people don't have that kind of money. I adore animals and would have never taken food away from a dog or any other critter. I'm the one who gives them food.
Lisa, That clicker stuff is interesting to me. Anything new that can help. My dog is obnoxious now that he lives with my mother. She lets his obsessive behaviors go, she thinks it's cute. I guess it's not my problem anymore, but, I still like to learn about dog behavior.
I don't think Millan is abusive, he saves a shit load of dogs too, but, he's such a man. Women can be dominant in other ways. We have softer ways of getting the same results. I would never claim to know half of what he does, but, I try hard to understand animals because I love them. That has to be worth something.
Food is such a huge thing. Huge. I want any animal I'm around to know that food is always available. I don't play food games with animals..or kids for that matter.
Oh, and men and horses are the same way. I am no cowgirl, but, I won't put a horse on the ground. It may prove dominance, but, so does determination sometimes.
What did I miss??? How come your dog is with your mother?
Pat;
I'm with you on not playing food games with animals and children. Not cool. I'm a feeder/nurturerer.
Milan-- he's done a lot for pits and other dogs. But.....I get uncomfortable watching him. I won't say he is abusive, but it just feels....I dunno.... Disrespectful. If I jerked on his leash and my little Buddy hung his head the way those dogs on his show do, well, I'd feel like a huge pos. I don't like to see anything hang its head down like that. Some respect is in order. (dammit)
One of my friends is a dog trainer and she's told me that she and her friends all hate Cesar. She said the way he treats the dogs is so wrong. I used to watch "It's me or the dog" with Victoria Stillwell on Animal Planet. I liked her way of training - it was reward based. And she used the clicker training too.
Eriny, my mother always wanted my dog. My mother gets what she wants. End of story.
My mother played food games with me as a child. To control. I will never do that with any creature, ever.
I don't think Cesar is cruel, I think he's awesome. He's just not a woman and we are different. What works for a man, will not always work for a woman. I'm not interested in being a pack leader. I am only interested in being a friend, and it works for me. I have a lot of dog friends who don't belong to me. They are not my dog and they know it, but, they are my friends. It's interesting and I'm going to start posting pics with them and talking about their lives and the people who own them. I've told you about Brody, he's one.
PS, it's really fascinating how dogs get their energy from their owners. Cesar talks about that a lot and I learned from him that by watching a dog's people, you can gage a dog's mood and danger level. A mellow person who trusts usually has a friendly dog. No matter how bad ass the dog looks. A nervous person will have a dangerous dog. It's almost always true. If I see the person tense up and look worried, I know that his dog could bite me. It's very important then, to be casual and not fearful, or you'll get it for sure.
Some dogs, you move in slow and let them smell. Some dogs, you do the exact opposite. I'm not sure how I know which ones, but, I do. I'll try and figure out what I'm feeling when I meet them. In Guntown, you MUST know the dogs. Everyone has dogs here and some are dangerous because their owners want them dangerous. You protect yourself by knowing them by name.
Erin, I just checked out It's me or the dog" with Victoria Stillwell. OMG, I love this, thank you!
Glad you like it. My pug, Heidi, loved watching it. She would bark at the dogs on the tv. It was hilarious. And I learned stuff too!
Man, that Lab was scary as shit. I didn't even think Labs had it in them. I like Cesar. I think he really does understand how a dog's brain works. In dog packs, it's not always pretty the way they establish dominance. He behaves like a dog, and they get it.
Having said that, I would never apply his rules to my own dog. That bitch owns me.
I used to watch "It's me or the dog". The British woman that would help a family correct dog behaviors. But when making them food, she always smushed garlic into the meat and veggies. I know dogs aren't supposed to have either garlic or onions. It can cause kidney failure. She was giving possibly deadly advice! It was a good show. I don't know if it's on anymore. I think Ceasar used to be ok. he's gotten very rich now and full of himself. And maybe he's f'g tired of making dogs behave? He should retire. If he's going to strike a dog for eating. That seems wrong and not helpful. I have seen him shove a dog with his leg to correct a behavior and it worked. He can be a physical person. Some dogs may need that. I think his culture is different too. He's ok. I am over him now, tho. Sometimes, you just know what to do. Love & Common sense is what dogs know. And they remember who hits them!
Rox
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