Attack of the stupids/ The dog whisperer!

[bridey_01]

I've just been informed that the "dog whisperer" has made it to our shores and is now on t.v spreading his miraculous version of dog training, straight from hell!
Lets take the case of the water-phobic Vislaz. His advice?
Slap on that choke chain and get choking, because we are gonna yank this poor doggy into the water! You should have seen the fear, pain and utter blinding terror in this dogs eyes! It makes absolutely no sense. What about the nervous, fear barking sheltie. Hmmm, how about...... a choke chain?
But first we'll back the dog into a corner and shove the toaster in its face for a couple of minutes until it's too scared to even see. My God, I can just imagine all the morons rushing out to get their choke chains and practice their helicoptering techniques!

 

[Gempress]

*disclaimer* I see absolutely nothing wrong with using proper correction during dog training. I have used choke and pinch collars on all my dogs during training. *end disclaimer*

But I have to agree, you do NOT correct a dog because he's afraid! It would be like putting your child in time-out because he's scared of the dark. It does absolutely nothing to solve the fear. If anything, it makes it worse.

The way to overcome fear is through all-positive methods. You want the dog to associate his fear (like water!) with something pleasureable, thus overcoming it.

I've never seen the dog whisperer, but if he thinks that dragging a dog into the water with a choke chain will help him like it, he's insane! I hope a fad doesn't start....

 

[Dreeza]

whoa...

i always think of 'whisperers' of people who are very umm..different...and communicate with animals...like, get on all fours, and meditate, and do other weird things...

 

[gaddylovesdogs]

I have seen a few clips of him working with dogs....and he uses training collars way too often. I think the easiest and most humane way to teach a dog to like something that they are afraid of is take some really yummy treats (like liver) and slowly lure the dog over to the "scary" object. It might take a while but it actually teaches the dog to like it.
I've also seen him work with Oprah Winfrey's cocker spaniel who barks when she leaves. He told her to go back to the house and say, "NO! NO BARKING!" how the heck is that teaching the dog anything? She's getting what she wants - attention. It might be negative attention, but it's still attention.
I do agree with him that you have to show your dog that you are in charge though.

 

[LorriF]

I watched his show when it featured a dog who was showing far too much guarding behaviour--something that I thought applied to Jake. Well, it was no help whatsoever--even if he did successfully correct the behaviour (which according to the show he did)....all he did was take the dog for a walk?????? Now how does that actually *teach* anyone anything? I was looking for pointers on dealing with my dog, and all they did was go for a walk and pop his chain a couple of times????

Useless to someone like me, anyway

 

[Zoom]

Most of what gets shown on the show basically boils down to teaching the owners to have a little backbone and get the dog out for exercise. Most of the time, it does work very well. And I've seen him using desenetizing techiniques with pretty good success. But you do have to understand, they're trying to cram two or three different dogs into one half hour show. They can't get into great detail or take overly difficult dogs, because it would A) take too long and B) they're only going to show the ones he 'fixes' quickly, so as to uphold the selling point of the show.

I do have to say that I nicked his walking technique, the leash right up behind the ears, and it's worked quite well for some of the more intense pullers I have to deal with on a daily basis.

 

[Tail_Chaser]

i saw the one where he helped a great dane (i think it was) overcome shiny/tile floors because one day he slipped and fell so he had a phobia so to say. he coaxed the dog in the building by sitting in a chair and slowly coming more and more into the building. no food rewards just reassuring words of praise. what is wrong with that? now the dog is not afraid anymore and doesn't balk at doorways.

 

[Melissa_W]

I watch that show a lot, and I don't think his methods are cruel. They are just different. I've never seen him hurt a dog. And the dogs don't seem scared of him. They always wag their tails when he comes back for a checkup.

 

[Gempress]

i saw the one where he helped a great dane (i think it was) overcome shiny/tile floors because one day he slipped and fell so he had a phobia so to say. he coaxed the dog in the building by sitting in a chair and slowly coming more and more into the building. no food rewards just reassuring words of praise. what is wrong with that? now the dog is not afraid anymore and doesn't balk at doorways.

That doesn't sound wrong to me at all. I wonder why he overcame fear with treats for one dog, but with a choke chain for another? I guess they can't go into too much depth in a half hour.

 

[Manchesters]

It is a shame that so many are totally uneducated in the correct use of a choke chain collar. The fact that the thing is called a choke chain shows the vast ignorance surrounding this tool, and its proper use. The correct term is slip chain.

It does take a certain amount of skill to use it. It would seem that there are some on this forum who know nothing about how to do it right. A shame. It is definitely a good thing for any dogs they train that they do NOT use it.

 

[yuckaduck]

It is a shame that so many are totally uneducated in the correct use of a choke chain collar. The fact that the thing is called a choke chain shows the vast ignorance surrounding this tool, and its proper use. The correct term is slip chain.

It does take a certain amount of skill to use it. It would seem that there are some on this forum who know nothing about how to do it right. A shame. It is definitely a good thing for any dogs they train that they do NOT use it.

Hey when I first started using one I was moving poor Yukons front end everywhere. Then you and Luc showed me the proper way and he does not move a spec but it works. That is the problem people just don't always understand how to use it.

 

[Angelique]

Cesar Millan's "The Dog Whisperer" show

The dogs Cesar works with are usually last hope cases. Almost every one of these dogs had already been to a trainer, who could not help the dog through training methods alone. Yes, what you see on the show is just a small portion of the three hour initial session with the dog and owners. The show runs a disclaimer so people won't try his techniques without the help of a professional. Cesar himself maintains a pack of up to 50 "throwaway", headed straight for death-row, dogs. If you will do some research, there is a lot of information on the net about his philosophies, methods, and where they originated. If you will watch his show, you will gain a lot of insight when he does his consultation with the owners.

Dog rehabilitation, is not dog training. Canine communication, is not canine conditioning. Canine psychology, is not human psychology. Those of us in dog rehabilitation understand this. We all work very hard to find out when, where, and why training methods fail, what we can do to help put humans and their canine companions back on track, and do our best to educate others in order to save the lives of dogs. With few exceptions, dogs are born normal, but are messed up by a human being somewhere along the way. Basic obedience and love alone, will not help a psychological problem. An understanding of canine psychology and how our behavior effects our dog, is what's needed.

The term "whispering" is used to describe communicating with an animal on their own terms, and as best as we humans can approximate, in their own language. This is what Cesar does.

It always makes me sad, when people who don't "get it", criticize what they do not understand, and discourage others from gaining knowledge with an open mind. This does nothing productive towards the goal of saving a dog's life, and helping them become balanced, happy family members and safe canine citizens.

Cesar is one of the most compassionate people I've ever met.

"If ignorance is the lack of knowledge, then stupidity is the blind refusal of knowledge offered" author unknown

 

[Saje]

The dogs Cesar works with are usually last hope cases. Almost every one of these dogs had already been to a trainer, who could not help the dog through training methods alone. Yes, what you see on the show is just a small portion of the three hour initial session with the dog and owners. The show runs a disclaimer so people won't try his techniques without the help of a professional. Cesar himself maintains a pack of up to 50 "throwaway", headed straight for death-row, dogs. If you will do some research, there is a lot of information on the net about his philosophies, methods, and where they originated. If you will watch his show, you will gain a lot of insight when he does his consultation with the owners.

Dog rehabilitation, is not dog training. Canine communication, is not canine conditioning. Canine psychology, is not human psychology. Those of us in dog rehabilitation understand this. We all work very hard to find out when, where, and why training methods fail, what we can do to help put humans and their canine companions back on track, and do our best to educate others in order to save the lives of dogs. With few exceptions, dogs are born normal, but are messed up by a human being somewhere along the way. Basic obedience and love alone, will not help a psychological problem. An understanding of canine psychology and how our behavior effects our dog, is what's needed.

The term "whispering" is used to describe communicating with an animal on their own terms, and as best as we humans can approximate, in their own language. This is what Cesar does.

It always makes me sad, when people who don't "get it", criticize what they do not understand, and discourage others from gaining knowledge with an open mind. This does nothing productive towards the goal of saving a dog's life, and helping them become balanced, happy family members and safe canine citizens.

Cesar is one of the most compassionate people I've ever met.

"If ignorance is the lack of knowledge, then stupidity is the blind refusal of knowledge offered" author unknown

Do you work for the show???

 

[yuckaduck]

Do you work for the show???

Sounds like it or is a very good friend or relative??? Well I guess each is entitled to their own opinion and name calling really is not productive either is it?

 

[Angelique]

Do you work for the show???

LOL! No, but like Cesar, I am a people educator and a dog rehabilitator.

 

[Saje]

LOL! No, but like Cesar, I am a people educator and a dog rehabilitator.

Oh well! You'll fit in here. We have lots of those

 

[yuckaduck]

Oh well! You'll fit in here. We have lots of those

Yup Manchesters where are you?

 

[Angelique]

Sounds like it or is a very good friend or relative??? Well I guess each is entitled to their own opinion and name calling really is not productive either is it?

No name calling or offence intended. However, since the word "stupid" was introduced to open this thread, it deserved to be put into a more appropriate context.

 

[Renee750il]

I'm not familiar with Cesar's work at all, but I am familiar with the fact that TV shows are edited in ways to best stimulate viewership - not necessarily to present the truth. I wouldn't be too quick to judge anyone based on what I'd seen in a half-hour or hour format show.

 

[yuckaduck]

No name calling or offence intended. However, since the word "stupid" was introduced to open this thread, it deserved to be put into a more appropriate context.

I value your opinion but honestly I can't agree or disagree, I have not seen the show. If I did it made no impression on me because I don't remember.