'Dog Whisperer' being sued for injury of dog!

[mojozen]

'Dog Whisperer' sued by TV Producer

A television producer is suing dog trainer Cesar Millan, star of TV's "The Dog Whisperer," claiming that his Labrador retriever was injured at Millan's training facility after being suffocated by a choke collar and forced to run on a treadmill.

In a lawsuit filed Thursday in Superior Court, "8 Simple Rules" producer Flody Suarez says he took 5-year-old Gator to the Dog Psychology Center on February 27 to deal with fears of other dogs and strangers.

Hours after dropping the dog off at the facility, Suarez claimed a worker called to inform him the animal had been rushed to a veterinarian. He later found the dog "bleeding from his mouth and nose, in an oxygen tent gasping for breath and with severe bruising to his back inner thighs," the lawsuit claims.

The facility's workers allegedly placed a choke collar on the dog, pulled him onto a treadmill and forced him to "overwork." Suarez says he spent at least $25,000 on medical bills and the dog must undergo more surgeries for damage to his esophagus.

A call to the Dog Psychology Center, also named as a defendant, was not immediately returned. A spokesman for National Geographic Channel, which airs Millan's show, declined comment.

"As of this time, the National Geographic Channel has not been served with either lawsuit, and we do not comment on pending litigation," said Russell Howard, the channel's vice president of communications.

The complaint claims breach of contract, fraud, animal cruelty and intentional infliction of emotional distress, among other allegations. It seeks more than $25,000 in damages.

Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed

 

[whatszmatter]

25 Grand in vet bills!?!?!?!?!, What did they do, build a new dog from scratch?

 

[AusCatDogs_4Ever]

WOW. That's horrible... I hope the dog gets through the serguries ok.

 

[mojozen]

25 Grand in vet bills!?!?!?!?!, What did they do, build a new dog from scratch?

Surgeries cost money. It could very well cost $25,000 to do surgeries on a dog. I met a dog owner in the Vet hospital when I took my hedgehog in that had already spent $15000 on surgeries and physical therapy for her dog who had a back deformity.

 

[PoodleMommy]

Yes, Vets sure do make a lot of money.

Surgery Costs can really add up...

I feel really bad for this person and his dog OF COURSE.

I do not watch the show, I have seen the guy on a few shows (Oprah, etc) and thought he seemed a little rough.

For anyone who has watched the show, does this surprise you?
Does Cesar seem like a good dog trainer or not?

Just Wondering

Elissa

 

[JennSLK]

I hope the dog owner wins. I really dont like the dog "whisperer"

 

[SalemWitchChild]

Cesar is a dog psychologist not a dog trainer. And no it doesn't seem like he would do something like this.

 

[pup-man]

I hope the dog owner wins. I really dont like the dog "whisperer"

Why not? Is it because he helps a lot of people with problems? OR do you just not like his method?

 

[PoodleMommy]

if he is a psychologist why was he using a choke chain and treadmill?

 

[dr2little]

Cesar is a dog psychologist not a dog trainer. And no it doesn't seem like he would do something like this.

Cesar is neither a dog psychologist or a dog trainer. He has no credentials unless you think that being a dog walker and dog groomer (no education for either) warrent the title "dog psychologist". I knew it was just a matter of time before he was "found out", I'm just so sorry for the poor dog and family who had to suffer for Cesar to be seen for the cruel, irresponsible, nutcase that he is. THE WORLD OF TRUE EDUCATED DOG PROFESSIONALS WILL REJOICE OVER HIS DOWNFALL!!

 

[dr2little]

Why not? Is it because he helps a lot of people with problems? OR do you just not like his method?

If you have watched the show, the question would be almost silly. This guy uses physical force to "train" or "rehabilitate" dogs. If the dogs tongue isn't blue or the dog isn't showing severe signs of stress, he can't seem to make any progress. As for his track record...did deeper, you'll find this isn't the first case of cruelty or even death at his facility. I hope this puts and end to his abuse and provides an answer to all those on this site who are card carrying "Cesar fans".

 

[SalemWitchChild]

if he is a psychologist why was he using a choke chain and treadmill?

Good question. I've never saw him recommend something like that on one of his shows.

Cesar is neither a dog psychologist or a dog trainer. He has no credentials unless you think that being a dog walker and dog groomer (no education for either) warrent the title "dog psychologist". I knew it was just a matter of time before he was "found out", I'm just so sorry for the poor dog and family who had to suffer for Cesar to be seen for the cruel, irresponsible, nutcase that he is. THE WORLD OF TRUE EDUCATED DOG PROFESSIONALS WILL REJOICE OVER HIS DOWNFALL!!

Do you have references to prove that he is not? I'm not arguing with your statement but references would be nice.

If he has no degree then isn't that fraud?

 

[pup-man]

If you have watched the show, the question would be almost silly. This guy uses physical force to "train" or "rehabilitate" dogs. If the dogs tongue isn't blue or the dog isn't showing severe signs of stress, he can't seem to make any progress. As for his track record...did deeper, you'll find this isn't the first case of cruelty or even death at his facility. I hope this puts and end to his abuse and provides an answer to all those on this site who are card carrying "Cesar fans".

So you don't like his method?

I don't think Ceaser has a direct contact to those who go to his facility.... If I'm not mistaken, he is there about 6 hours a week.

 

[JennSLK]

Why not? Is it because he helps a lot of people with problems? OR do you just not like his method?

Because he helps alot of people, thats why I dont like him. That was a stupid comment you made. Why would I not like someone because they help alot of people.

I dont like him because he is cruel. He uses force.

 

[SalemWitchChild]

If you have watched the show, the question would be almost silly. This guy uses physical force to "train" or "rehabilitate" dogs. If the dogs tongue isn't blue or the dog isn't showing severe signs of stress, he can't seem to make any progress. As for his track record...did deeper, you'll find this isn't the first case of cruelty or even death at his facility. I hope this puts and end to his abuse and provides an answer to all those on this site who are card carrying "Cesar fans".

I am digging deeper, and nothing is coming up but dogs he has helped rehabilitate after cruelty.. Since I am having no luck finding it please give a link to another case where he has done cruelty?

 

[Doberluv]

For anyone who has watched the show, does this surprise you?
Does Cesar seem like a good dog trainer or not?

No, it doesn't suprise me one bit. He regularily uses force, intimidation, dominance to get dogs to do what he wants them to do. Just the other night I watched an episode where he forced a Golden down on his side, bragging how he was pressing hard with one finger into the dogs carotid artery area and forced this terrified dog to have his nails clipped. It took all of 2 or 3 minutes to accomplish, Ceasar got bitten in a few locations on his hand and arm and his nose was bleeding enough that he needed a kleenex stuck in his nostril the rest of the show.

I took my son's dog, a Pitbull mix who was 10 times more vicious about getting her nails clipped than that dog..no vet would touch her without anesthesia, a muzzle wouldn't do so that couldn't be afforded by my son, nor would it be healthy for the dog......and so over a period of about 4 days I conditioned her gradually, all associated with ice cream, happy voices, belly rubs....for letting me tap her nails with the clippers to scraping off a smiggen of one or two and then slowly day by day to being relaxed about getting all her nails clipped. This was over a year ago and she is still perfectly happy to get her nails clipped.

You do not need to force a dog. A dog can be taught things without stressing the poor animal and ruining trust. His idea is that the dog will trust once he find out that it's not so bad. Well, that doesn't happen. The stress level gets so high, the dog's adreneline is so high, fight or flight drive is so high that his autonomic nervous system is taking over. His thinking part of his brain is not even in gear. He can learn nothing by what is being attempted. That's a medical fact.

On another episode I watched him drag a Labrador Retriever across a wood floor that she was terrified of. I'm not talking apprehensive of (in which case I wouldn't have a problem hurrying up and proving to the dog that it's OK) No....this dog was more than mildly worried about it. He tightened up that choke chain while the dog attempted to plant her feet and he dragged her by her neck. I cringed. He's all the while saying all this bs about calm submissive. She was submissive all right, not calm. She never came to look comfortable with it.

Most of these episodes I've seen where you're suppose to be brainwashed into thinking the dog is just fine with being forced and flooded with highly stressful stimuli, I have never seen evidence of the dog being comfortable or showing body language which shows the dog is happy. The dogs are simply submitting to domination and intimidation. And he says that's what is natural. That is not what's natural.

All this talk about pack animals and heirarchy is way, way, way over done. Newer research shows that dogs are not descended directly from wolves, but from feral, solitary dogs who were descended from wolves. Our domestic dogs are not wolves and to use that romantisizing concept with them is ignorant and harmful.

Cesar is a dog psychologist not a dog trainer.

Correction: He has no education, no degree in canine psychology. He is merely a self proclaimed dog psychologist who grew up with a lot of dogs and set out to quickly "fix" problem dogs not by teaching them anything, but by covering up their problems forcefully so that they appear to be fine because the behaviors are stopped.....for the time being. He plays up this mimicking of a wolf's or dog's body language (the best he can being a human being) and uses some sort of 60's, hippy sounding terminology like calm submissive. He may indeed stop certain behaviors, but at what cost to the dog?

No, I'm not suprised at all that a dog got injured. I expect to see more dogs out there in TV land getting injured, more relationships between dogs and owners being ruined, more human bites than ever. It's a real shame that people are going to be imitating his alpha rolls, his forcing dogs into fearful situations, his yanking straight up on the choke collars against their tracheas, his practice of not praising or rewarding the dog until the dog is perfect.....in a "calm, submissive" posture.

 

[dr2little]

Good question. I've never saw him recommend something like that on one of his shows.



Do you have references to prove that he is not? I'm not arguing with your statement but references would be nice.

If he has no degree then isn't that fraud?

Even in reading his own book you'll see that he has no education in the Canine psychology field. He was a groomer, then move to LA to become a dog walker and just DECIDED that he would deem himself an expert. He has been a thorn in the side of all of us who do have credentials and experience and have done the work and research to be able to successfully help dogs without physical punishment.

As for the choke chain. He not only uses them or some form of them on every show but he tells people (on air) how to make them with 10 cent strips of twine There needs to be some regulation to stop people like this before they end up in the news.

 

[Zoom]

It says right in the article that a WORKER is the one who used the collar and put the dog on the treadmill, not Caesar himself. One could argue that since it's his place, he's still responsible for what his workers do, but at the same time, everyone on here has said how much they hate Caesar for doing that to the dog, when it was not The Dog Whisperer himself.

I have seen him use the treadmill on his show before, and he also said that a dog on a treadmill should always always always be supervised in case it trips or freaks out.

Not everyone has a 'degree' in dog training. It's a piece of paper that says you went through some crackerjack course. He's had enough real-world hands-on experience that I think he knows what he's talking about. Of course there are going to be those who disagree with him and his methods, it's the nature of the business. But at the same time, I think I have a fairly good handle on dog body-language just from the countless hours I've spent supervising doggie daycare. You pick this stuff up and it sounds like he's been working with dogs his whole life, and dog walking/grooming was something to bring in money and get more hands-on experience.

Jenn, if you disagree with use of *any* force, then you'd better rethink Schutzhund.

 

[mojozen]

I am not surprised. i've tried to watch his show and was horrified by his methods. I now refuse to watch it. I am not going to contibute to his ratings. He MAY not have done it, but he has recommded these same things in the past... and since he OWNS the place that this happened that DOES make HIM responsible for what happened. It's called liability.

 

[pup-man]

I'd rather have hands on experience than some paper telling me I'm educated.