Victoria Stillwell or Cesar Millan?

[Lizmo]

Which do you like?



I watched one episode of "The Dog Whisperer" and, I dunno, something about his manner of explaining things didn't settle well with me. It wasn't really anything he *DID* but what he talked about/explained the training.

I like that Victoria Stillwell doesn't mess around. She gets in there, explains it very clearly, and does the job.



.......................

And yes, I know I'm putting this in the FH since it's the only section that can have polls.

 

[Dekka]

If you do a search you will find that most people dislike CM and like VS. If you want I can post a post I did on another forum about Milan..

 

[HoundedByHounds]

neither. I train, or don't...MY way...with what works best for my dogs. Why should I listen to either of them? Because they're on TV? So's Judge Judy...lol.

 

[iwantmypup]

I don't like VS. She's a big meanie.

 

[Squishy22]

neither. I train, or don't...MY way...with what works best for my dogs. Why should I listen to either of them? Because they're on TV? So's Judge Judy...lol.

Hey I like judge judy. lol.

But yeah, I feel the same way. I do what works best for me and my own dogs. But I have learned a lot from watching her shows. The people she has on there are ridiculous though. People who let their dogs walk all over them. People who over spoil and dont care to set any rules. A lot of stuff is common sense.

 

[Dekka]

VS is a bit over the top.. but it has to 'entertain' or no network will buy it. I train using the same principles as she does. Though I don't agree with all she does.. she is much much better than CM. At least what she does is likely going to have permanent results.

 

[drmom777]

I want to hear Judge Judy's advice on dog training. Until then I withold my opinion.

 

[mrose_s]

I like VS. I might not use all her training methods, but she's the best celebrity trainer out there. She shows you don't have to intimidate a dog to get it to comply and is upfront about what dogs need/don't need.

 

[Angelique]

I actually like both of them for various reasons.

My preference is for Cesar. But Victoria bridges a certain gap in a way she would not have gotten away with amoung certain +R's a few years ago. The fact that she is more social dynamically oriented over endless clicker-n-treat and OC preaching (and is getting away with it), is showing a healthier swing towards the middle ground as of late within the APDT. :yikes:

Cesar and Victoria are more alike than different, dispite the parroting of the PC verbiage and posturing to the +R's on Victoria's behalf. :hail:

 

[tessa_s212]

If forced to choice between the two, VS, simply because her influence encourages more humane, ind dog training. CM, while surely he's done some "good" for owners, influences too many to subscribe to the dominance theory and abusive training techniques.

But, I've found faults in both. There are quite a number of things I don't like about VS.

 

[Bunny82]

I never seen Victoria Stillwell so can't judge her but I think Cesar Milan is a bonehead.

 

[Maxy24]

I dislike CM in all ways except that he tells people their dogs need more exercise and they need to stop spoiling them. I hate his methods, I hate the use of intimidation, force, pain and fear to get a dog to do what you want. I hate that he pretends dogs see people as part of a wolf pack, I hate how he thinks dogs are trying to take over the "pack" and be alpha of the household. I hate how he pretends that a dog who acts like a dog and does normal dogs things is trying to dominate the owner.

I am okay with VS. I watch her show. The earlier episodes do use a lot of the "pack" crap with the fridge magnets and all but she does it a bit less now. While I often see things I'd do differently that would probably work better I would MUCH rather see her methods on TV than CMs. No one is going to physically or mentally abuse their dogs using VS's methods. She uses more punishment (again though, it's not physical) than I'd use and seems to leave a bit of the rewarding out after the punishment when the dog does the right thing but oh well that's not abusive or scary for the dog it just might slow down the progress.

I don't like people who hurt dogs so I don't like CM. That's pretty much it for me.

 

[PoodleMommy]

I really dont like either, neither does Armani he prays neither of them ever show up and try and whip is adorable little... sleeping in my bed, asking for love when he wants it.... butt into shape... but I picked VS because she is the lesser of two evils

 

[Toller_08]

I find Victoria Stillwell incredibly annoying -- almost to the point of not being able to stand her. I like that she's a positive trainer, but some of her views/opinions on things really bug me. And Cesar... well, I'm definitely not a fan of his techniques myself, but I don't see him as the evil, scary monster some make him out to be either. Definitely in some cases that I've seen he can be a little over the top (to put it nicely), but I've watched others and haven't seen anything really negative at all.

That said, I don't currently, and nor do I intend to follow any celebrity dog trainer's advice or techniques. I train my own way with different techniques that I've learned through various sources over the years, which is what works best for me and my dogs.

 

[Boxer100]

I never watched Victoria Stillwell (she probably started her show recently) but I watched Cesar Millan and Brad Pattison (At the End of My Leash). The most extreme of the two would be Brad, but sometimes he does have a point that the owners just don't want to change and insist that their dogs are just crazy and that they are doing everything they can to train their dogs when in fact that is no the case. Cesar on the other hand, is more of a mainstream character. However, I do not think that his methods work after he leaves because when he is there, you can see the dogs respect him and are afraid of him. Once he leaves, the owners probably have the same issues since they have created the image for their dogs that they are soft and provide very little leadership.

 

[dr2little]

I never watched Victoria Stillwell (she probably started her show recently) but I watched Cesar Millan and Brad Pattison (At the End of My Leash). The most extreme of the two would be Brad, but sometimes he does have a point that the owners just don't want to change and insist that their dogs are just crazy and that they are doing everything they can to train their dogs when in fact that is no the case. Cesar on the other hand, is more of a mainstream character. However, I do not think that his methods work after he leaves because when he is there, you can see the dogs respect him and are afraid of him. Once he leaves, the owners probably have the same issues since they have created the image for their dogs that they are soft and provide very little leadership.

OMG....it's taking everything I have NOT to go on a huge rant about this total train wreck.
Cesar's mantra "I rehabillitate dogs, I train people" is a hot pile of hooey at best, but Brads version..... "I ABUSE DOGS, I SCAM PEOPLE", there's just no excusing this guys lack of knowledge, creds. or conscience.

Your description of 'character' for Cesar or Brad is bang on. Neither of these people have anything more than "life experience" and totally lack any true understanding of Canine Body Language or simple learning theory concepts.

If I had to choose it would be VS. At least this gal has the brains to know that she doesn't know it all and the responsibility to her clients to stay current.

 

[Juicy]

I find Victoria Stillwell incredibly annoying -- almost to the point of not being able to stand her. I like that she's a positive trainer, but some of her views/opinions on things really bug me. And Cesar... well, I'm definitely not a fan of his techniques myself, but I don't see him as the evil, scary monster some make him out to be either. Definitely in some cases that I've seen he can be a little over the top (to put it nicely), but I've watched others and haven't seen anything really negative at all.

That said, I don't currently, and nor do I intend to follow any celebrity dog trainer's advice or techniques. I train my own way with different techniques that I've learned through various sources over the years, wich is what works best for me and my dogs.

^ that

I love how he's saved dogs from being put to sleep and his work with his pack. I love that CM has changed some people's minds about the apbt and I also credit him for making more minorities involved in dog training. I love that more people are walking their dogs. There's been plenty of dog trainers before him and none had the impact on society as big as he did. Had VS came before CM I doubt it, it'll have the same results.

 

[LauraLeigh]

I have only seen Victoria S. once, she flat out annoyed me on a personal level, however when forced to pick, I'd still pick her over CM....

 

[xpaeanx]

I find VS a little over the top on a lot of things, but I like her training methods overall. I've also picked a few things up from watching her. So, I would def pick her over CM.

 

[Dekka]

I love how he's saved dogs from being put to sleep and his work with his pack. I love that CM has changed some people's minds about the apbt

How is allowing a fight between APBT to happen and then putting it on the show a good thing for the breed. I would bet money that that clip will be used by pro BSL people...