Is anyone else a "Dog Whisperer" fan?

[Mabus]

My husband turned me on to it late one night.

We got interested (hooked) because one of our dogs had "issues" (as Cesar says) about her place in the pack. We've tried a couple of his suggestions and the behavior of both our dogs is changing. One no longer considers herself the alpha when we're on walks and the other one has suddenly become "perkier" when he's out. It's like his confidence has increased as the other dog has become a member of the pack instead of pack leader.

Anyway, was just curious what others thought of this show. And if there were other fans out there.

[BrklynLiberal]

1. I have watched it and think he does a good job. Wish he was closer to me.

[Longhorn]

2. Details?

Is this an Animal Planet show? When is it on? Thanks!

[Mabus]

3. It is on National Geographic channel

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/channel/dogwhisperer/

It's basically a show about dogs with problems like fear biting, tail chasing, aggressive behavior and the like. Cesar the Dog Whisperer comes to the house, checks out the environment, gets the history of the dog and its problems, and then makes recommendations as to what the owners can do to change the dogs' behavior. He doesn't teach the dog commands, rather he uses assertive touch (replicating canine behavior) and uses a calm, assertive voice when correcting the dog. Overall his philosophy is that by utilizing the pack instinct in a dog is the best way to correct behavioral problems.

I just found it fascinating because I was taught to see dogs as pack animals and that a happy dog is one that is secure in their pack and this what Cesar essentially teaches too. I've always had friendly dogs and pretty well-adjusted dogs then I got the two I have now. Both are rescued and came with "issues" that we've learned to either live with or work around. We started watching Cesar and began to use a few of his techniques, especially the controlled power walk, and it has been like night and day. They've stopped being such xenophobic demons on their walks.

The last time I took them to the dog park they actually played with other dogs. When I took them out before the oldest one, a female Lhasa Apso, always went to work. She would herd all the other dogs, usually separating them by size. If she thought the dogs were playing too rough she would take control and not allow certain dogs to play together. What always amazed me is that the other dogs let her be the pack leader of the dog park. She was very dominant and always working. The younger one hang close to me and would only engage in sniffing/social behavior if I were holding him. Using Cesars's techniques pretty consistently now for about a month their behavior has really changed. The Lhasa has become deferential to me and my husband around the house and she plays with other dogs now. It's really been amazing.

Anyway, here's the link to the episode guide and its beginning text: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/channel/dogwhisperer/episodes.html

WEEKDAYS 6:30P et / 3:30P pt (there are also repeats in the middle of the night, which tend to be the one I catch)

When man's best friend becomes an unruly dictator, Cesar Millan steps in to save the day. This dog-trainer-to-the-stars blends his unique brand of canine communication with tough love and can change a high-strung German shepherd into a loveable pup.

[Longhorn]

4. Thanks so much for the information!

I will set up the DVR to record the show and check it out. It sounds like something that could really benefit our pack of four! :yourock:

[Mabus]

5. It definitely has helped my pack of four

The Lhasa used to growl everytime my husband moved. He could be readjusting his chair or reaching for the remote, she'd let him know she wasn't happy he was moving.

He, on the other hand, had his containment policy with her. Or as he used to paraphrase from the movie, "Platoon," "She's got her mind games, I've got mine." He used what he had learned from obedience trainers because of a previous dog with behavioral problems. He was convinced that teaching her tricks and commands would make her respect him more. It didn't and it escalated one time to where he was intruding in her space and she bit him. He tried to grab her snout (good luck grabbing a lhasa's short snout) several times and ended up getting bit more and a pretty bloody hand.

Neither of them would back down. I'd remind my husband that she is just a dog and you have to see things from her perspective. He thought I was being all hippy-dippy until the "Dog Whisperer." Now he thinks of our little dogs more as pack animals, like wolves, than the little demons he once thought of them.

The first step was as easy as him having her leash on walks and that he was leading her not vice versa. After a couple of walks she began to recognize that he was the Alpha, not just an upstart she has to try to keep in place. My husband took control of the walk and we walked until we got to the park where we could release her. We're still working on keeping the new pack order but it is paying off. In the past couple of weeks the Lhasa has initiated play with my husband. An activity that ceased after their skirmish back in 2000. And my evenings are no longer full of the dog growling and the husband shushing her, they could go back and forth, back and forth, each trying to get the last word for a long time.

Of course, I did have a motivation for him, we both want to add another dog (a "real one" as he says) to the family but we don't want it to be xenophobic like our current pack. So, we're working on the dynamics of our pack before we bring another dog into it. It's easier now that he recognizes that small dogs are pack animals too.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy the show and can pick up some pointers that help you out.

[Longhorn]

7. I watched my first episode today and really enjoyed it.

I have the DVR set up to tape all of them. Thanks again!

[livetohike]

6. Thanks for the info

I've had dogs all my life. Two years ago I wanted something "different" and adopted two Cattle Dog breeds. Our Australian Cattle Dog has been a real challenge. He's male and very aggressive. He will be two years old in February. He is getting better around strangers and other dogs, maybe due to maturity, but he is still a problem if on a leash when he sees other dogs.

The other is a Catahoula Leopard (also a breed of cattle dog). She's 90 lbs and a real sweetheart. She outweighs the little guy by 45 lbs and she doesn't take anything off of him although when they play they get really, really rough.

I'm going to check this out now!