I´ve been watching a lot of Dog Whisperer lately. Though it hasn´t interferred with my daily routine of how I used to train my two GSDs I have added some things I have seen on the show. With much faster and balanced success! She-Ra used to be so scared of people she would cower behind my finacee and I or find the nearest corner and make herself into a ball. Now (a week after using Cesar´s approach) she will let a complete stranger come up and pet her so long as we are giving off the right energy.......I for one applaud his insight!

Iv seen a few episodes and I love how wonderfully he´s changed some dogs...and their families. But I´m sure he isnt the only person in the world that can do that sort of thing...he was just lucky enough to harness that into a successful television show...I bet there are others out there like him.

i´ve seen some of his work and if he could do such things then he is no scam.

I think he is marvelous.

By sheer coincidence, I had always maintained that if you are calm and quiet, then your dog will be the same, and was most gratified to find that I had been right.

My brother-in-law got a West Highland White after we got Snowdrop. He behaves quite ´rough and tumble´ with him, and that dog has grown up to bark all the time, and be rather boisterous, whereas Snowdrop is very quiet, and calm, and will only bark, if she gets a fright, or there is a strange noise, and in extremes, when human friends come to the house, she will run around yelping and squealing with glee !

This was of particular help when she was ill, as it stopped her from panicking also.

His methods are very successful, and cause no harm to the dog, and gives the animal focus, I watch him as much as I can.

Personally I prefer any training I undertake to be with an in the flesh instructor. Not too happy with what I´ve read about Caesar and it would seem Will Smith has a lot to do with getting him into the celebrity scene. However if this guy does it for you then that´s good.

I love the Dog Whisperer. It´s not a gripe but after some shows I think a lot of it is common sense and if only we thought a little harder/deeper. Thumbs up to Caesar anyway as I am sure that even outwith the guests, he has through his programme helped many many people and dogs

He´s brilliant, iv´e always said it´s the owners that are at fault.....wether we like it or not a dog is an animal...and don´t think the same as us...a lot of it is down to common sense, as moragbates says above if the owners are calm and quiet then the dogs will be....it also makes training easier...Caesar is no scammer..he understands the needs of dogs to have a confident leader....

I think he´s brill. His approach to train the owner before training their dogs really is the right way.
The only thing that annoys me is that when he does it everything looks so easy......not when I try it.

I love him AND I don´t..lol. He´s an incredibly caring and charismatic man who is an excellent communicator with both people and dogs (especially considering english is not his first language!) He does a lot of good work with dogs that may be on their last chance for life. His discussions about energy and calmness are all dead on and his Exercise, discipline, affection routine is a healthy and balanced way to live with your dog.

BUT: I have found, through research and through experience that positive training methods that use desensitization rather than flooding, which Cesar uses, are usually less traumatic to the dogs and result in longer lasting effects on fearful or aggressive dogs. The downside is they often take longer to implement, which does not make for good TV.

The Alpha roll and the concept of pack hierarchy have also been scientifically rethought, if not completely disproved. Dogs do not force another dog into submission, the behaviour is voluntary on the part of the submissive dogs. Dominant males or females (the alpha of the pack) do not behave aggressively unless severely provoked. The ones who do the fighting are the "middle management" of the pack. Most aggression is based on fear, not dominance. The pack hierarchy in DOGS (not wolves) is fluid and can change depending on the individual dogs in the pack (think dog park, different set of dogs each time...) and depends also on the resources deemed important by the individual dogs. So, Cesar´s simplistic view of pack behaviour is not the currently accepted ethological/behavioural view of the scientific community.

So, like anything else out there. The concepts are good, the methodology is sometimes questionable but he does get the results needed. If it saves a dog´s life, then fine. But for the average dog owner to be trying some of his methods without proper supervision/education can be dangerous. Of course, it says repeatedly on his show not to try the techniques without the supervision of an expert..but I still run into people who emulate him and alpha roll their dogs and get bitten or even injure the dog!

So, finally...I own both season one and two on DVD and watch it regularly. His zen approach to energy and assessment of the owner´s mistakes is wonderful. Take this part and use it, but leave the scruffing, poking and alpha rolls to Cesar. Leadership is a good thing, it is not the same as dominance. Use positive, reward based training for your dogs and see the difference it makes in your relationship with your dog.

hes for real and amazingggg

I love Cesar as my job is working with dogs as a trainer and psychologist and he has been an inspiration to me .I have been on my training courses and seminars where they use the same approach as Cesar and it has worked with every dog and owner i have trained,so cesar is definitely real.

I like Cesar, I use some of his ideas & they work, some of the things I try don´t work but maybe I give up to easy, when we watch him it looks like it take mins to get the dog to do the things you want them to do but I know it takes much longer

I like him too, I watch his shows when I can. But I agree with Morag, if you´re calm, then more than likely your dog will be too.

I tried to watch him once and saw the scruff shakes and alpha rolls and turned it off. I have heard that he has a great message about many things but I tend to agree with Hooplady (I know you´re all shocked) some techniques are outdated. I fear that someone who isn´t experienced with dogs or who misdiagnoses what is setting their dog off may be injured while trying to implement some of his tactics.

I tried to watch him once and saw the scruff shakes and alpha rolls and turned it off. I have heard that he has a great message about many things but I tend to agree with Hooplady (I know you´re all shocked) some techniques are outdated. I fear that someone who isn´t experienced with dogs or who misdiagnoses what is setting their dog off may be injured while trying to implement some of his tactics.
Scruff shakes and Alpha rolls??? Well, I must have missed that part, as they don´t show his programm over here to often. I certainly do not agree with those methods. Doesn´t shaking the scruff show a dog the intention to kill??? Seriously shocked now!

Scruff shakes and Alpha rolls??? Well, I must have missed that part, as they don´t show his programm over here to often. I certainly do not agree with those methods. Doesn´t shaking the scruff show a dog the intention to kill??? Seriously shocked now!
The scruff shakes aren´t the same method as showing a dog to kill. It´s mainly taking your fingers into a claw-like positon and poking them in the scruff (much like mom dog did when they were pups) to show them that you are the dominant one. I really like Cesar and hope they keep his show going.

What I can´t understand is why there is all this admiration for a man who has used a shock collar on a dog.

What I can´t understand is why there is all this admiration for a man who has used a shock collar on a dog.
I didn´t know that I´ll never understand the idea behind those.

I don´t really remember the episode where he used a shock collar. I know that a lot of people use them for barking and training. My friend used one on her dog and it didn´t seem to hurt the dogs too bad...they have a thick hide and lots of fur....my dogs are very well behaved and easily trained so I didn´t need one. But it turned her dogs around 180 degrees and she took it off after 2 weeks. They aren´t meant to be used for long periods of time.

From the report I´ve read the television audience were not told the dog had a shock collar on. The dog experienced such a jolt of pain it turned round and bit its owner. Sorry but I don´t think inflicting pain to train is such a hot idea.

I don´t think that aggression or physical harm has a place in training. I know there are many here who disagree but personally it isn´t for me, nor would I ever advise a training client to use one of those methods.