We are grateful for:
*who you are
*how you think
*the research you do
*the love/passion/compassion you bring to your work
*the time you take to share it with us

Thank You so much!
Mary & “SquirtyPants”

(Note from Darcie: Cesar has admitted that his getting bitten is because of his lack of judgment, timing and energy. The question put to him in the interview show was, “If you’re the alpha pack leader, why do so many dogs bite you?”)

Corinthian! Wow! Hard to argue with someone who’s so far off the mark in every way. But let me ask you this…. haven’t you ever stepped into a room and felt the “tension so thick you could cut it with a knife” (thus making you very uncomfortable)? Have you ever been in love? These are energies. You can’t see either but you know they are there. Your emotions have energy. Then again, there are those who cannot feel those things because they’ve never allowed themselves to or maybe never paid attention enough to their body’s reactions to learn how to. I’m sorry if you can’t feel energies. That’s a big part of life that you’re missing out on. And that alone is a huge reason why you (and some others) just can’t accept CM’s ways.

The argument ‘I’ve used these techniques and my dogs are fine’ fails on many levels. It presumes there is a direct causation – a post hoc error – between his methods and dogs turning out fine. It ignores the ethical considerations that have been mentioned by so many – that is the justification in using pain when there are less traumatic options available. Many children can grow up in abusive families and turn up fine, using your logic this would be enough to justify such treatment.

It’s all about Energy. I bet that’s hard for some folks to ‘breakdown’ what that word means, and if they can’t see it, or touch it, then is does not exist, but Energy DOES exist, and until you can understand how to use your very own Energy, you really don’t know what your talking about.

Energy is the word he uses because he lacks the skills and education to accurately describe the situation. This is why behaviorists (real ones), ethologists, psychologists use descriptive language. The reader doesn’t have to guess as to the meaning of ‘energy’ Millan’s use of metaphysics and his reliance on magical thinking are of no practical use.

Those claiming to be using “energy” are fooling themselves. They are employing behavior. Hitting the dog is a behavior. Kicking the dog is a behavioiur. Jerking the dog is a behavior. Staring down teh dog is a behavior. Alpha rolling the dog is a behavior. Threatening gestures are behaviors. Using your voice voice is a behavior. Erratic, fast movements is a behavior and so are slow, deliberate ones.

Just exactly where is this supposed magical ‘energy’ that cannot be described in physical terms?

BTW there is no such thing as negative or positive energy – these are mere convention used for convenience.

Finally the most important part for me is that Millan is lying to people. Whenever he supplies some explanation or description of nature he is venturing into the world of science. And here we can categorically show that his proclamations are scientific nonsense. On this there is no question and the claims of a dog groomer – even if he’s on TV -can’t change the science.

(Dear Amy, I wish there was an easy answer. I and many others have been working for years to change minds and it’s been successful, a person and a dog at a time. Changing minds about how to care for and train animals can be difficult. As humans, we like to think that we know best so no matter what our choice of method is, we don’t like to change. If we’ve had some success with harsher treatments, we believe that it works and we’ll stick with that until hell freezes over. No matter that there are much better ways. It’s hard to say I’m sorry I was wrong and it’s harder yet to forgive one’s self for having done it badly. It usually finally takes a person working with a dog that they love, from puppyhood and having something go wrong in adulthood, seeing the harm they’ve caused, to change a mind. Sometimes by then it’s too late and a dog has been damaged beyond saving. The good news is that they then become advocates for positive, effective, no harm dog training and will shout it from the rooftops. Converts are often the strongest of most religions and of dog trainers and dog lovers. If you have to suggest who to contact for help with Oreo, you might consider Best Friends Animal Society, as far as I’ve seen they use only positive and get good results. They worked with some of the Vick dogs and good success. I’ve been told by the owner of a Rotti that Best Friends recently turned down helping that dog, it had been trained with Cesar’s methods and had turned into a biting, emotionally volatile dog. All seemed all right until the dog turned two, then something snapped in his brain, he had had enough, I guess. The dog was euthanized because no one believed they could turn around the damage that had been done with “touches”, stress, pressure, and alpha rolls. They may turn Oreo down if they think as the ASPCA does, that Oreo is beyond help at this point, and she might be. I don’t know what to tell you for sure. Pray or meditate about it. Find that quiet place inside yourself and the right answers will come. Keep it simple. Write something down and then let it sit for an hour if you have the time, then go back and finish it. Don’t use fighting words, they won’t work. Be helpful, write with love. I hate it and I hate to say it out loud but I believe there are times when euthanizing a dog is the only safe choice left, for the dog and for the people. If the dog is so mentally, emotionally, and physically destroyed by humans that no human can safely be around the dog and there isn’t anyone who wants to or can safely manage and pay for the dog’s care for the rest of it’s life, there aren’t many choices left. It sounds like Oreo was beaten regularly and then tossed off of a six story building. It sounds like she’s beyond any human help. I wish it wasn’t so. If I were Oreo and knew that I would have to live out my life in solitude and continuing emotional and mental anguish, I might at this point in my life, shattered, scared and scarred, wish to move on to where there is no pain. If we could stop bad breeding practices, abuse of animals, and bad training practices, there wouldn’t be stories like Oreo’s. Maybe in a better world. Some people would have you believe that they have the same “energy” and strength that Cesar Millan has and some of them do, “the force” is not specific only to him. Some would have you believe that using words like “behaviorist” instead of “trainer” gives a person the right to hang or shock a dog. I don’t agree. The trouble is that there are so many more people who don’t have a good energy to work with dogs. They lose their temper, they aren’t consistent, they discipline when there should be praise, they hang a dog on leash because that’s what they think the method is. Using Cesar’s techniques without good energy can and does cause emotional, mental, and physical harm to dogs and sometimes even if you have the good energy. It all depends on the dog’s heart. Will he still trust and respect you if you treat him like that? If you want Oreo to live and Cesar Millan is the only living human in the world who will try to help, he is your only choice. No, I don’t like some of what he does but I also don’t believe he’s evil. Ask the question, “Is death a better choice than Cesar Millan trying to make a difference in this dog’s life? Can he save her? Is there a possibility that he can without making her worse?” The answer would be another question. You know how he works with aggressive dogs, would he work with Oreo the same way he does with the dogs on the TV show given how she’s been so physically hurt? I don’t know the answer to that. I wish I could be a better help to you. Sometimes, like in the case of Oreo who is so badly damaged, there isn’t an easy answer. Let me end with this. I am glad that you are not being silent. Silence might be golden and only saying nice things might be good manners but they won’t change the world to a better place when things are drastically wrong. I hope you get the end you want for Oreo. I’ll pray for her right now. Darcie)

I like him, I like his Techniques, I use them, have raised 2 of my own dogs his way, and no problem, I even incorporate them in my daily business.

It’s all about Energy. I bet that’s hard for some folks to ‘breakdown’ what that word means, and if they can’t see it, or touch it, then is does not exist, but Energy DOES exist, and until you can understand how to use your very own Energy, you really don’t know what your talking about.

If we all stole moments from our own lives. and Rewound it, over and over, we could all be a bit concerned with what we see, now have someone else, peer through our windows, and try to make out what we do on a daily basis, break it down yourselves, and wonder, just what someone would say, was Harmful.

Those of us that Follow Cesar, understand the use of our Energy, and are taught to never use Negative Energy when we are with our dogs, or people close to us, because “WE” know what it can do, Harm.
Positive Energy is just that, Positive. No Harm.

I have a 12 week old Rottie pup, that is understanding the Rules Boundaries and Limitations of my Home, Yard, and Store. He’s doing great, and I don’t even have a leash on him yet.
We are in our 2nd week of Puppy class, and my Dog Trainer, ( Not Behaviorist like Cesar) Frank, said that were doing great for where we are in class, others have asked me how I get him to be so responsive, and Calm, and all of the other Puppies that come near us, feel My Energy and Lay down on the spot, and just act like puppies, cute and curios and Quiet.

If you have read this far, I thank You. Please understand, that a million people will have a different point of view, everything is not for everyone. But, one of the most important things to remember, is a little something my Grandmother used to say to me.
“If you don’t have anything nice to say to someone, then don’t say anything at all.”

I love ya Grandma!