42 acres and new dog training show

ORIGINAL: espencer

1.-His dog psychology center is going to move to a 42 acre facility in Santa Clarita California (north of L.A.), i know some of you live by the woods and can walk your dogs there but imagine 42 acres to run free, talking about being a lucky CM's dog []

Cool. I hope they do some documentaries on this new facility. []

ORIGINAL: espencer

2.- The National Geographic Channel is talking with the American Humane Association (which thinks a +R approach is better) about offering another dog training show in addition to The Dog Whisperer

The American Humane Association (not to be confused with the Humane Society which gave Cesar an award) is primarily involved with the protection and regulation of the treatment of performing animals used in the media and movies, and also child actors and performers.

They've been a bit pi$$y, since Cesar's show falls outside of their control. Oh well...

It should be acknowledged that there has been a dark history regarding the training of perfoming animals which has been changed towards the positive over the years. This is a good thing.

How excellent to get a show which demonstrates the current humane training methods and the trainers who are at the forefront of this more enlightened profession.

I'm all for it and can't wait to see what the NGC comes up with. I hope they show the training of a variety of animals during the series.

Good news indeed!

How interesting!

Too bad I don't have the NG channel []

I've seen some clips of shows and when I DID have the NG channel, I saw, I don't know...anywhere from 2-4 episodes, I cannot remember. Anyway, the episodes I DID see, I didn't see Cesar doing anything...inhumane to the dogs, that I can remember anyway.
But I've heard others say he's used e-collars and choke chains. I don't know how inhumane they are (I wouldn't use those two pieces of equipment, but that's me), but what inhumane things has he done?

Wait, I just re-read the original post (Sorry, my coffee has not kicked in yet, plus I'm sick), I thought Cesar wasn't a trainer, so +R trainer shows are a good thing, but really don't have much to do with Cesar, am I right?
Even people who want to +R trainer should STILL see a professional for at least an evaluation on their dog and how they're doing, before expecting any techniques to work, right?

I confuse myself with my thoughts on that.

There is often an intellectual blurry line between training and behavior modification.  If you think of it all as "learning", it's a bit easier to digest.  Many people think the delineation is that training teaches an animal to perform tasks or skills, while behavior modification addresses changes in default patterns like aggression.   If you ask Karen Pryor, she would probably tell you "it's all just behavior".  If you think about it, training a dog to make eye contact with its handler can eventually alter the behavior of fearfully barking and lunging at other dogs while on leash.  The dog's new default behavior becomes...when I see a dog, I look at my handler.  Voila - behavior modified.
I am gratified that NGC is pursuing the +R show idea.  I think that the method is certainly able to stand on its own merits.  What bothered me was the lack of exposure to the public.  People need to see that there are several choices before they make one. 
To be honest, I would have no problem with a doggy network, like the food channel, only for dognerds!  Then, there might really be an explosion in doggy learning.  Maybe there could be shows about rescues and sheltering, SAR dogs, assistance dogs, agility, flyball, herding, etc.  We wouldn't have to watch Meerkat Manor, we could watch "Pariah Dog Pack".  There could be a dog nutrition show (maybe Mordanna (The Dog Food Project), our long lost member, would like to do that one). 

I don't watch much TV but if there were a Dog Channel I'd be glued to it.  I'm a self-confessed fully qualified dog nerd.

I really think the sky's the limit when it comes to just about anything "dog".
 
I can't believe all of the dog related "stuff" which is springing up all over the place these days.
 
I noticed it in one of our local gift shops yesterday. A whole section of just dog lover goodies which wasn't there the last time I stopped in, and this isn't even a dog related shop! Lots of cute and cool gift items.
 
We also have a brand new heated, indoor dog-washing facility (really nice raised tubs) combined with a dog accessory, goodies, and equipment section.
 
Anything dog is huge right now.

He really needs those acres with 47 dogs.
Could you imagine loading 47 dogs every day just to make sure they get their exercise?
 
I have my hands full with 5.

I'm not 100% certain, but I believe the American Humane Association is more of a PETA type organization. I'm pretty sure that they are the ones that have sent letters to NGC to get "The Dog Whisperer" off the air. Sounds like in the end they got what they really wanted...free publicity.

ORIGINAL: eley

I'm not 100% certain, but I believe the American Humane Association is more of a PETA type organization. I'm pretty sure that they are the ones that have sent letters to NGC to get "The Dog Whisperer" off the air. Sounds like in the end they got what they really wanted...free publicity.

They haven't gone to quite the extremes of PETA, yet. [] 

ETA: The massive letter writing campaigns were also instigated by the APDT extremists. I got a look at the "Cesar must be stopped!" letter which was circulated amoungst it's members encouraging the assault upon NGC and the Oprah show to get his show cancelled and stop Cesar from ever appearing on Oprah's show. You wouldn't believe the rominant author and trainer who's name was on it (not Zuel). But, she did have the nerve to write a book review once "Cesar's Way" came out. Unbiased review? I don't think so.

It's the old addage of "the road to hell is paved with good intentions". Most of the extremist groups don't start out that way. They actually do some good along the way. But once the holy crusade begins...

It eventually ends up being about control by the fanatically self-rightous. I've seen this in certain rescue groups, SPCA groups, a huge inner faction of the APDT, and PETA.

Some of them want to control what we see on TV, make certain training equipment and collars illegal, and are trying to regulate what training methods we can use. You can't give these people an inch.

I've read a bit about their various position statements, beliefs, and activities on the net. Scary!

But, PETA is by far the worse. [:'(]

The only good thing I can say about Peta is that they have the cash and resources to take big companies to court.
 
I have seen plenty of horrific cruelty cases in the farming and processing field, and they have done some good work there.....

American Humane is the organization that certifies that "no animals were harmed in the making of this *whatever*." They are not the Humane Society of the US (which some people claim is like PETA but I respectfully disagree quite vehemently). They did, however write that letter and make a statement.

American Humane employs a lot of credentialed animal trainers and behaviorists in their fuction of overseeing the treatment of animals on movie sets and TV shows. I read a book about the Moorpark Exotic Animal Training and Management program (the premier program for animal trainers and zoo workers) and the author interviewed a lot of American Humane employees because a lot of Moorpark's graduates work for American Humane.

So wait wait wait.... the American Humane is what says at the end of films, "Dont worry no animals were hurt" and they are ALSO the people who wanted CM off air??  If so that's one helluva smack in the teeth.  I thought the people who wanted him off air were extremist PETA-types.

[linkhttp://www.americanhumane.org/site/PageServer?pagename=nr_news_releases_dog_whisperer]Here's the link[/link] to that press release. And here's [linkhttp://www.americanhumane.org/site/PageServer]their main site.[/link]

Yep, it's all about control. They're miffed that Cesar is out of their reach. They are an extremist group with a self-rightous agenda.
 
All we need is a bucket of blood being thrown on Cesar, and they are right there with PETA.
 
Kind of creepy how they seem to lump children and dogs together.