luvmyswissy
Posted : 7/13/2007 11:35:24 AM
All though I use many different methods depending on how or what I am working on with my dog, I have to defend the negativity that surrounds Cesar and the spin that he is abusive in some way.
Maybe it doesn't occur to you, but it does to me that some of the skills involved in being an effective pack leader could be really useful no matter how many legs a potential aggressor might have. It's true, as Cesar points out, that dogs are dogs and not people, but energy is energy, and an animal (person or dog) who projects energies on the fear/aggression wavelength will tend to evoke the same response from those around him, whether from dogs or from people. Learning to break that automatic reflex response of fear and aggression and replace it with the "calm, assertive energy" of a good pack leader would be a tremendous skill to have, and the advantage of practicing with your problematic dog would be that their reactions give you instant feedback on how well you're doing.
The producers of "The Dog Whisperer" are appropriately careful to caution viewers not to attempt the techniques shown in the program without consulting a professional, but it seems clear that the principles that Cesar demonstrates will work for anyone who learns to apply them properly. This is demonstrated over the course of every program by ordinary people of all kinds who start out as the demoralized, apparently helpless victims of the out-of-control, sometimes violent behavior (violent is not just biting, growling and snarling – how about jumping, scratching and bruising, pulling or tripping) of their beloved pets until Cesar teaches them that by properly controlling *their own* energy, they can become quietly effective, peace-creating leaders.
So you could say that this program teaches basic techniques which will bring more peace into our lives as we learn how *not* to provoke, attract or engage the aggressive energies of others and learn instead how to cultivate a non-ego-based, calm, benevolent/assertive energy which has the entire "pack's" best interests at heart. And it shows us a physically unimposing man who uses his beautifully centered energy (and knowledge of canine body language) to very effectively disarm the aggression of his large pack of potentially dangerous dogs.
We might also notice that he uses this same energy, in a gentle and good-humored way, to teach his well-meaning but misguided, doggy-whipped human clients that allowing themselves and others to be victimized by out-of-control animal instincts is not really the loving thing to do. It was fun, for example, to watch Cesar carefully catch himself midway into an eye-roll so as not to offend one client couple who had just confessed that the wife had been spending part of most nights in their guest bedroom **for six years** because if she got up during the night, her husband's jealous pet wouldn't let her get back in bed. He fixed the problem in a moment but taught them and reminded them that it was their job to continue to use the techniques he showed them to make a lasting change. How about the aggressive Sheppard mixes this week that would bite and snarl and then drag their owner around the house when anyone entered the house. Did you notice that Cesar entered into their bedroom and NEVER touched them, once he projected his energy on them but his "tsst” and hands in front on them they submitted to the corner of the room and sat down and watched him. That is projecting energy; there was NOTHING he did that was mean, abusive or shameful. Could a layman do that? NO. Should they think they could or should, of course not but the lesson was clear, leadership and energy does pave the way to a balanced mind for the dogs but his message is clear too, hire a professional to help teach you how to get there.
It seems to come as a surprise to most of Cesar's human clients that it's actually possible for them to exercise authority in a way that's not "mean", abusive, or some kind of destructive ego-trip that will crush their pet's spirit. I love it that this program is introducing people to the experience of exercising a truly benevolent form of power, the power that a good pack leader has to disarm out-of-control aggression on behalf of the well-being of all pack members, by projecting a "calm, assertive energy" which in no way undermines the loving bond they have with their animal companions. Cesar does on a mere occasion place a dog down, gently I should add – personally I don't see this harmful and the dogs just say ok? IMO it isn't an alpha roll, as an alpha roll is defined either. And to compare to a human, just this past weekend I saw a mother hold her son down in the carriage at the grocery store while he was carrying on like a maniac to get out. She was calm; she didn't yell she didn't say a word really.. she just let him carry on and with the exception of holding him down in the seat she didn't pay much attention to him (she gave us all a couple of smiles and rolled eye or two) as she clearly didn't want this two year old running amuck around the store. As quickly as it began the child suddenly stopped. She let go of him, thanked him and offered him a piece of cheese and a kiss!! I thought that mother did a great job.