cesar millan - why all the negatives here?

YOu was meant as anyone who does have a problem dog not you (Mic).  Sorry if I confused you, Mic, but if I was referrinf directly to you Iwould address post to you MIc.  I hope that came out right, let me know!

I like Cesar   always have. That doesn't mean I agree with EVERY method used, but I agree with most.

ORIGINAL: mrgmfoster

I think we've had a trainer here suggest hanging by the collar for certain special cases...if I recall rightly? Dog aggression being one of them...

I said this in regards to a few particular cases.  Some of which Cesar sees.  Do I think it's a good idea to demo it on TV...not really. 

I also think it should be called what it is...movtivation by strangulation.  I feel like it gets sugar coated and there is not enough discussion about how dangerous it is on the show. 

I would say this is what concerns me the most from what I've seen on his shows.  There *may* be a time and place for it but don't think the average Joe Idiot can be trusted not to try the techniques on their own undeserving dog.  These are the same people who went to the hospital with injuries when MTV's Jackass was popular, but I hate to give them incentive!

Mic, I am a firm believer that if you truly have a problem dog and you cannot correct them that you seek a trainer to work with you and the dog.

I think here within lies the problem.  It is very difficult to find a trainer who is willing to work with a problem dog (especially problem dogs of certain breeds) AND knows what they are doing. 

I didn't want to have to do most everything myself but I didn't have much choice.  I did take her to a trainer who told me that she would "alpha" roll her and if she didn't submit she'd put her down.  Needless to say, we didn't go back there.  I couldn't bring her to Petsmart.  So, instead of driving an hour away or more to someone who would be able to work with her, I started learning myself.  I was extremely cautious and double checked everything.  I was very worried about being bit and didn't want to make a mistake.  But, most people would not be this careful and this is why CM's methods can be dangerous. 
 
But, it's quite a catch 22 for problem dog owners.  [&:]

I like aspects of the two trainers I've gone to. I do--they both have something to offer. But in this "quick" class I took, things escalated, and I thought our trainer was too physical with the dogs--just to hurry and prove a point. We should have been trained too, but none of the things that were done were things I would do. For one thing, I don't remember how, step-by-step when it happens quickly in class. And for another, it's not my style.
 
I will say, though, that there was one particular incident that occurred (and I PM'ed you, Mic, but I'm sure you thought I was some weirdo and didn't want to engage conversation with me) that has now left my dog injured, albeit she's only slightly so. (Still, she is.)  
 
There is always that. I prefer to not be physical when I train--sometimes I see people have to be, but since I have a disabled dog, I've learned how to train him without touching him (when I want him to do something) and he's responded well. Very well. Incredibly well. He's amazing.
 
As pet owners, we have to use commonsense when it comes to taking what we can from trainers. I think my dogs will pick up on my trying something I'm not convinced in my own head will work--and that lack of confidence already ensures their not doing something great for me. Bottom line--some training and dog behavior insight is better than none at all--but we have to use our brains as owners, too.
 
Thanks for some thoughtful posts, all.

I apologize for not responding to your email.  Unfortunately, I do not see them all (I get about 300-400 per day).  My receptionists' organize them.  Please resend it to me so I can understand why it got missed.  If your dog was injured because of our lack of action please let me know let me know what happened so I can prevent it in the future.
 
Thanks

Mic--I really shouldn't post things so late at night when I'm a zombie. That's unsafe for everyone. No, you never did anything--my trainer did. He threw my dog over a jump and hurt her. I've taken her to the vet a couple of times, and she's tweaked her back and has a little bit of a weird gait now. He never apologized or anything, and he doesn't get why I don't want to go back with her. (I have two dogs.) She's always been a good girl and I think we should have given her the chance to jump (she ran up to the jump and stopped the first time, but she's jumped before).
 
This is what I guess I'm saying: I had a trainer who took forever to teach our dogs a few things. When I asked her about it she said, "Well, good foundations take a long time." And then you wrote that it took a LONG time to get an aggressive dog to settle down.
 
Sometimes the quick and dirty backfires--there is a lot of pressure, on TV  and in front of the class, to be successful and after my experience, I think that the really good trainers know that they can't change a dog in 5 minutes.
 
You know what I mean? (Of course you do!)

ORIGINAL: mrgmfoster



There is no question in my mind that this should be considered gross negligence in a court of law. 

 
IF it is true, I agree.

It seems to me that IF the CM show is billed as educational tv, what is the education value if it isn't how to train your dog?   I don't have cable, but have seen the show a couple of times so I have no idea what channel the show is on.  Seems like if CM is on the Discovery or NG or HGTV or ? it would fall under educational tv.  And so to say "Don't try this at home" on a dog training show on an educational channel seems a bit off in my mind.