Cesar's Way: The Natural, Everyday Guide to Understanding and Correcting Common Dog Problems |...

Cesar's Way: The Natural, Everyday Guide to Understanding and Correcting Common Dog Problems | Cesar Millan, Melissa Jo Peltier | Gems of Knowledge Through Autobiography

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Cesar's Way: The N...

	Cesar's Way: The Natural, Everyday Guide to Understanding and Correcting Common Dog Problems Cesar Millan, Melissa Jo Peltier Three Rivers Press, 2007 - 320 pages average customer review:based on 688 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Dog's are not humans

This is an excellent book, it all makes sense. Yep, I was one of those people who spoiled the dog and didn't get all the responses I expected - although never a red-zone dog lucky me! My new pup is happier then ever. It's an eye opener. I'm sure some people have a problem with the fact that they may be creating the issues their dogs have (and that they could be wrong in the "training" they're doing), most do not want to take responsibility for their own faults/health etc. so to take responsibility for their animals....this would be tough. Great reading for all dog owners.

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Gems of Knowledge Through Autobiography

This book has several pages of gems about the human-dog relationship. I found these gems, that could have been summarized on a page or two, to be quite useful in working with a rescued Australian Shepherd. To get these gems with an explanation you will need to read Cesar's story which is interesting enough but does not carry the book.

So read the book for these gems, essentially:
(1) That you treat a dog like a dog, and not a human baby. Cesar's point is that we act in ways that are counter-intuitive to dog culture. We do not realize that dogs first communicate with the nose, then the eyes (watching and decoding our moves and their meanings) and then ears.
(2) That we must be calm-assertive (or what I prefer to call calm-confident) -- that if you are nervous your dog will pick it up, that if you get angry your dog will find a way to resist the very behavior that would have made you happy.
(3) That exercise, and lots of it, is critical to a calm, balanced dog (key concept here is balanced and stable -- most dog pets aren't). That discipline (meaning consistent application of rewards for desirable behavior, and interrupting undesirable behavior) is critical to a dog that knows its place in YOUR pack, and that affection, which is LAST on Cesar's list, should be carefull meted out so as not to thoughtlessly enforce undesirable behavior. If you are lazy and will not exercise your dog properly, get a goldfish! If you are undisciplined yourself, get a pet rock! If you need affection, do not make it your dog's problem. Get a lover!

Thanks, Cesar, for an enjoyable book!

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An easy, enjoyable read!

I enjoyed reading this book. Although I didn't always agree with everything, there is much merit in what Cesar teaches. I do notice the difference that exercise makes in my dog's disposition. I don't have time to do as much of the exercise as he suggests, but I now make it an important part of my day to make sure we get our walk done!

Whether you use this as a dog training guide, or get some tips from it, it is easy to read and very engaging!

A slight disappointment

Having seen Cesar on TV, I was a bit disappointed in this book after reading a few chapters. It seems to go on and on and on and on about the same thing - being the leader and giving off calm-assertive energy. OK! OK! We get the point!! However, I LOVE to watch Cesar and he is right on the money about dogs. I just wish it was more info on working with my dog than his philosophy (even though he is 100% right).

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It's better than the (3) stars I'm giving it

I wasn't, and still ain't, mentally ready to listen to Cesar. Maybe it's because I'm a stupid, spoiled American. I pay the mechanic and he fixes my car. But it turns out that there's all kinds of ongoing maintenance that I need to perform on my car - check the tire air, change the wiper blades (yeah! change the wiper blades!), and so on. Listening to Cesar is like listening to my mechanic tell me that maintenance is also my responsibility. I tell you, I nod, but I don't get it. And that's my disconnect with the book.

When you watch him on TV, what you see is Problem / Solution. It's not that simple in real life. Real life is Problem / Struggle / Struggle / Struggle / Better / Struggle / Struggle / Better... One day, I'll be mature enough to listen to the book and it will earn it's five stars. Until then, my pup will struggle with me.

But I'm on the right road today, with the right understanding, and absolutely credit the book with drawing the map.

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