Is it right that Cesar Millan can just do a scene over & over again to get the results he wants ?

I want to answer the question asked, but I also want to answer Raine. Yes, he does use punishment, by definition, punishment is anything that stops a behavior. So he does in fact use punishment. I'll go beyond that to say force-based methods are also used. I've watched the show and seen him physically intimidate a fearful dog, and string up another til' it couldn't breathe. The point of this question was not how many takes does it take to train a dog, it was should one present oneself as a miricle worker when much of what was done ends up on the cutting room floor? This sets people up with unrealisic expectations of their dogs. If Cesar can do it in 20 minutes and I can't my dog must be stupid. That's why dogs end up in shelters. So my answer to this question it is wrong to do it. Can you all say "reality TV"? It is NOT real, perhaps that is what makes it so appealing to the general puplic.

Cesar Millan doesn't use punishment at all. He uses restraint and distraction techniques. When he has to do it over and over again, well that is what it takes to train a dog. When you train a dog to sit for the first time, it never takes just one try. It's funny how someone will say their dog knows to sit, but if you ask them to have the dog do it 25 times in a row, they can't, so in the end, the dog doesn't know how to sit. It sits when it wants to and doesn't do it because you asked. A well-trained dog will do it each and every time you ask.

Not sure what Mary L. means by him not punishing dogs. What is the definition of punishment? Hmmm.

He does not punish them in the first place. In the second place, I have been to two of his seminars and he gets results pretty fast. He and his philosophy are great and if only more owners would get more serious in dog ownership responsibilit, there would be far fewer dogs in shelters.

I've learned a lot from Dog Whisperer. It's obvious that the owners don't learn everything he knows even if the takes are repeated, because they often have to have him come back for reinforcement. But it's always the owners who need the training in how to read the dogs' signals and use the knowledge of their body language and pack behavior to help them live among us.

It's a TV show. The problem is raising expectations for dog owners thinking it will work just like that for them ... the first time.

Sorry for my typos. It's been a long, long day of cases.

With all due respect, I take offense to KCsMoms post stating that we should learning about animal behavior and dogs don't only need love and cookies. I, for one, have worked aggressive dogs for 20 years and never have never been bit because I read them carefully and do not put my hands on them until I build a trusting relationship (and not by tossing treats on them). Animals bite because we make them bite.

I teach learning theory courses and helped write the certification test for dog trainers. I am fully aware of body language since I also lecture on this around the world to many professionals. If you get bit, you did something wrong - - you didn't "read" the dog. Shame on me. Accidents, of course, can happen. The best of the best can get bitten so I hope I don't jinx myself, but I don't set myself for the drama. I don't get paid enough nor do I want to put the dog in a situation where he gets that upset. It's not fair to the dog.

I use treats as rewards, but to be honest, if a dog is fearful, aroused or angry, the dog will not take treats. I do agree with you that dogs need more than love and treats. They need discipline, guidelines, rules, boundaries and much more. There are some trainers who will not punish a dog. No one can live with a dog and not expect to punish it.

I have nothing against this man other than the methodologies that he uses. His terminology is also incorrect. He uses scientific words in the wrong context. He states he is doing "x" when he is doing "y." If you are going to speak the "lingo" then you should get it right, especially on television.

So, in short, he seems like a nice guy that really cares about dogs. I don't think any of us should be attacking him personally. That's not fair to him, nor is it honorable since the man cannot defense himself.

Yet, we can certainly evaluate his methods and discuss what he is doing, why and the risks and benefits. This would be an educational discussion. But, if a discussion is going to be had on this, we need more than "it worked." Unless we know it worked and we know the outcome, we cannot say "it worked."

Well, wouldn't most trainers have to repeat a "scene" or command over and over anyway, to get the dog to understand? I think people watching should realize most of the material is cut, as it's only an hour or half hour show.........Anyone watch Extreme Makeover....those results don't happen in that hour.

I agree with Patricia. People have different ways of working animals to get a result. Since the animal owners let their dog/pets be stars, I would have to say the methods are not that bad. Milan is selling a product. Would we buy it if the dog looked like he hated it. I doubt it.