- Image by puck90 via Flickr
There is quite a dust up going on about Cesar Millan’s training methods, which are being characterized as following the dominance model of pack behavior. Enter academic researchers whose new studies show that dominance training techniques teach aggression. The study, noted in Science Daily claims that dog behavior has been completely misinterpreted, and the dominance model of behavior of a pack is incorrect.
The University of Bristol, Department of Clinical Veterinary Sciences published their findings in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior Clinical Applications and Research that relationships between dogs are learned through experience as they go along rather than by dominance. Other recent studies found that if you are aggressive with your dog, he will be aggressive too, and dogs are aggressive if they are trained badly.
Dog’s Trust, the UK’s largest dog welfare charity, sees fearful dogs every day being relinquished as a result of poor training methods that reinforce a cycle of aggression.
Dr Rachel Casey, Senior Lecturer in Companion Animal Behaviour and Welfare at Bristol University said: “The blanket assumption that every dog is motivated by some innate desire to control people and other dogs is frankly ridiculous. It hugely underestimates the complex communicative and learning abilities of dogs. It also leads to the use of coercive training techniques, which compromise welfare, and actually cause problem behaviours.”
While I have not viewed every “Dog Whisperer”, my interpretation of what he does with aggressive dogs and indecisive, frightened owners (which further confuses the dog) is neither cruel nor inappropriate–discipline, not punishment, and positive reinforcement. Of course, he is who he is with animals, and the owners of the dogs with problems do not have his depth of knowledge.
I have not seen Millan get aggressive with or be cruel to any dog. I have seen dog owners on the show who were pretty off the wall, expecting a new dog to simply “fit in” to the family routine. I know he talks about being the leader of the pack and being in charge, yet he takes no action in anger and does not punish the dog.
Of course, anyone who tries to simply mimic Millan’s behaviors, or any trainer’s methods, without instruction can wreak havoc with a dog’s training.
Dog’s lives hang in the balance. If people cannot control a dog and aggressive behavior arises from that lack of control and poor or no training, the dog will end up possibly abused, at a shelter, or as a requested euthanasia at the vets.
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I find the criticism of Cesar to be interesting. While I may not agree with all of his methods, he works with dogs I've seen most trainers recommend having put down. He also is an amazing advocate of walking your dog, which in my humble opinion is his greatest gift. So many people NEVER exercise their dogs (I am a dog walker and see it all the time!) nor do they attempt any training or control of their dogs in any manner. If he enlightens people as to the importance of exercise and training than I think that's wonderful.
Thanks for your thoughts and for stopping by. I admit I am confused by the railing going on against someone who has saved the lives of many Pits who would otherwise have been euthanized as "dangerous" dogs when clearly that was not the problem.
A case in point to your exercise comment: just last week a small, sweet dog was returned to Lake Shore, the no-kill where I have served on the board for more than decade, with claims that the dog was mean and should be put down. There is absolutely no evidence backing up this claim from the skilled foster home he is in for observance. In fact, the opposite is true. It was noted that the dog is nearly twice the girth as when adopted out less than 4 months ago, and that on the daily multiple walks he now enjoys, the dog practically dances down the street with happiness.
I agree that training and walks are an essential part of a healthy happy dog's life that gives him or her every chance to be a good canine citizen, or to be fairly easily re-homed if needed. It also gives the dog's person a special bonding opportunity, affording the privilege of getting to know the different dimensions of a dog's personality.
Actually, Cesar has saved many dogs from being put down. If he says its best to be calm/assertive with dogs and it produces a calm/submissive dog that has a forever home, I don't see that as wrong. If a person is happy with their pets the way they are they wouldn't call on Cesar anyway. But some dogs do try to take over the house and are lovable part of the time, its those times when owners may need to get control over the animal in their dog. There can be a happy medium. I have that with my rescue dog after using calm and assertive methods with him . My first dog before Cesar needs alot more work.
Thanks for your take on this, and I agree that not all dogs are your every day fairly easily trained normal dogs. Many mentally and physically abused and ex-fighting dogs can be reclaimed, but not by your run of the mill obedience class trainer at the local pet store.
Unfortunately the 'run of the mill obedience class trainer at the local pet store' doesn't tell clients how unqualified they really are. Millan peppers his show with giant notices saying don't try this at home, seek help from a professional, but as one client pointed out, 'there are professionals, and then there are Professionals'. Like finding a good doctor or a good plumber or a good car mechanic, it's not all that easy to tell the good ones from the bad ones, at least until it's too late. Millan is clearly one of the absolute Best ones. My suggestion to anyone trying to determine which professional to use is to ask what they think about Cesar Millan, and if it's anything but glowing just walk away and keep looking.
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keep dogs
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