Cesar Millan, host of National Geographic Channel’s “Dog Whisperer”, brings his knowledge and technique to millions more through his new book, “Cesar’s Way.” This engaging and comprehensive non-fiction work begins with Cesar’s life story growing up in Mexico and the steps that brought him to such an incredible understanding of dog psychology. It then goes on to detail what behaviour patterns are most common in North American dogs, and how to use his techniques to build a deeper bond with your dog, eliminating dangerous and unwelcome behaviours in the process. He illustrates his points well with stories of how he has helped both ordinary people, and celebrities like Oprah and Jada Pinkett-Smith, to have better relationships with their dogs.

Growing up as a small boy on a dirt farm in Mexico, Cesar’s dream was to move to Hollywood to become a trainer for movie and TV dogs. At the age of 21, he crossed the border into the US, taking the biggest step toward his dream. Within a month, he had a job in San Diego working at a dog grooming parlour where he was in for quite a bit of culture shock. In Mexico, dogs are treated like all the other animals on the farm. They are useful and necessary, but they sleep in the dirt and eat whatever they can find. In America, dogs are spoiled rotten. Groomed, fed, and cuddled, they are given treatment fit for royalty. And while this seems to be the better life for them, American dogs are aggressive, neurotic, and overly timid. Cesar was often horrified and dismayed by the bizarre behaviours he encountered in the dogs at the grooming parlour. These were not happy and well-balanced dogs, they were confused and out of control. Having been treated so much like humans, many had no idea how to simply be a dog.
Cesar soon moved to a dog obedience facility in LA to get even closer to his childhood dream of working with dogs in the movies. From there he was privately employed by a wealthy client, where he made connections with Jada Pinkett-Smith, who was instrumental in helping him to achieve worldwide recognition. Cesar started with a small private dog academy, moved to a wider client base, and then landed the show on National Geographic channel. Now, with his new book, he outlines the steps necessary to either rehabilitate your unbalanced dog, or simply build a stronger bond.
Cesar starts with the basic elements of dog psychology, such as how they perceive the world in comparison to how we experience life, and also, how they express themselves through body language. He explains about pack mentality, and why it’s important that we, the humans, be calm/assertive leaders and demand that our dogs be calm/submissive followers. Dogs are calmer and happier when they know their place in the pack, and when the rules of life are consistent 100% of the time.
He discusses the different behavioural issues that our dogs commonly have, what the causes are, and the process for how to change this. His instructions are clear, well laid out, and illustrated with real life cases of his. Such as the Great Dane who was afraid of shiny floors, the bulldog who obsessed about his skateboard, and even Oprah’s dog Sophie who had separation anxiety.
I was completely captivated by this book, and my family and I put his techniques to work with our own dogs. Both of our dogs are now happier and more balanced, they understand their place in the pack, and we are working everyday build a better relationship with them. I am very impressed with Cesar Millan’s dog behaviour techniques and with his book. I recommend this book to everyone, even if your only contact with a dog is to walk by one on your way to work every day, as Cesar’s tools are useful to everyone.
I also recommend the DVDs of his show for those who don’t get the National Geographic channel, as it’s very helpful to see him implement his techniques in addition to reading about them.
Sarah Jane Marshall, Butyoudontlooksick.com, © 2007