‘Dog Whisperer’ Cesar Millan's tips for Filipino dog owners

Dog lovers milled around Eastwood City, Libis with their beloved pooches to catch a few tips from pet guru Cesar Millan on Tuesday, April 29.

"The Dog Whisperer" host and celebrity dog trainer swung by the pet-friendly center to share tips for understanding dog behavior. Millan also showed pet owners how to care for their pets, and how train them to become loyal, well-behaved companions.

He also pushed his advocacy of responsible pet ownership.

Kabang, the dog who saved two young children from an accident in 2011, even got to meet Millan during his demonstration.

The award-winning host of National Geographic shows "Dog Whisperer" and "Cesar to the Rescue" stopped by Indonesia prior to his visit to the Philippines. He will also stop by Singapore and China as part of his Asian tour.

The secret to taming aggressive pets

Apparently, the key is training the human owners, more so than the dogs.



"We're not responsible enough as a species with natural kindness," said Millan in a State of the Nation video Monday. "And we are more inclined to be ignorant than actually knowledgeable."

On his profession as 'dog whisperer,' he said, "It's a beautiful profession because you're working with someone who doesn't know power, who doesn't know fame, who doesn't know money—which is a dog. So you feel accepted right away."

Millan observed that aggressive dogs are simply a reflection of irresponsible pet ownership.

Part of his demonstration included understanding dog behavior, essential knowledge when keeping track of their health because of the country's tropical weather.

Hydration and a good place full of shade are recommended for keeping pets healthy and happy during the hottest months of the year.

One of the tricks he demonstrated for getting a dog's attention is a decisive "Psst!" sound, the key to which is a confident delivery, as well as the element of surprise.

On dog fighting

Millan mourned the different forms of dog abuse in the Philippines such as dog fighting, eating their meat, and even simple neglect.

"In reality, a lot of people do affection, affection, affection instead of exercise, discipline, affection," he said. "When you don't fulfill the needs of a dog, that is abuse."

Anna Cabrera, a member of the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), agrees. "Na-uso nga ang askal, o asong kalye, kahit naman alam natin na hindi dapat nasa kalye ang aso. All dogs should have homes."

According to Republic Act 10631, or the Amended Animal Welfare Act, the punishment for animal abuse is a jail term of up to three years as well as a fine of P250,000. — Rie Takumi/VC/YA, GMA News