‘Dog Whisperer’ Cesar Millan shows pet owners how to become leaders of the pack

Celebrity dog trainer and National Geographic TV host Cesar Millan shared some trade secrets in his live show at Eastwood Mall in Quezon City last Tuesday. The interactive show was part of his Leader of the Pack tour, with Millan drawing from his experiences growing up in Mexico and then as an immigrant in the United States.

The host also welcomed local dogs and their owners on stage, as he dealt with issues with some quick training before giving the owners the chance to try the same practices.

During his show, a very candid Millan mentioned that the dogs back in his hometown never had to wear a leash. Instead, they walked behind their owners, recognizing their role in the "pack" that is the family.

"If you live in a small town, everyone is a member of the pack," said Millan, who highlighted the importance of knowing one's role within the community to sustain order. "Dogs behave different in the city."

The host went on to describe the difference between life in his rural town to that of downtown Los Angeles, where he resides today. The simple life in his hometown translated to a "calmer energy" for both people and pets. This, he said, was very different from the life in the US, where pet owners juggle several tasks, leaving themselves spent and stressed. This energy, Millan said, is the cause of anxiety for pets.

"We train people to rehabilitate dogs," he said, stressing that a dog's demeanor is greatly influenced by its owner's energy. "Dogs want harmony and balance. There's no knowledge in instinct. It's just a reaction."

"Animals don't follow unstable pack leaders. Only humans follow such," Millan further joked.

Early training

Millan added that it is critical to instill the proper behavior in a dog in its puppy stage, or before the dog turns eight months old. The problem, he said, is that at this stage, instead of setting rules, boundaries and limitations, pet owners resist acknowledging that what they have are animals. They treat pets like babies. According to Millan, it is difficult to develop stable dog behavior at the puppy stage, if pet owners insist on "baby talk" and other humanizing acts on the puppies.

As in his show, Millan stressed the importance of having a calm and assertive energy. As an example, the host showed a clip of a rabbit herding sheep to illustrate the importance of energy and body language in establishing oneself as the "leader of the pack."

"What you feel becomes your energy," Millan said. "And that's what your dog knows about you. Human emotions trigger the instinct of the dog."

Dogs need 'jobs'

One of the most common issues faced by dog owners is the restlessness of their pets. Most dogs have a lot of pent-up energy that is manifested through different means. Some dogs become destructive, while others become aggressive in the presence of humans and other dogs.

"If dogs could smoke, there would be a lot of smoking dogs in America. They have nothing to do," Millan said in jest.

As an example, Millan noted how dogs that help handicapped people tend to be more balanced.

"A handicapped person can make a dog balanced. Normal people make dogs handicapped," added Millan, saying that dogs with jobs are able to expend their pent-up energy.

To end the show, Millan brought Kabang on stage. The female "aspin" from Zamboanga City, who lost the upper part of her snout when she jumped between a motorcycle and two little girls, became an internet sensation after her act of heroism. She spent several weeks at the University of California-Davis to treat her injury and other ailments, and now lives a happy and healthy life in the Philippines. Bringing her out was a statement from Millan, driving home the point that dogs deserve all the patience and love from humans. — BM, GMA News