Do you believe the techniques and methods shown on the "Dog Whisperer" are valid?

Question

Do you believe the techniques and methods shown on the "Dog Whisperer" are valid?

Answer 1

No, his techniques are outdated and neglect to treat the dog as an individual, but rather focus on intimidation techniques. His overly simplistic reasoning contradicts years of studies on animal behavior. Check out some of the articles online from animal behaviorists (people who actually have a solid education in behavior) and you'll see what I mean.

Answer 2

You are really going to get mixed reviews on this one. Not everyone is going to agree. I for one think he knows what hes talking about. A lot of people treat there dogs like humans when they are NOTHING like us. I've read his books and own his dvds and it truely is valid. IMO

Answer 3

No, they aren't.

As a trainer, I can tell you those tips will LITERALLY get you no where. He uses dangerous and basic attempts to train animals that don't have any real issues to begin with.

He doesn't know the first thing about REAL training, which goes past basic "sit" "stay" "down" "come", etc.

If you want a trainer to LEARN something from, watch Victoria Stillwell on "Its Me Or The Dog".  

Answer 4

I think for dogs with severe emotional and behavioral problems, yes the methods shown are valid.  In some cases the only other option is the dog being surrendered in perhaps euthanized.  So yes, although Cesar (and other trainers) methods can cause discomfort and even pain in a dog, the alternative is it bites a child's face off, kills another dog, or will be ejected from its family.  

The vast majority of dogs will never ever need such extreme measures, but the point remain the same:  

Dogs aren't people.

Dogs need rules and training.

Dogs need routine.

Dogs need exercise.

Dogs need consistency.

A dog that fully understands what is expected of it, will be a happy and pleasant pet.

If you establish these things from the getgo, which Cesar and every other trainer mandates, your dog will never get to the point where more extreme measures are needed.

Answer 5

i don't think so. i don't know how they stage/act that but i think they do. no way that works in real life.

Answer 6

they are perfectly valid.. however, quite a few of them should NEVER be tried by anyone without many years experience..    His work with extreme cases is great...   for the general house pet.. a basic training class will help out more..  (as it also aids in socialization..  which on the show is done using either his dogs or random strangers looking for their 15 minutes of fame)  

His emphasis on walking is great..  it's amazing how many people don't understand that letting the dog out for 10 minutes at a time is not going to burn off that much energy.

Answer 7

I believe that some of his methods are good but not for the average dog owner. He is right about pack instinct and the fact that dogs need plenty of exercise to be balanced but face it the average dog owner does not have 4 hours to walk or roller blade with their dogs every day. Cesar also works with dogs in large packs, not so much in the home.

My personal, professional opinion is that Victoria Stillwell from "It's me or the dog" is much more compatible with the average dog owner. The methods she uses work well in peoples homes and outdoors.  

Answer 8

I know that some people do, but I personally don't.  If we are talking about trainers that you see on tv, I prefer the methods by the lady on It's Me or the Dog, sorry her name escapes me at the moment.  She has more humane ideas on how to train your dog, without using fear to do it.

Thank you Patient Paws, I could not remember her name and it was bothering me.