Important dog whisperer tip
“Dog Whisperer” Cesar Millan has provided gobs of pets advice over the past few years. As a celebrity dog “rehabilitator” known the world over, millions of pet owners anxiously turn to him (and his books and videos) for dog whisperer tricks and tips.
But there’s at least one bit of obedience advice he agrees takes precedence over all others. When asked in a Q&A in his magazine, “What is the most important thing to do for your dog?” he had a quick and easy reply:
The dog whisperer says his most important tip is to take your pup on a power walk each and every morning, for at least 45 minutes. Don’t cut this exercise short, because it sets up your pet’s entire day. But perhaps even more crucial than the length of time is exactly how you go about this exercise.
Cesar says this: “When leaving the house, make sure you always walk out the door ahead of your dog.” In effect, when you walk out first, you are demonstrating who is the boss, according to Cesar. Also, when you are on the dog walk, don’t let your puppy trot out ahead of you or pull on the leash, Cesar says. You are the leader (alpha male), after all, and your pet will respect you for it.
If you are unable to take your pup on a power walk each morning, consider hiring a professional dog walker in your area to do this for you. You will be surprised at how reasonable their rates can be, and you (and your doggie) will reap the benefits.
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3 Comments So Far - Where Is Yours?
The walk is definetely a must.. but walking first out the door is imho pretty ancient thinking for establishing pack leadership. I rather be a good, wise and clever “teacher” for the dog, and treat it with understanding and respect using positive reinforcement. With clickertraining you quickly forget all these old myths on pack leadership :-)
Thanks for the comments, Michelle. We’ve actually been hearing more blowback against some of Cesar’s methods lately. It seems like he has been lightening up on some of the more controversial methods. Maybe he needs to do more “whispering” rather than concentrating on totally dominating the dog.
Agree with Michelle. Clicker training is my preferred method too. Perhaps Pets Adviser can feature works by Karen Pryor, Jean Donaldson etc. Their efforts are equally if not more effective and, above all, dog friendly.
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