by Meg Francoeur

Created on: March 22, 2009

I have used both positive reinforcement and Cesar Millan's strategies, and I'd put Cesar on my speed dial. While I find positive reinforcement is wonderful for training obedience, tricks and for potty training, I find it's quite ineffective for problems such as aggression, fear issues or dominance. Since most of the dogs I work with and foster have issues that require rehabbing, I usually use Cesar's methods. It can turn a dog around in moments and keep them in a balanced state. I've taken dogs slated for euthanasia due to dog aggression and hyper activity and turned them into calm, balanced, friendly dogs. Treat training is only effective if the dog acknowledges the treat. The truly focused, aggressive dog will never even notice food or other treats when it wants to get to another dog or person. Correction the way another dog would correct is something that they both recognize and understand. There's nothing more satisfying than going to someone's home and simply showing them a few ways to create balance. Teaching them how to walk their dogs and to stop thinking of them as people in fur coats is a simple fix. No treats necessary and no injury, abuse or breaking of a dog's spirit as some people seem to think. I have yet to see Victoria successfully, fully rehabilitate a truly aggressive dog. She readily admits that the dog is not reliable, while Cesar has a large pack of dogs thatall had some type of issue and are now completely rehabilitated. I don't think Victoria could take confirmed fighting dogs and turn them into the calm balanced dogs that Cesar has in his pack. In fact, I really can't see Victoria even keeping 40 dogs together in one place without chaos. I know that when I use Cesar's methods, my foster dogs are the calmest, most obedient dogs at the adoptions. Most people think the dogs are depressed when they see them lying quietly on their blankets and aren't barking and jumping up on the pens when someone comes to see them. I have to explain to the potential adopters that the dog is simply being calm and balanced...a desirable thing when you have a dog! The best thing about Cesar though is not just his ability with dogs, it's his ability with people. He helps people see the best in themselves, find confidence and brings changes to them that makes a difference in not just their dog's lives, but their own. A good trainer will always help the student to succeed and will be able to make it clear to them how they should go about doing it. Cesar is a consummate trainer of people and dogs!

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