by Jill Vega

Created on: February 17, 2010   Last Updated: February 18, 2010

For me it's Cesar Millan without hesitation.

I have used his philosophy on foster dogs as well as around shelter dogs while volunteering. I use exercise, discipline and affection in that order and always get results. I am patient, calm and quiet and that helps dogs who have come from a very unstable situation become calm, patient and quiet.

For example, I volunteer with a group that does large transports of dogs from a high kill area to a no kill area where those types of dogs are in demand and there is a waiting list. This is a good thing, however, it is stressful for the animals of course as you cannot have a conversation with them and tell them this is for their greater good. There is a lot of chaos, rushing around, crating, arranging, matching paperwork to the dog, etc. Many people are in more of a nervous mode of let's hurry and get on the road. I've noticed how some of the dogs don't really want to cooperate with that sort of energy. When I am around the same dogs, using my calm, be in the moment sort of energy with the dogs, they are attracted to me, they follow me willingly.

Another example, I recently fostered a 4 month old terrier puppy who in two weeks learned barriers in my apartment, without gates, as well as housebreaking and I had NO chewing because she was exercise properly and knew that things belonged to me. I did teach some basic commands as well but didn't have to use things like the clicker,etc, just my patience and I visualized what I wanted to happen while I was teaching it. There are so many more ways I've used Cesar Millan's advice and techniques so to speak in my own life. The list goes on.

I have watched Victoria many times off and on since she first showed up on television and, in my opinion, she is far too dramatic and excitable. Exactly what you don't want when you want a dog to calm down and focus. I think she is a bit over critical of the human instead of explaining why and how their behavior effects their dogs. I believe she does have some good ideas and I have seen results on television, however, many times her way is to put up a barrier, for example, to keep a dog out of an area rather than to just teach the human how to claim that space and not have to have the barrier in the first place. I believe her strengths lie in commands/obedience and less on behavior.

Thanks for the opportunity to hear both sides!

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