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Malcolm Gladwell profiles Cesar Millan, the "Dog Whisperer," in the New Yorker this week (the article is not online, but this Q&A Gladwell did with Ben Greenman about Millan is), and Gothamist cannot wait to get our issue from the mailbox. If you don't know who Cesar Millan is (like, you watched the South Park episode and thought he was made up), he's a total phenomenon. He communes with dogs, is able to walk huge packs of them, and even has a the Dog Psychology Center to study dogs who seem violent are really aren't (it's the humans' fault, Millan says). Everyone wants to know how to manage their dogs, so Millan is the go to man because of the way he speaks to them.
The NY Times Magazine interviewed him and he explained how humans must remain dominant over their pets. Also, our worries about keeping a dog in an apartment were totally unfounded, it seems:
Do you find that dogs on the West Coast or in the suburbs get more exercise than New York City dogs, most of whom live in apartments and don't have backyards?Does anyone make their dog follow them?The backyard is not exercise. It doesn't represent freedom. It doesn't represent fun. It doesn't represent balance. The backyard is just going back and forth between walls. People in New York don't have the backyard and are forced to walk the dog more often, which is the best thing that can happen to dogs.
Yet in your book you insist that many Americans and especially New Yorkers don't know how to walk a dog properly.
Every time I go to New York, I see dogs in front of people. Oh, brother. The dog should be behind the person. In the natural dog world, the dog is always behind the pack leader. Pack leaders never, ever tell the dog to go in front.
His show, The Dog Whisperer, is on the National Geographic Channel. He's even headed to the Bronx Zoo June 17-18! You can submit your dog to be "whispered" to, but Millan is being sued by a pet owner over one training incident.
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Shirley, I'd love to explore your deep rooted issues over a a couple of magarita. I'll show you a dog that's in control.
The South Park episode was absolutely brilliant. I just had to say that. Enjoy the seemingly good weather.
As much controversy as Cesar drums up, I agree with his point that too many owners let their animals run roughshod over them. Get that damn mutt under control instead of behaving like a subservient chicken.
(This coming from a man who sleeps with his head off the pillow because the cat makes its way up there in the middle of the night)
My dogs (usually) walk behind me, but only since I've discovered zee Dog Wheeesperer-er. The end of the article--Cesar pointing out that Lori puts the dog ahead of her son--is a very raw, and IMHO accurate critique of where American culture is right now.
Reminds me of the origin of the band name Less than Jake. The parents of one of the band members had a dog named Jake. The parents would go out to a nice dinner (not bringing their son) and return with leftovers and feed them to Jake; their son was "Less than Jake." :)
I love the Dog Whisperer. I have a 7 month old puppy and he really responds to the techniques on the show. Cesar does a service by reminding people that dogs are not human. I'm hoping to prevent behavioral issues before they begin.