The One with the Evil Dog Whisperer
Rach, I remember you telling me how awful the Dog Whisperer treated the dogs he trained. Now he's being sued for almost killing this lab ...
http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=1929775&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312
I'm sure you've heard about this, but I thought I'd get your comments. I love how the spokesman tries to divert blame by saying "Cesar was not there at the time the injury occurred, he never worked with this dog … Cesar is a tremendous dog lover and has been a tireless advocate and professional dedicated to improving their welfare." Really? Then why would you have employees who abuse a dog in this way?
On a lighter note, I volunteered for the Humane Society at the Pet Expo this weekend and got to see lots of fun doggy stuff, like flyball! David loved that. Also, there were two basset rescues so I hung out for a while with Clyde (10-year-old and looked like King, only pure Basset), Ruby (dwarf Basset), and Murphy (11-year-old cancer survivor). One of their flyers had the following list:
You may be a Basset Hound person if ...
1. You are not a fastidious housekeeper. Bassets tend to drool and shed year round.
2. You can appreciate a melodious howl.
3. You like snuggling on the couch with your companion.
4. You are not looking for a jogging partner (Hey, Mags jogged for a whole block tonight, before she slowed to a plod!)
5. And my favorite ... You can accepts the Basset owns you!
http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=1929775&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312
I'm sure you've heard about this, but I thought I'd get your comments. I love how the spokesman tries to divert blame by saying "Cesar was not there at the time the injury occurred, he never worked with this dog … Cesar is a tremendous dog lover and has been a tireless advocate and professional dedicated to improving their welfare." Really? Then why would you have employees who abuse a dog in this way?
On a lighter note, I volunteered for the Humane Society at the Pet Expo this weekend and got to see lots of fun doggy stuff, like flyball! David loved that. Also, there were two basset rescues so I hung out for a while with Clyde (10-year-old and looked like King, only pure Basset), Ruby (dwarf Basset), and Murphy (11-year-old cancer survivor). One of their flyers had the following list:
You may be a Basset Hound person if ...
1. You are not a fastidious housekeeper. Bassets tend to drool and shed year round.
2. You can appreciate a melodious howl.
3. You like snuggling on the couch with your companion.
4. You are not looking for a jogging partner (Hey, Mags jogged for a whole block tonight, before she slowed to a plod!)
5. And my favorite ... You can accepts the Basset owns you!
posted by Monica at
12:02 AM
9 Comments:
I'm just going to say that OF COURSE this happened. It was only a matter of time before this happened.
I can tell you from working for a well-known dog trainer (she just trained Stockard Channing's dog this weekend) that dog trainers only employ people who use the same methods that they do. I have seen how Cesar's minions train dogs, and for all of them to train like that, he must, too. Of course he tones down his show for public viewing.
His show is just like any other reality television show. The bulk of the work is left out. What you see is a few comments, a little working with the dog, and the end result, which doesn't show how the dog does with the owner months down the road. It's not an accurate picture. What is sad is that most people think they can watch that show and train their dog.
It's sad that this happened. But this is why you never, ever send your dog to someone else to train. Would you send your kids to someone else to raise? No. You don't know what's happening to them at those facilities. The training should happen in front of you and include you. I would be suspicious of anything that didn't, including Cesar Milan.
By
Rachel, at 4:40 PM
I completely agree with your comparison to sending dogs to train with someone and sending your kids to someone to raise (although I'm sure there are people that would do that, too).
I've watched the show a couple of times and I always thought he was a little suspect. This proves that. At the very least, I hope his show gets taken away from him. I would have thought we had gotten past this point of near abuse in the name of training.
By
jason, at 8:13 PM
Um, well I send my kid to daycare! And I consider those folks to be a significant part of David's community. They spend more than 8 hours a day with him. So I hope that's not what you're comparing this to when you say would you send your kid to someone else to raise!
I haven't actually seen the show (hmm ... must be on cable? :). I didn't realize he even had one! What I think is sad is the exploitation of a one-on-one experience with your pet (Rachel training dogs in the home with the owner) into a commercial activity (making it a TV show so you get lots of sponsors and muh-lah). There's absolutely nothing wrong with making a living doing something you love (Rach, you lucky dog) but there is something wrong w/ having minions. Although if I had some, my house would be super-clean. :)
By
Monica, at 2:32 PM
Are you relying on the day care staff to provide the important life lessons for your son while you're not there?
Of course not, and I'm pretty sure that's the point she was making.
But if you have the capabilities, why not turn your job into a capitalistic enterprise? I certainly would if the opportunity was there. Hey everyone, come watch me read a book in my office and occasionally make some red marks! I'm getting visions of millions.
By
jason, at 6:10 PM
Actually, of course I am. I rely on them to discipline him while I'm not there, teach him socially acceptable manners, give him self-esteem and encourage him to be the best he can be. If I didn't think that he was learning important life lessons outside my realm of influence, I would be a complete idiot. It takes an entire community to raise a child.
However, before I chose these particular people to have a daily influence on his life, I did my homework. I did my best to figure out what values they would be teaching my son and how they would go about that. And I'm pretty sure THAT is the point she was making.
By
Monica, at 12:07 AM
I couldn't disagree more with your statement that "it takes an entire community to raise a child."
To me, there is a big difference between just finding a responsible caretaker for your child when you're not there and relying on that person to help raise your child.
Most of the influence he will get away from you will be from his peers, not teachers. And the lessons he eventually learns will be from decisions he makes using the values that he has learned through the biggest influence on his life, his parents.
By
jason, at 6:59 AM
Sounds like we have to agree to disagree. There are so many people that have a significant impact on David's life. People he looks up to and admires, and who have a part in his upbringing. Of course, my husband and I have the most significant influence on him, since we are with him day-in and day-out. And we do not make light of our responsibility for and to him. But I would never diminish the impact other family members, friends and teachers have on him.
I don't know if you've ever lived with a 3-year-old, but if you have you'd know that they are little sponges. I'm amazed at the conversations and events he can remember, months after they happen. He constantly quotes his teachers, pretends to be like them, tells us what they teach him. From his friends, he learns about Power Rangers and Batman. As he gets older, I think what you said about his peers will become true, and that his teachers will have much less of an impact. But at this young, impressionable age, they very much matter.
By
Monica, at 7:19 AM
Huh. Who knew that my comment about dog training would lead to this?
I certainly did not mean to insult anyone's parenting abilities, especially my best friend. I would never comment on someone's parenting abilities because I'm not a mother myself and I don't know what it's like. But, please, Mon, don't let Chandler have too big an impact!! We've done a lot of work to get "Boomer Sooner" out of David's vocabulary!!
When you send a dog to Cesar Milan, he keeps your dog for two weeks and you have no idea what is happening to the dog. When you get the dog back, it's supposed to be "trained" leaving the owner to think that there's nothing more that he needs to do. Training your dog, much like raising your children, is a life-long job. Well, I guess raising your kids is about a 20-year job, but you get my point.
The real joy of training is watching people connect with their dogs, realizing that something very simple can completely change their relationship. I love showing them how things they can do turn their "hopeless" dog into a great companion. I love training dogs, too, but sometimes, when you see that look on someone's face, it's worth even more than knowing that you might have just saved a dog's life.
I don't fault Cesar Milan for having his own television show. I fault his methods. He's a great businessman and knows how to make money. The sad thing is that he does it at the expense of dogs who can't speak up and tell people what is happening. Like I have said before, every dog trainer in the country has extra money because of Cesar Milan. He brings awareness to the profession. But he uses a lot of outdated theories and myths to train dogs. The things people learn from him are ridiculous.
But, Jason, let me know when your show airs. I will definitely tune in. I think there's a reality series out there just waiting to discover you! Red lines in books? Survivor's got nothing on you!
By
Rachel, at 8:30 AM
No worries Rach. I did not feel like you were insulting my parenting skills. I didn't realize that you send the dog away for two weeks. I was envisioning like a doggie day camp or something. The two of you made a comparision and I was just saying, "wait a sec, are you talking about me?" :)
I think I've heard you say before that training dogs is really training their people. I used to get the same feeling when a student FINALLY got a concept. It's exciting to see that lightbulb go on and feel like you made a difference.
I'm certainly not anti-capitalism. Hell, I'm American, I benefit from it every day! But I do think greed can take away from quality, and the need to make more and more money leads to bigger and bigger enterprise where you have less control. Suddenly, you're not seeing that lightbulb go on for people, or even doing the hiring and firing of minions, but deciding what country to go into next. I guess it's a trade-off.
Interesting discussion.
By
Monica, at 9:15 AM
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