Dog Whisperer Tour 2010 - O2 Arena

Last night I was one of the fortunate 20,000 or so people who saw Cesar Millan - a.k.a The Dog Whisperer live at the O2 Arena in London, the first venue as part of his 2010 tour of the UK.

Cesar's first show in the UK, started at 7.30pm. Cesar walked on stage and very quickly became emotional as he viewed the applauding crowd. He seemed overwhelmed and maybe a little nervous at first, but soon settled into his stride.

The show was pretty much as I had personally expected. He covered his well known rules:
Rules
Boundaries
Limitations

Exercise
Discipline
Affection

Nose
Eyes (open 15 days after puppy born)
Ears (open 21 days after puppy born)

It was great to hear from the man himself, in person on the stage. I thoroughly enjoy The Dog Whisperer TV show, but I'm also a great admirer of the man himself. The way he presents himself, interacts with other people, the way he shares his views, his energy, his expertise and what he has achieved in his life, his lack of ego, his views on life and animals, working Mother Natures etc etc etc (I could go on and on).

The first half of the show the stage was set out like a house, with kitchen table, sofa, and TV. there was also a door frame in the center of the stage.

Cesar also became emotionally after showing some photos on the big screen which featured his well known Pit Bull, Daddy, who he lets us know had passed away only recently. I looked through recent newsletter, which I hadn't been checking the email account of and found out that Daddy had passed away on February 20th 2010. One the photos showed Cesar's who family with Daddy, and Cesar stated that it was very shortly after that had been taken that Daddy passed away. For those that don't know Daddy was Cesar's side kick and was a great help helping Cesar to learn dog psychology and actually help Cesar in many of his cases.

At times during the show dogs were bought on the stage. They were generally happy go lucky dogs without any issues. There was one Labrador Retriever that was just a little excitable and Cesar demonstrated how the own should walk the dog, changing her posture and altering the position of the leash to the top of the neck, etc. This dog was also introduced to the treadmill.

Another dog was used to illustrate how to feed a dog, but the dog wasn't hungry.

Next was an excitable puppy, which was very interested in finding the food, and illustrated to the audience, just how the nose was so important and the puppy was constantly trying to jump up to the table on which the bowl of food was.

The show continued until about 8.50pm, at which time Cesar took a 20 minute break. While on his break a clip of Cesar in South park was shown, a very funny clip indeed.

He was back out at 9.10pm and continued on until 10.30pm, so a 3 hour show in total. For this half of the show the backdrop of the stage changed to a field and white fence and the stage featured white fence and gate and a treadmill.

When Cesar came back from his break, he did so through the audience, I was hoping he might walk down my way as I was seated in block B with an edge seat, but as soon as people spotted him, people were up wanting to shake his hand and many wanting to give him a hug, especially the women. So he kind of had to start making his way back to the stage.

The second half of the show featured a therapy dog or as they called it a Pat Dog, which illustrated a the goal of having a Calm Submissive dog.

We were also treated to Kate and Gin of 2008 Britain's Got Talent fame. Cesar had apparently seen them in the show on youtube and invited them. It was an amazing performance which went on for a few minutes. It was longer and better than she did on Britain's Got Talent.

The rest of Dog Whisperer tour continues around the UK, including Cardiff, Manchester, Nottingham, Newcastle, Glasgow, Belfast, Sheffield and Liverpool.

If your going to see him I hope you too have a great time.

Dog Whisperer and Hungairan Vizsla

Just watched an episode of the Dog Whisper with a Hungarian Vizsla which since moving to the city has become scared of literally everything , even noises in his own apartment and at times his owner. The dog was really quite thin from all the nervous tension it was experiencing literally every hour of its waking life.

Well of course Cesar had the dog rolling blading through the city within a very short time. Although on a normal walk the dog, even though much improved, was very wary of everything surrounding him. Well Cesar came up with a leash that went around the dogs neck, but was also attached to the dogs tail and lifted it upright, to improve the dogs well being and confidence. What a great idea.

The owner was defeated before Cesar arrived and was saying how he thought even Cesar might not be able to fix this case. However, Cesar is a great example of big thinking. Presented with any problem he will come up with an idea to cure it and many times it seems to work.

The dog itself was much improved and of course would need plenty of time to fully get over his nervous disposition.

Its Me or The Dog

Just caught an episode of Its Me or the Dog, with Victoria Stilwell. Its a 30 minute programme filmed in the UK where she spends a day or 2 with dogs and there owners fixing any behavioural problems the dog may have.

I believe it ran for 3 series and that they don't produce the show anymore. I remember previously catching a couple of episodes and thinking it was pretty good.
She presents the show dressed in very dominate all in black look, long dark hair, black boots etc. Shes uses different techniques to the Dog Whisperer Cesar Milan, so I find it quite interesting.

One thing I didn't like about the programme was the way its filmed and narrated. I think that's where some UK programmes go wrong. I wont go into details, but I just think if this programme was filmed in the U.S, with a great dog training character like Victoria Stilwell it would be much more entertaining and informative and an alround better TV programme to watch.

Anyway, typical, just checked and its not on next week, so I must have been missing the whole series. Not surprising really as its not a time of day I usually check the TV. I'll just have to keep a watch out for it in the future.

Another Dog Borstal - Dog Advised to be Put Down

Watched the latest episode of Dog Borstal tonight. I can't help but watch it, even though I don't learn much from it and potentially could learn wrong information. For me it just highlights general problems and why as a society (including most dog trainers, workers) why we need a much better alround understanding of dogs, like Cesar Milan has. I've come to the realisation that the dog trainers on the programme are just that, trainers, they are not dog behaviour experts.

Robert did another excellent job with a greyhound. Mic did his usual swearing. Lynne had a tough case with a dog which had aggressive issues. In the end she came up with 3 options and one of them was to have the American Bulldog put down, which is the option the owner took. The other options were muzzle the dog when outside the house, and while in the house keep separate from the kids, or opt to find dog a new owner. The owner had 2 children, so I fully understand how they cannot be put at any risk, especially with an 8 stone dog. Apparently they couldn't find anyone to take the dog on and were told they were just passing on a problem.

The owner told herself everyday she shouldn't feel guilty. Well, she chose the wrong breed. She let the dog rule the house. She couldn't even put a check chain on correctly. She should at least feel a little responsible.

Thing is, I know full well that putting the dog down is not an option the Dog Whisperer, Cesar Milan would have taken.
Don't get me wrong, I'm still on an early learning curve and do not have lots of knowledge and experience myself, but the trainer Lynne did not do one single thing that Cesar might have tried. She was actually praising the dog and offering treats while it was in a stressed out misbehaving state. Other trainers were doing the similar thing. However, I accept Cesars Way isnt the only way. Lynne is known to be a very good good alround trainer.

Plus I'm tired of seeing the owners walking there dogs on tense leashes with the dog pulling them. Come on, get the owners leading the pack from the off. The dogs lives are literally at stake if they don't get put in there place as a follower.

Like I say, it highlights to me the right way of how Cesar works and gives me a better understanding of why his methods work. If I can get a fuller understanding of a dogs mind, psychology and behaviour etc I will certainly do my best to get the message across on the website so help any dog owner that needs it.

Another Dog Borstal Episode

Watched tonights episode of Dog Borstal.

Robert was training a Patterdale Terrier, and did a very good job. He said "Takes real intelligence to be a naughty dog. We never get stupid dogs here, because there too clever. They figured out how to get what they want. If he's an intelliegent dog we can train him". Now that's light at the end of the tunnel for any struggling owner.

The lady dog trainer Lynne, was training a White German Shepherd also stated to the owner "Part of the problem is you have an intelligent dog which isn't using its mind, well it is is but in the wrong way".

I found the programme more interesting tonight. 1 pair of owners had a Bull Mastif and and Old English Bull Mastif with a combined weight of 23 stone. It was almost laughably seeing the owners literally being pulled along the floor behind them, until one time they were actually pulling both owners into a road with a passing car as the dogs surge towards a dog on the other side of the street.

However on the return a couple of months later one of the dogs had actually attacked another dog of leash, which isnt surprising as the root of the problem was never solved, the dog was pack leader, made worse by the fact I think the owners had split up and the fragile lady owner was sole carer.

Dog Borstal TV Programme

Watched a BBC Three programme "Dog Borstal" for only the second time today. It's normally on Thursdays at 8 p.m but I Skyplus'd it and watched last weeks episode today.

I've just learnt by checking the BBC website that its actually in its third series. I find that quite surprising, mainly because I'd not come across it before or heard it mentioned.

Each episode basically highlights 3 dogs with bad behaviour problems. These 3 dogs and owners are then supposedly taken to a disused air base in Suffolk for a week. Well, from the footage it looks as if the trainers only spend a couple of hours with the dogs and owners over maybe 2 or 3 days.

The show features 3 trainers Lynn Davies and Robert Alleyne and Mic Martin.

As a viewer and dog owner I want to see the problems that are highlighted actually solved so I've learnt something or can see that no matter how bad a dog may appear it can be sorted and bought into line with good leadership and training. That wasn't always the case in this episode.

I'll continue to Sky Plus it and see if it's worth continuing to watch.