Becoming the leader of the pack

By Melissa Rentería - Conexión

Web Posted: 07/09/2009 7:08 CDT

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Cesar Millan, star of the National Geographic Channel’s top-rated “Dog Whisperer” show and author of two dog behavior books, says people can use his “pack-leader” approach on more than canines.

“I get thousands of letters from people who say their job is different, their relationships are different after becoming their dog’s pack leader,” Millan told Conexión in a December 2007 interview before an appearance at the Majestic Theatre.

“That’s what happens when you have a calm, assertive energy. You break bad patterns and change your state of mind and see things differently. People see you differently,” said Millan, who listed talk-show host Oprah Winfrey and Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant as examples of pack leaders.

Both celebrities, he explained, command attention and respect from others while remaining calm and even-tempered.

As for using his “pack-leader” approach to animals other than canines, Millan said it really only works on pack-oriented animals such as horses and cows. The technique likely wouldn’t work on your misbehaving feline friends, he said.

“Cats are too independent,” Millan said before stating what’s obvious to many cat owners. “Cats don’t follow a leader. They think for themselves.”

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2 comment(s) on "Becoming the leader of the pack"

ToneHero11:18 AM

Wow Jamesw2 I like how you speak only on his methods and nothing on results. People have down grated all of his work since day one. As far as a group of dogs not being a pack that is ridiculous. Every dog comes from the WOLF and has alot of the same characteristics of the WOLF. Nature intended dogs to be dogs in a pack. Nature did not intend for dogs to be humans or be in a family with humans.Also what he does is not TRAINING its balancing a dog which is something that most trainers DONT DO. We think by simple training that the dog will be fine which is WRONG.Why do you think so many people have problems with behavior? Many trainers talk about training and working on training but we are still having lots of problems with behavior.As far as his methods being dangerous that is ridiculous.I have done these methods with my dog since day one.AND HE IS A AMPT/AMERICAN BULLDOG!Nothing has ever gone wrong.Ive walked into Pets Mart(aka We Hate CESAR)and passed by those training classes and those dogs go insane.The trainers have the nerve to tell me that having a silver chain around the dog is inhumane and if you want your dog to be on the leash I should have their training and not follow useless training.Im not here to bash on you james but Im here to tell you please look at ALL angles of the picture here and not just from the outside.The fact is that he is saving dogs that other people cant.

Jamesw24:23 AM

leader of the pack theory does not exist. It was based on false information gained from observing captured wolves. A pack is now recognized as a family unit. Millan doesn't have a pack he has a bunch of dogs. His dog training methods are outdated, dangerous and condemned by Veterinarians. Millan is a TV personality who doesn't understand what a dog whisperer is and has set back proper dog training back fifty years.

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