Fabian Henderson threw his dog off the roof. Six stories.

[skeptik]

"Cesar Millan's methods are based on flooding and punishment. The results, though immediate, will be only transitory. His methods are misguided, outmoded, in some cases dangerous, and often inhumane. You would not want to be a dog under his sphere of influence. The sad thing is that the public does not recognize the error of his ways. My college thinks it is a travesty. We've written to National Geographic Channel and told them they have put dog training back 20 years."

Dr. Nicholas Dodman - Professor and Head, Section of Animal Behavior, Director of Behavior Clinic, Tufts University - Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine


The concept of flooding is one I have argued about on bird forums for ages now so it's pretty near and dear to me. I think what must really be established is that dog and animal training is divided into two very separate camps. There are those that believe in the philosophy of BF Skinner and those that don't.

[Whisper]

Another great dog trainer is Tamar Gellar,Her book is called "The Loved Dog".Even though I have a rescue I also only have so much patience.The dog we got a yr ago was 6 months old not house trained ,wrecked everything and wasnt used to being out of a very small crate.She jumped on e1(and I hate that) she weighed about 80 lbs at the time. I dont like crates and I dont like hitting them,and you could tell she had been hit alot b/c if you moved to fast or anything she ducked fast!! But I went got the book and its great.Her jumping stopped as soon as I got hubby to do the same.All it is as soon as she would jump up turn your back and dont make any eye contact b/c thats what they crave is eye contact and within days it woked.Better then beating them or tossing off a roof!

[skeptik]

Reward the positive. Ignore the negative. Eventually the negative will become extinct.

[smallwonder4]

The majority of Cesar criticism that I read online seems to misunderstand Cesar's methods. A lot of the criticisms has been floating around since before the show even aired. He uses positive methods when possible. A lot of times, the dogs freeze up and refuse food etc. He has to try other methods to get the dog through it.

His principles of remaining calm and fulfilling the dogs are some that the nation needed to hear. He has shown Americans that they have to step their game up to get their dogs balanced. He has shown that it CAN be done for most dogs, and he has shown that pit bulls, rottweilers, and GSDs are just dogs with higher fulfillment requirements, but none of them are monsters. He has also shown that rescue dogs can become fantastic family members and given guidelines to help the average person set themselves up to succeed with a new dog.

Personally, I stay as positive as possible, but there are certain behaviors I can NOT ignore, and I feel they need to be addressed. So long as I address them appropriately and calmly, I've always seen fast progress. I read all kinds of different opinions and takes on dog training so I can keep a balanced approach. The same one method won't work for every single dog. It's good to have a broad spectrum of knowledge IMO.

[smallwonder4]

It is my belief that Oreo failed the tests because she had not fully healed from her trauma. To temperament test a dog in pain or fear is inhumane. The testing methods used are beyond psychotic. Pulling hair, ears and tail, stepping on their toes, removing their food -- I call this torture.

Even though inhumane, animal control agencies, SPCAs and humane societies conduct the test. The procedures used in temperament testing have not been questioned enough.

Thousands of animals are killed on orders of individuals with no formal education or minimal hands-on experience with difficult dogs.

More at link:
http://www.thereporter.com/columnists/ci_13966944

[lundwall1]

Every time I think of Oreo's horrible life - and her horrible demise that was also cruel it just breaks my heart. These assholes at the ASPCA who deemed her unfit for adoption - even tho there was a sanctuary willing to take her AND sign a waiver of liability are murders in my book. That poor dog suffered tremendously in my opinion and they just expected her to be this bright happy go-lucky dog over night? It takes TIME and work to "turn" a poor puppy like Oreo around. How would that guy who gave her the death sentence like to be have been beaten and thrown from a roof - think he would ever be quite the same again? I am tired of people playing "God"

[DogMom]

I could not find anything on his sentence on any news media links, only this.

He was sentenced to 6 months probation and a mandatory job training program. He was told that he could not "own" or be in a confined space with any companion animals for a period of 1 year.

if he gets arrested again during his probation or if he does not complete the mandatory job program that he is subject to a 2 year prison sentence

http://groups.google.com/group/ar-ne...7777ffb71cfbcc