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A study of the narrative structure of ''Dog Whisperer'' published in a leading [[critical animal studies]] journal placed it within a tradition of representing the relationship between humans and nature as one of domination, where non-human animals are presented as commodities that serve the human animal’s wishes. <ref name = dominance> {{Cite journal| last = Jackson-Schebetta | first = Lisa | title = Mythologies and Commodifications of Dominion in The Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan | journal = Journal for Critical Animal Studies | volume = 7 | issue = 1 | pages = 107-130 | publisher = Institute for Critical Animal Studies (ICAS) | year = 2009 | issn = 1948-352X}}</ref>
A study of the narrative structure of ''Dog Whisperer'' published in a leading [[critical animal studies]] journal placed it within a tradition of representing the relationship between humans and nature as one of domination, where non-human animals are presented as commodities that serve the human animal’s wishes. <ref name = dominance> {{Cite journal| last = Jackson-Schebetta | first = Lisa | title = Mythologies and Commodifications of Dominion in The Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan | journal = Journal for Critical Animal Studies | volume = 7 | issue = 1 | pages = 107-130 | publisher = Institute for Critical Animal Studies (ICAS) | year = 2009 | issn = 1948-352X}}</ref>

In a research project designed to assess the safety risks of techniques used by owners of dogs with behavior problems, owners reported hearing about the techniques of giving a "schhhtt" sound correction and "abruptly jabbing the dog in the neck", on television. They were not asked for the names of specific television sources, but it was assumed by the study authors that they were referring to the program ''Dog Whisperer''. Both techniques were concluded to be potentially provocative and therefore capable of triggering defensive aggression.<ref name = confront>{{Cite journal| last = Herron| first = Meghan E.| coauthors = Shofer, Frances S. , Reisner, Ilana R. | title = Survey of the use and outcome of confrontational and non-confrontational training methods in client-owned dogs showing undesired behaviours| journal = Applied Animal Behaviour Science| issue = 117 | pages = 47–54| publisher = International Society for Applied Ethology (ISAE) | year = 2009 | issn = 0168-1591}}</ref>


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 06:18, 18 September 2011

Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan
File:DogWhisperer.png
StarringCesar Millan
Country of originUnited States
Original languagesEnglish, Spanish
No. of seasons7
No. of episodes131
Production
Running time60 minutes
Production companiesMPH Entertainment, Inc.
Mobile Video Productions, Inc.
Original release
NetworkNational Geographic Channel
ReleaseSeptember 13, 2004 (2004-09-13) –
present

Dog Whisperer TV is a reality television series that documents Cesar Millan's work with problem dogs. During the program Milan shows owners how they can achieve and maintain a leadership role with their dogs, however the program is not intended as a dog training guide.[1] Mexican American Millan is a self-taught dog trainer who established a celebrity clientele before being approached to feature in the Dog Whisperer program.

The series premiered on September 13, 2004 on the National Geographic Channel in half-hour episodes, but was expanded to one hour and moved to prime time in 2005. In 2011 it is in its seventh season and is broadcast in more than eighty countries worldwide.[2] Produced by Sheila Emery and Kay Sumner in association with MPH Entertainment, Inc. the program has an estimated audience of 11 million American viewers.[3]

Each episode of "Dog Whisperer" features guests’ problem dogs, which are introduced through documentary-style footage and an interview with the owners. Millan offers suggestions on how the owners can become a 'pack leader' for their pet, and then demonstrates behaviour modification techniques and explains his philosophy that healthy, balanced dogs require exercise, discipline and affection.[4] A number of entertainment-industry professionals have appeared on the program, including Jada Pinkett Smith.

The program has received awards, as well as criticism from animal behaviorists and organizations.

Program format

Dog Whisperer is a documentary-style reality television program that centers on animal behaviorist Cesar Millan[5] as he works to rehabilitate dogs with behavior problems ranging from inconveniences such as excessive barking, to behaviors that if not corrected could leave the owners little choice but to medicate or euthanize the dog.[6][7]

Millan said in a number of interviews that the program is not a guide to training, but a demonstration of his rehabilitation techniques.[5][7][8][1] Each Dog Whisperer episode begins with the statement: "Do not attempt the techniques you are about to see without consulting a professional",[9] and contains repeated warnings that viewers should not try some of the behavior modification techniques at home.[4]

Viewers are introduced to the difficult dog (or dogs), and their owners, through home-movie style footage of the dog engaging in the behavior its owners find problematic. A voice-over describes the situation briefly, the owners tell their story, and Millan arrives. Program publicity states that Millan does not review the 'audition' videos of the dogs, and has no advance knowledge of the situation unless the dog’s behavior makes it a potential danger to Millan and the crew.[10] Millan conducts an interview as the owners describe the issues at hand. Millan then usually offers suggestions on how the owners may alter their own habits to become a 'pack leader' for their pet. He goes on to demonstrate behavior modification techniques with the dog, and shows his expertise at establishing dominance over the troubled canine. Millan frequently brings one or more of his own dogs to a training session, which Millan describes as transferring another dog's 'balanced energy'. Sometimes, the dog is taken to Millan's Dog Psychology Center where it stays with Millan's own dogs for days or weeks.[11] Each episode ends with a demonstration of the dog's altered behaviour and the astonished pleasure of the owner.

Episodes feature the owners and families whose dogs are being rehabilitated. In inviting submissions the producers look for wide variety of dog problems, including unusual phobias, obsessions, fearful behavior, aggression, or any other unique situations that Cesar could help transform. They ask owners for anything interesting or funny about their dog, and request a short video showing three instances of the problem behavior. Occasionally the program calls for particular types of dogs for themed episodes, such as "spoiled rotten" dogs for Beverly Hills Divas[12]

On occasion Dog Whisperer is taken ‘on the road’ with episodes recorded in U.S. cities other than Los Angeles, and from the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia .[13]

History

In 2002, after he was profiled in a newspaper article, Millan received offers from a number of producers, and chose to work with Sheila Emery and Kay Sumner. They teamed with MPH Entertainment, Inc. that had been involved in successful reality-based cable shows, to produce a pilot. The producers had preliminary talks with Animal Planet, but the Network would not commit beyond a single pilot episode.[14] The National Geographic Channel expressed interest in the program, ordering 26 half-hour episodes, on the proviso that MPH provide the required deficit financing.[3] Under this agreement MPH and Emery/Sumner retained copyright to the show.[3] The channel retains control of television distribution in the United States and Canada.[3] MPH and Emery/Sumner control worldwide home video and foreign sales and share that revenue with the channel, allowing them to create and market various video collections.[15] The name of the program was similar to Paul Owens' 1999 book The Dog Whisperer. Owens, a positive trainer, has distanced himself from the program and now calls himself "the original dog whisperer".[16]

The show premiered in 2004, gradually gaining audience attention, by word of mouth.[3] For the first season, the series wasn’t positioned in prime time and the channel did little to promote the show.[3] However, in Season 2 it was expanded to an hour and moved to a prime time slot.[3] In 2009 the National Geographic Channel agreed with Fox to syndicate the series in the Fall of 2010, bringing it to a channel with exposure to approximately 50 million of the USA’s 120 million households.[3] A journalist for The Times questioned Cesar Millan on his motivation for producing the program, and quoted him as responding, "The goal that God and I have together is the whole world transformed through a dog."[17]

In 2006, former publicist Makeda Smith[18] filed a copyright infringment suit which stated that in 2001, she and her partner branded Millan as "The Dog Whisperer" by conceiving, producing and directing what they say was a pilot named “The Dog Whisperer", featuring Tichina Arnold.[19] The $5,000,000 lawsuit was settled out of court.[19]

The program is broadcast in more than eighty countries worldwide where it is alternatively known as Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan, Dog Whisperer TV or The Dog Whisperer.[2] At the debut of the sixth season of the Dog Whisperer, a New York Times article estimated an audience of 11 million American viewers each week.[3] In 2011 the program is in its seventh season, and ten new episodes are in production which will be broadcast on National Geographic Wild in early 2012. The new season will have more themed episodes, such as "home wrecker" dogs on Valentines Day.[20]

Cesar Millan

Main article: Cesar Millan

The Dog Whisperer chronicles the work of Cesar Millan, a Mexican American with an instinctive approach to rehabilitating dogs with problem behaviour.[5]

Born in 1969, Millan spent his childhood in the city of Culiacan in the state of Sinaloa, Mexico, however his favourite place was his grandfather’s ranch where he was captivated by the wild dogs on the property.[21][22] He spent so much time with the dogs that locals called him el Perrero, "the dog boy." His fascination with dogs extended to television, as his favourite programs featured highly-trained dogs such as Lassie.[21]

By his teens, Millan had decided that he wanted to be Hollywood animal trainer, and moved to Los Angeles where he worked for a dog grooming store and then for a limousine company.[21] He ran a dog training business from a van before opening the Dog Psychology Center in South Los Angeles where he focused on rehabilitating especially aggressive dogs.[23] His expertise with dogs was publicised primarily by word of mouth and Millan soon developed a clientele that included entertainment-industry professionals. Millan’s first mention in the national mainstream media came in People magazine in December of 2002 in an article describing his work with action-film director Ridley Scott’s Jack Russell Terriers.[21]

The Dog Whisperer program has featured occasional appearances by Millan’s (now ex) wife Illusion and two sons.

Daddy

Main article: Daddy (dog)

Daddy was an American Pit Bull Terrier integral to Millan's work and the show.[24] Daddy became known for his calm temperament, tolerance for smaller dogs and capacity for empathy.[25] Millan employed Daddy's temperament to rehabilitate dogs, train dog owners and serve as a role model for a breed often associated with aggressiveness. Daddy appeared frequently in episodes of the Dog Whisperer,[26] with Millan referring to him as his right-hand man.[27] According to Millan, Daddy "never made a mistake — never, never. He's never displayed aggression or any other negative behavior. He's just always helped me."[28] In 2009, Millan added "I have never had a dog like Daddy. I've been astounded by his intuition, consoled by his affection, and awed by his silent empathy."[29]

Celebrity involvement

Jada Pinkett Smith, one of Millan's first celebrity clients and a close friend, was quoted in a 2009 article as saying that he "has a gift" and that his "extraordinary spirit" is demonstrated in the way he relates to the troubled dogs on the Dog Whisperer program. Pinkett Smith, who played a role in helping Millan move forward with his dream of having a television show, was a participant in the 100th episode of the program.[30][31] [3] Other celebrity guests making an appearance on the 100th episode to honor Millan, after appearing on earlier shows to have their dogs rehabilitated, include Patti LaBelle,[32] Virginia Madsen,[33] Ed McMahon[34] and Daisy Fuentes.[35][36]

Production crew

The writers of Dog Whisperer, Jim Milio and Melissa Jo Peltier, write that they put on their "writer-producer hats to focus, restructure, and help create a theme for the segment." This is followed by the "shaping of the show itself,' writing the narrations, wraps, teasers, tags, and bumpers. They went on to say that "this is all for a show where absolutely nothing in the field (save Cesar’s arrivals to the dog owner’s front doors) is fabricated…what we like to call the last “real” Reality show on television."[37]

Executive producers for MPH Entertainment are Jim Milio, Melissa Jo Peltier, and Mark Hufnail. Sheila Possner-Emery and Kay Bachman-Sumner are producers. For National Geographic Channel, the executive producer is Char Serwa. Nicholas Bunker is associate producer, Christina Lublin coordinating producer and SueAnn Fincke series producer. The series is directed by SueAnn Fincke and Jim Milio. Cinematographers are Bryan Duggan and Christopher Komives. Thirty-six other crew members are involved in location management, sound recording, camera operation, music, editing, and production assistance.[38]

Criticism

In February 2006, an article in the New York Times quoted Dr. Nicholas Dodman, professor of animal behavioral pharmacology[39] and director of the Animal Behavior Clinic at Tufts University's Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, who said that his college had "written to National Geographic Channel and told them they have put dog training back 20 years".[40] A New York Times August 2006 op-ed by Mark Derr, an author noted for his publications on dogs, criticized Dog Whisperer for its reliance on a "simplistic view of the dog's social structure". According to Derr, Millan's methodology "flies in the face of what professional animal behaviorists — either trained and certified veterinarians or ethologists — have learned about normal and abnormal behavior in dogs".[41]

Also in 2006, the American Humane Association (AHA) requested that the National Geographic Channel stop airing the program, saying that training tactics shown on Dog Whisperer were inhumane, outdated and potentially harmful.[42] By November 2009, Millan had invited the American Humane Association to the set of Dog Whisperer, at which time, according to Millan, "they changed their state of mind about what is cruel".[43] The association announced in February 2010 that despite "sharp differences of view in the past" and some lingering areas of disagreement, they shared many areas of interest with Millan.[44]

Debra Horwitz, president of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists, said that the major benefits of The Dog Whisperer are that it makes owners aware that they are not alone in the problems they have with their pets, and that it provides good advice on the need for dogs to exercise and have rules. But, Horwitz adds, the show also has the major drawback of attributing behavior problems to dominance when the dog may be misbehaving because it is fearful or anxious.[45] Pet columnist Steve Dale said in a July 2010 newspaper column that while he believed Millan was "blessed with an amazingly intuitive understanding of dog behavior," some of the methods shown on the program, particularly those related to dominance, were inappropriate and not substantiated by science.[46]

Ratings

The Dog Whisperer premiered in 2004 as a half hour program, but subsequently became first in the National Geographic channel ratings and was moved to an hour show in a prime-time slot.[8] In 2007, the network renewed its most popular series to that date with an unprecendented 35 episodes in which Milan travelled the show to US cities like New York and Miami. [10] In 2008, the show in its 100th episode had grown from an estimated 100,000 households per episodes per household estimated 1,000,000 people per episode. [47] By 2010 Dog Whisperer had been the National Geographic’s top rated series for six years.[48]

Awards

In 2005 and again in 2007, Millan was awarded the Michael Landon Award for Inspiration to Youth Through Television.[49] The show received Emmy nominations for Outstanding Reality Program in both 2006 and 2007, though it did not take the award on either occasion.[50][51]

In 2008, Dog Whisperer won TV Best Variety or Reality Show at the 23rd Annual Imagen Foundation Awards, and also won the People's Choice Award for Favorite Animal Show that same year.[52] Dog Whisperer again won the People's Choice Awards in the category of Favourite Animal Show in 2010.[53][54]

The Humane Society of the United States Genesis Award Committee presented Millan with a 2008 Special Commendation for his work in rehabilitating animals. In 2010, the show was nominated for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Reality Programs but did not take the award.

Commentary

The Dog Whisperer program has been the focus of a number of research papers from a variety of discipline perspectives including family therapy and ethology.

A research paper that examines the role of family pets in family processes and relationships, says that in Dog Whisperer Cesar Millan goes to the family home and works much like a structural family therapist, helping to build an effective family structure and establish hierarchies and boundaries.[55]

In an observational study of the philosophies, methods, and skill sets used by dog trainers, one researcher concluded that there were two very different methods that dominated current dog training: a modern version of dominance/obedience training demonstrated on Dog Whisperer and a method based on reward and behavioral modification demonstrated on It's Me or the Dog. The author concluded that the fact that both methods continue to dominate the training world suggests that people still have ambiguous relationships with their companion animals.[56]

A study of the narrative structure of Dog Whisperer published in a leading critical animal studies journal placed it within a tradition of representing the relationship between humans and nature as one of domination, where non-human animals are presented as commodities that serve the human animal’s wishes. [57]

References

  1. ^ a b Peters, Sharon L. (31 May 2007). "The snarls don't faze trainer". USAtoday. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
  2. ^ a b Oldenburg, Ann (27 July 2006). "Pack is back: A week of 'Whisperer'". USA Today. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Wallace, Amy (10 October 2009). "Whispering to Rottweilers, and to C.E.O.'s". The New York Times. USA. Retrieved 8 September 2011. Cite error: The named reference "NYTceo" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b Patterson, John (16 May 2009). "All heel for Cesar". The Age. Australia. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
  5. ^ a b c Asthana, Anushka (19 March 2006). "This week we want to know all about Cesar Millan". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
  6. ^ "Dog Whisperer: show overview". TV.com. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  7. ^ a b Eftimiades, Maria (January 2007). "Canine Controversy". People. 67 (3): 105–6. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
  8. ^ a b Flaim, Denise (23 May 2006). "Bad doggie medicine? ; Veterinarians bark at the way 'Dog Whisperer' dispenses 'tough love'". Chicago Tribune. Chicago, Ill. p. 1. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
  9. ^ "Dog Whisperer: Cesar Down Under". Hulu.com,. Retrieved 8 September 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
  10. ^ a b Idelson, Karen (11 October 2008). "Masters make case at 'Dog' auditions". Variety. Retrieved 8 September 2011. Cite error: The named reference "Variety" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  11. ^ Wyatt, Edward (23 May 2006). "A 'Whisperer' Howl of Triumph, From the Curb Up". The New York Times. New York. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
  12. ^ "Show Submissions". Cesar's Way. Retrieved 10 April 2010.
  13. ^ "Cesar: on the road this week". Cesar’s Way. Cesarsway.com. Retrieved 1 1 September 2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  14. ^ Milio, Jim (15 March 2006). "Dog Whisperer Real Reality TV". HighDef Magazine. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  15. ^ Wyatt, Edward (23 May 2006). "From the 'Dog Whisperer,' a Howl of Triumph". The New York Times. USA.
  16. ^ Sternberg, Andy (19 October 2006). "The Original Dog Whisperer". USC Annenberg Radio News.
  17. ^ Whipple, Tom (1 March 2010). "Enter the Dog Whisperer, with Stern Words for our Dogs". The Times. London.
  18. ^ Ann Oldenburg (July 28, 2005). "Pack is back: A week of 'Whisperer'". USAToday.com.
  19. ^ a b N.A. (1 May 2006). "Famed Dog Whisperer Cesar Millan Sued For Five Million". WKTV News Online. Utica, New York.
  20. ^ "Nat Geo Wild Announces New Episodes of Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan". TheFutonCritic.com. 11 March 2011. Retrieved 13 September 2011.
  21. ^ a b c d "Cesar Millan Biography". Encyclopedia of World Biography. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
  22. ^ Gladwell, Malcom (22 May 2006). "What the Dog Saw: Cesar Millan and the movements of mastery". New Yorker. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
  23. ^ "Biography of Cesar Millan". All-American Speakers. Retrieved 3 September 2011.
  24. ^ Jasen, Lee (27 April 2008). "Top dawgs: Smart shopping for a trainer can lead to well-behaved pets". Deseret News. Salt Lake City. Retrieved 1 August 2010.
  25. ^ "Daddy". Cesar’s Way. Cesarsway.com. Retrieved 1 August 2010.
  26. ^ Johnston, Lauren (23 February 2010). "'Dog Whisperer' Cesar Millan's pit bull sidekick Daddy dies at age 16". New York Daily News. Retrieved 3 September 2011.
  27. ^ "In Memoriam: Daddy the Pit Bull". Cesar’s Way. Cesarsway.com. Retrieved 21 February 2010.
  28. ^ "Daddy: The Early Years". Cesar’s Way. Cesarsway.com. Retrieved 21 February 2010.
  29. ^ Sung, Helena (23 October 2009). "'Dog Whisperer' Cesar Millan and His Pit Bull, Daddy". Paw Nation. Retrieved 3 September 2011.
  30. ^ Oh, Eunice (8 October 2009), "5 Things You Didn't Know about Cesar Millan", People Pets, retrieved 22 March 2010
  31. ^ Sutton, Larry (25 July 2011). "Jada Pinkett Smith Takes the Lead". Cesar’s Way. Cesarsway.com. Retrieved 17 August 2011.
  32. ^ Dog Whisperer, Season 1, Episode 15
  33. ^ Dog Whisperer, Season 3, Episode ?
  34. ^ Dog Whisperer Season 4, Episode 6
  35. ^ Dog Whisperer, Season 1, Episode 6
  36. ^ McDonough, Kevin (19 September 2008). "Tune in Tonight: Reformed canines salute their 'Whisperer'". Reading Eagle Arts & Entertainment. Retrieved 3 September 2011.
  37. ^ Milio, Jim; Peltier, Melissa Jo (March 2010). "Does Reality Still Bite?". Written By: The Magazine of the American Writers' Guild, West.
  38. ^ "Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan". The Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 6 April 2010.
  39. ^ "Professor Nicholas Dodman". Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine Faculty Pages.
  40. ^ Bahney, Anna (23 February 2006). "C'mon, Pooch, Get With the Program". The New York Times. New York. Retrieved 28 April 2010.
  41. ^ Derr, Mark (31 August 2006). "Pack of Lies". New York Times. New York. Retrieved August 13, 2011.
  42. ^ Blauvelt, Randy (2006). "Dog Whisperer Training Approach More Harmful Than Helpful" (PDF). Companion Animal news. 23 (3). SpokAnimal C.A.R.E.: 1–2.
  43. ^ "Cesar Millan talks about UK tour". BBC, 27 November 2009. 27 November 2009.
  44. ^ American Humane Association (12 February 2010). "American Humane Association Convenes Humane Dog Training Symposium". Retrieved 2010-03-24.
  45. ^ Yin, Sophia (December 2007), "Clinical Report: Dealing with outdated behavior recommendations" (PDF), Veterinary Forum, 24 (12)
  46. ^ Dale, Steve (July 14, 2010). "Dog Whisperer Has His Good, and Bad Points". Tribune Media Service. Retrieved 7 August 2010.
  47. ^ Wood, Deborah (19 September 2008). "100 episodes later, "Dog Whisperer" still leading the pack". Seattle Times. Retrieved 3 September 2011.
  48. ^ PR Newswire (4 October 2010), "New One-Hour Drama, and One-Hour Reality Series Featuring ATF Being Simultaneously Readied for Cable Nets", Sys-Con Media, retrieved 3 September 2011
  49. ^ Young Artists Awards.org.
  50. ^ Associated Press (7 July 2006), "Complete list of Emmy nominations", Pittsburg Post Gazette
  51. ^ Bruno, Mike (18 July 2007). "Emmy Nominees: The Class of 2007". Entertainment Weekly.
  52. ^ Witzeman, Jeff (25 January 2010), "Cesar Millan: Changing The World One Dog Owner At A Time", The Huffington Post
  53. ^ RT Staff (6 January 2010). "Awards Tour: 2010 People's Choice Awards Winners!". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 30 April 2006.
  54. ^ Full List of People's Choice Awards 2010 Winners - The Hollywood Gossip
  55. ^ Walsh, Froma (2009). "Human-Animal Bonds II: The Role of Pets in Family Systems and Family Therapy". Family Process. 48 (4). Family Process Institute: 462–480. doi:10.1111/j.1545-5300.2009.01296.x.
  56. ^ Greenebaum, Jessica B (2010). "Training Dogs and Training Humans: Symbolic Interaction and Dog Training". Anthrozoos. 23 (2). International Society for Anthrozoology (ISAZ): 129–141. ISSN 0892-7936.
  57. ^ Jackson-Schebetta, Lisa (2009). "Mythologies and Commodifications of Dominion in The Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan". Journal for Critical Animal Studies. 7 (1). Institute for Critical Animal Studies (ICAS): 107–130. ISSN 1948-352X.

Reality Television series

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