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|spouse = {{sic|hide=y|Il|usion}} Millan
|spouse = {{sic|hide=y|Il|usion}} Millan
|website = [http://www.cesarmillaninc.com/ Cesar's Official Website]}}
|website = [http://www.cesarmillaninc.com/ Cesar's Official Website]}}
'''Cesar Millan''' (born August 27, 1969<ref name="imdb">[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1559638/ IMDB Profile] of Cesar Millan</ref>) is a self-taught, professional [[dog trainer]] widely known for his [[television]] series ''[[Dog Whisperer|The Dog Whisperer]]'', now in its sixth season and broadcast in more than eighty countries worldwide,<ref name="packisback">{{cite web
'''Cesar Millan''' (born August 27, 1969<ref name="imdb">[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1559638/ IMDB Profile] of Cesar Millan</ref>) is a self-taught, professional [[dog trainer]] widely known for his abusing helpless puppies and [[television]] series ''[[Dog Whisperer|The Dog Whisperer]]'', now in its sixth season and broadcast in more than eighty countries worldwide,<ref name="packisback">{{cite web
| title = Pack is back: A week of 'Whisperer'
| title = Pack is back: A week of 'Whisperer'
| publisher = USA Today, Ann Oldenburg, 8/1/2006
| publisher = USA Today, Ann Oldenburg, 8/1/2006

Revision as of 17:39, 11 February 2010

Cesar Millan
Born
César Millán Favela

(1969-08-27) August 27, 1969 (age 54)
Culiacán, Mexico
NationalityMexican-American
OccupationDog trainer
Employer(s)National Geographic Channel
Self-employed (Dog Psychology Center)
Known forDog Whisperer
SpouseIlusion Millan
WebsiteCesar's Official Website

Cesar Millan (born August 27, 1969[1]) is a self-taught, professional dog trainer widely known for his abusing helpless puppies and television series The Dog Whisperer, now in its sixth season and broadcast in more than eighty countries worldwide,[2] including the US, Canada, Australia and the UK.[3] Millan authored the best-selling book,[4] Cesar's Way.

Prior to The Dog Whisperer series, Millan had focused on rehabilitating especially aggressive dogs[5] and had operated the Dog Psychology Center[6] in South Los Angeles (2002–2008). He has co-authored several books on dogs and dog-training, participates in numerous philanthropic activities, and in 2009 in conjunction with IMG, introduced a monthly magazine titled Cesar's Way.[7]

Biography

A native of Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mexico, Cesar Millan was born in 1969 to Felipe Millán Guillen and María Teresa Favela de Millán.

The family later moved to Mazatlán, and there, at age 13, on their way to his judo competition and standing in front of a large statue, Millan declared to his mother he would one day be the best dog trainer in the world.[8]

Subsequently Millan illegally crossed the border into the US. Sources variously report that when he crossed into the US, Millan was "18 years old, spoke no English and knew no one in America"[9] or that he was 21 and crossed in 1990.[3][10][11][12]

Later, Milan founded the Pacific Point Canine Academy and developing a following. Jada Pinkett Smith (then, Jada Pinkett)[3] became one of Millan's first clients and supporters — when Millan was working as a limousine driver[2] — providing him an English tutor for a year.[8]

Subsequently, Millan created the Dog Psychology Center, a 2-acre (8,100 m2) facility in South Los Angeles—specializing in working with large breed dogs.[13] A new Dog Psychology Center is currently under construction on 43 acres in the rural outskirts of suburban Los Angeles.[8]

In 2002, after a profile in the Los Angeles Times, Millan worked with MPH Entertainment, Inc. developing a television pilot for the Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan, pitching it to the National Geographic Channel. The show would become National Geographic's #1 show during its first season.[14] Millan's book Cesar's Way debuted with the show's second season, becoming a bestseller.[4] Millan works with a broad spectrum of individuals, including celebrities Oprah Winfrey, Nicolas Cage, Will Smith and Vin Diesel.[13]

Personal life

Millan lives in Santa Clarita with his wife, Ilusion Wilson Millan, and their sons, Andre (b. 1995) and Calvin (b. 2001). Millan's son, Andre, has a dog named Apollo as featured on an episode of The Dog Whisperer.

Millan became a legal resident of the U.S. in 2000 and a U.S. citizen in 2009.

Methods

Millan approaches dog behavior by teaching the dog owner to understand the natural needs and responses of a dog, to understand that dogs are pack animals, to assist owners in establishing their role as calm and assertive pack leaders.[3]

Millan emphasizes the importance of walking a dog, not only for the dog's exercise, but for the owner and dog to bond—with the dog ultimately recognizing the owner as its leader.

"Stay calm and assertive."

Cesar Millan [10]

Millan prioritizes fulfilling the dog's primary needs:[3] exercise, discipline and affection—in that order. In other words, it is the owner's responsibility to fulfill the dog's energy level through challenging exercise; to provide clearly communicated rules, boundaries and limitations[15] for the dog's behavior; and to give the dog affection at the right time. Millan encourages owners to give affection, but to give affection when the dog is in a balanced state of mind, not when the dog is fearful, anxious, avoidant or excited — when the affection itself can reinforce imbalance. According to Millan, a common pitfall for dog owners is to give a great deal of affection with very little discipline and even less exercise.[15]

To be happy, (dogs) basically need a good job, and good food,
and a pat on the head. Americans tend to overdo on the affection
and under do on the exercise.[16]

Millan encourages owners to watch their dog for subtle cues in the dog's posture, movement and facial expression—to eliminate poor behavior before it arises or escalates. He also strongly encourages owners to understand the profound effect their own attitudes, internal emotions and physical postures have on a dog's behavior, counseling owners to hold strong posture (i.e. shoulders high and chest forward) and to project energy that is both calm and assertive.[12][17]

You can say as much as you want,
but the (dogs are) picking up what is... inside of you.[17]

Millan also stresses that owners identify their dog in a hierarchy of three levels:

  • Firstly and most importantly, as a dog with canine rather than human needs.
  • Secondly, as a particular breed of dog — for example, a Boxer-Rottweiler mix — with a breed-specific energy level and behavioral instinct.[18]
  • Thirdly, as their individual dog, e.g. "Bella."

Mimicking the way dogs communicate with each other, Millan is widely known for using vocal marks, e.g., his tsch or tsst[8] sounds, while working with a dog (rather than words, especially the dog's name), and he encourages owners to create their own unique sound that works for them.[17]

Millan stresses that when meeting a new dog, not to make eye contact, not to speak, and not to touch the new dog[3] — rather letting the dog approach on its own terms.

Reception

Millan has been featured twice on the Oprah Winfrey Show, [19][20] as well as on ABC World News Tonight (2002), CBS-TV (2001), Channel 7 News (May 2005), CNN (April 2006), Creative Arts Emmys 2006 (August 2006), Entertainment Insider (December 2004), Good Day Live (February 2005), Good Morning America With Diane Sawyer (September 2004), KTLA-TV (2002), Last Call with Carson Daly (November 2006), Martha Stewart Show (April 2006), Megan Mullally Show(November 2006), Nightline (July 2006), NBC-TV (2001), Today Show (April 2006), Tonight Show With Jay Leno (February 2005), The View (July 2006), WUSA-TV 9 News (April 2006), season 4 of the Emmy winning reality show Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List.

Awards

In 2005, the Humane Society of the United States Genesis Award Committee presented Millan with a Special Commendation for his work in rehabilitating animals.

In 2007, Millan was awarded the Michael Landon Award for Inspiration to Youth Through Television. Young Artists Awards.org In 2008, Millan was recognized as a "Treasure of Los Angeles" for his contributions to the City of Los Angeles.[21]

In 2006, 2007 and 2009, Millan's TV show, Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan, was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Reality Program.

In 2006, Millan and his wife, Ilusion, were awarded honorary membership of the International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP). [22]

In 2008, Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan won the award for TV Best Variety or Reality Show at the 23rd Annual Imagine Awards.

In 2010, Millan's TV show, Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan, won the People Choice Award for Favorite Animal Show.[23]

Criticism and response

Criticism of Millan's work has included the American Humane Association, who requested that the National Geographic Channel stop airing the program.[24]

Dr. Nicholas Dodman, an animal behavior pharmacologist and director of the Animal Behavior Clinic at Tufts University's Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, contended in a February 2006 article for the New York Times, that Millan had set dog training back considerably.[25] Dodman agrees, however, that the single most important preventative measure people can take to help avoid behavior problems in their pets would be to provide leadership.

leadership is very important because of the pack mentality of dogs. If you are the leader, I don’t think that the dog is unhappy about having you as the leader. And when the owner takes clear control through a non-confrontational dominance program, you can almost hear the dog sigh with relief. It’s as if they are saying, “My god, for a minute I thought it was me who was in charge here.” It’s a relief. They don’t feel miserable. They are not like humans who have to be number one. They don’t care about being at the top of the hierarchy, they just need to know where they are in it. [26]

Jean Donaldson, the San Francisco SPCA Director of The Academy for Dog Trainers criticized Millan for physically confronting aggressive dogs and using choke chains for fearful dogs.[27] In 2006, the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants expressed concern to the National Geographic Channel "that the program may lead children to engage in unsafe behaviors" and called for a change in the program's rating of TV-G.[28]

Guest appearances

Millan guest-starred as himself in Ghost Whisperer in Season 2, Episode 218, "Children of Ghost". In the episode, Melinda (Jennifer Love Hewitt) seeks out Millan for advice on how to help "Homer", Ghost Whisperer's Ghost Dog (from Season 1), cross over into the light.

Millan was portrayed in a tenth-season episode of the Comedy Central animated series South Park (entitled "Tsst") that aired on May 3, 2006. In the episode, Millan is hired to train Eric Cartman to behave after popular "nannies" (see Nanny 911, Super Nanny) have failed.

Millan played himself on the September 17, 2008 episode of Bones ("The Finger in the Nest") helping the lead characters to determine if a location was used for dogfighting.

In 2006, Millan's original publicists, Makeda Smith and Foster Corder, sued Millan[29] — later settling out of court.[30] Also in 2006, Floyd Suarez sued Millan, claiming that his dog had been injured while on a treadmill at the Dog Psychology Center,[31] with Suarez's personal dog trainer present and Millan absent at the time. Suarez later settled out of court.[32]

Philanthropy

In 2007, Cesar and Ilusion Millan created the Cesar and Ilusion Millan Foundation: "a national, non-profit foundation designed to aid and support the rescue, rehabilitation and placement of abused and abandoned dogs."[33]

The Cesar and Ilusion Millan Foundation donated $10,000 to L.A. Animal Services' new East Valley Animal Care Center.[33] Cesar and Ilusion, along with pit bull Daddy, presented the check to Councilman Tony Cardenas. The Foundation created CesarMillanKids.com [34], "a safe and easily navigable place for kids to experience the internet and learn about their canine companions, with special emphasis placed on learning to safely interact with dogs and provide what they need to live a happy and balanced life". The Foundation also awards grants to rescue groups and shelters throughout the United States to fund programming in canine rehabilitation, spay and neuter, and humane education for children.[33]

Following Hurricanes Ike and Gustav in 2008, the Foundation donated $5,000 each to the Galveston Island Humane Society, the Houston Humane Society, and Hope for Animals to help care for the animals displaced by the hurricanes and to aid in the recovery effort.[33] Since 2007, the Cesar and Illusion Millan Foundation has supported over 60 shelters and rescues across the country. The Foundation has also provided over 90 organizations with more than $75,000 in Cesar's Mastering Leadership DVDs for education of staff, volunteers, new caretakers, and potential adopters. The Foundation also donates both raffle and silent auction items, to help raise funds for organizations at their special events. These items include autographed Cesar Millan books, DVDs, apparel, and posters. To date, they have provided over $30,000 in goods, helping raise even more for the organizations that benefit from them.[33]

Millan has supported other projects, including K-9 Connection, for at-risk teens;[35] Pups on Parole, a program for inmates;[36] and the Pets911 project,[37] which works to "effect social change in this country by providing a free public service that will one day ensure an environment where all animals are valued companions and have lifetime, loving homes."[38] His 2006 seminar tour donated a portion of the proceeds to the hosting rescue groups.

Bibliography and DVDs

Books:

  • Cesar's Way: The Natural, Everyday Guide to Understanding and Correcting Common Dog Problems. New York: Three Rivers Press. March 2007. ISBN 978-0307337979. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  • Be the Pack Leader: Use Cesar's Way to Transform Your Dog . . . and Your Life. New York: Three Rivers Press. March 2007. ISBN 978-0307381675. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  • A Member of the Family: Cesar Millan's Guide to a Lifetime of Fulfillment with Your Dog. New York: Three Rivers Press. March 2008. ISBN 978-0307408914. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  • How to Raise the Perfect Dog: Through Puppyhood and Beyond. New York: Three Rivers Press. pending: 2009. ISBN 978-0307461292. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |year= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)

DVDs:

  • People Training for Dogs
  • Becoming a Pack Leader
  • Your New Dog: First Day and Beyond
  • Sit and Stay the Cesar Way
  • Common Canine Misbehaviors
  • Power of the Pack
  • Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan - The Complete First Season, DVD, 2006
  • Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan - The Complete Second Season, DVD, 2007
  • Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan - The Complete Third Season, DVD, 2008

References

  1. ^ IMDB Profile of Cesar Millan
  2. ^ a b "Pack is back: A week of 'Whisperer'". USA Today, Ann Oldenburg, 8/1/2006.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "All Heel for Cesar". Theage.com.au, May 16, 2009.
  4. ^ a b New York Times Bestsellers List dated August 6, 2006
  5. ^ "Cesar Millan". The Charlie Rose Show.
  6. ^ Cesar Millan - Dog Psychology Center
  7. ^ "'Dog Whisperer' Hopes to Lead Pack at Newsstand". The Wall Street Journal, Suzanne Vranica, September 10, 2009.
  8. ^ a b c d "Cesar Millan". Modern Dog Magazine, Mary-Jo Dionne,.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
  9. ^ "'Dog Whisperer' spreads the word". The Boston Globe, Mimi Avins, Los Angeles Times, November 3, 2004.
  10. ^ a b "Cesar Millan Q&A". San Antonio.com, The Creature Beat, Brian Chasnoff, July 7, 2009.
  11. ^ "Immigrant of the Day: Cesar Millan (Mexico)". Immigration Prof Blog.
  12. ^ a b "What the Dog Saw". The New Yorker, Malcom Gladwell, May 22, 2006.
  13. ^ a b "DVD: The Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan". The Chortler.com, May 5, 2006.
  14. ^ "The snarls don't faze trainer". USAtoday, Sharon L. Peters, 31 May 2007.
  15. ^ a b "The Dog Whisperer's Magic Touch". ABC, NHancy Weiner, July 31, 2006.
  16. ^ "'Whisperer': We love our dogs too much". The Boston Globe, Matthew Gilbert, ,July 26, 2006.
  17. ^ a b c "The `Dog Whisperer' has a gift with canines -- and humans". The Boston Globe, October 5, 2007.
  18. ^ "Ask the Dog Whisperer". The Washington Post, October 5, 2007.
  19. ^ "The Dog Whisperer Rescues Nate"
  20. ^ "The Dog Whisperer Helps Oprah and Stedman"
  21. ^ "The 14th Annual Treasures of Los Angeles". Tadashi Collection.
  22. ^ [1]
  23. ^ [2]
  24. ^ 'Dog Whisperer' Training Approach More Harmful Than Helpful. americanhumane.org, Newsrelease. Denver, Sept. 6, 2006. Last retrieved March 6, 2009.
  25. ^ "C'mon, Pooch, Get With the Program". The New York Times, Anna Bahney, February 23, 2006.
  26. ^ "An Interview with Dr. Nicholas Dodman". Bark Magazine, Sophia Yin and Claudia Kawczynska.
  27. ^ "Dog Whisperer Training Approach More Harmful Than Helpful" Randy Blauvelt, American Humane. Companion Animal News 23 (3), Fall 2006, pp. 1-2
  28. ^ IAABC Concerns Regarding Child Safety on National Geographic's Dog Whisperer Show, iaabc.org; October 27, 2006
  29. ^ Lawsuit against Millan
  30. ^ WKTV website (Defunct prior to 1/10)
  31. ^ "'Dog Whisperer' sued by his TV producer", Associated Press, May 9, 2006. Last retrieved March 6, 2009.
  32. ^ CBS2.com website (Page Not Found: 1/10)
  33. ^ a b c d e Millan Foundation
  34. ^ Cesar Millan Kids
  35. ^ "Cesar's way" approved as public school textbook. cesarmillaninc.com, Features. See also K9 Connection. Last retrieved March 6, 2009.
  36. ^ Millan, Cesar (2006-04-24). "Rehab Behind Bars: Pups on Parole". National Geographic. Retrieved 26 November 2009.
  37. ^ Pets911.com Q&A with Cesar!. Cesar Millan, Inc. Newsletter, January 2006 Issue, January 1, 2006. Last retrieved March 6, 2009.
  38. ^ About www.pets911.com
  • Biography Today, Vol. 15 (3): pp. 73–83
  • Millan, Cesar and Peltier, Melissa Jo (2006), Cesar's Way: The Natural, Everyday Guide to Understanding and Correcting Common Dog Problems, Harmony Books, New York, ISBN 0-307-33733-2.
  • Millan, Cesar and Peltier, Melissa Jo (2007), Be the Pack Leader, Harmony Books, New York, ISBN 978-0-307-38166-8.
  • DogTime.com/cesar-millan-and-ian-dunbar.html (January 2008), "The Dog Trainer's Trainer"
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