Cesar Millan, (born
César Millán Favela; August 27, 1969) is a Mexican-born American
dog trainer.
[2] A self-taught expert, he is widely known for his television series
The Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan, now in its seventh season and broadcast in more than eighty countries worldwide.
[3] Prior to
The Dog Whisperer series, Millan focused on rehabilitating especially aggressive dogs
[4] and founded the Dog Psychology Center
[5] in
South Los Angeles (2002–2008) — under construction in a new Los Angeles location as of late 2009.
[6] Millan's first three books, including
Cesar's Way, all became New York Times best sellers, have cumulatively sold two million copies in the United States and are available in 14 other countries.
[6] In 2009, in conjunction with
IMG, Millan introduced a monthly magazine also titled
Cesar's Way — with the
Wall Street Journal reporting at that time that half of American consumers recognized Millan.
[7] With Ilusión Millan, he founded the Cesar and Ilusión Millan Foundation — since re-named the Millan Foundation. He is working with
Yale University to create a children's curriculum based on his work.
[6]Millan's most important tool in both his success with dogs and business has sometimes been attributed to a personal sense of balance,
[6] what
The New York Times called "a sort of über-balanced
mien."
[6]
Personal life
Born in 1969 to Felipe Millán Guillen and María Teresa Favela de Millán in Culiacán, Sinaloa,Mexico, Millan grew up working with animals on his grandfather's Sinaloa farm.[8] Because of his natural way with dogs, he was called el Perrero, "the dog boy."[8] 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.[9]Millan illegally crossed the border into the US when he was 21 years old, spoke no English and knew no one in the USA.[8][10][11][12] He first worked in a dog grooming store, working with the most aggressive dogs — later creating the Pacific Point Canine Academy and developing a following. Jada Pinkett Smith became one of Millan's first clients and supporters — when he was working as a limousine driver[3] — providing him with an English tutor for a year.[10][9] Subsequently, Millan created the Dog Psychology Center, a 2-acre (8,100 m2) facility inSouth Los Angeles—specializing in working with large breed dogs.[13] Millan became a legal resident of the U.S. in 2000, became a U.S. citizen in 2009, and lives in Santa Clarita, CA. He married Ilusión Wilson Millan in 1994, with whom he had two sons, Andre (b. 1995) and Calvin (b. 2001). In June, 2010, Millan announced his divorce.[14] Ilusión Millan filed for divorce, seeking primary physical custody of the kids with visitation for Cesar, as well as spousal support.[15]
Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan
The program demonstrates Cesar Millan's application of his philosophy that healthy, balanced dogs require strong 'pack leadership' from their owners, specifically in the form of exercise, discipline and affection (in that order),
[10] with Millan demonstrating how owners can achieve and maintain a leadership role with their dogs. The program highlights Millan at work rehabilitating dogs, and is not intended as a dog training guide.
[16] Each episode contains repeated warnings that viewers should not try some of the behavior modification techniques at home.
[10]
Principles
Millan's work focuses on handling a dog with what he calls "a calm-assertive energy".
[6] He approaches dog behavior by teaching dog owners 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-assertive pack leaders.
[10]Millan prioritizes fulfilling and balancing a dog's primary needs:
[10] exercise, discipline and affection—in that order.
[18] 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
[19] 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.
[19]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. He also 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. And he 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 calm-assertive.
[8][20]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.[21]
- Thirdly, as their individual dog, e.g. "Bella."
Millan is widely known for using vocal
marks, e.g., his
tsch or
tsst[9] 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.
[20]Millan stresses that when meeting a new dog, making eye contact, speaking, and touching it are to be avoided, in favor of letting the dog approach on its own terms.
[10]
Daddy
Main article:
Daddy (dog)One of Millan's many dogs, Daddy, was an
American Pit Bull Terrier integral to Millan's work and his television series,
Dog Whisperer.
[22]Daddy was known for his calm temperament, tolerance for smaller dogs and capacity for empathy.
[23] Prior to Daddy's death in February 2010 at age 16,
[24] Millan selected another pit bull puppy,
Junior, as Daddy's protégé — to apprentice with Daddy and learn his temperament.
Philanthropy
In 2007, Cesar and Ilusión Millan created the Cesar and Ilusión Millan Foundation: "a national, non-profit foundation designed to aid and support the rescue, rehabilitation and placement of abused and abandoned dogs."
[25] Together they have also founded the Shelter Stars program to provide education materials to new dog adopters,
[6] The foundation has since been re-named
the Millan Foundation.Millan has supported other projects, including K-9 Connection, for at-risk teens;
[26] Pups on Parole, a program for inmates;
[27] and the Pets911 project,
[28] 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."
[29] His 2006 seminar tour donated a portion of the proceeds to the hosting rescue groups.
Media and guest appearances
Millan has been featured twice on
The Oprah Winfrey Show,
[30][31] 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 Awardwinning reality show
Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List.
Millan guest-starred as himself in
Ghost Whisperer in Season 2, Episode 18, "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 played himself in "The Finger in the Nest", the September 17, 2008, episode of
Bones, helping the lead characters to determine if a location was used for dogfighting.
Millan played himself in
The Back-Up Plan, which was released April 23, 2010 in theaters.
Millan made a guest appearance as a judge on Episode #3 of the 10th season of
The Apprentice.
Millan made a guest appearance on the April 27, 2011 episode of "
Jeopardy".
[32][edit]Legal issues
In 2006, Millan's original publicists, Makeda Smith and Foster Corder, sued Millan, alleging copyright infringement, breach of contract and breach of confidential relationship
[33] — later settling out of court.
[34] Also in 2006, Floyd Suarez sued Millan, alleging that his dog had been injured while on a treadmill at the Dog Psychology Center,
[35] — later settling out of court.
[36]
Criticism
In February 2010 the American Humane Association announced that, despite "sharp differences of view in the past", they had invited him to participate in a symposium on humane dog training "to discuss issues of concern".
[38] 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".
[39] 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.
[40]After a Canadian tour, Global Television's 16:9 question whether Cesar's approach is whispering or "might do more harm than good."
[41]
Bibliographies 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- How to Raise the Perfect Dog: Through Puppyhood and Beyond. New York: Three Rivers Press. 2009. ISBN 978-0307461292.
- Cesar's Rules: Your Way to Train a Well-Behaved Dog. New York: Crown Archetype. 2010. ISBN 978-0307716866.
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
- Raising the Perfect Puppy
| - Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan - The Complete First Season, 2006
- Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan - The Complete Second Season, 2007
- Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan - The Complete Third Season, 2008
- Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan - The Complete Fourth Season, Volume 1, 2010
- Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan - The Complete Fourth Season, Volume 2, 2010
- Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan - The Complete Fifth Season, 2011
|
Awards
- 2005, the Humane Society of the United States Genesis Award Committee presented Millan with a Special Commendation for his work in rehabilitating animals.
- 2007, Millan was awarded the Michael Landon Award for Inspiration to Youth Through Television. Young Artists Awards.org
- 2006, 2007 and 2009, Millan's TV show, Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan, was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Reality Program.
- 2006, Millan and his wife, Ilusión, were awarded honorary membership of the International Association of Canine Professionals(IACP).[42]
- 2008, The Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan won the award for TV Best Variety or Reality Show at the 23rd Annual Imagine Awards.
- 2008, Cesar Millan was recognized as a "Treasure of Los Angeles" for his contributions to the City of Los Angeles.[43]
- 2010, Millan's TV show, Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan, won the People's Choice Award for Favorite Animal Show.[44]
