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lsoccer12's review against another edition
4.0
If you have a dog THIS IS A MUST READ. Cesar will help you understand your dog better and help to inprove your relationship with your family and your dog.
untitledemily's review against another edition
3.0
I have watched his shows and more importantly I have read his books. Here in his book he is allowed the time to articulate his beliefs and practices. That way pet owners can understand what he is doing when working with dogs.
Some methods will work for some dogs, as he says in the book, and other methods wont work. It is important to know yourself and your dog before implementing new training.
This book covers many things but most importantly the concept of being aware and in touch with your pet is key.
Some methods will work for some dogs, as he says in the book, and other methods wont work. It is important to know yourself and your dog before implementing new training.
This book covers many things but most importantly the concept of being aware and in touch with your pet is key.
art_cart_ron's review against another edition
3.0
Don't pick this up for instruction.
I have a rescue dog who, it is believed, spent some time living feral. According to Cesar - that mean's I'm a neurotic mess (okay, not exactly).
The main message is that unwanted behavior your dog exhibits is a direct reflection of your own problems. A sort of pet ownership prosperity gospel thing that feels borne of privilege, career choices, presumption of authority - and a not-too-subtle drive to treat his readership as his pack of dogs.
See, the guidance he gives for walking dogs is this: Always walk ahead of your dog, or let them walk beside you at most. Never let them walk ahead of you. And that's how the lesson portions (of this collection of sometimes-interesting anecdotes) works out. As a reader, you are being held behind him - or on rare occasions, beside him, as a teacher and communicator. You aren't given many tools to handle practical situations.
He points out that, over his several books like this, he's had complaint that he doesn't give practical useful advice. So he added an appendix to give some advice. What comes to mind, for you, as a common bit of advice you could use about your dog? Stop barking? House training? Socializing? ... yeah, no. For that advice, you need to take your private jet to his compound (like clients listed in his book). He'll allow you a little bit of advice about how to introduce your dog to your home, or how to walk your dog... you know - the advice that lets you walk behind Cesar as a teacher, or - if you are really lucky - by his side for a little while.
On a positive note - there is some useful dog psychology (which he insists on categorizing as instinct, because psychology validates science too much - and his viewership is repeatedly "assured" that he's not too-sciency - - IOW, red flags galore, if you are an evidence-motivated empiricist).
I have a rescue dog who, it is believed, spent some time living feral. According to Cesar - that mean's I'm a neurotic mess (okay, not exactly).
The main message is that unwanted behavior your dog exhibits is a direct reflection of your own problems. A sort of pet ownership prosperity gospel thing that feels borne of privilege, career choices, presumption of authority - and a not-too-subtle drive to treat his readership as his pack of dogs.
See, the guidance he gives for walking dogs is this: Always walk ahead of your dog, or let them walk beside you at most. Never let them walk ahead of you. And that's how the lesson portions (of this collection of sometimes-interesting anecdotes) works out. As a reader, you are being held behind him - or on rare occasions, beside him, as a teacher and communicator. You aren't given many tools to handle practical situations.
He points out that, over his several books like this, he's had complaint that he doesn't give practical useful advice. So he added an appendix to give some advice. What comes to mind, for you, as a common bit of advice you could use about your dog? Stop barking? House training? Socializing? ... yeah, no. For that advice, you need to take your private jet to his compound (like clients listed in his book). He'll allow you a little bit of advice about how to introduce your dog to your home, or how to walk your dog... you know - the advice that lets you walk behind Cesar as a teacher, or - if you are really lucky - by his side for a little while.
On a positive note - there is some useful dog psychology (which he insists on categorizing as instinct, because psychology validates science too much - and his viewership is repeatedly "assured" that he's not too-sciency - - IOW, red flags galore, if you are an evidence-motivated empiricist).
tiotacoslibrary's review against another edition
1.75
Be the Pack Leader was overall not that great of a book. Lots of useless pages that were not informative and lacking in giving insight as to how to “Be the Pack Leader.” Besides having a calm-assertive energy I didn’t really get a whole lot more information. I know Cesar knows what he is doing, but this book just seem to lack in structure and having helpful tips for readers and dog owners alike.
camscampbell's review against another edition
4.0
I found this by accident and wound up reading the whole thing in a couple of days, as did my good lady. We both agree that the philosophy makes a lot of sense and we are going to apply it with our 14-month-old Bassett hound (Clover) and the Akita pup that's waiting for us. It was quite eye-opening to discover how wrong we were going about things with Clover. She has always been difficult to walk, partly because of her wanting to sniff everything. Now I have an idea how to fix that.
I've learned that the first thing to do is to try and get rid of my own negative energy. I know a bit about that from my 12 step programme, but I think Cesar's way will help me to put it into practice in all my affairs. It all makes so much sense.
As I was reading the book, I was thinking that yes, its all very good, but I'll get home from holidays and the dog will still be on the sofa. The one thing this book is not is an instruction manual. As I'm reading another of his books [How to Raise the Perfect Dog: through Puppyhood and Beyond], I'm learning more and more that it's about energy and animals. If I can get myself balanced and keep in mind that dogs are animals, should be at the right place to start.
So, from first day back from holidays, I'm setting the alarm for an hour earlier for walking the dogs. It should be a good time for me to centre myself too.
I've learned that the first thing to do is to try and get rid of my own negative energy. I know a bit about that from my 12 step programme, but I think Cesar's way will help me to put it into practice in all my affairs. It all makes so much sense.
As I was reading the book, I was thinking that yes, its all very good, but I'll get home from holidays and the dog will still be on the sofa. The one thing this book is not is an instruction manual. As I'm reading another of his books [How to Raise the Perfect Dog: through Puppyhood and Beyond], I'm learning more and more that it's about energy and animals. If I can get myself balanced and keep in mind that dogs are animals, should be at the right place to start.
So, from first day back from holidays, I'm setting the alarm for an hour earlier for walking the dogs. It should be a good time for me to centre myself too.
kcourts's review against another edition
4.0
big thanks to Colleen for lending me this book! it has been incredibly useful in easing us into our first pet, Rory. it's absolutely amazing what calm assertive energy can do, turning bad behavior around almost immediately sometimes.