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A review by cdlindwall
How to Raise the Perfect Dog: Through Puppyhood and Beyond by Cesar Millan
3.0
This book makes me want to get a puppy so badly. Like, so so badly. I'm hoping to move into a pet-friendly apartment next year and maybe get a dog that I can take on hikes with me.
Cesar Milan's love for dogs is obvious and infectious. My favorite part about his books and tv show in general is that his skill and confidence makes me feel confident, as well. There are definitely a lot of tips in this book, although most of his advice boils down more to overall mantras and less to step-by-step guides. Example: Cesar would say, "Always have calm-assertive energy," rather than "First, have your dog sit." So, if you are looking for a lot more specific instruction on certain tasks, this really isn't the book for you. This is more of a general guidebook on how to be a pack leader and how to stop basic problems that arise with puppies/adolescent dogs.
My issue with this book is that I think Cesar overestimates how well the dog will respond to someone's "energy" who hasn't had a ton of experience being "in tune" with animal behavior.
For example, when a dog has an item that he should not have and does not want to give it back to his owner, the owner should look at the dog authoritatively, "get in his space," look at the object, be firm and calm, and wait for the dog to give it back. That's great advice, but I don't think my dog would really "get" that from me. It may work the first time for The Dog Whisperer, but I would probably need a lot of experience before something as simple as that would completely solve the problem. His advice is similarly one-dimensional on other topics such as barking and aggression. I feel like sometimes energy (or, rather, my energy) wouldn't be effective enough and I need more advice than just that.
But overall, I think Cesar Milan has a fairly unique and wonderful strategy when it comes to molding well-behaved, balanced dogs. I can't wait to get a puppy soon and try out some of these tactics so I can have a wonderful hiking buddy.
Cesar Milan's love for dogs is obvious and infectious. My favorite part about his books and tv show in general is that his skill and confidence makes me feel confident, as well. There are definitely a lot of tips in this book, although most of his advice boils down more to overall mantras and less to step-by-step guides. Example: Cesar would say, "Always have calm-assertive energy," rather than "First, have your dog sit." So, if you are looking for a lot more specific instruction on certain tasks, this really isn't the book for you. This is more of a general guidebook on how to be a pack leader and how to stop basic problems that arise with puppies/adolescent dogs.
My issue with this book is that I think Cesar overestimates how well the dog will respond to someone's "energy" who hasn't had a ton of experience being "in tune" with animal behavior.
For example, when a dog has an item that he should not have and does not want to give it back to his owner, the owner should look at the dog authoritatively, "get in his space," look at the object, be firm and calm, and wait for the dog to give it back. That's great advice, but I don't think my dog would really "get" that from me. It may work the first time for The Dog Whisperer, but I would probably need a lot of experience before something as simple as that would completely solve the problem. His advice is similarly one-dimensional on other topics such as barking and aggression. I feel like sometimes energy (or, rather, my energy) wouldn't be effective enough and I need more advice than just that.
But overall, I think Cesar Milan has a fairly unique and wonderful strategy when it comes to molding well-behaved, balanced dogs. I can't wait to get a puppy soon and try out some of these tactics so I can have a wonderful hiking buddy.