Create the Dog's Calm Submissive State Archives

10 Principles for Achieving Balance

How To Redirect A Dog

One of the most important skills for preventing your dog’s misbehavior is knowing how to redirect them before they act. Redirection simply means taking their attention away from whatever they’re focused on and bringing it back to you. Don’t confuse redirection with blocking. The former is for use when your dog’s energy level is lower and does not involve touch. The latter is necessary when a dog’s energy level is above a five out of 10, and does require touch. Cesar’s “Tsch!” sound is redirection, while his touch with three fingers in a “claw” is blocking. This article will be

July 16, 2019 No Comments

Cesar Millan

Frustrating Dogs

I want you to think for a moment of something that frustrates you. Maybe it’s a co-worker, or being stuck in traffic. It could be a vending machine that doesn’t work or a bus that’s late. It can even be your kids or spouses — and probably frequently is! Since you’re here, I’m guessing that it’s also your dog sometimes. But what is frustration? Simply, it’s the feeling that comes when we are blocked from fulfilling a need, whether it’s a goal of arriving somewhere on time or communicating something with another person. Our dogs can experience the same feeling

June 23, 2017 No Comments

A woman and her dog share a sweet moment after playing outside.

10 Principles for Achieving Balance

Principle 8 For Achieving Balance: You Create The Dog’s Calm, Submissive State

As a Pack Leader, it’s your goal to bring your dog to a place of calm, submissive energy. It’s not about your dog. Everything begins with you, your energy, your state of mind, and your approach. You are the source of your dog’s calm, submissive state, and your dog is looking to you for guidance. Your Dog Reflects Your Energy If your energy is anxious, nervous, overexcited, angry, frustrated, or some other negative, your dog will reflect that energy. If you are inconsistent in applying your rules, your dog will test you to see what she can get away with.

July 3, 2015 No Comments

Be the Pack Leader

Did Your Dogs Get What They Wanted For The Holidays?

Why Dogs Want Leadership Christmas and Hanukkah are over this year, and Kwanzaa only has a few days to go, but I have a question for you: What did you give your dog for the holidays? I can guess some of the answers: bones, treats, toys, hugs… Those are all great, but those are also all forms of affection. And, honestly, none of them would be at the top of your dog’s list of gifts she wants for the holidays. So, if our dogs could make wish lists or write letters to Santa, what would they ask for? Simple. Leadership.

June 18, 2015 No Comments

Be the Pack Leader

How To Find Your ‘A-Ha’ Moment

I’m very excited about the new season of “Cesar 911,” which premieres this Friday on Nat Geo Wild, and I’m particularly proud of this show because it has given me a chance to go out and help communities of people — friends, neighbors, and co-workers — and, of course, to rehabilitate dogs. I faced some interesting and challenging cases, but also was rewarded by seeing people finally have their “A-ha” moment and find balance with their dogs. But the people on the show weren’t the only ones who learned from the experience. I did, too. The Importance of Follow-Through I

June 18, 2015 No Comments

Be the Pack Leader

A Family Affair

In quite a lot of cases where I’m called in to help a family with their dog’s misbehavior, I quickly find out that the dog is not the problem. In fact, some people have told me that I turned out to be more of a marriage counselor than a dog behaviorist. Humans are Pack Animals, Too AsI often say, humans like to think that we’re not pack animals, but we are. And we need to remember that, when we bring dogs into the household, we are not creating two separate packs. Every member of that household, human or dog, is

June 18, 2015 No Comments

Be the Pack Leader

You Are The Reward

One of the things people often ask me is, “What’s the best training method for my dog?” It can be a confusing subject, because there are two approaches to training, and various techniques. Training comes down to either “do” or “don’t” — encourage a positive behavior or discourage a negative one. This can be based on rewards, like a treat, or ending a bad thing, like stopping in your tracks when the dog pulls and not moving until she relaxes. Techniques are not important. I do use positive reinforcement when I work with dogs, but not in the way that

June 18, 2015 No Comments

All About Dogs

The Importance Of Giving Your Dog Affection

By Cesar Millan Love is one of the greatest gifts we can share with our dogs. Dogs are affectionate animals. Touch means a lot to them, both in their natural world and when they live with us. However, affection that hasn’t been earned and is shared at the wrong time can be detrimental to a dog. Here are a few of my thoughts on sharing affection. Give affection – but at the right time! Remember anytime you give affection, you reinforce the behavior preceding it. Reward stability. Share your love when your dog is in a calm-submissive state. Share affection

June 17, 2015 No Comments