To a dog, it doesn’t matter if you’re the president of the United States or an illegal immigrant. It’s all about the energy you project, according to superstar dog trainer Cesar Millan, an immigrant from Mexico who achieved celebrity status as host of the TV series The Dog Whisperer. A common-sense dynamo with the charisma of a kickass motivational speaker, the 43-year-old Millan brought his entertaining Trust Your Instincts seminar to Ottawa’s CE Centre on Thursday.
It was a slick, well-paced show that combined video footage, comedy and storytelling on a stage decorated with ordinary household items, including a red couch, barbecue and vintage television. Millan brought a chihuahua, but it wasn’t a big part of the production. To illustrate some common behavioural problems, several Ottawa-area dogs and their owners had been selected in advance. Audience members were not permitted to bring dogs.
The local talent included the excitable Malamute puppy, Felix, the leash-pulling Shepherd mix, Lycan, and the squeaky-ball-obsessed lab, Taylor. Millan made suggestions and offered advice, all of which seemed to work on the spot: Felix was calmed, Lycan forgot about pulling and Taylor ignored the ball. The audience cheered and the owners beamed.
Magic? Not really. Like I said, Millan preaches common sense when dealing with dogs. He trains owners to tune into the perspective of their dog, reconnect with nature and take charge. Be the pack leader, in other words. In his philosophy, the “instinctual” world, such as the village he grew up in, where life is simple, is preferable to modern society, with all its stress and noise. By helping dogs achieve harmony and balance, we are able to connect with Mother Nature. “That’s my goal in life,” he declared, his passion and commitment as sexy as his thousand-watt smile and cute accent.
In one segment, Millan addressed the criticism that the “energy” of which he speaks needs to be quantifiable. To make it tangible, a doctor friend came up with the idea of using a heart-rate monitor. In a video clip on how to deal with aggressive dogs, the monitor showed an elevated pulse in both Doberman and owner, evidence of stress and fear on both ends of the leash. Millan’s main tactic in dealing with the problem was to remain calm. “You can’t ask a dog to be calm if you’re not calm,” he said. I’m still not quite sure how he does it, but it does seem to work.
Millan also talked about his new TV show, Leader of the Pack, which addresses the global problem of unwanted canines, and offers spay/neuter as part of the solution. In the series, which is set in Europe, Millan rescues unwanted dogs, rehabilitates them and finds them permanent homes. It’s a far more noble mission than helping the rich and famous with their spoiled pets.
The other new series from the Millan camp is hosted by Cesar’s teenage son, Calvin, who joined his dad on stage for few minutes on Thursday. Cesar described the boy as a gifted dog trainer who showed early promise. He related a story of Calvin as a toddler, when he escaped the family compound and negotiated his way past the neighbours’ two pitbulls in order to find a cookie. Of course, Calvin’s show, The Puppy Whisperer, doesn’t advocate trying that at home; it’s aimed at teaching children that dogs are a lifetime responsibility. What a good boy for fetching the torch and passing it on to the next generation of dog owners.
