CESAR MILLAN is a best-selling author and star of the hit TV show “Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan,” airing on National Geographic Channel in the U.S. and over 100 countries internationally. He is President of the Cesar Millan Foundation, a non-profit organization that is credited with re-homing and rehabilitating thousands of dogs across the world. Simply put, Millan is the most recognized and sought-after authority working in the field of dog care and rehabilitation.

Notably, in addition to co-creating and starring in “Dog Whisperer,” Millan has co-authored six books: the New York Times #1 Bestseller Cesar’s Way, the New York Times Bestseller Be The Pack Leader, Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan: The Ultimate Episode Guide, A Member of the Family, How to Raise the Perfect Dog, and Cesar’s Rules, which will be released in October 2010. He has his own magazine called, “Cesar’s Way” which is published eight times a year. He also travels extensively and appears in his own “Cesar Live” tours. He has completed tours in Australia, the U.S., the U.K., and will begin a tour across Canada in October 2010.

Millan was born in rural Culiacan, Mexico, and grew up in a small house with no amenities. He spent much of his early childhood on his grandfather’s farm in nearby Ixpalino, where he observed the behavior of the farm’s many dogs. When he was a teenager, his family purchased their first TV set. He preferred the classic “Lassie” and “The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin” series and, inspired by them, dreamed that he would move to California and become the world’s best dog trainer.

In December of 1990, at the age of 21, Millan, who spoke no English, crossed the border into California and began living in San Diego. He lived on the streets for a month until he landed a job grooming dogs, soon gaining a reputation for his calming effect on even the most difficult dogs. With a few dollars in his pocket, he moved north to Los Angeles and took a job washing cars.

During this time, Millan was surprised by how troubled so many of the dogs he encountered seemed to be and how disconnected Americans seemed to be from nature and the world around them. He began thinking that he should redirect his dream to becoming a rehabilitator of dogs and a trainer of humans. With the money he saved from washing cars, he started a freelance dog rehabilitation service, primarily offering his expertise with extreme cases. He was quickly recommended around town and his client list expanded rapidly. In 1994, he came to the attention of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith who likewise referred him to other celebrities. Millan became inspired to upgrade his business and broaden his exposure in the community, which led him to open his first Dog Psychology Center, a two-acre facility in South Los Angeles, designed to rehabilitate troubled, aggressive, and condemned dogs. The center, which housed a pack of thirty to forty “un-adoptable” and abandoned dogs, was moved to the Santa Clarita Valley to allow for expansion and modernization. The new facility stretches over 43 acres and includes a sheep herding area, swimming pool, obstacle course, and hiking trails.

In 2002, Millan was profiled in the Los Angeles Times. This article led to an offer to star in the Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan TV series on National Geographic channel where the show quickly became the cable network’s top rated series its first season.

Today, Millan is a pop culture icon, inspiring flattering parodies on “South Park” and “Saturday Night Live;” references on popular shows including “Two and a Half Men,” “Jeopardy!” and Bravo’s hit series “Work Out;” as well as personal appearances on “Oprah,” “Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” “Apprentice,” Martha Stewart,” “Carson Daly,” “Today Show,” “The View,” and “Live with Regis and Kelly.” He has also appeared in cameo roles on the hit TV series “Ghost Whisperer” and “Bones,” the DVD premiere film, “Beethoven’s Big Break,” and most recently “The Backup Plan” starring Jennifer Lopez. Millan’s influence and the success of the show have raised so much interest in dog-related entertainment that CBS and Animal Planet, among other networks, have created their own TV shows focused on dogs.

Millan has worked with many celebrity clients including Charlize Theron, Scarlett Johansson, Oprah Winfrey, Nicolas Cage, Michael Eisner, Scott Rudin, S.I. Newhouse, Ridley Scott, Rebecca Romijn, Michael Bay, Hillary and Haylie Duff, Denise Richards, Ashley Simpson and Pete Wentz, Virginia Madsen, Vin Diesel, Gisele Bündchen, Elizabeth Taylor, Tom Brady, and many others.

Millan has been recognized with numerous awards throughout his career. In 2005, the National Humane Society Genesis Award Committee presented him with a Special Commendation for his work in rehabilitating animals; in 2006, 2007 and 2009 “Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan” was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Reality Program; in 2006, Millan was awarded honorary membership in the International Association of Canine Professionals; in 2007, he was awarded the Michael Landon Award for Inspiration to Youth Through Television; and in 2008, he was honored with a Treasure Award from the City of Los Angeles. He continues to be recognized and awarded by rescue and animal welfare organizations for his commitment to the betterment of animals and their relationships with people around the world.

On Valentine’s Day 2007, Millan officially launched the Millan Foundation, “a national, non-profit organization designed to aid and support the rescue, rehabilitation, and placement of abused and abandoned dogs.” The cornerstone initiatives include Shelter Stars, an affiliation program created in 2009 that promotes positive, healthy relationships between families and the dogs they adopt; a Spay/Neuter education and awareness campaign about the overpopulation of pets that leads to over 4.5 million euthanized animals every year, including a public service announcement directed at the Spanish-speaking population; and the recently launched Mutt-i-grees curriculum, a joint effort with Yale University’s School of the 21st Century that aims to teach children about social and emotional intelligence, using natural instincts to develop care and compassion not only to other people, but also to shelter dogs.

During its fifth season, the 100th episode of “Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan” aired in October 2008 and currently airs in more than 100 countries. In the Fall 2009, Millan launched Cesar’s Way Magazine. Cesar Millan Inc. produces a weekly e-newsletter and website that features Millan’s tips, news, and other content of interest to fans and dog lovers alike. He also appears in Cesar Live tours around the world. Millan lives in Southern California and is the proud father of two sons, Andre and Calvin.

The Approach

In the wild, a dog's very survival depends on a strong, stable, and organized pack, where every member knows its place and follows the rules established by the pack leader. The pack instinct is perhaps the strongest natural motivator for a dog.

Cesar Millan teaches that, in order to properly fulfill both our dogs and ourselves, we each need to become our canine's calm-assertive pack leader. A dog that doesn't trust its human to be a good pack leader becomes unbalanced and often exhibits unwanted or anti-social behaviors.

Cesar does not "train" dogs in the sense of teaching them commands like "sit," "stay," "come," and "heel" - he rehabilitates unbalanced dogs and helps "re-train" their owners to better understand how to see the world through a dog's eyes.

Cesar counsels people to calmly, assertively, and consistently give their dogs rules, boundaries, and limitations to establish themselves as solid pack leaders and to help correct and control unwanted behavior. He doesn't believe in "quick fixes." Though changing some behaviors can appear to happen in a relatively short period of time, none of those changes will "stick" unless the human acts consistently with his or her dog every day to keep unwanted behaviors from returning. In Cesar's opinion, no one should ever hit or yell at a dog to correct unwanted behavior.

What is Cesar Millan, Inc.?

Cesar Millan, Inc. (CMI) is a dynamic, diversified multi-national company that supports and endorses the work and philosophy of dog behavior expert Cesar Millan. The company promotes healthier relationships between dogs and their owners by showcasing Cesar's unique talents to educate, entertain, and offer personal empowerment through use of leadership skills.

With an estimated 600 million dogs worldwide, CMI is expanding Cesar's reach to an international audience through DVDs, books, merchandise, and speaking tours, as well as alliances with key retail outlets and additional television series and specials.

There is no one in the current marketplace that possesses Cesar's innate skills and a television series that presents those skills on a regular basis. Cesar's experience and understanding of dog behavior gives CMI the unique ability to develop products and services specific to his philosophies and methods.

In keeping with the positive spirit and joy that dogs bring, CMI offers hope and happiness through its multi-tiered business strategies and products.

Every item created by the company will offer excellence and integrity. CMI intends to develop and promote the Cesar brand as a Seal of Approval for all things canine, transforming the connection between dog lovers and products they can trust.

In essence, CMI plans to make the world a better place, one dog at a time.

CMI CEO - Cesar Millan