10 Principles for Achieving Balance Archives - Page 5 of 6

Cesar Millan

Act In The Now

Happy Easter and Happy Passover! This time of year in the north (and both holidays) is all about new beginnings and renewal. Mother Nature is waking up from winter, Easter commemorates the resurrection of Jesus, and Passover is all about the Jewish people making a new start by leaving Egypt in the Exodus. In some cultures, New Year is around this time, as is Earth Day. Making a new start is often a scary idea to people, but if you pay attention to Nature — specifically to your dogs — you can learn how to do it easily. If you

June 18, 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

Dog Care

The Seeing Eye

Since 1929, The Seeing Eye® (TSE) in Morristown, NJ has been training the visually impaired and dogs to work with one another as partners, helping to maintain active lifestyles. On their 60-acres of land in the Washington Valley, 325 dogs reside and train to be seeing-eye dogs. The process of matching a guide dog with its new owner begins from puppyhood. All of the dogs used at The Seeing Eye are bred within the program. In order to sustain a healthy and genetically monitored group of guide dogs, The Seeing Eye maintains a selected group of German shepherds, Labrador retrievers,

June 18, 2015 No Comments

Cesar Millan

To Be Or…

Cear Dogs and humans first formed a pack bond tens of thousands of years ago, in prehistoric times, when human culture had barely evolved much beyond our animal past. We had language, tools, and fire, but were still living as nomadic hunters, just like wild dogs. It’s easy to imagine those early humans and domesticated wolves gathered together, with the canines sleeping around the outside providing protection. Meanwhile, in the middle, the humans have gathered around the fire and are doing something very different. They are telling stories. Storytelling It’s one of those things that humans are very good at,

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

Dog Owner Alerted To Breast Cancer By Canine Companion

womanRemember the Golden Retriever who gave his owner the Heimlich maneuver and saved her from choking? Or Maureen Burns, who in 2009 made the news when her Collie mix named Max started acting out of character by moving around the house slowly, seemingly depressed, sniffing her breath and nosing her right breast. The result? Turned out Maureen had a small malignant tumor doctors hadn’t detected through palpation or mammography. What about the death sensing cat that could predict the next resident in a retirement home to “go” by entering his or her room and hanging out? While the cat may

June 18, 2015 No Comments

Aggressive Toward Other Dogs

Keeping Control

Recently, one of my human office pack members told me a very interesting story. He has a neighbor with two dogs, and whenever he and his dog meet up with them, all of the dogs greet each other happily and play and get along great. A few weeks ago, the neighbor was out of town and hired a dog walker and, as soon as the dog walker saw my employee and his dog, she tensed up and moved to the side. He told her that the dogs got along, but she stayed nervous and, instead of greeting his dog playfully,

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

Cesar Millan

The Basics Of Instinct

The seasons have changed again, to spring in the north and fall in the south — the two seasons that best show us the cycle of Nature. In spring, plants turn green again, birds return, and flowers bloom. In fall, leaves change color, birds migrate to warmer climates, and we harvest what we’ve grown, Of course, this is a lot more visible if you’re living in the country. If you’re in a big city, it can be hard to see any changes in Nature. But don’t worry. If you’re reading this, you’ve probably got a perfect reminder or two at

June 18, 2015 No Comments