Don’t tell the dogs but Cesar Millan is becoming a cat whisperer.
“I have two cats for the first time in my life,” he says, and they have a knack for hunting.
“A dog can do funny things, silly things, versus the cat. But before he does that, he does instinctual things.”
Cesar Millan talks to clients in the dog park.
Before hanging out the “cat whisperer” shingle (“I’m still a student,” Millan insists), the veteran dog expert says there are lessons to teach in his area of expertise.
In his series, “Better Human, Better Dog,” which begins its latest season this month, he says humans are often the biggest problem. “A human has a choice – the choice of not doing the homework. I can teach you everything in one day, but you still have to do the homework.”
In the new episodes, Millan deals with many difficult dogs – ones who seem unwilling to comply. Then, he shows their owners what they’re not doing right. Often, it’s a case of not understanding what the dogs need.
“Consciously, we teach the wrong habits,” Millan says.
Cesar Millan shows Ramona and Roman a dog exercise.
If a dog starts jumping on a human, for example, he could be sizing up his territory. The human “isn’t claiming his space. If you’re too soft or too excited, they go right in. If you don’t want them to jump on you, be calm and confident. People who don’t like dogs need to claim a big space. They’re quiet. They don’t say anything. People who are afraid of dogs actually advertise it ... and dogs sense it.” And dog lovers? “You don’t need to worry – they go right in.”
Millan began his journey with dogs at a grooming store. An immigrant from Mexico, he created an academy, then the Dog Psychology Center, which now boasts outlets on both coasts. Attention in the Los Angeles Times helped him land a reality series that became National Geographic’s No. 1 show during its first season. It ended in 2012 and led to several other series including the latest, “Better Human, Better Dog.”
At his compound in California, Millan has a variety of animals who work well together.
Cesar rides a bicycle with Brunello in goggles and a vest.
“I never put animals who are restless, nervous, confused or tense together,” he says. “I don’t put one with another until I take away the energy that is making it feel confused or chaotic. Once you do that, you’re going to be calm. It’s like we’re all going to dance to the same song, we’re all going to vibe at the same time.”
Dogs – and cats – need the same thing: exercise, mental stimulation, affection. It doesn’t matter where you live (or what language you speak). As a result, Millan would like to teach his techniques to those in countries where they don’t focus on pets.
“It’s a beautiful message,” he says. “It’s about trust, respect, love.” Places like Venezuela, he says, could use the lesson. Where leaders create chaos, there is confusion. Similarly, dogs feel that angst when there isn’t stability in their homes. “Through social media I have learned how fast people can feel not safe.”
Cesar talks to Will and Steven at the Dog Psychology Center.
Cesar Millan for office?
He did call White House officials when President Biden’s two-year-old German shepherd, Commander, was reported to have been involved in biting incidents last year. CNN said there was at least 24 incidents at the White House and other locations.
“Hey guys, you need a safety protocol,” Millan told them. “If you don’t want me to work with the dog, that’s fine. I just want you to learn how to prevent a dog biting – especially with the Secret Service.”
Cat biting? That might take some time to figure out.
"Cesar Millan: Better Human, Better Dog" returns this month on the National Geographic Channel and streams on Hulu and Disney+.
Adriana and Cesar chat at the Dog Psychology Center about a dog who attacks bags.
