He's already been sued, at least twice. Supposedly both settled out of court for undisclosed amounts.
Once by a television producer who's Labrador Retriever was seriously injured at CM's "Canine Psychology Center". A choke collar was put on the dog, he was then tied to an electronic treadmill and left unattended. The dog was forced to run on it until he was exhausted and had collapsed. The dog sustained several injuries, including body bruising and a severely damaged trachea that required several surgeries and tube feeding. Brief details here:
http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2006-05-05-dog-whisperer_x.htm
He was sued for breach of contract by his former publicist. She and her company had been promoting CM, introducing him to celebrities, and pitching a show for him . Despite having a contract with the publicist CM had done a secret end-run and approached NGC on his own, backed by celebrity contacts originally introduced by the original publicist. Details here:
http://www.keyt.com/entertainment/2723596.html
Really Angelique. Nobody's accusing CM of satanic sacrifices of dogs by a full moon at midnight. It's not all that dramatic.
Some of what he advocates is sound. It's important to establish leadership, many dogs don't get enough exercise, setting boundaries and limitations is important. It's also important to be a calm leader ... dogs don't respond well to nervous-nellies or screamy-meemies.
Some of what he advocates is nothing new. Much of it is based on NILIF ... making the dog "work" for resources and affection. But it's his
methods that are not based on sound and proven dog behaviorism, and some of his methods are dangerous. This is the subtle difference most people miss ... what he advocates is sound (on a very basic level) but his methods are not. His methods are designed at getting "quick fixes" ... that's what makes them so appealing to the general public.
Establishing leadership doesn't equal establishing fear ... that's not a leader, that's a coward who's "leadership" is shaky at best. Leadership means instilling RESPECT, not fear. Dogs shouldn't be "exercised" using choke collars and tying them to treadmills. (Did you know that's exactly one of the methods illegal dog-fighters use to "work" their dogs?) Setting boundaries and limitations does not mean using intimidation and force. Physically confronting aggressive dogs is a good way to get bitten. Did you see the recent thread from Tahla? Her mother, a CM fan, tried CM's confrontation methods to "cure" their family dog of aggression. It didn't work ... instead her mom was severely bitten and the dog had to be put down. She had tried his method of "reclaiming" for food aggression, with tragic results. It was terribly sad.
Many of his methods are based on fear, punishment and flooding. That last one is a concept of intimidation, forcing a dog into a situation it fears ... with hopes of a quick fix at desensitization. That's not humane!! If you had a phobia regarding snakes I would not try to cure you by tossing you into a vat of snakes until you froze in fear ... then label you "cured".
Did you catch the episode where CM used exactly that method to "cure" a Great Dane of his fear of walking on highly-waxed shiny floors? (Common fear in Danes ... and for good reason. People who can't deal humanely with it shouldn't get a Dane.) The owner had simply been using area-rug carpet runners, but CM advocated taking them up and forcing the dog instead.
The end result was called a "cure". But if you watched closely you could see the Great Dane's head was lowered, he was drooling profusely, and his tail was tucked. That dog wasn't cured ... he was terrified. Sure, he "did what he was told" ... but nearly frozen in fear while doing so. To really observe the dog's behavior it helps to mute the sound. Without CM's constant and confidently-stated background chatter, it's much easier to see what's right in front of you without being misled.
:hail:
Exactly. Very good post. I don't know what it is that so many people don't know what they're looking at when they observe dogs, their expressions, their body language. It's not that hard to see. CM clearly misreads and misinterprets dog body language and facial expressions. (personally, I think he's just too full of himself and his Hollywood schmooze to begin to try to notice, even if he could)
This isn't about burning witches at the stake. Those New England women were innocent and the witch hunt was comprised of ignorant, superstitious, nasty people. It's just the opposite here. The people who are horrified at what has transpired are people who love, respect and cherish dogs and who are knowledgeable about dogs. What we're seeing is abuse, exploitation and a complete misunderstanding of how dogs ARE. We're seeing people follow this stuff who don't know any better and there are far too many adverse consequences to dogs due to this stuff. I have to wonder too, how people sometimes say in regards to his disclaimer, "Yes, people try to immitate what he does, but they don't know what they're doing." Is that as if to say he does? He doesn't know what he's doing either. There is NO correct way to alpha roll a dog, to strangle and drag a dog or the other horrifying ways he handles dogs. Sure, bla bla bla...leadership, exercise, discipline. Yada yada. We've heard all that before CM or grandparents were even conceived.
Believe me, there's a very organized effort being lead by Jean Donaldson, Pat Miller, their friends, collegues, fellow APDT members, and faithful followers of radical behaviorism.
It's not about "radical" behaviorists. It's people who know dogs. Simple as that. CM does not. And anyone who follows his unreasonable and abusive methods does not. Labeling people as "radical" who know, love and care about dogs, regardless of the degree is absurd and doesn't track.
Fortunately, the "Our way is the only way" () folks certainly don't speak for everyone.
That is unfortunate. Having empathy for dogs, recognizing blatant mistreatment, and treating dogs humanely
IS the
ONLY way that these gifts to mankind should be treated. How dare people go along with or commit such bullying and force toward another species!
Good reading, constructive, and very little hysteria.
As far as that article, being pleased that there was no "hysteria" confuses me. Why shouldn't people become outraged and emotional? That is a completely normal reaction when you see someone or something you love being exploited and put into a position where they feel fear and receive injury. Being stupid or uncaring and doing everything possible that would make it highly likely to instigate a dog fight is outrageous!
Watching that Great Dane episode just broke my heart seeing him struggle. Several of his episodes made me cringe and cry...dragging a Lab by a choke chain across a floor like that as well until the dogs air was being cut off and he was gasping, tail down and frothing/drooling. To watch him yank straight up on a choke collar on a dog's trachea who was walking nicely, but merely turned his head toward the side, is not compassionate or reasonable. That was another episode. There are so many examples of cruel treatmen on his show. If someone can watch this, doesn't feel empathy, if this doesn't raise one's heart or respiration rate, doesn't make them nearly explode with sadness and anger, then it makes me question their whole premise that they love dogs. Either that or they
still don't know any better and are blind.
There
ARE humane ways to achieve the wanted results. Those Dane owners already had the right idea by using carpet remnants and gradually getting him use to it. Too bad they didn't continue on that course.
Angelique, you don't seem to promote harshness to dogs, not only do I get this from your posts, but from my observation of you and your dog in person...you seemed very gentle from what I could see... and
yet you continue to defend this guy who
clearly doesn't know a fearful, defensive dog from a "dominant" "alpha" dog. He labels body language so obviously incorrectly. I don't understand. I am bewildered. This stubborn refusal to open your eyes and see what is happening right before you on TV and these written accounts is baffling. To criticize or make fun of people, label them
"radical" or
"my way is the only way" behaviorists who are gentle and kind to dogs, who
are able to train and rehabilitate dogs to have exemplary behavior, who do not believe in harming dogs in the name of human/dog relationships is beyond comprehension. There is ONLY one way. And it IS my way is the only way...being humane and gentle. And that is diametrically opposed to Cesar's way.
Someone asked if we had seen the whole thing, if all we saw was a little example....as if seeing a little bit of horror didn't tell enough of the story. As someone once said, "If part of the salad is rotten, do you have to eat the whole thing to know it's rotten?"
