Cesar Millan speaks out for Pit Bulls

[skunkstripe]

Whether you love him or hate him, are on the fence over him or just not sure, you have to give him credit for using his fame to help Pits get over their bad rap.

"My kids are around pit bulls every day. In the '70s they blamed Dobermans, in the '80s they blamed German shepherds, in the '90s they blamed the Rottweiler. Now they blame the pit bull."

- Cesar Millan
http://www.cesarmillaninc.com/features/factspitbulls.php

[Monkey]

One of the things I DO like him for.. and I have no issues fessing up to that...

If now he could only get some more brain in the training part and I would love him to bits!!! :p I would love him with Victoria Stillwells knowledge, Id prolly be a fanatic fan ;) cause I have to admit, he's cute but God do I want to strangle him at times...

[Jake2006]

He is right to speak out about pitbulls - and of course as Monkey says he is really cute with a wonderful smile and oh those teeeeeeeeeeth!

I'm a fan

[Bugle]

O to be nibbled by those perfect white teeth (even though they are crowns!). Apart from the sex thing, I am a huge fan and think he has helped tremendously in giving pits a better name. They are, as are all dogs, delightful ... it is the owners that are at fault when they go wrong not the dogs.

[JGLI]

This past weekend a conference aimed at changing the negative perceptions of pit bulls was held in the county next to me. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to go but through the grapevine I did hear that the information was well-received and local groups and shelters plan to continue networking and share resources to dispel stereotypes and re-educate the public on pit bulls.
Conference focuses on changing pit bull's image -- Newsday.com (http://www.newsday.com/news/local/longisland/ny-lipit0504,0,7642569.story)

[sheplovr]

I still would NOT trust them around small children seen too much and heard way too much. I love dogs, but this breed right now, NO THANKS!

I have little respect for this guys methods or thoughts of training. He might be good on truly bad dogs, but he would totally ruin mine.

[kelsiebug]

I luff Ceaser, and how he will stand up for the Pit's, and the truth.

[kelsiebug]

Shep.

Tyson, my Pit Bull, is ALWAYS around my 6year old neighbor. She rides him, and everything. He's a total sweetheart. <3

Before I got him, and educated myself on the breed, I was WAYY against them. I hated the breed.. and I was the same way with Rotties, and Doberman's. But, now, I have learned way much stuff about them, and they're NOT bad dogs like people want them to be.





I would trust my Pit Bull with a child, more than I'd trust my Aunt's Weiner dog.

[Bugle]

sheplovr: you might as well say the same thing about GSDs, it's just as daft. NO dog of ANY breed should be totally trusted around young children, for obvious reasons.

To single out one particular breed is being "breed-ist" IMO and very unfair.

[Cassidy]

I agree Bugle, people need to teach their children how to be respectful of dogs and cautious around them no matter what breed they are. I had my newest dog out at my nephew's lacrosse game this past weekend. Children from all over wanted to pet him so I would put him in a sit/stay every time they approached and they pet his head but SO many of those kids got down and stuck their faces right in front of Charley. I told them that they should never put their face in front of a dog's face, no matter how friendly they may seem to be. They were a bit put off! At one point a 2 year toddler came wobbling over straight for Charley and the mother didn't do a thing! I moved Charley away and asked her to please get her child. I have no reason to think Charley is anything but wonderful with children but I still don't know him completely and even when I do, I do not want kids in his face. It amazes me that parents are so completely ignorant sometimes.

[staffilover]

I still would NOT trust them around small children seen too much and heard way too much. I love dogs, but this breed right now, NO THANKS!

seen too much personally??? or just read about things???

lol @ bugles teeth comment..

cesar rocks..

[sheplovr]

Kelsie, maybe yours is an exception honey. No offsense, just my opinion, have handled alot of breeds in my 70 yrs. What is nice about this forum, we are all entitled to our opinions and I give mine up front, no bones, no beans.

I do not care for Ceasar...........period. I have watched him, I have a 65" TV, why would I pass, but have turned the channel many times. He has alot to learn, He would never touch one of my dogs as I train them.

GSD's especially East can be put into the wrong hands, but I would trust mine and have with children coming here for their puppy and to visit my dogs, some with autism badly, we do Therapy with most of the dogs here.:)

[AnmalKraker]

I like some of Ceasars idea, but not all of them, and it is good he is standing up for the breed. From my personally experiance I like the breed, but I don't completely trust the breed even in the right hands because they do have that agressive strike in them, and the more over bred they are, the more it comes out. I live in Louisiana and like every 3rd house has a pit, and I have family that has pits so i know enough about the breed to own one if I wanted to, and I think i would be able to control it. Pits are a bred though I would not want to have around small children no matter how nice the dog is just because I have seen way to many people, and other pets torn open by pits. It also comes down to the owner, and how the dog is bred, but you cannot train the agressive strikes completely out of agressive breeds.

[Bugle]

AnmalKraker said: It also comes down to the owner, and how the dog is bred, but you cannot train the agressive strikes completely out of agressive breeds

Absolutely totally agree with this statement, genes will out every time, always. As much as I love staffies and pit bulls, at the end of the day they were bred for fighting, even for killing. Pits in particular need very strong owners, who set the boundaries just as Cesar teaches. Which is why his pits are such lovely dogs, he is their pack leader pure and simple. In the wrong hands, pits can be lethal, but with the right owner who sets the rules and acts as and is accepted as being pack leader, pits can be as wonderful, gentle and fab with children as any other dog.

Same with GSDs, rotties, dobermans, or any other guard-type breed who unfairly have a bad reputation. These guys need a calm but firm leader who can bring out the best in these wonderful dogs.

[Melamaphine]

Bad breeding has a huge part to play in breed reputation. IMO banning pitbulls in the UK hasn't actually done any good. You can still get one if you want one, the very fine line between 'staffy cross' and pitbull is so minute in this country as to be laughable. I have nothing against any breed on earth, like you all say it is a bad owner that makes a 'bad' dog.

I'm very nervous around german shepherds, i was attacked twice by GSDs as a child, once needing stitches, the next I learned what to do and didn't get bitten. I'd be tentative to have one as a pet, BUT i realise this is MY neuroses and not the fault of an entire breed. I'd never suggest all GSDs are ill-tempered, i'm sure most are perfectly lovely.

Pitbulls are easy to find for sale if you look in the UK, a lot are advertised as 'red-nosed staffs' or 'king staffs'. There is more kudos on the 'street' now for having a pitbull and realistically only the bad owners are likely to actively pursue one. They then breed the most aggressive ones and consequently banning pitbulls has meant that like drugs, they've become a source of cash for the less reputable members of society. Interestingly, there has been no significant drop in the amount of dog attacks since the DDA came into force here.



IMO banning the breed has made them more of a threat on our streets, if they were allowed to be owned by responsible people and bred with the future improvement of the breed in mind then they wouldn't be an issue any more than any other powerful breed.

[Bugle]

Well said Mel, I don't believe in banning ANY breed except on health grounds if it is fatally flawed for some reason. As I have said before, my parents unknowingly had a pit bull ... Roly ... that was sold them as a staffie. Actually, he wasn't pure pit bull, his grandfather was a pit, his mother was a pit staffie cross, but he sure looked like a pit bull. He was a lovely dog, had a super nature, was great with my daughter whilst she was growing up, but when you looked into his eyes, there was nobody home ... totally expressionless. You could imagine in the wrong hands Roly being anything but the lovely family pet he was.

[AnmalKraker]

IMO I don't think banning does anything for the breed either, like Mela said it has made them for dangerous then anything, which I think that statement is true anywhere they have been banned. I think that is because they are being sold under different names, and the the only people that are going to own them are shaddy people most the time in a banned area.

[DobermanBullTerrierLove]

One of the things I DO like him for.. and I have no issues fessing up to that...

If now he could only get some more brain in the training part and I would love him to bits!!! :p I would love him with Victoria Stillwells knowledge, Id prolly be a fanatic fan ;) cause I have to admit, he's cute but God do I want to strangle him at times...

Lol he is cute isn't he?

I do agree I love that he speaks out for pits. He may not use the same exact training methods as I do. But he is a good guy from time to time. Awesome trainer? No.

[Monkey]

Lol he is cute isn't he?

I do agree I love that he speaks out for pits. He may not use the same exact training methods as I do. But he is a good guy from time to time. Awesome trainer? No.

AMEN :p

[Bigboy]

Hmm back to the old Cesar thing. Sheplovr You need to give Cesar a break :) It's probably because some of his methods are a bit different to other trainers, but he is unique and has helped many dogs that have been badly trained by their owners. May he continue to do this for years to come :)

[Melamaphine]

I think dog training/psychology is a lot like childrearing, there is more than one method that would work and it needs to be tailored to the personality of the child.

I have a lot of respect for Cesar, I watch his tv programmes and I have read his books and I have taken a lot of his teachings on board. However, if I used some of the methods he advocates on my very sensitive collie I can guarantee it wouldn't have worked.

I have had to use long-term trust building in order to get her to do anything for me, if I'd used the domination methods he suggests she'd have shut down. Instead I've been firm but loving and the result is a dog that looks to me for reassurance when scared rather than looking to me to dominate.

[Monkey]

Hmm back to the old Cesar thing. Sheplovr You need to give Cesar a break :) It's probably because some of his methods are a bit different to other trainers, but he is unique and has helped many dogs that have been badly trained by their owners. May he continue to do this for years to come :)

big boy... I have made a thread called My issues with Cesar.. go and read that thread and come back to us... :D We have been fighting over that dude the last 1,5 years I have been here :p

[zoran]

I'm with sheplvr on this one. Ceasar Millan is such a bone head. Of course he will speak out for pits, it's called making money, why not get the pit folks on his side. I do not approve of his training methods either, plus no one sees what goes on behind the cameras. He has gained a reputation for cruelty around our traing clubs. He wouldn't touch my dogs either. Great if he can help some and great if they like his methods, they're just not mine.
As for pits I'm also of the same saying as sheplovr. I would never own one, and would never go near one or let any child near one. Sure other breeds will attack, but they don't kill.
I have nothing against people who love and own them but they aren't for me.

[Bigboy]

big boy... I have made a thread called My issues with Cesar.. go and read that thread and come back to us... :D We have been fighting over that dude the last 1,5 years I have been here :p Monkey I know the thread and have visited and posted on it a few times not so long ago :)

[Monkey]

oh you did? I am getting senile.. *lol*

[Bigboy]

oh you did? I am getting senile.. *lol* I sure did. Why not go and check? After all you did start the thread :)

[zoran]

I tried to look at that post but I haven't found it...maybe I did read it and just forgot about it. Going to look again, want to take a peek at your issues. Guess his good looks didn't go over with you, ha ha ha.
I don't even find him good looking, just not my type maybe or a bit to arrogant for my taste...

[zoran]

Okay...I did find the thread Monkey. I was very impressed, you wrote some great things there and I totally agree. Love does go a long way and builds trust compared to force training or fear training like Ceasar trains. When I read about the stuff that goes on behind the scenes I lost all respect for him as did so many others.
Great thread Monkey, I think you're ready for your Rottie now....lol.

[Bigboy]

Has anyone seen his pack of dogs on gis shows? They never look agitated or agressive or anyting like that. They are calm and happy dogs. He usualy end his show with 3 Disicipline,Exercise,and love or is it Exercise,Discipline and love? Either way love is the last thing. I have a lot of respect for Cesar and his methods

[Monkey]

They don't??? I have seen episodes where they do argue.. he is just surpressing them sorry to say.. besides if he exercises them as much as he says they are likely to work together cause they have no energy left which is a good thing..

[agilityk9trainer]

Has anyone seen his pack of dogs on gis shows? They never look agitated or agressive or anyting like that. They are calm and happy dogs. He usualy end his show with 3 Disicipline,Exercise,and love or is it Exercise,Discipline and love? Either way love is the last thing. I have a lot of respect for Cesar and his methods

If you think they're going to use clips of his dogs acting up in his shows, then you don't understand media very well. :)