Millan is staunchly defended by NatGeoWild, which airs the
show on its channel. But dog trainers all over the country are saying they have
been trying to get the message across about Millan’s methods for the past
decade.
According to NBC Los Angeles, professional dog trainer
Laura Nativo has helped organize a petition calling for the cancellation of Millan’s show. Close to
10,000 people have signed it so far.
Other trainers have echoed these sentiments for years,
according to an article by author and internationally acclaimed trainer Jean
Donaldson on UrbanDawgs.com.
According to Donaldson, Lisa Laney Patrona, a certified
professional dog trainer and a graduate of the Companion Animal Sciences
Institute, wrote a letter to National Geographic prior to the airing of The Dog
Whisperer.
“The intended program depicts aversive and abusive training
methods – treatment for some serious anxiety and fear based issues – being
administered by an individual with no formal education whatsoever in canine
behavioral sciences. The ‘results’ that are shown are more than likely not long
lasting changes, but the result of learned helplessness, or fatigue, neither of
which impact behavior to any significant long term degree – at least not in a
good way. For those of us who are pioneering the effort to end the ignorance
that drives the cruel treatment administered upon our canine companions, it is
disappointing to see that this programming will reach the masses – especially
on the NatGeo Channel. The ignorance that this program perpetuates will give
equally ignorant people the green light to subject their dogs to abuse. In turn
these dogs will react even more defensively, will bite more people – and end up
dead.”
In a 2006 article in the New York Times, Mark Derr called
Milan’s program a “pack of lies.” He points out the sexist angle of Millan’s
training.
“Women are the worst offenders in his world. In one of the
outtakes included in the four-DVD set of the first season of Dog Whisperer, Mr.
Millan explains that a woman is ‘the only species that is wired different from
the rest.’ And a ‘woman always applies affection before discipline,’ he says.
‘Man applies discipline then affection, so we’re more psychological than
emotional. All animals follow dominant leaders; they don’t follow lovable
leaders.'”
In a 2011 blog article by the Huffington Post titled “First
Do No Harm,” Law and Order actor and “dog worshiper” Richard Belzer calls out
National Geographic for sponsoring Millan.
“The fact that the Dog Whisperer has been nominated for an
Emmy should give serious pause to all those in the business who are about to
vote for the awards. Dog owners and dog lovers would be disturbingly misled if
Mr. Millan and his program are honored in such a high-profile way.”
Chiming in with countless other statements, Dr. Nicholas
Dodman, a professor and the head of Animal Behavior at Tufts University, wrote,
“Cesar Millan’s methods are based on flooding and punishment. The results,
though immediate, will be only transitory. His methods are misguided, outmoded,
in some cases dangerous, and often inhumane. You would not want to be a dog
under his sphere of influence. The sad thing is that the public does not
recognize the error of his ways. My college thinks it is a travesty. We’ve
written to National Geographic Channel and told them they have put dog training
back 20 years.”
The recent episode where the pig was attacked is not the
first time that animal professionals have waved the red flag about Millan. The
question is, will National Geographic finally take notice?
Update:
In a report by Fox News, Cesar Millan stated that the
public’s reaction to the pig incident was overblown.
“I do have a large group of fans and a small group of
people who don’t agree with me. They are taking this the wrong way and blowing
it way out of proportion.”
Watch the pig-biting incident in this video by Inside
Edition.
You may be interested in reading: Cesar Millan, ('Dog Whisperer') is Fully Cooperating with Authorities in Animal Cruelty Investigation
