The Dog Whisperer - TV-G
TV Rating: TV-G
Network: National Geographic Channel Cast: Cesar Millan
Genre: Reality TV
Available on: 
DVD
Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that this show sometimes features aggressive dogs who bite or attempt to attack other dogs. Also, although some of the show's methods for dealing with troubled dogs may look easy, they shouldn't be attempted by untrained people, especially kids. Warnings appear on the screen to discourage regular folks from trying some of the expert's approaches, but parents may want to reinforce that message to younger viewers.
Families with dogs can discuss their pets. Would any of the methods described work for their dogs? What about for other pets? What kinds of changes would your family need to make to change your dog's iffy behaviors? Why do families think Millan is so successful with animals? How can his methods for dealing with dogs translate into dealing with people?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Sierra Filucci
Cesar Millan runs the Dog Psychology Center in Los Angeles, where he rehabilitates troubled and dangerous canines. His skills, his confidence, and his magnetism have turned this handsome Mexican immigrant with a love for dogs into a media sensation (enough so that he's even been parodied on South Park.
In THE DOG WHISPERER, Millan travels to dog owners' homes to find solutions to their various doggie dilemmas. In one home, for example, he meets an Akita whose aggression toward other dogs makes taking a walk a hazardous experience. In another, he finds a Newfoundland who turns up his nose at home-cooked meals of turkey burger and filet mignon. And in another, he meets a fox-like dog who bolts out of the door into traffic.
In each of these situations, after listening to the owners describe their dog's issues, Millan is able to pinpoint the problem and almost instantly make some impressive changes in the dog's behavior. His philosophy is based on the idea that a dog's behavior problem is really a problem with its owner's behavior. He steps in to show the owners how to become the alpha dog in the home by standing confidently, walking ahead of the dog on the leash, and immediately correcting bad behavior.
In some instances, as with the picky-eater Newfoundland, Millan takes the dog back to his center for some longer-term rehab. (By the end of that particular doggie's three-week boot camp, he was working up an appetite on the treadmill and begging for whatever scrap of food he could get.) Cesar Millan: eating disorder therapist, for dogs.
The Dog Whisperer is a pleasure to watch for the whole family, and dog owners especially will find helpful information in the series. Millan is charming and highly skilled with both dogs and people, which explains the media's fascination with him. Since his methods are really very simple, and dogs' problems not terribly varied, the show's content can eventually start to feel a little repetitive. But Millan tries to mix it up, and some episodes step outside the framework, as when Millan visits a women's prison and teaches the inmates how to train dogs using his methods.
Tween (and older) fans of The Dog Whisperer might also enjoy Animal Precinct and The Crocodile Hunter, and, for younger viewers, Croc Files and Corwin's Quest.
Rate It!
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ViolenceSome aggressive doggie behavior -- biting, loud barking, etc. Nothing too scary. |
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Social BehaviorMillan teaches responsible dog ownership practices. His methods are respectful of both dogs and humans. |
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CommercialismMillan drives a bright red Jeep to visit clients. Sometimes he introduces branded technology into his training. |
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