Common Sense Media Review
By Melissa Camacho
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Famed trainer helps dogs with serious (and scary) problems.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Cesar 911
What's the Story?
CESAR 911 is a reality series featuring renowned dog trainer Cesar Millan helping dogs in crisis. Millan responds to emergency calls from families, friends, and co-workers who are reporting serious problems with canines who are unable to acclimate to the home, can't get along with neighbors, or are otherwise uncontrollably aggressive. After meeting the dogs and their owners, Millan offers his assessment of the dog's behavioral problems. He works with the animals in their homes and at his Dog Psychology Center to change their behavior. The owners get retrained too. After some post-training monitoring with the help of cameras, Cesar checks-in to see how things are progressing. It isn't always easy, but with his help, both the dogs and their owners go on to lead more peaceful, happier lives.
Is It Any Good?
Cesar 911 features Millan's trademark approach to assessing, training, and retraining dogs, which includes lots of calm, patience, and clear breakdowns of their behaviors. It also includes clear (though simplified) explanations to the featured owners about how their actions are creating and perpetuating the dogs' aggressive tendencies.
The intensity of the animals featured here might make those already skittish around dogs feel a bit more nervous around them. But no doubt that dog lovers and dog owners will find the information and and advice offered here both interesting and useful.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about reality shows featuring animals. What makes them appealing? Are these shows designed to educate or to entertain? What kind of animal shows do you like?
Do you approve of Millan's methods? Do you think he's ever unsuccessful in his attempts to rehabilitate a dog? Do we get to see that on the screen?
TV Details
- Premiere date : March 7, 2014
- Cast : Cesar Millan
- Network : NatGeoWild
- Genre : Reality TV
- Topics : Animals
- TV rating :
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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