Cesar Millan - Principles

Principles

Millan's work focuses on handling a dog with what he calls "calm-assertive energy", which ought to transfer from the owner to the dog. He approaches dog behavior by teaching dog owners to understand the natural needs and responses of a dog, to understand that dogs are pack animals, to assist owners in establishing their role as calm-assertive pack leaders.

Millan prioritizes fulfilling and balancing a dog's primary needs: exercise, discipline and affection—in that order. In other words, it is the owner's responsibility to fulfill the dog's energy level through challenging exercise; to provide clearly communicated rules, boundaries and limitations for the dog's behavior; and to give the dog affection at the right time. Millan encourages owners to give affection, but to give affection when the dog is in a balanced state of mind, not when the dog is fearful, anxious, avoidant or excited — when the affection itself can reinforce imbalance. According to Millan, a common pitfall for dog owners is to give a great deal of affection with very little discipline and even less exercise.

Millan emphasizes the importance of walking a dog, not only for the dog's exercise, but for the owner and dog to bond—with the dog ultimately recognizing the owner as its leader. He also encourages owners to watch their dog for subtle cues in the dog's posture, movement and facial expression—to eliminate poor behavior before it arises or escalates. And he encourages owners to understand the profound effect their own attitudes, internal emotions and physical postures have on a dog's behavior, counseling owners to hold strong posture (i.e. shoulders high and chest forward) and to project energy that is calm-assertive.

Millan also stresses that owners identify their dog in a hierarchy of three levels:

• Firstly and most importantly, as a dog with canine rather than human needs.
• Secondly, as a particular breed of dog — for example, a Boxer-Rottweiler mix — with a breed-specific energy level and behavioral instinct.
• Thirdly, as their individual dog, e.g., "Bella".

Millan is widely known for using vocal marks, e.g., his tsch or tsst sounds, while working with a dog (rather than words, especially the dog's name), and he encourages owners to create their own unique sound that works for them.

Millan stresses that when meeting a new dog, making eye contact, speaking, and touching it are to be avoided, in favor of letting the dog approach on its own terms.