Photo of Cesar Millan by Meaghan Gay

Cesar Millan is one of the most sought-after experts in the field of dog rehabilitation. His calm and assertive nature and natural ability to communicate with dogs has earned him the name “dog whisperer.” Since his show, The Dog Whisperer, first aired on National Geographic Channel in 2004, Millan has been rehabilitating dogs and training people to understand dog aggression and identify its causes, while implementing techniques to help the dogs live calm and submissive lives in harmony with its surroundings.

He specializes in “problem” dogs, those with serious aggression and fear that would, in most cases, lead to euthanasia, and educates the owners in how their own personalities are transferred to the dog and manifests into the very problems for which they turn to The Dog Whisperer for help.

With his show beginning its seventh season and his new training book, Cesar’s Rules, hitting stores, The Dog Whisperer stopped by National Geographic’s Grosvenor Auditorium on Monday for a book signing and season preview. Since D.C. is all too familiar with dog issues: the recent dog shootings, the infamous Molly-stealing from last summer, and the subsequent dog tether law being proposed in Montgomery County, Md., we jumped at the chance to ask the expert a few questions about dogs, their owners, pit bulls, and hybrid breeds while he was in town.

We arrived at NatGeo HQ expecting puppy paradise because, you know, he’s The Dog Whisperer! Doesn’t he travel around to all his meet-and-greets with his entire pack? What better way to promote his new book on training techniques by having 30-40 well-behaved, calm and submissive puppehs in the same room? Sadly, that was not the case, but Millan was happy to answer our questions as he signed books for fans.

In your new book, Cesar’s Rules, you write when a dog is eager to do things for you, he does not need food rewards. I see people give food rewards every time their dog relieves themselves. Do you feel dog owners use food rewards too liberally?

It’s unnecessary. I’ve never seen a mother dog reward a puppy for relieving themselves – she expects this behavior. So, this is more a humanistic way of celebrating a behaviour or a habit. They feel if they tell the dog with excitement “YAAAAAY!” that the dog gets it, but this only works for certain dogs. This is why the book has five different points of view, five different professionals, because not every method works in dog training. Some dogs are not motivated, they don’t care about “GOOD BOY!” Some dogs don’t care about being petted. People need to understand it’s going to be different, the way a dog feels inspired and motivated. It’s very important for me to share options in the show. I show people what options they have, they just have to pick one. Once you pick one, follow through and stay consistent with it. It’s going to work because you believe in that and that is what creates intention.