your thoughts

[glencorgi]

Cesar Milan, well I may be one of the few who doesn't have a real strong opinion about him either way. He is not a "degreed" animal behaviorist, which I don't hold against him having seen some "degreed" animal behaviorists with their own dogs. I do like he stresses to owners that dogs are animals, not children in fur suits and some of his other messages such as being a calm, assertive leader. I don't think he is the end all be all as some do and his air time on Oprah helped his rise to fame. I don't like that he didn't point out that she made irresponsible choices in some of dog decisions. On the other hand I don't think he is the great evil that some of the touchy-feely all positive type "trainers" do either, to them he is the bane of their existence and is setting dog training back 50 years. Some of his methods I don't agree with, others I do.

Debbie

[Jane Austen]

Debbie,
You made some good points on behavior modification. I don't think that my brother triggered her anxieties. When this first happened a few months ago I was thinking along the lines of animals being sensitive to an impending earthquake. Nothing happened and she became normal in an hour or so. I am fairly sure it is not equealibrium. When she was at her worst she jumped on the back of the couch and walked down the length and turn to walk back without any trouble.
Duchess likes being near me, does not want to cuddle or to be held. Sometimes I grab her and give her hugs and she makes like she is ticked off in a playful way. She has a good life and has enriched mine.

[glencorgi]

Jane,

Oh I hope you didn't think I was finger-pointing or implying that your brother was the sole issue or even that he was "the trigger" - I don't think that at all. Duchess may be just one of those that naturally prefers women over men. With the history you provided of her former home and the suspected negative incident(s) with the males there she could be transferring them to your brother. My brainstorm tangent was more for ways to hopefully improve their relationship. My second time out fostering one of the pair of girls we got was extremely wary of men. She tolerated my husband, endured him at times, but never warmed to him. Cute little corgi girl and at that time I had a number of inquiries wanting "daddy's girls," one thing this one was never going to be. She went to live with a single woman and has done wonderfully all these years. A couple of nights before the date to meet her new home and mom, my husband was lying on the couch watching a movie with his hand dangling off the edge. Angel walked right up to him and bumped his hand with her nose to demand he pet her. To say we were both a bit stunned (and delighted), would be an understatement as this was the first overture of instigating interaction with him she had made in over eight months of living with him!

I did find some information on the equilibrium (vestibular syndrome) last night, and no there's nothing remotely similar to it in Duchess' behavior. That's good news though!

"Duchess likes being near me, does not want to cuddle or to be held. Sometimes I grab her and give her hugs and she makes like she is ticked off in a playful way."

<LOL> I know those types. I love the feigned indignant responses they can give too - "Oh Mom, do you have too?"

"She has a good life and has enriched mine."

That she does and it is obvious how much she means to you. A special home for a special girl.

Debbie

[Jane Austen]

I realized you were brainstorming Debbie. My brother had a male dog that never took to me even though I feed him most of the time.
I could go on and on talking about Duchess and how wonderful she is. But she is waiting patiently for me to take her for her morning walk.

[Michael Romanos]

Debbie - I have an enormous respect and regard for Cesar Milan. I have interviewed him for an article and he is interested in doing a lecture tour of NZ. He gives advice freely though he is wealthy from the exceptional work he does.

I rate him as one of a kind as a canine behaviourist - there is just no other like Cesar or up to his standard. But there will be copyists if there aren't already. He is indeed a pack leader and a sort of Dr Dolittle of dogs. Mind you humans, like dogs, are pack animals.

I would say that there is a great deal of jealousy in the USA in particular, of Cesar's natural skills and abilities and his achievements and successes. There is certainly also the racial and foreign cards.

[glencorgi]

Michael,

As I said, I don't have a strong opinion about Cesar one way or another. I watch his show from time to time and much of what I see him do or apply, I was taught by "dog" people back in the dark ages when I began my involvement in corgis. So at least for me there is much that he does which is merely just the way things are supposed to be done and/or just old fashioned common sense. A few other people I've talked to have the same reaction. So I don't see him as unique or one of a kind or a pioneer with some groundbreaking insight. I know several people with the same inate, instinctive and natural talents; they're just not on television.

Is he good at what he does, absolutely. He's got a great PR personality and he knows how to promote himself. He's talented at what he does.

Now I know a corgi rescuer who had a difficult dog of her own who went to one of his seminars. She did find help for her dog; has since taken a correspondence course in animal behaviorism (not his) and now is consulting as a behaviorist. Among the at large corgi rescue community, we collectively hold our breath whenever she gets a new rescue that it will survive its time in foster care with her; not because she is euthanize happy, rather due to irresponsible decisions regarding veterinary care and reading the interactions and body language of her dogs. But now she's an "expert" and attending his seminar fueled her ego.

Jealousy, the race card (which is a cheap shot, btw and completely irrelevant) have nothing to do with his detractors and those trainers who see him as the "Satan of dog training." And yes he does spur those reactions. I know one certified animal behaviorist with a 4 year degree in the field from Duke University who views him as a total quack and her proteges feel the same. What they object to are his methods, negative corrections, his lack of "formal" background and a long list of other things having to do with how he deals with the dogs themselves. Now this particular group, my opinion of their competency is about as low as theirs is of Cesar Millan.

<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cesar_Millan> is an interesting read about his background and also mentions the recent lawsuit filed against him.

Debbie

PS: I'll have to confess to enjoying the South Park episode which featured him.

[corgimom]

Michael,

How can you say that "certainly the race issue" is a factor on how people
feel about Cesar?

Linda

[darci]

Originally Posted by corgimom

Michael,

How can you say that "certainly the race issue" is a factor on how people
feel about Cesar?

Linda

Ditto............. Thats a confusing statement.........
I dont get it.

[Jane Austen]

Michael, I too was taken aback by your comment, "certainly the race issue" is a factor on how people feel about Cesar? Maybe you have a jaundice view of United States racial issues? Or is it that I personally don't have axe to grind with Caesar Milan? America has a very diverse population and I for one welcome the success of every ethnic background. And never even think of what country they originally came from.
I am neither wishing to get on a soap box or critisizing you Michael. Your comment had me thinking. Are there really people out there who put Caesar down for not being a "native American"? Could be, but not for the majority of our population.

[Jane Austen]

On a more positive note, "the trigger" has been found. Duchess started to get edgy yesterday morning. My bedroom door was banging slightly from the breeze coming down the hall. It flashed in my mind that the same thing happened the other time she was anxious. my sisters bedroom door was constantly hitting to the point that I had to shut it completely. I knew this bothered her but didn't think about it being the starting point of her nervous behavior. After I wedged the door open so she could have access in and out of my room, her anxiety subsided. I am quite sure that this is the whole of the problem but I am getting a calming remedy to have on hand just in case.

[Chip's Mom]

Jane,

That is really good news. I hope that solves your problems with Duchess. It is so sad to see them anxious and fearful - it makes one feel helpless. I also watch Cesar Melan sometimes. I don't have any prejudices against him. I don't understand that comment either.

Bonnie

[corgimom]

Jane,

Isn't it interesting some of the things our Corgis can be fearful of. One thing
my past Corgi, Betsy was fearful of was "someone chewing gum" Honestly,
I know this sounds ridiculous. We had adopted her from the Humane Society
when we lived in Nebraska and she was approx 2 at that time, so I know nothing of her beginning, but physically, she had not been well cared for - some rotten teeth (which had to be pulled) a crusty nose and a few other things. They had found her roaming along a country road.

Anyway, we soon found out that if she were near us and we would chew gum, she would get up and leave and go into another room and sometimes tremble. She would not come to us even if we called her. We could never figure out what she was fearful of - other than she associated the gum with the sound of someone popping a bubble , We thought that maybe someone had popped balloons to scare her .or maybe used a pop gun to scare her. It was the strangest thing, so obviously, gum chewing was something we did not do around her; and when I had to board her, I had to tell the workers that she was afraid of gum chewers - was that strange or what? She was never afraid of thunderstorms or the sound of fireworks. However, she was the best dog I had ever owned in regards to her temperment and gentle nature and was always well mannered. Everyone that knew her, adored her and she was always good with kids, but she was very attached to me rather than to my husband or kids.

Linda

[glencorgi]

Jane,

EXCELLENT!!!! This is wonderful news! It is true, they can pick some of the seemingly oddest and most obscure things to react to. Wishing her (and you) calm peaceful days now.

Debbie

[Fluffypants]

Great Detective Work Jane!

[tandemgal]

Glad to hear Dutchess is ok again! Emma is bothered by thunder and fireworks sounds.