Millan in Manila: How to deal with dogs

MANILA, Philippines - “I want to bring back common sense because we don’t live in a common sense world,” said world-renowned dog whisperer Cesar Millan. “We live in a very smart world, but not in a common-sense world. And the dog lives in the common-sense world.”

Millan, who arrived in Manila on Sunday, is well known for the hit television series Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan and Cesar to the Rescue, which debuts this April on NatGeo Wild.

Tonight, Millan will be at Eastwood City to do a live presentation, where he will share his expertise and insights on achieving a healthy and happy relationship between dog owners and their furry companions.

The 7:30 p.m. event at the Eastwood Central Plaza will feature live demonstrations and dog training where pet owners can learn more about the different ways of handling common dog behavior problems.

Dog owners can also get helpful tips on giving out directions to their dogs and how to effectively communicate with their companions.

“A dog’s world is one of instinct, perceived through nose, eyes and ears in that order. The human world is one of intellect, emotion and spirit. It can be difficult for these two worlds to communicate with each other,” said Millan. “When we humanize dogs, we create an imbalance in their natural state. This imbalance leads to behavioral issues.”

Millan accepted to come to the Philippines because he felt it his responsibility to make a difference in the way humans and dogs co-exist. This change is to be made largely in the way humans deal with their dogs, he added.

“The Philippines sometimes gets a lot of bad feedback because they eat dogs, but not everybody does,” he said. “It’s like the pitbull that gets a lot of bad press because they are the dogs that are used in dogfights. People have a way of lumping all people together and coming up with a judgment of the culture. It’s that stereotype about Filipinos I have heard, and I am here to try to make a difference and to help change it.”

Millan said that he has lived with dogs all his life and that the ways of dealing with them have not changed. But what has changed are the humans and the world we live in.

“It has become harder to train the human than to train the dog,” he pointed out. “The wealthier the human, the more stubborn they become because they own everything, they know everything and they are used to telling people what to do.”

In fact, Millan said, many of his wealthy clients don’t know how to deal with their dogs because they change completely when they are with their dogs. These people just want to be loved by their dogs, so they don’t want to tell the dogs what to do.

It is when this happens that problems in the relationship between humans and dogs begin.

“Men or women in power don’t want to practice discipline with their dogs. They feel guilty when they do,” he said. “They feel bad because they stay away from home a long time. When they come back, they don’t want to tell the dog what to do – they just want to be loved by the dog.”

Millan believes there are three essential ways to deal with these dogs. These are exercise, discipline and affection – in that order. In other words, all three elements must be present in a good relationship with their dogs.

“I think when we say that we don’t have the time (for our dogs), we are just making an excuse,” said Millan. “We have to make the time. So we have to match the habits we have with the time that you spend with your dog.”

“I am excited to bring my seminar to Asia, and I am honored to be invited here to share my techniques. I hope that through understanding the world that dogs live in, people will transform their dogs – and maybe a bit of themselves at the same time.”

Needless to say, the reward for a well-trained dog is unconditional love.

“Dogs accept you if you are poor. If you lose everything, they are right there with you,” he said. “The only things dogs know are honesty, integrity and loyalty. I see the dog as a teacher, not as a student. It is the human who is the student.”

The event is presented by Megaworld Lifestyle Malls, MMI and Ovation Productions. Cesar Millan Live is the newest pet-friendly event to take place in Eastwood City, the first shopping center in the Philippines to welcome pets of all shapes and sizes and an inductee to the Order of the Platinum Paw by the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS).