Bestselling author Cesar Millan takes his principles of dog psychology a step further, showing you how to develop the calm-assertive energy of a successful pack leader and use it to improve your dog's life — and your own.

Filled with practical tips and techniques as well as real-life success stories from his clients (including the Grogan family, owners of Marley from Marley & Me) and his popular television show Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan, Cesar helps you understand and read your dog's energy as well as your own so that you can move beyond just correcting behavioral issues and take your connection with your dog to the next level.

The principles of calm-assertive energy will help you become a better pack leader in every area of your life, improving your relationships with friends, family, and coworkers.

In addition, Cesar addresses several important issues for the first time, including what you need to know about the major dog behavior tools available and the difference between "personality" and "instability."

Ultimately, what emerges from Be the Pack Leader are both happier dogs and happier, more centered owners.

"Millan, television's 'Dog Whisperer,' says that 'Even the most unobservant person can see an owner's own issues totally mirrored in his or her dogs' problems,' and in this follow-up to last year's bestselling Cesar's Way, he makes that connection more explicit and exploitable. Every dog wants a 'clearly defined social framework, with a fair, consistent pack leader'; chances are good, then, that behind every unruly dog is an inconsistent human. To become the master your dog needs, one must cultivate 'calm-assertive energy,' a mind-set that puts both dogs and people at ease; besides thorough explanation, Millan offers a number of suggestions for developing this powerful form of non-verbal communication, including visualization techniques and inner dialogue ('focus your mind, and then tell yourself, "This is my sofa." '). Answering readers' requests for more straightforward advice, the book also offers a rundown of training tools-collars, leashes, etc.-and step-by-step instructions for properly handling common occurrences such as meeting a new dog, walking, feeding and visiting the vet. In numerous case studies, Millan's love for his work is obvious and infectious; whether you need a book for your dog or yourself, Millan's simple techniques, compassionate tone and intimate knowledge of dog psychology (and the human effect on it) makes this a worthy read." Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

"Whether you agree with his approach to training or his assessment of canine psychology, Millan's new book is worth reading....Highly recommended." Library Journal

Bestselling author and Dog Whisperer Cesar Millan takes his principles of dog psychology a step further, showing readers how to develop the calm-assertive energy of a successful pack leader and use it to improve their dogs life and their own.

Founder of the Dog Psychology Center in Los Angeles, Cesar MILLAN is the star of Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan on the National Geographic Channel. In addition to Cesar's educational seminars and work with unstable dogs, he and his wife have founded the Cesar and Ilusion Millan Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing financial support and rehabilitation expertise to shelters. A native of Culican, Mexico, Cesar lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Ilusion, and their two sons, Andre and Calvin.

Melissa Jo Peltier, an executive producer and writer of Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan, has been honored for her film and television writing and directing with an Emmy, a Peabody, and more than fifty other awards. She lives in Nyack, New York, with her husband, writer-director John Gray, and stepdaughter, Caitlin.

Table of Contents

Foreword

Introduction

Mirror, Mirror?

PART ONE: Balancing Your Dog

Chapter 1: Identifying Instability

Chapter 2: Discipline, Rewards and Punishment

Chapter 3: The Best Tool in the World

Chapter 4: Fulfilling Breed

The Sporting Group

The Hound Group

The Working Group

The Herding Group

The Terrier Group

The Toy Group

The Non-Sporting Group

PART TWO: Balancing Ourselves

Chapter 5: Dysfunction Junction

Chapter 6: Transforming Energy into Action

Chapter 7: Leadership for Dogs

Chapter 8: Our Four-Legged Healers

Epilogue: Humans and Dogs: The Long Walk Home

Appendix: Quick Reference Guide to Becoming a Better Pack Leader

Meeting a Dog for the First Time

Introducing Your Dog to a New Person (Especially a Child)

Introducing a New Person into Your Home

Mastering the Walk

Returning from the Walk

The Feeding Ritual

Managing Food Aggression

Facing an Aggressive Dog

Claiming Your Space

Dealing with Obsessive and Fixated Behaviors

Managing Stress at the Vet

Going to the Dog Park

Choosing a Dog with the Right Energy

Introducing a Dog to a House for the First Time

Notes

Bibliography and Additional Recommendations for Further Reading

Organizations to Turn To

Illustration Credits

Index