Cesars Way the Natural Everyday Guide to Understanding & Correcting Common Dog Problems

“I rehabilitate dogs. I train people.” —Cesar Millan

There are at least 68 million dogs in America, and their owners lavish billions of dollars on them every year. So why do so many pampered pets have problems? In this definitive and accessible guide, Cesar Millan—star of National Geographic Channels hit show Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan—reveals what dogs truly need to live a happy and fulfilled life.

From his appearances on The Oprah Winfrey Show to his roster of celebrity clients to his reality television series, Cesar Millan is Americas most sought-after dog-behavior expert. But Cesar is not a trainer in the traditional sense—his expertise lies in his unique ability to comprehend dog psychology. Tracing his own amazing journey from a clay-walled farm in Mexico to the celebrity palaces of Los Angeles, Cesar recounts how he learned what makes dogs tick. In Cesars Way, he shares this wisdom, laying the groundwork for you to have stronger, more satisfying relationships with your canine companions.

Cesars formula for a contented and balanced dog seems impossibly simple: exercise, discipline, and affection, in that order. Taking readers through the basics of dog psychology and behavior, Cesar shares the inside details of some of his most fascinating cases, using them to illustrate how common behavior issues develop and, more important, how they can be corrected.

Whether youre having issues with your dog or just want to make a good bond even stronger, this book will give you a deeper appreciation of how your dog sees the world, and it will help make your relationship with your beloved pet a richer and more rewarding one.

Learn what goes on inside your dogs mind and develop a positive, fulfilling relationship with your best friend

In Cesars Way, Cesar Millan—nationally recognized dog expert and star of National Geographic Channels hit show Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan—helps you see the world through the eyes of your dog so you can finally eliminate problem behaviors. Youll learn:

• What your dog really needs may not be what youre giving him

• Why a dogs natural pack instincts are the key to your happy relationship

• How to relate to your dog on a canine level

• There are no “problem breeds,” just problem owners

• Why every dog needs a job

• How to choose a dog whos right for you and your family

• The difference between discipline and punishment

• And much more!

Filled with fascinating anecdotes about Cesars longtime clients, and including forewords by the president of the International Association of Canine Professionals and Jada Pinkett Smith, this is the only book youll need to forge a new, more rewarding connection with your four-legged companion.

Also available as a Random House AudioBook

From the Hardcover edition.

"Kudos to the Veterinary Behaviorists! Decoding Your Dog is a welcome addition to the voicesand#12288;supporting science-based and benevolent dog training. Read this book and your dog will thank you for it!" -- Patricia B McConnell, PhD, CAAB, author of The Other End of the Leash: Why We Do What We Do Around Dogs "Behavioral problems often risk damaging the canine-human bond. Veterinary behaviorists are uniquely qualified to consider potential medical explanations while also understanding how to appropriately treat a wide array of behavior problems. This wonderful, practical book can help dog owners to insure that their relationship lasts a lifetime. Highly recommended for anyone who loves a dog." -- Dr. Doug Aspros, 2013 president of the American Veterinary Medical Association "The very best information to help your best friend from top veterinary behavioral experts. A must buy for the caring dog owner. Two paws up!" -- Dr. Nicholas H. Dodman, Director of the Animal Behavior Clinic at Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine and author of The Well-Adjusted Dog "What makes your dog tick? Do you wish he could talk? You donand#8217;t have to! "Decoding Your Dog" is all you need speak the language, thanks to a Dream Team of top veterinary behaviorists. This is one book every dog-lover needs to have, for better-behaved companion whoand#8217;s as tuned in to you as you can be to him." -- Dr. Marty Becker, veterinary contributor for Good Morning America and The Dr. Oz Show and author of Your Dog: The Ownerand#8217;s Manual and Your Cat: The Ownerand#8217;s Manual "Well edited...Decoding Your Dog is an important addition to the canine canon, one that will go a long way toward increasing your understanding of your best friend."--The Bark

"The American College of Veterinary Behaviorists is an organization of veterinarians with advanced training and experience in the field of applied animal behavior. More than 90 percent of pet owners feel

that their dog is part of the family so the need for good communication between dog and owner becomes obvious if that familial relationship is to be positive for both species. Behavior problems in pets can erode that relationship, and without successful training or treatment, the result may be the loss of the dog to a shelter or to euthanasia. In 14 chapters, veterinary behaviorists walk dog owners through the stages of dog ownership. A basic chapter on learning to speak and#8220;dogand#8221; starts us off, followed by essays on choosing a dog, house training, behavior training, and training tools. Chapters on common issues, such as separation anxiety, aggression, sound phobias, and compulsive behaviors, teach how to retrain the dog, and a final chapter on the aging canine rounds out the book. Boxes defining terms used in the chapter or containing in-depth coverage of a behavior fill many sections, and each chapter ends with a and#8220;What Did We Say?and#8221; summary. Libraries and dog owners may have found the holy grail with this title."--Booklist, STARRED review

In Cesar's Way, Cesar Millan--nationally recognized dog expert and star of National Geographic Channel's hit show Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan--helps you see the world through the eyes of your dog so you can finally eliminate problem behaviors.

From his appearances on The Oprah Winfrey Show to his roster of celebrity clients to his reality television series, Cesar Millan is America's most sought-after dog-behavior expert. But Cesar is not a trainer in the traditional sense--his expertise lies in his unique ability to comprehend dog psychology. Tracing his own amazing journey from a clay-walled farm in Mexico to the celebrity palaces of Los Angeles, Cesar recounts how he learned what makes dogs tick. In Cesar's Way, he shares this wisdom, laying the groundwork for you to have stronger, more satisfying relationships with your canine companions.

Cesar's formula for a contented and balanced dog seems impossibly simple: exercise, discipline, and affection, in that order. Taking readers through the basics of dog psychology and behavior, Cesar shares the inside details of some of his most fascinating cases, using them to illustrate how common behavior issues develop and, more important, how they can be corrected. You'll learn:

- What your dog really needs may not be what you're giving him
- Why a dog's natural pack instincts are the key to your happy relationship
- How to relate to your dog on a canine level
- There are no "problem breeds," just problem owners
- How to choose a dog who's right for you and your family
- The difference between discipline and punishment
- And much more

Filled with fascinating anecdotes about Cesar's longtime clients, and including forewords by the president of the International Association of Canine Professionals and Jada Pinkett Smith, this is the only book you'll need to forge a stronger, more rewarding connection with your four-legged companion.

Also available as a Random House AudioBook

Cesar Millan--nationally recognized dog expert--helps you see the world through the eyes of your dog so you can finally eliminate problem behaviors.

From his appearances on The Oprah Winfrey Show to his roster of celebrity clients to his reality television series, Cesar Millan is America's most sought-after dog-behavior expert. But Cesar is not a trainer in the traditional sense--his expertise lies in his unique ability to comprehend dog psychology. Tracing his own amazing journey from a clay-walled farm in Mexico to the celebrity palaces of Los Angeles, Cesar recounts how he learned what makes dogs tick. In Cesar's Way, he shares this wisdom, laying the groundwork for you to have stronger, more satisfying relationships with your canine companions.

Cesar's formula for a contented and balanced dog seems impossibly simple: exercise, discipline, and affection, in that order. Taking readers through the basics of dog psychology and behavior, Cesar shares the inside details of some of his most fascinating cases, using them to illustrate how common behavior issues develop and, more important, how they can be corrected. You'll learn:

- What your dog really needs may not be what you're giving him
- Why a dog's natural pack instincts are the key to your happy relationship
- How to relate to your dog on a canine level
- There are no "problem breeds," just problem owners
- How to choose a dog who's right for you and your family
- The difference between discipline and punishment
- And much more

Filled with fascinating anecdotes about Cesar's longtime clients, and including forewords by the president of the International Association of Canine Professionals and Jada Pinkett Smith, this is the only book you'll need to forge a stronger, more rewarding connection with your four-legged companion.

In this definitive and accessible guide, Millan, star of National Geographic Channels hit show "The Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan," reveals what dogs truly need to live a happy and fulfilled life.

The top dog behaviorists in the country - the top researchers, scientists, and veterinarians - have teamed up with a renowned media personality to create the most cutting-edge, scientifically accurate, definitiveand#160;book on and#160;why our dogs do what they do and how we can prevent or solve common canine behavior problems.

More thanand#160;ninety percent of dog owners consider their pets to be members of their family. But often, despite our best intentions, we are letting our dogs down by not giving them theand#160;guidance and directionand#160;they need.and#160;Unwanted behavior is the number-one reason dogs are relinquished to shelters and rescue groups.

The key to trainingand#160;dogs effectively isand#160;first toand#160;understand why our dogs do what they do. And no one can address this more authoritatively than the diplomates of the American College of Veterinary Behavior, whose work, the culmination of years ofand#160;rigorous training, takes them deep into the minds ofand#160;dogs in an effort to decode how they think, how they communicate, and how they learn.

In Decoding Your Dog, these experts analyze problem behaviors, decipher the latest studies, and correct common misconceptions and outmoded theories. The book includes:

and#8226; Effective, veterinary-approved positive training methods

and#8226; Expert advice on socialization, housetraining, diet, and exercise

and#8226; Remedies for behaviorand#160;problems such as OCD and aggression

With Decoding Your Dog the expertsand#8217; experts deliver a must-have dog behavior guide that ultimately challenge the way we think about our dogs.

Founder of the Dog Psychology Center in Los Angeles, Cesar Millan is the star of Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan on National Geographic Channel. In 2005, the National Humane Society Genesis Award Committee presented him with a Special Commendation for his work in rehabilitating sheltered animals. A native of Culican, Mexico, Cesar lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Ilusion, and 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 and more than fifty other awards. She lives in Los Angeles and Nyack, New York.

From the Hardcover edition.

Acknowledgmentsand#160;and#160;and#160;xi

Foreword by Victoria Stillwelland#160;and#160;and#160;xv

Preface by Barbara L. Shermanand#160;and#160;and#160;xvii

Introduction by Steve Daleand#160;and#160;and#160;xxi 1.and#160;and#160;and#160;Canand#8217;t We Just Talk?and#160;and#160;and#160;1

and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;Learning to and#8220;Speak Dogand#8221;and#160;and#160;and#160;

and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;Jacqueline C. Neilson, DVM, DACVB

2.and#160;and#160;and#160;Choosing Your New Best Friendand#160;and#160;and#160;

and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;How to Find the Best Match for You and Your Puppyand#160;and#160;and#160;

and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;Meghan Elaine Herron, DVM, DACVB

and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;Patrick Yves Melese, MA, DVM, DAVCBand#160;and#160;and#160; 3.and#160;and#160;and#160;Creating a Mensa Dogand#160;and#160;and#160;38

and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;What Learning Really Is, and How Dogs Learnand#160;and#160;and#160;

and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;Katherine Albro Houpt, VMD, PhD, DACVBand#160;and#160;and#160; 4.and#160;and#160;and#160;Housetraining 101and#160;and#160;and#160;59

and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;Do It Here, Do It Nowand#160;and#160;and#160;

and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;Leslie Larson Cooper, DVM, DACVBand#160;and#160;and#160;

5.and#160;and#160;and#160;Tools of the Tradeand#160;and#160;and#160;83

and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;Humane and Safe Training Toolsand#160;and#160;and#160;

and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;Lori Gaskins, DVM, DACVBand#160;and#160;and#160; 6.and#160;and#160;and#160;School Daysand#160;and#160;and#160;107

and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;Practical Advice on Getting from a Puppy to a Dog and#160;and#160;and#160;

and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;Gerrard Flannigan, MS, DVM, DACVB

and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;Ellen M. Lindell, VMD, DACVBand#160;and#160;and#160; 7.and#160;and#160;and#160;I Know Theyand#8217;re Normal Behaviors, but How

and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;Do I Fix Them?and#160;and#160;and#160;127

and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;Common Problems That Can Drive

and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;Any Dog Owner to Howland#160;and#160;and#160;

and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;Jeannine Berger, DVM, DACVB

and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;Lore I. Haug, MS, DVM, DACVBand#160;and#160;and#160; 8.and#160;and#160;and#160;Lassie and Timmy: Kids and Dogsand#160;and#160;and#160;150

and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;Creating a Family That Worksand#160;and#160;and#160;

and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;Valarie V. Tynes, DVM, DACVBand#160;and#160;and#160; 9.and#160;and#160;and#160;All Dogs Need a Joband#160;and#160;and#160;177

and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;How to Keep Your Dog Happy and Mentally Healthyand#160;and#160;and#160;

and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;Mary P. Klinck, DVM, DACVBand#160;and#160;and#160; 10.and#160;and#160;and#160;Aggression Unleashed: Do Dogs Mean to be Mean?and#160;and#160;and#160;199

and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;If Aggression Leads to More Aggression, How Do You Respond?and#160;and#160;and#160;

and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;Ilana Reisner, DVM, PhD, DACVB

and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;Stefanie Schwartz, MS, DVM, DAVCBand#160;and#160;and#160; 11.and#160;and#160;and#160;Loyalty Gone Overboard: Separation Anxietyand#160;and#160;and#160;235

and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;The and#8220;Velcro Dogand#8221; Dilemmaand#160;and#160;and#160;

and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;Eand#8217;Lise Christensen, DVM, DACVB

and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;Karen L. Overall, MA, VMD, PhD, DACVB, CAABand#160;and#160;and#160;

12.and#160;and#160;and#160;I Know Itand#8217;s Going to Rain, and I Hate the Fourth of Julyand#160;and#160; and#160;and#160;and#160;263

and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;Dogs Who Are Phobic About Soundand#160;and#160;and#160;

and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;Emily D. Levine, DVM, DACVB, MRCVSand#160;and#160;and#160; 13.and#160;and#160;and#160;Tail Chasing, Leg Lickingand#8212;Canand#8217;t You Stop?and#160;and#160;and#160;281

and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;Compulsive Behaviorsand#160;and#160;and#160;

and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;Melissa Bain, MS, DVM, DACVB

and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;Marsha Reich, DVM, DACVBand#160;and#160;and#160; 14.and#160;and#160;and#160;Dogs with an AARF Card: Growing Old with Graceand#160;and#160;and#160;296

and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;Old Dogs Should Learn New Tricksand#160;and#160;and#160;

and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;Gary Landsberg DVM, DACVB, DECAWBM (Behavior)

Conclusionand#160;and#160;and#160;317

Appendix and#160;and#160;and#160;319

Glossary and#160;and#160;and#160;321

Recommended Resourcesand#160;and#160;and#160;333

About the Editorsand#160;and#160;and#160;337

About the Authorsand#160;and#160;and#160;341

Members of the American College ofand#160;

Veterinary Behavioristsand#160;and#160;and#160;351

Index