Results tagged “Dog Whisperer” from Intelligent Travel Blog

The sixth season of Cesar Millan's Emmy-nominated show Dog Whisperer premieres this Friday, October 9th, at 9 p.m. on the National Geographic Channel. To mark the premiere and launch his latest book, How to Raise the Perfect Dog-- Through Puppyhood and Beyond, Cesar stopped by Nat Geo headquarters Monday (accompanied by miniature schnauzer Angel) for an advance screening of the first episode and to take questions from the audience. Traveler Senior Researcher Meg Weaver sat down with Cesar while he was here to find out how he got started in his career. And click through for a preview of the premiere episode in the season.

Known as El Perrero (The Dogman) when he was a teen in Mexico because of the packs of dogs that always seemed to follow him around, Cesar Millan aspired to be the best dog trainer in the world. But when he arrived in the U.S. and started working at a kennel in California, he realized American dogs didn't need training, their owners did. Dogs do best when they're balanced, Cesar says, and training doesn't necessarily equal balance. He espouses the training philosophy, well known to Dog Whisperer fans, of "exercise, discipline, and then affection." As we spoke, an adorable  schnauzer, Angel, sat snuggled at our feet. Cesar gestured to him and told me that Angel hadn't been trained to sit, fetch, or roll over. He'd been trained to be balanced and, sure enough, he was very well behaved for an adolescent dog.

Since Cesar himself is often on the move, I asked what suggestions he'd give travelers hoping to bring Fido on the road. He explained that we need to consider the travel experience from a dog's perspective: If the change of setting and scent (and altitude, if flying) are disorienting for us, imagine their effects on a dog. Dogs are used to traveling on four feet, experiencing every step of the way with their nose, ears, eyes, and body, so traveling in cars or planes can cause confusion and anxiety. Before heading off on a trip, Cesar recommends being sure your dog isn't full of physical energy. If you normally walk him a half-hour in the morning, extend the walk to an hour and a half so that his body tells his mind to relax. Bring things familiar to him: his bed, bone, Kong, etc. And, just as we benefit from being shown around a new place by someone familiar with it, try to hook your pup up with a local of the canine kind. 

To compile his new book, My Favorite Place on Earth, Jerry Camarillo Dunn Jr., interviewed dozens of famous people -- from Natalie Portman to the Dalai Lama -- about the places they loved most. He'll be guest blogging about his experiences here for the next few weeks. Click here for recent posts.

I think a lot of us travel to find that special place that makes us feel completely alive and "in the moment." For some it might be a marble temple gleaming in the Greek sunshine. (In Delphi I once sat alone in the Temple of Apollo, trying to hear the Oracle speak.) For others it's an extraordinary spot in the natural world, whether a beach in Bali or the top of a granite wall in Yosemite. And for Cesar Millan, the host of National Geographic's hit TV series "The Dog Whisperer," it's a sanctuary in the city - with his favorite companions.
   
"Dogs don't know whether they're in Italy or China or France, but wherever they are, they do know that they're having a good time at the moment," he told me. "And my favorite moments are when I'm walking with the pack in Runyon Canyon, a park in the mountains above Hollywood where dogs are allowed to walk off-leash.
   
"Runyon Canyon Park is a magical place because it's natural, with mountains, rocks, chaparral, and trees. Yet, at the same time you're right in the city, so the dogs have the benefit of both worlds.

"We make two trips up and down the canyon, which takes about four hours. We have a special place about halfway down under what the locals call a Jesus Tree, because its seeds have a cross on them. It's nice and shady there, and the pack knows it's their resting place. They've created little holes and dens for themselves, and each picks its own spot. They're happy because they've accomplished something, and we all sit and relax and drink water. We don't say anything, just rest.

"It gives me such happiness to be there, just to be in the moment and not looking at the clock. I don't have to go to any meetings. I don't have to do anything. It's just me and my pack. It's a beautiful thing."

For other remarkable stories from My Favorite Place on Earth visit www.myfavoriteplacenatgeo.com.