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[tenna]

I was watching the Dog Whisperer today, and saw a rather interesting episode

Comments

[tenna]

Though I agree the dog didn't get physically hurt, I don't understand the idea of chasing around an insecure dog that's afraid of strangers. The dog was obviously terrified, and though I definitely agree it needs training, having a stranger (Cesar) chase it around when it's giving very clear signs it's uncomfortable, frightened, and anxious (eyes wide, ears back, tail tucked, drooling, barking) is only reaffirming that it's WORTH being afraid of strangers, instead of say, teaching it that strangers are a good thing and aren't scary.

Even when on the walk the dog was tired but not relaxed. It's tail was still tucked, eyes wide, ears back, and it's face was tense. All signs of a scared, nervous, or anxious dog. Not behaving badly does not equal calm or secure.

Did chasing result in a tired dog? Sure. I don't see how it needed to be chased though.

[rozae]

The dog needed to be chased around.

Why? How would chasing a reportedly insecure dog around a yard help?

He chased the dog around to drain its energy and it obviously worked.

I would be exhausted if a big, scary, aggressive man chased me around the yard. He could have chosen a less threatening and more humane method to tire the dog out.

[itsyspy70]

The biggest beef I have with tiring the dog out by chasing it (especially with a stick!) is that I cannot imagine that that would do anything but create a lot of stress and negative associations for the dog. Cesar might think that the dog is going to perceive the stick/whatever as an extension of his arm, but I think the dog is going to end up flinching whenever that same stick is raised towards it. If the dog is truly insecure, chasing it while waving around a long stick isn't going to help, it's going to make the animal more frightened and *more* likely to lash out at people.

The dog could have just as easily been tired out with fetch, a walk/run, or something else that didn't involve a human being overtly confrontational in that manner. Establishing "dominance" can just as easily be accomplished with strict application of NILIF.

[tenna]

I agree. The dog obviously has a fear of strangers, I would think chasing would just reaffirm the dog's fear. "See? We ARE dangerous and will chase you with a stick!" instead of "Hey, I don't wanna hurt you, here's your favorite treat! See I bring good things."

[itsyspy70]

That and overall, I don't see how chasing the dog around (as dogs are generally faster and fitter than most people) is going to do a whole lot to prove how much better/stronger/in charge humans are. Trying to best a dog physically? Good way to prove exactly the opposite.

[tenna]

And even if it's in play, it's a good way to teach dogs to run away from you when you approach them. What if the owner someday really needs to restrain the dog, say it gets out of it's fence and is running in traffic... if the dog has been chased before (by strangers and/or the owner) it would probably be ridiculously hard to catch, since Cesar doesn't train obedience commands the dog isn't going to have a reliable "come".

[cottonmanifesto]

all i can think of is my poor charlie who would be a mess if you did that to him. there's no good reason for it that i know of, but he doesn't like it when people wave sticks around, it really scares him.

i'm unclear as to why standard training wouldn't work for this dog and his family.

[cottonmanifesto]

it also strikes me that both of those breeds are alert barkers. um. yeah.

[wirenth]

insecure dogs do not become magically dominant through their insecurity. insecure dogs can easily become aggressive, but that's FEAR, not dominance.

this is the kind of stuff that makes me turn of the tv. i just cannot stand to watch it. it's so freaking harmful to the dog and so unnecessary.