Helena Sung
"We get thousands of applications from people wanting to be on the show," one of the show's producers, Sheila Emery, tells Paw Nation. "But we're only able to pick a small percentage." So how do the producers decide which dogs (and their owners) merit a visit from Millan? Paw Nation attended a "Dog Whisperer" casting call to find out.
On a sunny December afternoon in Santa Monica, Calif., Leah Pacheco and her husband Meftali Villasenor wait nervously to talk to one of the show's producers, who is holding auditions at a local grooming salon. The couple has driven two hours for the chance to be featured in an upcoming episode of "Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan." They have four dogs and are desperate for help.
"We have a year-and-a-half-old Doberman pinscher named Jordan and she's crazy," Pacheco tells Paw Nation. "She dominates our other three little dogs and bats our Chihuahua around like a soccer ball." Does the Chihuahua like playing with the Doberman? "No!" Pacheco says, "Buttercup, our Chihuahua, is terrified!" Jordan also has a scary habit of jumping on the car whenever Pacheco's husband gets inside the vehicle.
They've tried everything that Millan suggests on his shows -- exercising Jordan on a treadmill, making her run alongside as they bike -- but nothing works. "It's our fault," laments Pacheco. "When Jordan was a puppy, we spoiled her. We're hoping to get on the show so Cesar can help us."
Dogs are allowed to attend the casting calls, but Pacheco and her husband have opted to leave the overbearing Jordan at home. They are, however, clutching the requisite application materials: a release form, questionnaire and a video showing Jordan misbehaving.
Inside the grooming salon, three-year-old rescue dog Berkeley (pictured above) and his owners, Kelly Berry and Peter Pappas, meet with producer, Emery.
"He's a good, sweet loving dog," Berry says, "but he's territorial and doesn't like smaller dogs. He goes nuts whenever he sees a UPS truck and spins in circles and does intense barking." Berkeley has gotten kicked out of daycare after just one day, Pappas says, because he was aggressive towards another dog. "We put a muzzle on him and shot video of him jumping up and trying to bite us," Pappas says. "Oh, good," Emery murmurs.
"The better the video, the better your chances of getting on the show," Emery explains to Paw Nation afterwards. "The video doesn't need to be professionally shot, but it does need to show the behavior." (Click here to read the show's submission guidelines.) Bonus if you're dog is quirky. "We love phobias," says Emery.
Currently in its sixth season on the National Geographic Channel, each episode of "Dog Whisperer" features three problem dogs. "We look for stories that are unique that we haven't done before," says Emery. "Maybe there's something unusual about the dog or the owner. Maybe it's a breed we haven't done before or a location. The same problems tend to come up, so we try to mix it up by combining the personality of the owner with the problem with the dog."
The show's producers like to feature people who they think will most likely follow through with Millan's advice. It's one reason Emery likes the young couple with the problem Doberman. "They've tried things without success and it shows they're motivated," she says. "When I hear about the problems with certain dogs, I wonder, 'How is Cesar going to fix this?'"
After six years working with Millan, Emery says she remains "completely mystified" when it comes to guessing how the dog behavior expert will solve a problem. "Cesar is so creative," she says. "We just give him the material for him to do his magic."
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Well, it's the same answer for these dogs that Milan always teaches. Don't treat a dog like a person, you set the rules and the behavior of the dog for what you will tolerate. If you will notice on his show, it is typically women and the occasional sensitive man who has problems with dogs. It is a leadership problem. Which brings up a story. One time, long ago, I got my dog from a no-kill shelter. I brought her home, nice place, nice yard, nice people, good food, no problems. But, you could tell that something was bothering the dog and it went on for several days. After a couple of days, she did something wrong, and I scolded her. She looked up at me with the greatest sense of relief. What was bothering her was that everything was too good and she was afraid she had to be the dominant animal, and didn't know what to do. After she found out that all she had to do was follow, she was happy for the next 15 years.
I purchased a black lab at the dog pound in the summer of 2010. when i was looking at all the dogs i couldnt decied which one to get. a worker at the pound told me that she would like it if i took home the black lab that juse came in 2 weeks ago. i noticed that he was the only dog that wasnt barking or jumping. i asked them what was wrong with him and they state he was shuting down and needed a home a.s.a.p. I took him home and he was ok until he saw my husband. He started barking and jumping at him.Any male or child, he would do this. I called the pound and they state he was abused by some neighbor boys while the owner was at work. I have tried all your techniques, by the calm approch and so many other things but now we are thinking about taking him back to the pound. He has accepted my husband and son but no other being. Please help my Brison, I really dont want him to go back to that lonely pound. On the other hand i dont want someone hurt. Thank you, Tina Cater
Cesar, I am in desperate need of help. First my name is Alice Marlow. I live in Kokomo IN. I have a Cairn Terrier, Keily. Of course I know Terriers are barkers, and that is exactly what she dose A LOT! I have tried everything, from the touch to the side, with the shh sound. She is so hard to control when other dogs are near or walking by. I also try blocking with my body. Nothing seems to work. She goes nuts when someone is at the door. The doorbell ringing, or a knock at the door. As a pup I kept her social with people and other dogs. She always seemed to freak out when other dogs walk by. About 3 years ago, She was attacked by 2 pitbulls. I had to completely rehabilitate her with other dogs. Now she has intensified her barking at others from a distance. When we get closer she is friendly with other dogs, however she is still uneasy with the growling, and barking. I know she would never hurt another dog, but she goes into flight and I am scared she will run up to the wrong dog and get hurt. With the Terrier in her, when she sees another dog, squirrel, or stray cat, she takes off and there is no listening to me. We have 2 cats of our own and again she would never hurt them. She gets along with ours in the house. She also gets along with family dogs, and other pets that she knows. Its the strange dogs, that she dose not know is the problem. Its so hard to go on walks, with other people walking their dogs. She wants to bark and run up aggressively pull and tug on the leash. I try to let people know she is not mean or aggressive, that she is friendly. Most of the time when I have her and, we get closer, she is barking, but will not bite or hurt other animals. Sometimes because she is unsure she will try lo lick other dogs. I think for the most part in some of these situations I am calm and assertive. However I feel sometimes I forget, because she is so frantic, and I become tense. Please Help! The worst part about it is, she may quit the barking, but she continues to bark( I call it berffing ) under her breath. Real quite and always has to have the last word or sound in. Again Please Help! Thankyou so much.
Alice Marlow
Hi this will be short and sweet! My name is Karen and we (friend and I) have a Chocolate Lab/Pitt- female, will be 1 yr. old in March 2012, we got her when she was 8 wks. (Every chance she gets will run out the open door and does not listen to commands). My friend is not a very good pack leader and I have tried to get him to watch the show so he can follow the advise of Cesar. The friend has alot of issues hisself and we should not have gotten the dog but I caved because we had a Golden Retriever/ Chow, had her for 16 years which past and he missed her. We have no money to get professional help! I was hoping Cesar would HELP! My friend has run out of patience and wants to see if he can adopt her out. CESAR COME GET HER , HELP! Sincerely, Karen