Television Review: The Dog Whisperer
What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that this show sometimes features
aggressive dogs who bite or attempt to attack other dogs. Also,
although some of the show's methods for dealing with troubled
dogs may look easy, they shouldn't be attempted by untrained
people, especially kids. Warnings appear on the screen to
discourage regular folks from trying some of the expert's
approaches, but parents may want to reinforce that message to
younger viewers.
Families can talk about pets. Would any of the methods
described work for their dogs? What about for other pets? What
kinds of changes would your family need to make to change your
dog's iffy behaviors? Why do families think Millan is so
successful with animals? How can his methods for dealing with
dogs translate into dealing with people?
Cesar Millan runs the Dog Psychology Center in Los Angeles, where he rehabilitates troubled and dangerous canines. Millan travels to dog owners' homes to find solutions to their various doggie dilemmas. After listening to the owners describe their dog's issues, Millan is able to pinpoint the problem and almost instantly make some impressive changes in the dog's behavior. His philosophy is based on the idea that a dog's behavior problem is really a problem with its owner's behavior.
The Dog Whispereris a pleasure to watch for the whole family, and dog owners especially will find helpful information in the series. Millan is charming and highly skilled with both dogs and people, which explains the media's fascination with him. Since his methods are really very simple, and dogs' problems not terribly varied, the show's content can eventually start to feel a little repetitive. But Millan tries to mix it up, and some episodes step outside the framework, as when Millan visits a women's prison and teaches the inmates how to train dogs using his methods.
Animal PrecinctThe Crocodile Hunter
Croc Files
Corwin's Quest
Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing information to help parents make media and entertainment choices for their families.
Join Us