Cesar Teaches Us the Finer Points of Walking an Insecure Sahzi

Sahzi Nips Cesar's German Shepherd Puppy

When Sahzi and I go for a walk, she feels she has to protect me from all my neighbors and their dogs.  She and our other dog Zeke walked fine together when we first got her, then she started her “charge and retreat” act.  When a stranger or dog approaches, she lunges, barks, shows her teeth, sometimes nips, and then runs back.  She used to do this with most dogs, and young or elderly people, but now it can be anyone.  There may be very little warning.  A dog or stranger can be almost past us, the she charges.  Even when a friend comes along for the walk, she will be fine for a few minutes, then lunge, and then be fine again until the next lunge.

Cesar wants most of the walk to be serious.  Sahzi should be at my side, never in front, on a very short leash, but held loosely like a purse.  If she stops to look, sniff, turn away, a short jerk to the side is all I should give for correction.  Usually she is on my left, so the leash should be in my left hand, and jerked quickly to the right.  A quick bend at the elbow does the trick.

First, though, we had to get out the door.  He had me demonstrate preparing Sahzi for the walk.  She was excited, but sat, sort of, while I put her leash on.  I had her sit at the door until I released her to go outside.  Cesar told me, That was dog training, not dog psychology.”  She was very alert and not calm at all even though she was sitting.  He wanted her to be happy and excited, but not too excited, before the walk.  He said, “Right now she’s a 10.  We want her to be a 5.”

So sitting before we go out wasn’t what she needed.  We need to wait together at the door until she is relaxed enough, even bored enough, to exit at a nice even pace.  It took several very long tries until Cesar said it was good enough, but not perfect.

We started to walk.  Earlier he mentioned that he had seen me walking her with the cameraman during the morning.  She was too far ahead and too much in control.  I mentioned that I was confused by exactly what to do with Sahzi.  I have seen him allow timid dogs to take the lead during the walk.  I have seen him use a small, quick kick from the side and behind to correct dogs.  He told me that is why the show always says not to try this at home without consulting a professional.  Different dogs need different techniques.  It was so wonderful having Cesar there to answer my specific questions and tailor the process just for Sahzi.  Since she is so insecure, he said I should never use the little kick since we want her to trust me completely.  She does need to remain slightly behind my lead so that she knows I’m taking charge and can be confident in my alpha role.

Walking with Cesar was the strangest event of the day.  Here we are, Mike, Sahzi, and I, calmly walking next to a well known celebrity while two cameramen walk backwards in front of us, a sound man holds a boom mic over our heads, the director and one more technician follow at a discreet distance.  Several high school track teams are practicing for distance and we turned a lot of heads.

We walked from the house through the park over to the lake. Mike asked if taking her near the dog park fence was a good way to teach her not to “fence fight.”  Cesar said, yes, let’s go.  First we walked near the small dog park.  We all agreed laughingly that this section would have the noisiest dogs.  Several of the small dogs came to the fence to fence to sniff, but no barking.  Sahzi just kept her even pace which is quite unusual.  All the dog owners in the dog park were frozen in place staring at Cesar with slack jaws.  As one little blonde terrier barked and came running up, the owner yelled, “Sorry, Cesar.”  Cesar called back, “You are helping us.  Thanks.”

No fence fighting so we continued to the fence in front of the large dog park.  One of the cameramen, Chris, went inside to follow our progress from the other side of the fence.  No dogs even noticed us, though the slack-jawed stares from owners continued and all conversation within the park stopped.  Then Chris, walking backwards, tripped over a fire hydrant near the fence.  The crew all laughed and gave him hard time, asking if the camera was okay because he could easily be replaced.  He was embarrassed but fine.

As we got near the entrance, a husky mix started barking loudly at our little group.  The cameras turned to the husky.   We all thought Cesar would take the opportunity to use this dog to work with Sahzi and what a lucky owner the lady nearby was.  Instead the lady, I use the term loosely, yelled at the cameramen to stop photographing her.  They turned their cameras away and she continued to yell at them to move and get away from her.  As this was a public park, they didn’t move, and we all just stood there looking at her.  She finally went in to the park muttering, “Stupid people.”  We all laughed and Cesar mentioned that some humans really don’t want to be trained.

When we got back to the edge of the park near our house, Cesar asked his staff to bring Junior and another dog over to the park.  Junior and an adorable three-and-a-half-month old German shepherd puppy came over.  The puppy had huge paws and one floppy ear.  He immediately went to say hello to Sahzi who gave him a bark and nip.  Cesar got between them, helped me correct Sahzi and said it was fine because all puppies are naïve and need to learn to read dog body language.

We started walking again.  I had to keep an eye on Sahzi and correct her if she started showing signs of going after the other two dogs, but if I kept too close a watch, Cesar told me to look up and relax.  I’ve heard him say this on his show and finally got to tell him that I found it very difficult to watch, not watch, be ready, but be relaxed all at the same time.  He said I was right, and it was difficult but just takes practice and knowing your dog and feeling the dog’s body language through the relaxed leash.  He said the more relaxed I hold the leash, the more I’ll be able to feel.

As we walked back all three dogs in “our pack” were very content and Sahzi was very comfortable.  He passed Junior’s leash on to me.  I felt like I had my Zeke back.  (Zeke was my wonderful red cattle dog who passed away in August.)

When we got to the grass at the edge of the park, Cesar said they could all have a good sniff time now.  The dogs sniffed the grass, ate the grass, did their business, and relaxed.  He suggested that if a walk is 60 minutes, take the first 40 minutes for serious walking, then take 10 minutes to relax, then another 10 minutes serious walking back to the house.

In front of the house, Cesar mentioned that he would like us to work with Sahzi for a few weeks until she is no longer afraid of her house, then he will take her to his Dog Psychology Center in Saugus to socialize her with his pack since she has no social skills.

Then he walked back to his RV for the camera and a very exhausted Sahzi got to go back to her home.

Cesar Rehabilitaties Sahzi, the Beginning

My Beautiful, Quirky Belgian Tervuren named Sahzi

On January 13, 2011, Cesar Millan and the Dog Whisperer crew came to our house in Huntington Beach, California, to film an episode segment.  This blog shares details about our TV adventure.

Cesar is even nicer and more knowledgeable in person.  It was so hard to listen to all his wisdom while your house is filled with eight crew members, cameras, lights, microphones, etc.  I kept finding my mind drifting to thoughts like, “Cesar Milan is here in my house.”  Then I would have to refocus my thoughts and listen to what he was saying.   This was much worse outside when the cameramen are walking backwards in front of you and people are staring and noticing that Cesar Millan is walking your dog.

When the crew arrived at 8:30, they filmed Sahzi doing her silly behaviors, such as being afraid of hallways, her water dish, and the piano.  She obliged like a true starlet, although she was not afraid of the stairs today.

They interviewed me in the kitchen and asked me lots of questions about my dog-owner background and Sahzi.  Mike had to stay secluded upstairs while they did this so he wouldn’t hear my answers.

They interviewed Mike in his man-cave (formerly known as the living room), asking similar but different questions.  I also had to go upstairs so I wouldn’t hear.

Then after rearranging some furniture, Cesar arrived and asked, “How may I help you today?”  We talked for about 30 minutes while they filmed.

They all went to lunch and gave us and Sahzi an hour or so break.  It’s about 12:30 and we started at 8:30.

At about 1:30, we welcome Cesar to our home, again, and he starts working with Sahzi.  First he asks if she is play or food motivated.  Since she could care less about eating, I say play.  Using a tennis ball, Cesar shows me how to divert and reward her while I play the piano.  He mocks, in a friendly and funny way, what I’m doing wrong until I do it correctly.

Then we start walking Sahzi through the scary hallways of the house.  Cesar brings his pit bull Junior inside to help.  Junior and Sahzi are tied together with a leash.  Sahzi stops and Junior can’t tug her through the hallway.  Cesar works with Junior until he can lead Sahzi through.  Then she graduates to human leadership and finally to my leadership.

We then move to scary hallway #2, the “cat room” (formerly known as my mom’s room, the music room, or the back bedroom), and the kitchen.  This probably takes us more than an hour, but Sahzi is doing marvelously.

Because Sahzi is so timid and insecure, he never once shushes her with that normal sound he makes.  When she shows little success, we are taught to reward her lavishly with affection.  I mention how different this is that what I see him do normally on TV.  He mentions that this is why people shouldn’t try complicated training at home because they don’t always know what works for some dogs.

During a short break for the crew, Cesar sits with us and jokes with us.  He’s really funny.   An example, I mention some of the training materials a dog trainer used this summer like Feta Cheese and Whipped Cream.  Cesar laughs and then starts envisioning broadening his dog supply product empire with Cesar Millan Feta Cheese and Cesar Millan Whipped Cream.

When the crew is rested, we take a few more in-close shots:  me playing piano chords, Sahzi and Spatz hanging out together, wiggling my fingers in the one water dish she will drink from.

Then we go for a walk in the park, just me, Mike, Sahzi, Cesar, the director, two camera men, one sound man with a boom mic, and one or two others.  Everyone stares and gapes as they recognize Cesar.

We walk by the dog park to try to get some dogs to “fence fight” but only a few of the small dogs oblige which we all agree is typical.

When we return to the house, Cesar mentions that he wants us to work daily with Sahzi on decreasing her fears around the house with the hallways and the piano.  Once she is less fearful in her own home, she will be ready to come to his Dog Psychology Center in Saugus, California (near Magic Mountain in Santa Clarita).  Once she is more confident, he will teach her dog social skills for one or two weeks at the center.

Then Mike and I return to the Cone of Silence while they debrief Cesar on camera.  Then Cesar signs copies of his book which I purchased for me and Grant, Chad, and Lisa.  His crew takes some pictures.  Sahzi is too exhausted to participate in that activity.

After Cesar leaves, they debrief Mike and I together with a new angle in the house and more rearranged furniture.  They collect their equipment and leave.  We flop on the couch, exhausted, with Sahzi.

Details to follow.