Reasons The Dog Whisperer Is Fake

It's almost impossible to talk about dog training without bringing up "The Dog Whisperer." From 2004 to 2012, the National Geographic reality series captivated audiences all over the world thanks to host Cesar Millan's unique "tough love" approach to training. The show's popularity spurred several follow-up series, including "Cesar 911," which aired from 2014 to 2018, and "Better Human, Better Dog" which began in 2021. It also propelled Millan to celebrity status and cemented him as a cultural icon.

Despite its success, "The Dog Whisperer" has come under criticism numerous times. With the rise of positive reinforcement training, the show's approach to dog training remains under scrutiny, even years after the final episode aired. Others have raised questions about Millan's qualifications (and the lack of professional training experts on set) and to what degree the editing on "The Dog Whisperer" dramatizes the events. There are also some legal controversies that have some wondering if the cool and calm Cesar Millan is all that he says. In any case, there is plenty of reason to believe the show isn't an accurate representation of how to best train your dog.

Although every episode "The Dog Whisperer" comes with a pop-up informing viewers not to try the techniques at home, Cesar Millan's positioning as an expert has raised some concerns. Millan is a self-taught dog trainer and doesn't hold any professional training certifications or degrees in animal psychology. After immigrating to the U.S. in 1990, he started a business centered around 'rehabilitating' dogs with behavior issues; a service he distinguishes from traditional dog training. This quickly became popular within celebrity circles, leading Millan to become friends with stars such as Jada Pinkett Smith. As his popularity grew, Millan was approached by the National Geographic Channel in 2004 to create "The Dog Whisperer".

Despite this clarification, some professionals in the dog training world find the show's framing of Millan as an authority on dog behavioral management questionable. Certified animal behavior consultant (CABC) Steve Dale, who has appeared on numerous TV and radio shows to discuss dog behavior and training explains, "Millan has himself told me his training methods aren't replicable" as a reason to be wary of what is presented on the show. This revelation underscores the lack of scientific evidence to back them up Millan's training style. It seems some viewers agree with this sentiment, with one writing on Dog Forums, "having a lot of dogs isn't really a qualification to be a dog trainer." Dale's concern continues, stating that viewers are still likely to attempt Millan's techniques at home, despite the warnings, because of how they're presented as quick and effective.

Millan also did not mind being presented as an expert despite his lack of on-paper qualifications. In 2013, one trainer at Northeast School for Dogs wrote in a blog post that they had attended one of Millan's training workshop, where the latter spoke about dog psychology. Even if the show credits include a disclaimer, that clearly wasn't the image Millan was trying to present. 

The other clue that "The Dog Whisperer" might not be all that it seems is in the training. The show often features methods such as flooding, a controversial training technique that works by exposing a dog to a stimulus or fear until they are overwhelmed by it, leading to a breakdown. According to Canine Scholars, this approach can sometimes be effective. However, it can also backfire when performed without expert supervision. It can also lead to increased behavioral issues instead of solving them. Yet Millan's way always seems to work for him, even though it is not backed by science and goes against the advice of veterinarians.

Andrew Luescher, a veterinarian and board-certified animal behaviorist, expressed his concern with Millan sharing these techniques on The Animal Behavior Network. Luescher states, "Most of the theoretical explanations that Millan gives regarding causes of the behavior problems are wrong." The animal welfare group American Humane also wrote a letter to "The Dog Whisperer" in 2006 expressing concerns over how the animals on the show were treated. In a now-deleted post, they wrote that Millan, "does a disservice to all the show's viewers by espousing an inaccurate message about what constitutes effective training and appropriate treatment of animals."

Some fans of the show have also vocalized concern over Millan's questionable training techniques. One blogger called The Crossover Trainer claimed that their dog was placed in a shock collar during their time at Millan's dog psychology facility in LA. They added that their dog also had damage to their eye, but never received clear answers about what happened from any of Millan's team.

It's well-known that reality TV shows are often heavily edited. Dramatic music is added and clips are altered to make a problem look more serious. However, in the context of "The Dog Whisperer," overly edited clips may make certain training techniques look more effective than they are, which can create unrealistic expectations for viewers. What could be a long and in-depth training process that may take several months for very specific issues can be made to look like it's fixed in a day.

In 2014, Certified dog trainer Scott Sheaffer examined several clips from "The Dog Whisperer" and wrote a blog post expressing suspicion about how the show was edited. He noted that the dogs on the show, "appear to be deliberately taunted for the cameras," a tactic that could be used to heighten the drama for the viewer, allowing Millan to be framed as a hero. In one clip, he pointed out a dog that appeared to be incredibly anxious with chattering teeth, highlighting that this is usually not how dogs present anxiety unless it is extreme. He also noted that the presence of the camera crew could add to the potential stress for the dogs, making things worse.

Given Cesar Millan's lack of formal training, you'd think the production team would be extra cautious about how they handle other animals. However, one 2016 episode of Millan's other series, "Cesar 911" has us wondering if anyone on the either series knew what they're doing.

During the episode Millan included a live pig as part of a dog training session. The goal was to "desensitize" the dog to the animal and train them to ignore it, because it had previously attacked two other pets. However, the dog instead bit the pig's ear, causing it to bleed.

The clip quickly went viral, spurring public outrage and a petition to cancel the show. The clip and Millan were then investigated by Los Angeles Animal Control. In the end, the act was determined to be unintentional, allowing both the show and Milan to avoid animal cruelty charges. However, the clip brought Millan and the show's training techniques into question and put them under harsh scrutiny.

Despite the "The Dog Whisperer" controversies, Cesar Millan managed to keep his reputation somewhat intact. However, that changed in 2021 when he faced a lawsuit that brought his and the show's credibility into question. Per TMZ, Gymnast Lidia Matiss filed a claim which alleged that Junior, one of Millan's dogs, had attacked her during a visit to one of his offices in 2017. Matiss also claimed that Junior was already known to be dangerous, and alleged that the dog also attacked and killed one of Queen Latifah's dogs. She claimed that the crew of the show was then instructed to create a story that Latifah's dog had instead been run over and killed by a car.

At the time of writing, Queen Latifah has not filed any formal charges against Millan, nor has she released any official statements about the alleged mauling. According to The Blast the case was settled out of court in 2022, with the show and Cesar Millan denying responsibility (via Yahoo News). However, the negative press got viewers talking, with some individuals on Reddit calling the trainer and the show a fraud. 

"The Dog Whisperer" and its spin-off shows have been put under a lot of scrutiny by trainers and animal behaviorists. As with most reality TV shows, it's best to understand that careful editing can make techniques look more effective or things more dramatic than they really are. If you are looking for ways to train your dog, seek out a certified professional and watch out for red and green flags in their dog training techniques.