V's Pick #49: Be The Pack Leader by Cesar Milan

Sadie's foster recommended reading Milan and while I was skeptical at first because of his TV fame, I figured as the owner of a puppy who still doesn't get why pooping our closet isn't okay, I didn't have a lot to lose beyond maybe another pair of shoes.

While this book isn't about dogs like Sadie, who just have mild little manner issues and general puppy learning curves, it is an incredible read about humans' roles in dogs lives. And very unexpectedly, it's also about a lot of the problems we have as humans in our own lives.

Here are some highlights:

"Without being in touch with our instinctual side, we are dangerously unbalanced" (4).

"Dogs live in the moment. Dogs are happiest being dogs; they should not be replacement children, spouses, etc. Discipline and punishment are different; discipline is order" (45).

"The way I see it, most animal abuse comes from unbalanced human emotions and our own repressed negative emotions" (70).

"In many ways, dogs are neotenized wolves" (183).

"Humans often seek extra drama in their lives to complicate things. A balanced animal knows that life provides enough drama already" (186).

"I like to explain dog submission and open-mindedness" (223).

Urging dog owners to get their own houses in order (no pun intended) before they write off their "bad" pets, Milan writes a Zen approach to god companionship. While I still don't think his word is final, I totally agree that "calm-assertive" energy is what one needs to connect with a dog...and college students, if you want the truth. I feel like I possibly learned as much about teaching humans from this book as I did dogs and the major take-home was that in all the lessons, the big picture was to relax and be firm.

In just a few days since reading this book, I've almost taught her "down," she's had only one accident, went from TOTALLY freaking out during her baths to being only barely displeased and perhaps the coolest...is a whole new being in my eyes. As she snoozes next to my feet, I now see her not only as our loving little puppy with an knack for agility and maybe someday, locksmithing... but as this incredible machine of an animal, capable of so much more than even I.

I'm not going to go out and buy his collars, but I will say, Milan's place in my pack has risen greatly too.