Binding: Hardcover
Label: Harmony
Manufacturer: Harmony
Publication Date: 2006-04-04
Publisher: Harmony
Studio: Harmony

Customer Rating:
Summary: A wonderful first book
Comment: Cesar Millan's and Melissa Jo Peltier's first collaboration is hopefully the first of many fruitful collaborations.

In this book, Millan explores how his childhood and background led him to develop his philosophy of "Exercise, Discipline, Affection" that has become his personal hallmark of excellence and enabled him to rehabilitate so many dogs with so much success--even those that other noted trainers and behaviorists had marked for euthanization.

Much of the first part of the book dwells on his childhood and upbringing in Mexico, and how his father and grandfather taught him to be a "pack leader" to the dogs on his grandfather's farm. Millan notes that on his grandfather's farm the dogs were tranquil and behaved, whereas on neighboring farms, where no such philosophies of leadership were practiced, dog fights were frequent, and to some extent, even encouraged. Horrified, he retreated into himself and became known as the "perrero" or "dog boy" for preferring dogs to humans.

At 19, realizing that his native Mexico had no opportunities for him, he decided to cross the border to the United States and was smuggled by a "coyote," chest deep through a freezing river for hours at a time, into the United States. While some may choose to condemn Millan for his illegal entry into the United States, it is worth noting that in Mexico, only the extremely wealthy have the means to enter the United States legally; Millan and his family did not have anywhere near the funds to even attempt to enter the United States legally.

As it was, he entered the United States and made his way to Los Angeles, where for the first several years he worked as a dog groomer. He quickly became so successful that clients flocked to the salon where he worked simply to have him work on their dogs; he exerted such a calming and soothing influence that even the most skittish dog would let him clip its nails, trim its whiskers, shampoo its fur, and brush its coat--without blinking an eye and with complete trust in Millan.

Having saved enough money, he decided to make his way to Hollywood to achieve his childhood dream of "becoming the most famous dog trainer in the world." However, he soon realized that his talents lay elsewhere: Millan had a natural talent for canine psychology and behaviorism, despite being uncertificated and undiploma'ed. While some may hold this lack of letters against him, if anything, his lack of formal schooling has given Millan a fierce thirst for knowledge and need to understand--a thirst often witnessed in this book. Millan seeks understanding of both the human and canine condition, which is displayed in the vignettes illustrated in the book.

Having explained his childhood and background motivations, Millan thus explains the foundations behind his philosophy of "Exercise, Discipline, Affection" and why it works as well as it does. Here, he shows more examples from his private practice as well as in-depth examples from the show.

All in all, this is a wonderful introduction to Cesar Millan's Way--as well as to the man himself. I highly recommend this book, and hope that Amazon offers the book again soon.

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