Table Of ContentAlso by CESAR MILLAN with Melissa Jo Peltier
Cesar’s Way:
The Natural, Everyday Guide to Understanding and Correcting Common Dog
Problems
Be the Pack Leader:
Use Cesar’s Way to Transform Your Dog … and Your Life
A Member of the Family:
Cesar Millan’s Guide to a Lifetime of Fulfillment with Your Dog
How to Raise the Perfect Dog:
Through Puppyhood and Beyond
Cesar’s Way Deck:
50 Tips for Training and Understanding Your Dog
Cesar’s Way Journal:
A Resource and Record Book for Dog Owners
Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan:
The Ultimate Episode Guide by Jim Milio and Melissa Jo Peltier Puppyhood
Deck: 50 Tips for Raising the Perfect Dog
The techniques presented in this book are for informational purposes only. As each individual
situation is unique, you should use proper discretion, in consultation with a professional dog
expert, before utilizing the information contained in this book. The author and publisher
expressly disclaim responsibility for any adverse effects that may result from the use or
application of the information contained in this book.
Copyright © 2010 by Cesar Millan and Melissa Jo Peltier All rights reserved.
Published in the United States by Crown Archetype, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a
division of Random House, Inc., New York.
www.crownpublishing.com
Crown Archetype with colophon is a registered trademark of Random House, Inc.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Millan, Cesar.
Cesar’s rules : your way to train a well-behaved dog / Cesar Millan with Melissa Jo Peltier.—1st
ed.
p. cm.
1. Dogs—Training. 2. Dogs—Psychology. 3. Dog owners—Psychology. I. Peltier, Melissa Jo. II.
Title.
SF431.M628 2010
636.7′0835—dc22 2010024379
eISBN: 978-0-30771688-0
Illustrations by Victoria Parr; see this page for photograph credits
v3.1_r1
I dedicate this book to my sons, Andre and Calvin, because I want them to learn that
many different people from varying experiences can come together for the common good.
As a father, I want to train my kids to know that they can have a meeting of the minds
with people who might come from different belief systems than they do. I want them to
always keep their minds open to new ideas and knowledge, because only with an open
mind can we change the world for the better. I don’t want to leave my boys great material
wealth. I want to bequeath them a wealth of knowledge so they become men of integrity
with the power to transform their world.
CONTENTS
Cover
Other Books by this Author
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Meet the Trainers
Chapter 1: THOSE MAGICAL AMERICAN DOGS
My Evolution from Training Dogs to Training People
Chapter 2: THE BASICS OF BALANCE
The Foundation of Training
Chapter 3: REWARDS, PUNISHMENT, AND EVERYTHING IN
BETWEEN
Is There a “Right” Way to Train a Dog?
Chapter 4: CESAR’S RULES FOR A TEACHABLE DOG … AND A
TRAINABLE HUMAN
Chapter 5: HONOR THE ANIMAL
Lessons from Hollywood Animal Trainers
Chapter 6: LOSING THE LEASH
Dr. Ian Dunbar and Hands-Off Dog Training
Photo Insert
Chapter 7: A WORLD OF WAYS TO BASIC OBEDIENCE
Step-by-Step Instructions
Chapter 8: BASIC INSTINCTS
How Dogs Teach Us
For More Reading and Research
Notes
Photograph Credits
About the Author
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
First and foremost, I want to thank all the people—the trainers, the
behaviorists, the academics, and all the other experts—who generously
contributed their expertise and knowledge to this book, including Bob
Bailey, Michael Broffman, Bonnie Brown-Cali, Patrick Burns, Dr. Alice
Clearman, Martin Deeley, Barbara De Groodt, Dr. Ian Dunbar, Kelly
Gorman Dunbar, Mark Harden, Katenna Jones, Karen Rosa, Joel
Silverman, Jerome Stewart, and Kirk Turner, among others.
It has always been my dream to bring together people who might not
always agree with one another and work with them to find a balanced
approach. The fact that we’ve accomplished that with this book proves
that most dog people really want to do what is best for dogs and the
planet at large. That has a lot of meaning for other people in the world,
especially children. I hope all the experts listed above feel proud and
happy that we all found a way to become calm and submissive with one
another so together, we can honor what dogs have to teach us: that it’s
not about a breed, or a race, or a type of training, or a school of thought
—it’s ultimately about what’s best for the pack. When a pack of dogs
needs one another to better their environment, they find a common
ground. They find a way to survive by coming together, not pulling
apart. Together, all the experts in this book are going to lead by
example, and that’s going to create an amazing ripple effect in the
world.
My friend Martin Deeley, executive director of the International
Association of Canine Professionals, was instrumental in helping me pull
together such an illustrious collection of professionals. Thank you,
Martin, for reaching out and believing in me long before anyone else in
the professional training world ever did. I also want to thank the board
of directors of the American Humane Association for sitting down with
me to discuss where our many similarities and shared goals might
overcome our differences.
It’s also important for me to acknowledge the fans of many of the
experts who appear in this book, because people like Dr. Ian Dunbar
have their own fans and supporters who might not agree with me. My
goal is for them to understand that this is for the greater good. This is
not about enhancing one person’s career but about improving the lives
of all dogs and owners, broadening the perspective of humans, and
showing people that there are many different ways to achieve balance.
I’m very grateful that these amazing, experienced, educated people all
shared their wisdom with us. This is not about making me more
successful; it’s about me contributing what I can to be part of a greater
pack. And I’m very grateful and I’m honored to be a part of the
illustrious pack that’s represented within these pages. As always, my co-
author and I want to thank our literary agent, Scott Miller, of Trident
Media Group; and Julia Pastore, Shaye Areheart, Tina Constable, Maya
Mavjee, Kira Walton, Domenica Aliota, and Tara Gilbride at Random
House.
Melissa Jo Peltier wishes to thank: my partners at MPH, Jim Milio and
Mark Hufnail, as well as everyone else at MPH and CMI who gave 150
percent to make this book possible—artist Victoria Parr, researchers
Crystal Reel, Shanna Sletten, Lindsay Taub, and Jackie Younce, and
especially Ben Stagg, who went above and beyond to meet this new and
daunting challenge.
All of the diverse trainers represented in this book gave up many
hours on the phone, via e-mails, and in person to help us make this as
comprehensive a guide as possible, especially Bob Bailey, Ian Dunbar,
Kirk Turner, and, of course, Martin Deeley. Their breadth of knowledge
and willingness to candidly discuss their differing opinions on dog
training was an enlightening and a once-in-a-lifetime education for me.
Thanks also to Dr. Alice Clearman for her wise perspective and
assistance.
As always, my heart belongs to my husband, John Gray, whose
support makes possible everything I do.
