Cesar Millan: "Dogs live in the moment"

Dog coach Cesar Millan (48) dedicates his new stage program to all stages of a dog's life: from the moment his four-legged friend joins the family to the moment he says goodbye. In an interview with event., the Mexican told us how he became a dog whisperer and what fascinates him about his job to this day.

event: Cesar Millan, how did you become interested in dogs?
Cesar Millan: Animals fascinate me. I think it's wonderful that there are birds, horses, dogs and cats! Because all people are looking for a relationship based on mutual respect, trust and love. I grew up on a farm in Mexico. Seeing dogs on a leash was foreign to me. It was normal for me and our neighbors to run around freely with several groups of dogs.

How did you manage to become a well-known dog whisperer?
I owe a lot of that to the actress Jada Pinkett Smith - she is my client and now also a good friend of mine. She sent me a teacher so that I could master the English language better. This gave me more clients and orders, as I was able to explain my energy concept and other methods better and express myself more effectively.

Your stage program is about the relationship between people and dogs. What is the most important rule when dealing with our four-legged friends?
It's important to know that dogs won't follow a person and won't take them seriously if the person themselves is unstable and not self-confident. Unfortunately, many people set the wrong priorities. They think too much and give too much weight to material value and financial status. In the animal world, however, it is all about feeling alone. You have to be aware of your feelings, even if you are feeling bad, it is important to at least be aware of them.

Do dogs have a better sense of feelings than humans?
Yes, they know exactly what is going on when they are in a hospital, for example. Because they can sense when the people there are not feeling well. That's why they don't ask how you are feeling, of course, but simply make you feel better. They are therefore considered good therapists. Because they only focus on how you feel. Because the only thing they want is for us to feel good.

How can we achieve this?
When I immigrated to the USA from Mexico, I realized that I didn't have to train the dogs, but the people, so that they would recognize the dogs' needs. If a dog is fearful or aggressive, it's often not the dog's fault, but the owner's fault. I have to explain to dog owners that their dog will only change if they themselves are prepared to change.

What do dogs have over us humans?
They live in the moment and never hold grudges. They can also let go more easily than we humans can.

CESAR MILLANLIVE
Sat April 28, 2018, Hallenstadion Zurich
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