This always confuses me. I don't see his methods as force at ALL. Not remotely. Can you explain what you mean. He uses energy,attitude, and distraction, not force. He seldom even touches the dogs, and when he does it is just a slight touch. I understand that it is not a reward training, but I don't see the only methods as reward and force, or positive and negative.

He does use a positive/reward method, IMO, but the reward is peace and affection, not cookies.

When I think of "force" training, I think of those trainers of the past who would encourage people to throw the dogs to the ground, hold the neck tight, and have a stare down, or the rolled up newspaper, etc. Not sounds and body language.

I'd spay her. If you are not planning to breed her, what would be the point of keeping her intact?

And, I gotta tell ya, the day one of my dogs growled at my husband over the bed.. or couch or whatever, that'd be the day the DOG was in the other room, NOT my husband. {of course, my dogs sleep in their kennel, but ….}

there are better breeds for families and children, i dont think this is one of >>them.

I think it depends, really, on how things are handled with the Basenji and the children and of course, the individual dogs. Maybe a little on how dominance is established with the dog.
We have six children and they all have friends, and my friends have babies and young children. Our Basenji has proven to be a good dog with kids of all ages.

So, please, if you want a Basenji and have or plan to have kids, study up on the breed and how to work with them. You can have a happy family that includes a well-behaved Basenji member!

His methods work for my dogs as well…not just the B's.
The "poke" is really just a touch, as is the "kick". I NEVER strike my dogs
in any way.

One of my sisters has been training horses and dogs for .... well, geez, as long as I can remember {she's about 12 yrs older than I}... and has always used positive training. She's the one who turned me on to Cesar.

As for him not thinking dogs need affection, I disagree. He believes they need affection at the appropriate times, but he is very affectionate with his dogs, and encourages affection toward those he trains once they are in a calm state of mind.

But, as has been said, this really is a case of agree to disagree. And that's okay,too.

You know, I watched that show for the first time this weekend after hearing about it here, and now I really don't get it.

There was a small, aggressive dog that wanted to attack every dog it saw at parks, etc. The solution was to take the dog to a park, and walk it rapidly toward another dog and then turn quickly w/out a sound to the dog, and begin to walk back in the opposite direction. The result was that the little dog was jerked around and dragged – while it was still trying to turn to get to the other dog -- along behind the walker. First the instructor did it a few times, then the owner.

How is that NOT rough training? How is that NOT tugging or pulling?

I guess we all see in these methods what we expect to see. As I've said before when it's been said that Cesar Milan "pokes" or "kicks" the dogs that these are just gentle touches -- there's not hard poke, just a touch the neck; no kick, just a touch w/the foot -- which are methods I use w/my own dogs.
I certainly saw punishment and pulling w/the lady from "It's me or the dog", but apparently others view that differently as well.

Again, this really is an "agree to disagree" moment because I really do not understand....

@Quercus:

You can justify it all you want. A HUGE body of trainers and animal professionals disagree with CM's methods (particularly for aggressive and fearful dogs). A large number of TV watchers and pet owners feel he has the right idea….Again, I prefer to do no harm when training my dogs, or my clients...IOW, I don't want to make problems that I will have to fix later...

This is the only part of what was written that I take offense with.

It implies – at least to me -- that only "pet owners" will approve of Milan's methods, while experienced "trainers" will not. It feels like there's a label of ignorance placed on those who approve of his methods. Obviously people who just "own" pets as opposed to "training" just don't have a clue.

Well, there is also huge body of trainers and animal professionals who approve of Cesar's methods and who have been using them successfully since long before he came on the TV scene. As I have said before, it was my sister a very experienced and successful horse/dog trainer since the 1970's, who first turned my attention to the TV show. And again, neither she, nor I have ever or will ever "do harm" to any of the animals we work with.

I can agree to disagree all day w/no hard feelings. Different strokes for different folks, etc.
Whether or not you agree w/his methods is one thing. But Thinly-veiled Insults of those who disagree is entirely another.