Attention proud dog parents, old and new! It’s time for some tough love courtesy of renowned canine expert Cesar Millan.
“Many of my clients like to just do affection, affection, affection,” he says. “That’s good for the dog’s heart, but you also need to provide for the body and the mind. So, give your dog exercise and activities that will stimulate them. And remember to discipline. Once you’re providing all your dog’s needs, the dog is going to be well behaved and happy.”
Millan certainly knows his ruff stuff. Widely known for his Emmy-nominated series “Dog Whisperer With Cesar Millan,” Millan — who founded a dog rehab complex in Los Angeles in 2002 — has written multiple books on dog behavior, makes instructional videos and currently hosts “Cesar Millan: Better Human Better Dog” on National Geographic. (By the way, he has 20 dogs on his ranch.)
In his spare time, Millan also develops dog products and gadgets. He recently co-created the new AI-driven Halo Collar 3, which acts like a wireless and invisible fence system for your pooch. By connecting the collar to the Halo app on your phone, you can keep tabs on your dog’s location via GPS and monitor your dog’s activity level. And, instead of a shock, the collar uses customizable sound, vibration or feedback to alert the dog to turn around when they approach a fence boundary (you set the perimeter via the app). “I describe it as helping with rules, boundaries and limitations,” Millan explains. “These three elements are what makes a dog essentially behave. When humans don’t do this, the dog can become aggressive and fearful.”
In between filming the new season of his show, Millan shared his dog essentials list with CNN Underscored.
“This is a must,” Millan says. “And that goes, especially if your dog has a coat that sheds. You don’t want too much fur in the house!” The dual-sided brush with a nonslip handle features metal bristles to remove loose topcoat hair, tangles and debris, and boar’s hair bristles to smooth and shine the coat.
Beyond the typical pee-and-poop strut around the block, Millan recommends that dogs get a longer daily walk or hike (preferably in the morning). “It’s important for a dog to exude energy before they just do nothing for the rest of the day,” he explains. He also advises attaching a harness backpack to carry the essentials. “It makes them feel useful, and it challenges the mind,” he says. His favorite from Ruffwear has a padded handle, five points of adjustment for comfort and mesh pockets.?
“A ball is the best,” Millan says. “I like this one because it bounces, it’s fast, it can float, it can go in the water and get dirty. It’s durable!” Best of all, when a dog knows to chase and play with the toy, they’re expending the right energy: “It’s not good for a city dog to have that hunting mentality and be outside running after squirrels and birds. A ball is a good redirect.”?
No ordinary leash, this nylon and rubber slip-on from Millan’s own product line is specialized for training. With its extended length, it allows humans to have greater control and make quick and gentle corrections to a dog during a walk. “For a dog, a leash should mean follow, stop and park,” he says, adding that the dog should learn to stop when the leash is pulled high.
During mealtime, Millan prefers a metal bowl over not-so-fantastic plastic. “It’s better for hygiene and just easier to clean,” he says. If you’re looking to replace your plastic bowls with metal ones, these bowls are constructed from rustproof stainless steel and have a silicone base at the bottom to reduce movement while eating. Another piece of advice from Millan: Toss a half-slurped bowl because “most dogs throw water back, so a lot of it is saliva.”
Because you wouldn’t trek out in snowy and icy weather in bare feet, right? “I’ll put boots on my dogs if it’s really cold — or really hot,” Millan says. He likes the Ruffwear products, as the insulated and water-resistant shoes are designed for warmth, traction (rubber soles!) and protection even in ultra-treacherous conditions.?
Millan spent three years working on this high-tech collar, which first hit the market in 2017. “We called it a halo because it’s like a blessing,” says Millan, who provides a training video program for the product. “It will protect your dog anywhere in the world, especially in new places. They won’t get lost if they wander too far.” The new version features an up-to-date GPS and tracker.?
