Cesar Millan: Better Human Better Dog (2021–…): Season 1, Episode 7 - Twin Trouble - full transcript
Cesar works with a Mexican breed close to his heart when he rehabilitates twin dogs whose over-excited behavior has put their owner at risk of eviction from her apartment building. Later, an actress turns to Cesar for help with an overprotective pint-sized pooch that's creating too much drama of her own.
CESAR (off-screen): When I
started my journey and people
started calling me
the dog whisperer,
the only thing I wanted to
do was to teach people that
there's no such
thing as a bad dog.
WOMAN: Oh, my God!
CESAR: Give me the leash!
She's safer with me.
CESAR (off-screen): Today, I'm
still doing what I love, but the
pandemic has changed the world.
(indistinctive chatter).
Dog adoptions have
hit a record high.
The good news is dog
shelters are empty.
The bad news is people.
Still. Need. Help.
WOMAN: He
doesn't listen to me.
WOMAN 2: Like,
the problem is me.
MAN: What do I do?
CESAR (off-screen): Mo' pooches,
mo' problems, right?
This is why he
doesn't listen to you.
MAN 2: No.
CESAR: So many things
you can fix already.
MAN: Sorry, sorry!
CESAR: Ignore the excitement.
GIRL: I just don't
want you to get bit.
CESAR: Do you know who I am?
CESAR (off-screen): Together,
with my superhero pack, our
mission is to teach the world
to honor the "pack code"
honesty, integrity, and loyalty.
Once you get this, you
gonna have everything else!
CESAR: And that's how
we create better humans
and better dogs,
one pack at a time.
NARRATOR: Cesar is on his way
to help two dogs whose
aggression and destructive
behavior could lead
their owner to be
forced from her home.
ERICA: Hi, I'm Erica Navarro.
And this is my boyfriend Tony,
and these are my dogs,
Papi and Chulo.
This is, this is my life.
I would say Chulo's
more geared to loving me.
TONY: He's more
of a momma's boy.
ERICA: He's definitely
a momma's boy.
Papi just wants
to be around Tony.
(inaudible).
What attracted me
to this particular breed is
that they came from Mexico.
I'm Mexican-American, so I
felt a connection to the dogs.
TONY: They're very spoiled.
ERICA: These dogs are
very spoiled because of me.
TONY: Extremely spoiled.
If we go to a store, 100%
she's going to buy them
something.
And I'm like, "Dude,
they have at least 20-30
chew toys a piece."
ERICA: No, they don't.
TONY: Yes, they do.
ERICA: There was no
issues until later on.
Then, my world
turned upside down.
TONY: They were aggressive.
ERICA: They're chaos.
Doesn't matter what it is, if
they see a dog then they try
to go for him.
Hey! Hey, no!
TONY: Hey. Quiet.
ERICA: Because of that,
walking them on a leash
is very difficult.
It's a tug of war between
me and the both of them.
TONY: Stay. Sorry.
Go. Sorry!
ERICA: They've
pulled me to the ground.
I've gotten scrapes,
bumps and bruises.
You name it.
Papi.
TONY: One time, she fell,
and she messed up her knee.
She couldn't walk
for like a week.
ERICA: Papi.
Walking them definitely
can be uncontrollable,
but I can't trust the dogs
to be at home by themselves.
Come on.
Get down.
Get down.
Anytime I go out, they
end up being very
destructive in the house.
TONY: Baseboards,
dry wall, tables.
ERICA: Coffee tables.
TONY: Coffee tables.
ERICA: I was happy with
them as puppies because
they were really perfect,
but then their behavior
started to change when
I had an incident.
I was taking them
to the dog park.
There was two
huskies in there.
One of the dogs hit the
latch on the gate, got
out, then grabbed Chulo
by the back of the neck
and tried shaking him.
So I then jumped on
the dog and, you know,
got him off of Chulo.
And, unfortunately, he did
scratch his face really bad.
We were all traumatized by it.
After the incident, Chulo's
been more aggressive to dogs,
and Papi tends to
follow suit of Chulo.
If he acts bad or
does something bad,
then you know, Papi,
of course, chimes in
and does the same thing.
Chulo starts lunging and Papi
starts lunging because I
think that they have the fear
that they may get
attacked again.
I am afraid, and I hate
going to the dog park
because of the behavior
that the twins exhibit.
No! Leave it!
Where I live, we don't
allow aggressive dogs.
If Cesar's not able to
help us, we do risk the
chance of being evicted,
which is my biggest fear.
CESAR: All right.
So the next case I'm
about to work with
I'm very excited
about it, very proud.
It brings a lot of
memories to me because
I had one of them,
and it's part of what I'm from.
It's Mexico, and
they're called Xolos
or Xoloitzcuintlis.
Some people know them as the
Mexican hairless dog, but
these guys come all the way
from the ancient times of the
Aztecs times, and they were
called "the dog of Gods."
So we're on our way to
help make sure these
Xolos represent Mexico
the right way.
ERICA: Come on.
CESAR: There they are.
ERICA: Come on.
Hey! Hey! Leave it.
Leave it.
Come on.
Hey! Chulo!
Hey! Chulo! Hey!
No. Come on.
CESAR: Hey, guys.
TONY: Hey, man.
ERICA: Hello.
CESAR: How you doing?
ERICA: Not so good.
CESAR: I see.
ERICA: They've
been more aggressive.
Hey! Hey! Hey!
Leave it.
Leave it.
Leave it.
Leave it.
Sometimes it's easier
for me to pick him up
halfway so he can stop.
CESAR: So you get
your workout that way.
ERICA: Yes.
I don't need a gym,
but I need a life.
We need our lives back.
CESAR: Yeah!
Right away, I can see
right away that its
Chulo in the blue collar
who's initiating aggression,
but Papi in the red collar
joins right in.
They trigger each other.
This is actually really
common among littermates
like Papi and Chulo.
And Erica and Tony make it
worse by holding them back,
which just causes them
to struggle more.
ERICA: I'm the woman that
walks down the street
and everyone crosses
because they see them.
CESAR: They're developing a bad
reputation my brothers here.
ERICA: Yes.
CESAR: You know, just to
get a better assessment
of what I'm doing here,
can I put some cameras
inside your house, so I
can see how bad it gets?
ERICA: Okay.
Yeah, absolutely.
CESAR: Let's do it.
Chulo and Papi are only 11
months old, and they're only
going to become stronger.
Erica and Tony can barely
control the dogs as it is.
This problem is just
going to get worse.
Let me give you some walkies
so we can have communication
to each other.
In just the few minutes
I've spent with them,
I've seen the dogs
acting up on the sidewalk,
but Erica tells me they
are just as bad inside.
They are destroying
everything from
couches to the walls,
so I need to see how
Erica handles the dogs
behind closed doors.
All right, Xolos.
I feel like a police
officer in Mexico.
TONY: Come on.
Come here.
CESAR: Hmm.
Cesar for Erica.
ERICA: Erica here.
CESAR: The way you open
the door and you just
let them in like that.
That's normal?
ERICA: For the most part,
yeah, they charge in.
CESAR: She allowed the
dogs to enter the
apartment completely wrong.
It seems like a small thing
for a lot of people, but this
is actually very important.
When they are outside, these
dogs are in total overdrive,
and now she just brought that
outdoor energy inside the house.
The dogs never actually
practice relaxation.
She's keeping dogs excited.
Did one of them
just went on a couch?
ERICA: They're
both on the couch.
CESAR: And they get a treat?
ERICA: Yes. I gave them a
treat on the couch.
CESAR: Well, the couch is
another small issue, but she's
rewarding unruly behavior
by giving them treats
when she should be
teaching good manners.
I'm not saying not to
let him go on the couch.
I'm just saying ask them
to give you distance,
wait for calm surrender,
then invite them.
And then you give affection.
She's just keeping it like
it's a party everywhere.
ERICA: I spoil
them on the couch.
(laughs).
CESAR: Erica. Erica.
ERICA: We're
coming downstairs.
So how bad did we do?
CESAR: Uh, pretty bad.
Your problem is excitement.
ERICA: Okay.
So it's not aggression?
CESAR: It turns
into aggression.
ERICA: Okay.
CESAR: But it starts
coming in through the door.
By bringing that excited
outdoor energy right
into the apartment,
there's no difference in the
dog's mind between inside
and outside behavior.
So for example, outside it's
totally appropriate for dogs
to scrape trees or dig dirt,
but inside, that's
destructive behavior.
She needs to stop
before coming in the door
and only enter once the
dogs are fully relaxed.
So there are rules, you know?
And definitely
inside the house
is a more gentle approach,
calmer approach.
And then you just learn,
once we go home, we relax.
You know, I want her to
understand how calmness
plays a big role in
harmony and in balance.
Now I want to
see the dog park.
ERICA: No, nightmare dog park.
CESAR: Let's go. Yes.
ERICA: Okay.
NARRATOR: The apartment
complex's dog park is where
Chulo was attacked as a puppy.
It's the incident that
began the dogs' downward
spiral of aggression,
and Erica's trauma
about this park has
only grown since then.
CESAR: So this is
the famous dog park.
Oh, it's cute.
ERICA: Yes.
This is the
nightmare dog park.
CESAR: Cute, cute,
cute, cute, cute.
NARRATOR: The complex can evict
any owner whose dog attacks
another dog or
person in the park.
CESAR: Most people think that
dog parks are for exercise.
But actually they're
for socialization.
Playing with other dogs
gives them something that
we humans can't offer.
But it sounds like Papi and
Chulo don't know how to
socialize the right way.
ERICA: I'm very
nervous and fearful
when I go to the dog park
because I have that bad
experience in my mind.
I can't let it go.
No matter how much I try,
I feel like I just have
that negative energy
left in that area.
No.
CESAR: That's normal?
ERICA: Yeah.
Don't know how the
dogs are going to react.
If they're going
to be dominant or...
(barking).
Hey!
ERICA: Hey! Hey!
CESAR: Drag you to it!
ERICA: Be nice.
TONY: Hey. Hey.
(barking).
ERICA: Off. Off.
Leave it!
CESAR (off-screen): Just
like on the streets, these
dogs are in high gear,
ready to attack.
I can't let them into the dog
park with those small dogs
when Erica has no
control over them.
Come over here, all right?
ERICA: Okay.
Come on.
CESAR: Papi and Chulo have
problems inside and outside.
Go, go.
But the dog park is
where it all begins.
It's where they get most
excited, and they take that
energy everywhere else,
including back home.
I have to teach Erica how to
calm them down and interrupt
their constant high energy,
which will solve all of her
problems, indoors and out.
So, I think it would be
great for you guys to come
to the dog psychology center
to teach you and your
dogs a few things.
ERICA: Yes!
CESAR: And just
give you a break.
'cause you are
pretty stressed out.
ERICA: Okay.
CESAR: All right.
Let's go!
Let's get to my ranch.
NARRATOR: Before Erica, Tony and
the Xolos continue their work at
the dog psychology center.
Cesar heads to east
Los Angeles to meet
with an actress
whose dog is causing drama
of her own by constantly
attacking her husband.
JUDY: Hi!
DEAN: Hey!
JUDY: I'm Judy.
CESAR: Hi Judy, pleasure.
DEAN: Hi, I'm Dean.
CESAR: Dean.
Cesar Millan,
nice to meet you.
JUDY: I'm Judy Greer.
DEAN: And I'm Dean Johnson.
And this is Mary Richards.
JUDY: Mary Richards Johnson.
I am an actress in
Hollywood, California.
People know me from
Arrested Development,
a movie called
13 Going on 30.
Every time someone's like,
"I know you, but I don't
know what I know you from."
DEAN: It must be
Marmaduke, right?
It's a great movie starring
Judy Greer and Marmaduke.
The kids going to the
movie were there to
see the dogs, like,
I mean you guys were
important, but like,
it's a dog movie.
JUDY: Don't touch me.
So here's the background
of our little princess.
CESAR: Okay.
How old is she?
JUDY: I think she's five
or six, she's a rescue.
CESAR: Okay.
JUDY: I'm a foster fail.
The rescue picked up a bunch
of puppies that were thrown
out of a car window.
And I went to the
rescue to foster one.
She was so tiny, and so cute!
DEAN: She was like a
cinnamon roll with fur.
JUDY: So we had her for
several weeks before
this big adoption event
was supposed to happen.
It was Friday afternoon, and
my husband, who produces,
Real Time with Bill Maher,
which is a live show in
front of a studio
audience on Fridays,
which is a really busy
day for him, got like a...
DEAN: It's the busiest day.
By far.
JUDY: I called and
called and called, sobbing.
DEAN: "I know you're
very busy, but I don't
want give her back!"
I was like, "Fine!
Let's just keep her."
JUDY: 'Fine, we can keep her,
I have to go!'
So, we got to keep her!
And then...
(barking)
we do the paperwork
to adopt her and then the
second everything was signed,
she, like, started
being crazy to Dean.
Biting him all the time.
Charging at him if
he came near me.
One extra really bad night,
where I thought we were gonna
have to find a new home for her,
he had gotten up to
go to the bathroom,
he came back in bed,
and for whatever reason,
she lunged at him, she bit
him so hard in his chest.
She broke the
skin, he was bleeding.
DEAN: It's like sleeping
with a cobra in our bed.
You just never know.
Do you wanna see
some examples?
Here's just if Judy's
in the guest house.
JUDY: I'm working.
CESAR: She's guarding.
DEAN: Yeah, she will
come after me like that.
CESAR: Yeah, she's guarding.
That's a Pekinese side.
JUDY: Yeah, she's
part Pekinese-Shih Tzu,
I had her DNA tested.
CESAR: Yeah, the
Shih Tzu don't do that,
but the Pekinese
definitely are guard dogs.
JUDY: Oh, really?
CESAR: Yeah.
There's nothing wrong with a
dog being territorial
and protecting his home
and protect his family.
That's normal.
What's abnormal is a dog going
after his own family members.
Why does this dog
doesn't trust Dean?
Why this dog is going
after the pack members?
That's the question that
we need to ask ourselves.
Why?
The walks, how are the walks?
DEAN: Come on, kid.
Wanna go for a walk?
JUDY: She will
run away from him.
DEAN: Will you come
here for a second?
I can't put a leash on her.
(growling).
CESAR: Is she in front,
or next to you, or behind?
JUDY: She's either in front,
or she's sniffing things.
CESAR: Mary is already
territorial around the house,
but the behavior Judy and Dean
are describing on the
walks suggests just
how Mary views them.
So what I'm hearing is
that the order right now is,
she's in control,
you're number two,
he's number three.
You see it?
So, that's
pretty dysfunctional.
JUDY: Oh.
CESAR: Because the dog
is in control of the
house, so you see?
JUDY: Yes.
CESAR: Definitely when
people have little dogs
they have, you know,
this fearful aggressive
behavior they start learning
how to live with it.
It becomes a joke.
But it is serious.
Anytime a dog bites
people it's serious.
DEAN: Is it possible
for someone to love
a dog too much?
JUDY: Oh, my God.
CESAR: Yes.
JUDY: He is jealous, clearly.
DEAN: Your love is
making her and I's
relationship difficult.
CESAR: He's in danger.
DEAN: Yeah, I'm, get
your love in order.
CESAR: Really.
That's right, get
your love in order.
JUDY: Do you want
me to go get her?
CESAR: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
JUDY: Okay, I'll go get her.
CESAR: Let's go.
JUDY: Okay.
CESAR: Show me what
you're talking about.
NARRATOR: First, Cesar
has Judy and Dean play out
a common scenario that
leads to Mary acting out.
JUDY: I'm gonna shut
the door, he'll come out.
CESAR: Yup.
JUDY: Okay.
NARRATOR: When Judy
works in her office,
Mary guards the door
and lashes out at Dean
when he approaches.
JUDY: Stay out here.
Good girl.
NARRATOR: Cesar observes from
a distance so he doesn't
influence Mary's behavior.
CESAR: When Mary sits down
with her back against Judy
she's like actually
guarding the house.
That's what she
thinks Judy wants.
Okay, come on out.
♪ ♪
(barking)
(barking)
DEAN: Just gonna go in here.
♪ ♪
JUDY: Hi!
Hello, little ladybug.
What a good girl you are!
Come on.
CESAR: Okay, come on out.
Mary is exhibiting guarding
behavior, which is typical
of Pekinese dogs.
She interprets Dean's
hesitant approach as
weakness and attacks.
But also, Judy is
essentially telling her that
she wants to be guarded,
because when Mary lashes out,
she's rewarded with baby talk.
JUDY: Baby, cookie dough.
CESAR: So Mary sees, 'when I
guard you, I get affection'.
There's nothing
wrong with affection.
The thing is, you're giving
affection before structure.
DEAN: So when she's
naughty like that,
and then she was like, "Aww."
CESAR: That's right.
She practiced this
territorial behavior.
DEAN: Yeah.
JUDY: And then I rewarded it.
CESAR: And then she goes, you
go up, "I don't see anything
wrong with this."
Stopping Judy from rewarding
bad behavior is a first step.
But just as important is
teaching Dean how his fear
and hesitant approach
are inviting Mary's aggression.
I'm gonna help you
just right here to enter.
If you stand your ground,
she's gonna do this,
"Oh, I don't what to do with
standing ground thing."
DEAN: 'Cause I'm trying
to assure her, like,
"Hey, I'm not here to
hurt you, buddy,
like, I'm cool."
CESAR: Right.
Right, right.
Right.
DEAN: But really,
I should be like.
CESAR: Calm, confident.
DEAN: I need to be
more macho, kind of.
CESAR: More
matador, kinda thing.
DEAN: Yeah.
I gotta bring the.
CESAR: More flamenco.
DEAN: Right.
CESAR: 'Cause right now, it's
more Scooby-Do typa thing.
DEAN: Yeah.
Like, "Don't hurt
me, don't hurt me!"
CESAR: Like
Shaggy from Scooby-Do.
DEAN: Yeah.
Okay, so don't be a
Scooby-Do character.
CESAR: All right, let's
do this exercise again.
BOTH: Okay.
DEAN: I'll go up here?
JUDY: Okay.
CESAR: Yeah.
DEAN: So now, when I come
out, what do I do differently?
CESAR: So once you
communicate you're coming in,
by energy and body language,
she's gonna understand,
oh so I step back.
So you're giving direction.
DEAN: I'm coming,
I got bizness.
Should I try it?
CESAR: Right.
Yup, let's do it!
Calm, confident.
DEAN: I'm gonna just...
(flamenco music plays).
DEAN: I got it.
♪ ♪
CESAR: Don't forget to breathe.
♪ ♪
CESAR: There you go!
(laughs).
JUDY: He was just like I'm
going in that room, like, oh
wow he just really did it.
DEAN: With confidence.
JUDY: Yes!
CESAR: This is really good.
This time, Dean
was much calmer.
He approached with no
hesitation, kept his eyes up
and his arms at his side,
and used his foot to gently
move Mary away from the door.
It was perfection.
NARRATOR: Next Cesar shows
them how Dean can lead the
pack on walks.
It's critical Mary sees
that he is in front of
her in the pack order.
And it starts with teaching
Dean how to leash Mary up.
CESAR: The purpose of a
leash is for two things.
Stop the brain,
move the brain.
DEAN: She does not
like me to leash her up.
JUDY: She'll run away from
him and like come and run
underneath my legs.
CESAR: Well, let me
show you how to do it.
DEAN: Okay.
CESAR: Go 'head.
DEAN: All right, so
I'm just gonna go over
here and get Mary.
CESAR: Yeah.
Yeah, there you go.
DEAN: Let me just go ahead.
CESAR: Very Simple.
Just like when you were
entering the guesthouse
before,
use your body and your
legs to block and move her.
Mm-hmm.
There you go.
She's going, she's
going over there.
Wait, wait.
Look, she's
entering calm surrender.
Reward her by petting her.
Yup.
See, yup.
Lift the head.
Mm-hmm.
Yeah.
So right now, what you're
doing is making her feel proud
of what she's doing.
DEAN: I'm never
really allowed to be
the one to initiate
any sort of social
interaction with her.
She'll scram, but, to be
able to get her to sit
and let me approach her,
that was great!
CESAR: Hold on. Judy,
she's instinctually
hiding, right?
JUDY: Uh-hmm.
CESAR: But if, as soon as
she comes in, and you do that
and then she has to look
for him as a source.
Mary just doesn't know
how to trust anybody
else except Judy.
Judy needs to support
Dean by blocking Mary
from hiding behind her.
That's right, there you go.
DEAN: Mary.
CESAR: Giving Mary no
choice but to accept Dean.
Beautiful, beautiful.
DEAN: Come here.
There we go.
Okay.
CESAR: So Mary is
starting to trust Dean.
She's seeing that, he's
in charge and that Judy
is allowing that.
Now I want to immediately
build on that trust by
going right out on a walk
so Dean can show Mary that
he is the pack leader.
DEAN: Well, let's see
if she comes with me.
CESAR: Oh, she will.
DEAN: Here we go.
CESAR: Yup.
DEAN: Let's just go for a
walk, happy and confident.
JUDY: That has never happens.
CESAR: Yup.
JUDY: She didn't
even look back at me.
CESAR: She's not supposed to.
JUDY: Yes, she is, I
mean, no, she's not.
I've never seen him
do that with her.
DEAN: So, this is awesome!
JUDY: Still not looking!
CESAR: Hey.
Dean took off
like a greyhound.
His energy and
confidence are sky-high.
He's a completely
different person.
See once you move a
little faster, then
she goes in the back.
DEAN: We're just walking
along and it's great.
She's not stopping
and sniffing.
It was fantastic.
CESAR: Right now,
we're on a mission.
DEAN: We're running
the show, not her.
CESAR: Yeah, we're
running the show.
I never seen a person
moving so quick move
to calm confident.
Dean did it natural.
He could be a dog walker
today if he wants to.
JUDY: What is going on!
I felt like he was
the leader of the pack.
DEAN: I felt like the
leader of the pack for once.
It was cool.
Like a mix between Fonzie and...
JUDY: Let's think of
another hip reference.
What a good girl.
That was incredible!
DEAN: I know, it was crazy.
JUDY: I've never
seen that in my life.
DEAN: I know.
CESAR: Can they live
happily ever after,
after this session?
Yes, this is not
a red zone case.
This is just a case of
understanding common sense.
Give affection at the right
time for the right reason.
No more not trusting Dean,
no more biting people.
DEAN: Can you believe this?
JUDY: No, my little girl!
DEAN: It's a miracle!
I'm shocked.
I didn't think we could make
this much progress in one day.
She's a perfect
dog, it turns out.
We're going to have a
great life with Mary Richards.
CESAR: Thank you, brother.
Thank you, thank you.
DEAN: She's going to
be a great happy dog.
JUDY: And, if we can
fix Mary then maybe we
can get another dog.
DEAN: Easy.
JUDY: Good girl, Mary!
NARRATOR: At the dog
psychology center, Erica,
Tony and the twin Xolos
arrive for their first day of
work to stop the aggression
that threatens to evict Erica
from her apartment.
CESAR: This is the
first Xoloitzcuintlis
to come to my place.
I was 13 when I had one.
ERICA: Really?
CESAR: Yes!
In Mazatlan!
Long before I had my boy
Junior here, the dog that I
was most proud during my
childhood in Mexico was a
purebred Xolo named Pedro.
You know, when I was a
little kid, I had a nickname.
They used to
call me El Perrero.
So everybody in Mazatlan
knew that I was that kid
that loved dogs.
But I always had mutts.
So one day, this family had
puppies, they allowed me to
have my first purebred dog,
and it was a Xoloitzcuintli.
But as we're seeing,
even an amazing breed like
this had the same problems
that any dog can have.
But all of these
problems can be fixed.
You're gonna help me, right?
Yep!
That's it for me.
Stay calm.
The very first thing we're
going to do, before I let the
Xolo's near my pack,
is interrupt their
non-stop high
energy mindset.
It might be the first time
that anyone has ever asked
them to calm down.
So right now, what I'm doing
is I am being very gentle,
so that way he's
feeling my calmness.
ERICA: Right.
CESAR: I have to make sure
that they go into a calm
surrender state.
So right now, I want you to
take a look at Mr. Lorenzo.
He's gonna represent another
dog that you would pass on the
streets.
Let's see if the Xolo's can
maintain their calm state.
All good, this is all good.
What I'm saying is, just relax
in front of whatever is
getting you excited.
Now, I'm just riding the
wave on this moment where
he gets a little frantic.
ERICA: Okay.
CESAR: Since Chulo is
the more aggressive one,
it's even more important
to get him to sit and
surrender, before he
starts to wind up Papi.
♪ ♪
♪ ♪
All of that for this.
That's all I wanted.
ERICA: Yeah.
CESAR: But you can't quit
until you get what you
know is good for the pack.
Now that Papi and Chulo are
at zero, they're coming off
to meet my pack.
Erica's going to finally
see them in a calm state
around all the dogs.
Right now, we're just gonna
go straight to dog park.
They're calm now, and I want
to get them into the park
before they get excited again.
He wants to play.
ERICA: Coming up to the
Serengeti dog park,
I was a bit nervous and
anxious 'cause I thought,
"Okay, maybe they're gonna
behave bad or something bad's
gonna potentially happen."
He's doing good!
CESAR: It doesn't matter how
calm Papi and Chulo are when
they enter the dog park.
Once they're inside, they're
gonna get excited again.
So Erica has to learn how to
bring them back down to zero
even with all that
excitement around.
So, one thing that
happens in dog parks is
that they wanna play,
but they definitely come
across a little too strong.
Tscht.
Hey!
ERICA: Oh my gosh, he's
making the puppy cry.
CESAR: At one point, they
started chasing my puppy.
They didn't physically
hurt him and I would
never let that happen.
But I want to teach Papi
and Chulo how to limit
the amount of excitement
you use with little dogs.
Watch it.
Tscht.
This is super important.
Tscht. Tscht.
You see it, you
see that settling?
There you go.
Tscht.
That, that, that's saying,
okay, chasing little puppies,
or chasing dogs?
We don't want that.
So if he gets a
little bit out of control?
Now's your turn, okay.
Once you see that they're
starting to get excited,
you have to intervene
before things go further.
Follow through, it's not done.
He needs to sit and go all
the way to a calm surrender.
If he's keep moving,
he's not done.
ERICA: No, back.
Back. No.
I can't stop him!
CESAR: No more excuses!
It's now or never.
CESAR: You gotta get
that energy where,
when you move, people move.
ERICA: I don't have that!
CESAR: Well, you
gotta get it out!
Erica has a lot of anxiety
about the dog park, because
that's where all these
problems began when
Chulo was attacked.
But she has to put all that
behind in order for her to
take control.
In order for your dogs to
really find that peace, you
have to bring it out.
ERICA: Yeah, okay.
I most certainly lack
assertiveness and
it's not something
that I'm proud of I
definitely I wanna fix.
CESAR: (speaking
native language).
We got to bring the
horse on the outside.
All right, we're
gonna turn up the heat.
This is the foundation
to everything Erica
needs to learn.
So I'm going to have Jaime
bring out Amadeus to test Papi
and Chulo's calmness even more.
She needs to learn
these techniques to
get them calm again.
So it's like.
So you got all
this stimulation.
ERICA: Yeah.
CESAR: And it's
the same response.
Same thing.
TONY: Go 'head.
Go.
Don't be scared,
just go for it.
CESAR: This is the
reason you're here.
You need to get
this right now.
ERICA: Hey.
CESAR: Don't negotiate.
Look, this is just to
push him back, this.
ERICA: To get his attention.
CESAR: Yes.
ERICA: Okay. Hey. Hey!
CESAR: Come on,
that's all you got?
Come on.
Gimme all you got.
Hey, hey.
That's good, that's good.
Come on.
Right, this one, the blue one.
Yes, exactly, like that!
This is good.
ERICA: So this is okay?
CESAR: Yes.
You're not saying not
to be at the fence.
You're telling them how to be.
You're saying calm surrender.
And you control the intensity.
Then they get too far,
you bring 'em back to zero.
ERICA: Okay.
CESAR: Look at that.
Can you give affection again?
Yeah, this is when you do it!
ERICA: Good boy!
CESAR: Yeah.
ERICA: Good boy.
CESAR: Being assertive
doesn't come easy to Erica,
but this is a first step.
These dogs right now
are just teenagers.
Every day that goes by,
they're gonna get stronger.
So she must take control now.
ERICA: I don't want to
run across an issue
where they bite a dog,
or because their
continued aggression
gets so worse that
I have to be kicked out
of where I live in order
for me to keep my dogs
because I'm not gonna
get rid of them,
and that's gonna be my option.
I'm either gonna get a
three-day notice to get rid of
the dogs or I have to move out
and my only option would be
to move out with the dogs.
CESAR: That's why your
homework is so important.
For the next week, I want you
to work on these calming
techniques every day.
Inside and outside.
ERICA: Yeah.
I wanna do whatever
I can on my end.
CESAR: To me, Erica's
fear of the dog park is
her biggest obstacle.
She must overcome her anxiety.
Hopefully, the homework
gives her confidence
to turn the corner with
the dogs and her own fear.
Come on, Xolos.
NARRATOR: For the next week.
ERICA: Sit.
(speaking native language).
NARRATOR: Erica works
daily with Papi and Chulo.
To avoid eviction from her
apartment, she must learn to
fully calm down the dogs when
they are over-excited before
they become aggressive and
destructive.
ERICA: Off.
I came home from work
today to find a letter
posted on my door.
(barking).
It states that their
behavior is unacceptable.
It's reminding me of the
rules and regulations
that we have here.
(barking).
If I get another letter,
we may have to find
another place to live.
I know, what am I
gonna do with you?
CESAR: Please, come on in.
ERICA: Oh my
goodness, let's go boys.
CESAR: Come on in, guys!
NARRATOR: Today, Erica,
Tony and her two Xolos are
back at the ranch.
But before they begin
work, Erica has something
to get off her chest.
ERICA: I do still feel.
CESAR: Okay, tell me, tell me.
ERICA: I do still
feel very nervous.
And fearful.
CESAR: Mm-hmm.
ERICA: Of myself
reverting into the state
of mind that I have.
They're gonna behave like
this, they're gonna be
jumping at the fence,
they're gonna do this.
Same thing with the walks.
Like, I think that I may
revert back to that because
that's my memory lane.
That's my vision.
CESAR: So when I
heard her saying,
"I'm afraid I'm not
gonna be able to do
this at home,"
she's already
defeating herself.
It's just, you know, the
words you say becomes
the house you live in.
That actually
becomes your reality.
She has to get rid of all this
stress and worry or the twins
are never gonna shape up.
This is super important.
ERICA: I do still feel...
CESAR: Okay, tell me, tell me.
ERICA: I am still a bit
nervous and that I won't be
able to fully follow through
at home, where I
struggle the most.
CESAR: Right.
So, I have another activity
that I think will help.
ERICA: Okay.
CESAR: All right, let's go.
CESAR: Erica has a
lot of doubts and insecurities
about her dogs.
She's completely
lost in so many ways.
So today, we're going to do a
simple but profound exercise.
If Erica is lost, I want to
ask her dogs to find her.
Search and Rescue is one
of my favorite activities.
It's the equivalent
of hide and seek.
We are gonna stay here in the
back, she's gonna go hide,
so this is the time
that once they find you,
then they can go crazy,
they can go excited.
ERICA: Then they can jump.
CESAR: 'Cause they find you.
Know what I mean?
ERICA: Yeah, okay.
NARRATOR: While Erica hides
in one of the shelters, the
dogs have to search for her
using only their sense of smell.
When they find her, they have
to work out how to open the
door and rescue her.
CESAR: All right
go find your momma.
♪ ♪
Look at that.
See how they're
going into hunting?
Now they're
looking for their mom.
♪ ♪
Look how they, how they
sweep the mountain like
it's nothing.
Yes!
Yes, yes.
Look at that.
Look, look, look.
He's sending the
signal to his brother.
Look.
See?
♪ ♪
Oh that's good!
That's really good.
As long as they're making
an effort, that's good.
Yeah!
Yes, yes, yes.
ERICA: Hi, baby!
Hi, babies!
CESAR: Get crazy,
go crazy there!
ERICA: You found me!
CESAR: So this activity
gives Erica access to
practice detachment,
to stay calm, to stay
quiet and start working
on her confidence.
And at the same time, when the
dog finds you, just go to the
highest level of excitement:
"Oh my God, I love it!"
Yeah, this is the time.
ERICA: Hi!
CESAR: Get those
tail moving super-fast.
ERICA: Hi, you
found me, good boy!
CESAR: This exercise was
not only a good metaphor
for Erica to find herself
and rediscover
joy with her dogs.
Look at that tail,
look at, he's find
his mom.
There's a
real world
benefit too.
Playing games like this
exhausts the dogs
physically and mentally.
It's another great way to
burn off excess energy and
bring them back to zero.
ERICA: Yeah.
CESAR: Look at that.
That's the outcome!
Look at that.
This is exhausting,
to find our mom.
ERICA: Yes.
CESAR: This is the kind
of work out that dogs
need but just can't get
in a small dog park, which is
for socialization not exercise.
This is how it looks like
when you drain the mind.
ERICA: Yeah.
This is beautiful.
CESAR: Yeah, it's like, they
don't, they don't have
energy to be nervous about.
ERICA: Yeah.
NARRATOR: After a week of
work with Cesar, today, Erica
puts her newly learned skills
to the test in a
final challenge.
CESAR: Her biggest fear
is her apartment complex
can tell her to leave
because her dogs
are not behaving.
If we're gonna stop that from
happening, we have to go back
to where all this first began.
We're here.
ERICA: Yes, we're here
at my nightmare dog park.
NARRATOR: Her apartment's dog
park is where Chulo was
attacked as a puppy.
It led to a downward spiral of
aggressive and destructive
behavior from both the twins
and causes anxiety
for Erica to this day.
CESAR: All right,
let's see it.
ERICA: Okay.
CESAR: Put your
skills to work, Erica.
Skills of calm confidence.
For Erica, the dog park
is where it all began.
But it's also where the dogs
get the most excited and
aggressive.
Then they'll take all
that aggression to the
sidewalk and back home.
If Erica can calm the dogs and
stop that overexcitement, that
will eliminate not only their
problems in the park,
but their destructive
energy back home.
They'll re-enter the apartment
in a calmer state, and if they
do get worked up inside,
she knows exactly how to
calm them back down again.
ERICA: So are we,
am I taking him in?
CESAR: Yeah.
TONY: Come on.
NARRATOR: Chulo's brother Papi
is in a calm state of mind, so
he can enter the park.
Erica must calm down Chulo
before he can join him.
ERICA: Okay.
CESAR: Just sit him
down, ask him to sit down.
ERICA: Sit.
CESAR: Just, just.
Yeah, there you go.
Listen, don't move too fast.
ERICA: Okay.
CESAR: Just calm, gentle.
ERICA: Sit.
CESAR: There you go,
that's better.
ERICA: Sit.
CESAR: The yawning is good.
So every time they go,
they're relaxed.
ERICA: Okay.
CESAR: That's good.
Sit him down again.
ERICA: Sit.
CESAR: Now you
can walk him in.
Breathe.
Things are going well.
Sit him down again
before you release him.
There.
Beautiful.
Don't say nothing.
Yes.
Yeah! Yes.
Yes. Yes.
ERICA: He's not
barking or attacking.
He's playing with them!
CESAR: It's because you took
the time outside, so you send
the brain all the way to zero.
ERICA: I'm really in shock
and awe that Chulo listened
and I was able to
actually enter the gate.
He's the first one, you
know, to the battle zone.
He's ready to go and,
you know, Papi follows
right behind him.
So, I felt really empowered
and successful at that time.
CESAR: Erica, Chulo's
started getting too excited.
You need to step in and
bring him down to zero.
ERICA: Okay.
CESAR: Oh, watch out!
Oh, no.
ERICA: (bleep).
CESAR: Are you okay?
NARRATOR: Erica
faces her biggest fear.
A final challenge at her
apartment complex's dog park
where a husky
attacked her dog, Chulo.
CESAR: Erica, Chulo's started
getting too excited.
You need to step in and
bring him down to zero.
ERICA: Okay.
CESAR: Oh, look out!
Oh, no.
ERICA: Ahh!
CESAR: Are you okay?
You all right?
ERICA: Yeah.
CESAR: Chulo started playing
with too much energy,
and went from healthy to
unhealthy energy in an instant.
He ran into Erica
and tripped her.
Luckily she was fine, but this
is a perfect example of why
you must calm your dogs
as soon as they get too excited.
ERICA: It wasn't fun.
It was definitely
eye-opener to me knowing
that I can get injured
just in a state of playfulness
as well, not just aggression.
CESAR: Grab Chulo again.
You wanna, okay,
bring him out?
Put him on the leash.
Now Erica's got to get Chulo
out of that overexcited state.
She needs to remove him
from the park, and bring
him back down to zero.
Sit him down.
ERICA: Sit. Sit.
CESAR: Okay, breathe.
ERICA: Sit.
CESAR: Sit him down.
ERICA: Sit.
Sit.
CESAR: There you go.
Yeah. Bring him in.
Same thing, as soon as he goes
on the other side, you have to
sit down as well.
So before you release
him, you sit him down,
and you don't say a word,
just release him once
he's completely relaxed.
Yes.
Don't say a word, just
let him figure it out
that he's off leash.
Yes!
You see how slow he goes?
ERICA: Yes.
CESAR: So then that
way the brain learns,
"Okay, I have to be
calm surrender, and if
I elevate myself,
my mom is gonna bring me
back to calm surrender,
and then I learn limits."
So now is your turn just to
repeat exactly what you did.
ERICA: Okay.
CESAR: With both of them.
ERICA: Okay.
CESAR: Who are you gonna
address first? Yes.
ERICA: Sit.
CESAR: Look at the formation.
Seeing her more relaxed
with a smile, the light
comes back into the face.
A huge transformation.
Beyond transformation.
Ah, yeah!
Well behaved Xoloitzcuintlis.
ERICA: Sit.
CESAR: Yeah.
You can release one at a time.
Oh!
Even better.
Even better.
ERICA: Good boy!
CESAR: And tell 'em
you're super proud, yeah.
ERICA: Good boy!
CESAR: Woo hoo!
ERICA: Today was
such a great day.
This is something I
never thought was possible.
I'm proud of myself.
CESAR: What do you think?
ERICA: I'm loving this!
I have no words to
express how I feel right now.
I'm beyond excited that
they're doing this with dogs
they've never seen before,
they're this close.
CESAR: Yeah,
they're all chilling.
ERICA: Yeah.
CESAR: Yeah, chilling.
Chilling.
ERICA: I'm really happy that
this happened and I'm glad to
see the twins enjoying other
dogs and I don't have to feel
anxious or nervous that I'm
gonna get kicked out of where
I live or that my house
is going to be destroyed.
CESAR: Your smile came back.
ERICA: Yes!
CESAR: I think my
job is done here.
ERICA: Cesar has definitely
given us not just our lives
back but a new life.
TONY: Babe, I'm proud of you.
ERICA: Thank you baby.
CESAR: All right, Xolos.
You did good.
There are some breeds that
are just part of who you are.
They helped raise
you, they loved you so
they stay with you
even if you don't
see them for years.
The Xolo is that breed for me.
These dogs took me right back
to my childhood and to get to
help someone like Erica
who loves them as much as I do.
That's everything for me.
The Xoloitzcuintlis
are a jewel of Mexico,
and an important part
of our tradition.
I was very proud to help them.
Captioned by
Cotter Media Group.
started my journey and people
started calling me
the dog whisperer,
the only thing I wanted to
do was to teach people that
there's no such
thing as a bad dog.
WOMAN: Oh, my God!
CESAR: Give me the leash!
She's safer with me.
CESAR (off-screen): Today, I'm
still doing what I love, but the
pandemic has changed the world.
(indistinctive chatter).
Dog adoptions have
hit a record high.
The good news is dog
shelters are empty.
The bad news is people.
Still. Need. Help.
WOMAN: He
doesn't listen to me.
WOMAN 2: Like,
the problem is me.
MAN: What do I do?
CESAR (off-screen): Mo' pooches,
mo' problems, right?
This is why he
doesn't listen to you.
MAN 2: No.
CESAR: So many things
you can fix already.
MAN: Sorry, sorry!
CESAR: Ignore the excitement.
GIRL: I just don't
want you to get bit.
CESAR: Do you know who I am?
CESAR (off-screen): Together,
with my superhero pack, our
mission is to teach the world
to honor the "pack code"
honesty, integrity, and loyalty.
Once you get this, you
gonna have everything else!
CESAR: And that's how
we create better humans
and better dogs,
one pack at a time.
NARRATOR: Cesar is on his way
to help two dogs whose
aggression and destructive
behavior could lead
their owner to be
forced from her home.
ERICA: Hi, I'm Erica Navarro.
And this is my boyfriend Tony,
and these are my dogs,
Papi and Chulo.
This is, this is my life.
I would say Chulo's
more geared to loving me.
TONY: He's more
of a momma's boy.
ERICA: He's definitely
a momma's boy.
Papi just wants
to be around Tony.
(inaudible).
What attracted me
to this particular breed is
that they came from Mexico.
I'm Mexican-American, so I
felt a connection to the dogs.
TONY: They're very spoiled.
ERICA: These dogs are
very spoiled because of me.
TONY: Extremely spoiled.
If we go to a store, 100%
she's going to buy them
something.
And I'm like, "Dude,
they have at least 20-30
chew toys a piece."
ERICA: No, they don't.
TONY: Yes, they do.
ERICA: There was no
issues until later on.
Then, my world
turned upside down.
TONY: They were aggressive.
ERICA: They're chaos.
Doesn't matter what it is, if
they see a dog then they try
to go for him.
Hey! Hey, no!
TONY: Hey. Quiet.
ERICA: Because of that,
walking them on a leash
is very difficult.
It's a tug of war between
me and the both of them.
TONY: Stay. Sorry.
Go. Sorry!
ERICA: They've
pulled me to the ground.
I've gotten scrapes,
bumps and bruises.
You name it.
Papi.
TONY: One time, she fell,
and she messed up her knee.
She couldn't walk
for like a week.
ERICA: Papi.
Walking them definitely
can be uncontrollable,
but I can't trust the dogs
to be at home by themselves.
Come on.
Get down.
Get down.
Anytime I go out, they
end up being very
destructive in the house.
TONY: Baseboards,
dry wall, tables.
ERICA: Coffee tables.
TONY: Coffee tables.
ERICA: I was happy with
them as puppies because
they were really perfect,
but then their behavior
started to change when
I had an incident.
I was taking them
to the dog park.
There was two
huskies in there.
One of the dogs hit the
latch on the gate, got
out, then grabbed Chulo
by the back of the neck
and tried shaking him.
So I then jumped on
the dog and, you know,
got him off of Chulo.
And, unfortunately, he did
scratch his face really bad.
We were all traumatized by it.
After the incident, Chulo's
been more aggressive to dogs,
and Papi tends to
follow suit of Chulo.
If he acts bad or
does something bad,
then you know, Papi,
of course, chimes in
and does the same thing.
Chulo starts lunging and Papi
starts lunging because I
think that they have the fear
that they may get
attacked again.
I am afraid, and I hate
going to the dog park
because of the behavior
that the twins exhibit.
No! Leave it!
Where I live, we don't
allow aggressive dogs.
If Cesar's not able to
help us, we do risk the
chance of being evicted,
which is my biggest fear.
CESAR: All right.
So the next case I'm
about to work with
I'm very excited
about it, very proud.
It brings a lot of
memories to me because
I had one of them,
and it's part of what I'm from.
It's Mexico, and
they're called Xolos
or Xoloitzcuintlis.
Some people know them as the
Mexican hairless dog, but
these guys come all the way
from the ancient times of the
Aztecs times, and they were
called "the dog of Gods."
So we're on our way to
help make sure these
Xolos represent Mexico
the right way.
ERICA: Come on.
CESAR: There they are.
ERICA: Come on.
Hey! Hey! Leave it.
Leave it.
Come on.
Hey! Chulo!
Hey! Chulo! Hey!
No. Come on.
CESAR: Hey, guys.
TONY: Hey, man.
ERICA: Hello.
CESAR: How you doing?
ERICA: Not so good.
CESAR: I see.
ERICA: They've
been more aggressive.
Hey! Hey! Hey!
Leave it.
Leave it.
Leave it.
Leave it.
Sometimes it's easier
for me to pick him up
halfway so he can stop.
CESAR: So you get
your workout that way.
ERICA: Yes.
I don't need a gym,
but I need a life.
We need our lives back.
CESAR: Yeah!
Right away, I can see
right away that its
Chulo in the blue collar
who's initiating aggression,
but Papi in the red collar
joins right in.
They trigger each other.
This is actually really
common among littermates
like Papi and Chulo.
And Erica and Tony make it
worse by holding them back,
which just causes them
to struggle more.
ERICA: I'm the woman that
walks down the street
and everyone crosses
because they see them.
CESAR: They're developing a bad
reputation my brothers here.
ERICA: Yes.
CESAR: You know, just to
get a better assessment
of what I'm doing here,
can I put some cameras
inside your house, so I
can see how bad it gets?
ERICA: Okay.
Yeah, absolutely.
CESAR: Let's do it.
Chulo and Papi are only 11
months old, and they're only
going to become stronger.
Erica and Tony can barely
control the dogs as it is.
This problem is just
going to get worse.
Let me give you some walkies
so we can have communication
to each other.
In just the few minutes
I've spent with them,
I've seen the dogs
acting up on the sidewalk,
but Erica tells me they
are just as bad inside.
They are destroying
everything from
couches to the walls,
so I need to see how
Erica handles the dogs
behind closed doors.
All right, Xolos.
I feel like a police
officer in Mexico.
TONY: Come on.
Come here.
CESAR: Hmm.
Cesar for Erica.
ERICA: Erica here.
CESAR: The way you open
the door and you just
let them in like that.
That's normal?
ERICA: For the most part,
yeah, they charge in.
CESAR: She allowed the
dogs to enter the
apartment completely wrong.
It seems like a small thing
for a lot of people, but this
is actually very important.
When they are outside, these
dogs are in total overdrive,
and now she just brought that
outdoor energy inside the house.
The dogs never actually
practice relaxation.
She's keeping dogs excited.
Did one of them
just went on a couch?
ERICA: They're
both on the couch.
CESAR: And they get a treat?
ERICA: Yes. I gave them a
treat on the couch.
CESAR: Well, the couch is
another small issue, but she's
rewarding unruly behavior
by giving them treats
when she should be
teaching good manners.
I'm not saying not to
let him go on the couch.
I'm just saying ask them
to give you distance,
wait for calm surrender,
then invite them.
And then you give affection.
She's just keeping it like
it's a party everywhere.
ERICA: I spoil
them on the couch.
(laughs).
CESAR: Erica. Erica.
ERICA: We're
coming downstairs.
So how bad did we do?
CESAR: Uh, pretty bad.
Your problem is excitement.
ERICA: Okay.
So it's not aggression?
CESAR: It turns
into aggression.
ERICA: Okay.
CESAR: But it starts
coming in through the door.
By bringing that excited
outdoor energy right
into the apartment,
there's no difference in the
dog's mind between inside
and outside behavior.
So for example, outside it's
totally appropriate for dogs
to scrape trees or dig dirt,
but inside, that's
destructive behavior.
She needs to stop
before coming in the door
and only enter once the
dogs are fully relaxed.
So there are rules, you know?
And definitely
inside the house
is a more gentle approach,
calmer approach.
And then you just learn,
once we go home, we relax.
You know, I want her to
understand how calmness
plays a big role in
harmony and in balance.
Now I want to
see the dog park.
ERICA: No, nightmare dog park.
CESAR: Let's go. Yes.
ERICA: Okay.
NARRATOR: The apartment
complex's dog park is where
Chulo was attacked as a puppy.
It's the incident that
began the dogs' downward
spiral of aggression,
and Erica's trauma
about this park has
only grown since then.
CESAR: So this is
the famous dog park.
Oh, it's cute.
ERICA: Yes.
This is the
nightmare dog park.
CESAR: Cute, cute,
cute, cute, cute.
NARRATOR: The complex can evict
any owner whose dog attacks
another dog or
person in the park.
CESAR: Most people think that
dog parks are for exercise.
But actually they're
for socialization.
Playing with other dogs
gives them something that
we humans can't offer.
But it sounds like Papi and
Chulo don't know how to
socialize the right way.
ERICA: I'm very
nervous and fearful
when I go to the dog park
because I have that bad
experience in my mind.
I can't let it go.
No matter how much I try,
I feel like I just have
that negative energy
left in that area.
No.
CESAR: That's normal?
ERICA: Yeah.
Don't know how the
dogs are going to react.
If they're going
to be dominant or...
(barking).
Hey!
ERICA: Hey! Hey!
CESAR: Drag you to it!
ERICA: Be nice.
TONY: Hey. Hey.
(barking).
ERICA: Off. Off.
Leave it!
CESAR (off-screen): Just
like on the streets, these
dogs are in high gear,
ready to attack.
I can't let them into the dog
park with those small dogs
when Erica has no
control over them.
Come over here, all right?
ERICA: Okay.
Come on.
CESAR: Papi and Chulo have
problems inside and outside.
Go, go.
But the dog park is
where it all begins.
It's where they get most
excited, and they take that
energy everywhere else,
including back home.
I have to teach Erica how to
calm them down and interrupt
their constant high energy,
which will solve all of her
problems, indoors and out.
So, I think it would be
great for you guys to come
to the dog psychology center
to teach you and your
dogs a few things.
ERICA: Yes!
CESAR: And just
give you a break.
'cause you are
pretty stressed out.
ERICA: Okay.
CESAR: All right.
Let's go!
Let's get to my ranch.
NARRATOR: Before Erica, Tony and
the Xolos continue their work at
the dog psychology center.
Cesar heads to east
Los Angeles to meet
with an actress
whose dog is causing drama
of her own by constantly
attacking her husband.
JUDY: Hi!
DEAN: Hey!
JUDY: I'm Judy.
CESAR: Hi Judy, pleasure.
DEAN: Hi, I'm Dean.
CESAR: Dean.
Cesar Millan,
nice to meet you.
JUDY: I'm Judy Greer.
DEAN: And I'm Dean Johnson.
And this is Mary Richards.
JUDY: Mary Richards Johnson.
I am an actress in
Hollywood, California.
People know me from
Arrested Development,
a movie called
13 Going on 30.
Every time someone's like,
"I know you, but I don't
know what I know you from."
DEAN: It must be
Marmaduke, right?
It's a great movie starring
Judy Greer and Marmaduke.
The kids going to the
movie were there to
see the dogs, like,
I mean you guys were
important, but like,
it's a dog movie.
JUDY: Don't touch me.
So here's the background
of our little princess.
CESAR: Okay.
How old is she?
JUDY: I think she's five
or six, she's a rescue.
CESAR: Okay.
JUDY: I'm a foster fail.
The rescue picked up a bunch
of puppies that were thrown
out of a car window.
And I went to the
rescue to foster one.
She was so tiny, and so cute!
DEAN: She was like a
cinnamon roll with fur.
JUDY: So we had her for
several weeks before
this big adoption event
was supposed to happen.
It was Friday afternoon, and
my husband, who produces,
Real Time with Bill Maher,
which is a live show in
front of a studio
audience on Fridays,
which is a really busy
day for him, got like a...
DEAN: It's the busiest day.
By far.
JUDY: I called and
called and called, sobbing.
DEAN: "I know you're
very busy, but I don't
want give her back!"
I was like, "Fine!
Let's just keep her."
JUDY: 'Fine, we can keep her,
I have to go!'
So, we got to keep her!
And then...
(barking)
we do the paperwork
to adopt her and then the
second everything was signed,
she, like, started
being crazy to Dean.
Biting him all the time.
Charging at him if
he came near me.
One extra really bad night,
where I thought we were gonna
have to find a new home for her,
he had gotten up to
go to the bathroom,
he came back in bed,
and for whatever reason,
she lunged at him, she bit
him so hard in his chest.
She broke the
skin, he was bleeding.
DEAN: It's like sleeping
with a cobra in our bed.
You just never know.
Do you wanna see
some examples?
Here's just if Judy's
in the guest house.
JUDY: I'm working.
CESAR: She's guarding.
DEAN: Yeah, she will
come after me like that.
CESAR: Yeah, she's guarding.
That's a Pekinese side.
JUDY: Yeah, she's
part Pekinese-Shih Tzu,
I had her DNA tested.
CESAR: Yeah, the
Shih Tzu don't do that,
but the Pekinese
definitely are guard dogs.
JUDY: Oh, really?
CESAR: Yeah.
There's nothing wrong with a
dog being territorial
and protecting his home
and protect his family.
That's normal.
What's abnormal is a dog going
after his own family members.
Why does this dog
doesn't trust Dean?
Why this dog is going
after the pack members?
That's the question that
we need to ask ourselves.
Why?
The walks, how are the walks?
DEAN: Come on, kid.
Wanna go for a walk?
JUDY: She will
run away from him.
DEAN: Will you come
here for a second?
I can't put a leash on her.
(growling).
CESAR: Is she in front,
or next to you, or behind?
JUDY: She's either in front,
or she's sniffing things.
CESAR: Mary is already
territorial around the house,
but the behavior Judy and Dean
are describing on the
walks suggests just
how Mary views them.
So what I'm hearing is
that the order right now is,
she's in control,
you're number two,
he's number three.
You see it?
So, that's
pretty dysfunctional.
JUDY: Oh.
CESAR: Because the dog
is in control of the
house, so you see?
JUDY: Yes.
CESAR: Definitely when
people have little dogs
they have, you know,
this fearful aggressive
behavior they start learning
how to live with it.
It becomes a joke.
But it is serious.
Anytime a dog bites
people it's serious.
DEAN: Is it possible
for someone to love
a dog too much?
JUDY: Oh, my God.
CESAR: Yes.
JUDY: He is jealous, clearly.
DEAN: Your love is
making her and I's
relationship difficult.
CESAR: He's in danger.
DEAN: Yeah, I'm, get
your love in order.
CESAR: Really.
That's right, get
your love in order.
JUDY: Do you want
me to go get her?
CESAR: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
JUDY: Okay, I'll go get her.
CESAR: Let's go.
JUDY: Okay.
CESAR: Show me what
you're talking about.
NARRATOR: First, Cesar
has Judy and Dean play out
a common scenario that
leads to Mary acting out.
JUDY: I'm gonna shut
the door, he'll come out.
CESAR: Yup.
JUDY: Okay.
NARRATOR: When Judy
works in her office,
Mary guards the door
and lashes out at Dean
when he approaches.
JUDY: Stay out here.
Good girl.
NARRATOR: Cesar observes from
a distance so he doesn't
influence Mary's behavior.
CESAR: When Mary sits down
with her back against Judy
she's like actually
guarding the house.
That's what she
thinks Judy wants.
Okay, come on out.
♪ ♪
(barking)
(barking)
DEAN: Just gonna go in here.
♪ ♪
JUDY: Hi!
Hello, little ladybug.
What a good girl you are!
Come on.
CESAR: Okay, come on out.
Mary is exhibiting guarding
behavior, which is typical
of Pekinese dogs.
She interprets Dean's
hesitant approach as
weakness and attacks.
But also, Judy is
essentially telling her that
she wants to be guarded,
because when Mary lashes out,
she's rewarded with baby talk.
JUDY: Baby, cookie dough.
CESAR: So Mary sees, 'when I
guard you, I get affection'.
There's nothing
wrong with affection.
The thing is, you're giving
affection before structure.
DEAN: So when she's
naughty like that,
and then she was like, "Aww."
CESAR: That's right.
She practiced this
territorial behavior.
DEAN: Yeah.
JUDY: And then I rewarded it.
CESAR: And then she goes, you
go up, "I don't see anything
wrong with this."
Stopping Judy from rewarding
bad behavior is a first step.
But just as important is
teaching Dean how his fear
and hesitant approach
are inviting Mary's aggression.
I'm gonna help you
just right here to enter.
If you stand your ground,
she's gonna do this,
"Oh, I don't what to do with
standing ground thing."
DEAN: 'Cause I'm trying
to assure her, like,
"Hey, I'm not here to
hurt you, buddy,
like, I'm cool."
CESAR: Right.
Right, right.
Right.
DEAN: But really,
I should be like.
CESAR: Calm, confident.
DEAN: I need to be
more macho, kind of.
CESAR: More
matador, kinda thing.
DEAN: Yeah.
I gotta bring the.
CESAR: More flamenco.
DEAN: Right.
CESAR: 'Cause right now, it's
more Scooby-Do typa thing.
DEAN: Yeah.
Like, "Don't hurt
me, don't hurt me!"
CESAR: Like
Shaggy from Scooby-Do.
DEAN: Yeah.
Okay, so don't be a
Scooby-Do character.
CESAR: All right, let's
do this exercise again.
BOTH: Okay.
DEAN: I'll go up here?
JUDY: Okay.
CESAR: Yeah.
DEAN: So now, when I come
out, what do I do differently?
CESAR: So once you
communicate you're coming in,
by energy and body language,
she's gonna understand,
oh so I step back.
So you're giving direction.
DEAN: I'm coming,
I got bizness.
Should I try it?
CESAR: Right.
Yup, let's do it!
Calm, confident.
DEAN: I'm gonna just...
(flamenco music plays).
DEAN: I got it.
♪ ♪
CESAR: Don't forget to breathe.
♪ ♪
CESAR: There you go!
(laughs).
JUDY: He was just like I'm
going in that room, like, oh
wow he just really did it.
DEAN: With confidence.
JUDY: Yes!
CESAR: This is really good.
This time, Dean
was much calmer.
He approached with no
hesitation, kept his eyes up
and his arms at his side,
and used his foot to gently
move Mary away from the door.
It was perfection.
NARRATOR: Next Cesar shows
them how Dean can lead the
pack on walks.
It's critical Mary sees
that he is in front of
her in the pack order.
And it starts with teaching
Dean how to leash Mary up.
CESAR: The purpose of a
leash is for two things.
Stop the brain,
move the brain.
DEAN: She does not
like me to leash her up.
JUDY: She'll run away from
him and like come and run
underneath my legs.
CESAR: Well, let me
show you how to do it.
DEAN: Okay.
CESAR: Go 'head.
DEAN: All right, so
I'm just gonna go over
here and get Mary.
CESAR: Yeah.
Yeah, there you go.
DEAN: Let me just go ahead.
CESAR: Very Simple.
Just like when you were
entering the guesthouse
before,
use your body and your
legs to block and move her.
Mm-hmm.
There you go.
She's going, she's
going over there.
Wait, wait.
Look, she's
entering calm surrender.
Reward her by petting her.
Yup.
See, yup.
Lift the head.
Mm-hmm.
Yeah.
So right now, what you're
doing is making her feel proud
of what she's doing.
DEAN: I'm never
really allowed to be
the one to initiate
any sort of social
interaction with her.
She'll scram, but, to be
able to get her to sit
and let me approach her,
that was great!
CESAR: Hold on. Judy,
she's instinctually
hiding, right?
JUDY: Uh-hmm.
CESAR: But if, as soon as
she comes in, and you do that
and then she has to look
for him as a source.
Mary just doesn't know
how to trust anybody
else except Judy.
Judy needs to support
Dean by blocking Mary
from hiding behind her.
That's right, there you go.
DEAN: Mary.
CESAR: Giving Mary no
choice but to accept Dean.
Beautiful, beautiful.
DEAN: Come here.
There we go.
Okay.
CESAR: So Mary is
starting to trust Dean.
She's seeing that, he's
in charge and that Judy
is allowing that.
Now I want to immediately
build on that trust by
going right out on a walk
so Dean can show Mary that
he is the pack leader.
DEAN: Well, let's see
if she comes with me.
CESAR: Oh, she will.
DEAN: Here we go.
CESAR: Yup.
DEAN: Let's just go for a
walk, happy and confident.
JUDY: That has never happens.
CESAR: Yup.
JUDY: She didn't
even look back at me.
CESAR: She's not supposed to.
JUDY: Yes, she is, I
mean, no, she's not.
I've never seen him
do that with her.
DEAN: So, this is awesome!
JUDY: Still not looking!
CESAR: Hey.
Dean took off
like a greyhound.
His energy and
confidence are sky-high.
He's a completely
different person.
See once you move a
little faster, then
she goes in the back.
DEAN: We're just walking
along and it's great.
She's not stopping
and sniffing.
It was fantastic.
CESAR: Right now,
we're on a mission.
DEAN: We're running
the show, not her.
CESAR: Yeah, we're
running the show.
I never seen a person
moving so quick move
to calm confident.
Dean did it natural.
He could be a dog walker
today if he wants to.
JUDY: What is going on!
I felt like he was
the leader of the pack.
DEAN: I felt like the
leader of the pack for once.
It was cool.
Like a mix between Fonzie and...
JUDY: Let's think of
another hip reference.
What a good girl.
That was incredible!
DEAN: I know, it was crazy.
JUDY: I've never
seen that in my life.
DEAN: I know.
CESAR: Can they live
happily ever after,
after this session?
Yes, this is not
a red zone case.
This is just a case of
understanding common sense.
Give affection at the right
time for the right reason.
No more not trusting Dean,
no more biting people.
DEAN: Can you believe this?
JUDY: No, my little girl!
DEAN: It's a miracle!
I'm shocked.
I didn't think we could make
this much progress in one day.
She's a perfect
dog, it turns out.
We're going to have a
great life with Mary Richards.
CESAR: Thank you, brother.
Thank you, thank you.
DEAN: She's going to
be a great happy dog.
JUDY: And, if we can
fix Mary then maybe we
can get another dog.
DEAN: Easy.
JUDY: Good girl, Mary!
NARRATOR: At the dog
psychology center, Erica,
Tony and the twin Xolos
arrive for their first day of
work to stop the aggression
that threatens to evict Erica
from her apartment.
CESAR: This is the
first Xoloitzcuintlis
to come to my place.
I was 13 when I had one.
ERICA: Really?
CESAR: Yes!
In Mazatlan!
Long before I had my boy
Junior here, the dog that I
was most proud during my
childhood in Mexico was a
purebred Xolo named Pedro.
You know, when I was a
little kid, I had a nickname.
They used to
call me El Perrero.
So everybody in Mazatlan
knew that I was that kid
that loved dogs.
But I always had mutts.
So one day, this family had
puppies, they allowed me to
have my first purebred dog,
and it was a Xoloitzcuintli.
But as we're seeing,
even an amazing breed like
this had the same problems
that any dog can have.
But all of these
problems can be fixed.
You're gonna help me, right?
Yep!
That's it for me.
Stay calm.
The very first thing we're
going to do, before I let the
Xolo's near my pack,
is interrupt their
non-stop high
energy mindset.
It might be the first time
that anyone has ever asked
them to calm down.
So right now, what I'm doing
is I am being very gentle,
so that way he's
feeling my calmness.
ERICA: Right.
CESAR: I have to make sure
that they go into a calm
surrender state.
So right now, I want you to
take a look at Mr. Lorenzo.
He's gonna represent another
dog that you would pass on the
streets.
Let's see if the Xolo's can
maintain their calm state.
All good, this is all good.
What I'm saying is, just relax
in front of whatever is
getting you excited.
Now, I'm just riding the
wave on this moment where
he gets a little frantic.
ERICA: Okay.
CESAR: Since Chulo is
the more aggressive one,
it's even more important
to get him to sit and
surrender, before he
starts to wind up Papi.
♪ ♪
♪ ♪
All of that for this.
That's all I wanted.
ERICA: Yeah.
CESAR: But you can't quit
until you get what you
know is good for the pack.
Now that Papi and Chulo are
at zero, they're coming off
to meet my pack.
Erica's going to finally
see them in a calm state
around all the dogs.
Right now, we're just gonna
go straight to dog park.
They're calm now, and I want
to get them into the park
before they get excited again.
He wants to play.
ERICA: Coming up to the
Serengeti dog park,
I was a bit nervous and
anxious 'cause I thought,
"Okay, maybe they're gonna
behave bad or something bad's
gonna potentially happen."
He's doing good!
CESAR: It doesn't matter how
calm Papi and Chulo are when
they enter the dog park.
Once they're inside, they're
gonna get excited again.
So Erica has to learn how to
bring them back down to zero
even with all that
excitement around.
So, one thing that
happens in dog parks is
that they wanna play,
but they definitely come
across a little too strong.
Tscht.
Hey!
ERICA: Oh my gosh, he's
making the puppy cry.
CESAR: At one point, they
started chasing my puppy.
They didn't physically
hurt him and I would
never let that happen.
But I want to teach Papi
and Chulo how to limit
the amount of excitement
you use with little dogs.
Watch it.
Tscht.
This is super important.
Tscht. Tscht.
You see it, you
see that settling?
There you go.
Tscht.
That, that, that's saying,
okay, chasing little puppies,
or chasing dogs?
We don't want that.
So if he gets a
little bit out of control?
Now's your turn, okay.
Once you see that they're
starting to get excited,
you have to intervene
before things go further.
Follow through, it's not done.
He needs to sit and go all
the way to a calm surrender.
If he's keep moving,
he's not done.
ERICA: No, back.
Back. No.
I can't stop him!
CESAR: No more excuses!
It's now or never.
CESAR: You gotta get
that energy where,
when you move, people move.
ERICA: I don't have that!
CESAR: Well, you
gotta get it out!
Erica has a lot of anxiety
about the dog park, because
that's where all these
problems began when
Chulo was attacked.
But she has to put all that
behind in order for her to
take control.
In order for your dogs to
really find that peace, you
have to bring it out.
ERICA: Yeah, okay.
I most certainly lack
assertiveness and
it's not something
that I'm proud of I
definitely I wanna fix.
CESAR: (speaking
native language).
We got to bring the
horse on the outside.
All right, we're
gonna turn up the heat.
This is the foundation
to everything Erica
needs to learn.
So I'm going to have Jaime
bring out Amadeus to test Papi
and Chulo's calmness even more.
She needs to learn
these techniques to
get them calm again.
So it's like.
So you got all
this stimulation.
ERICA: Yeah.
CESAR: And it's
the same response.
Same thing.
TONY: Go 'head.
Go.
Don't be scared,
just go for it.
CESAR: This is the
reason you're here.
You need to get
this right now.
ERICA: Hey.
CESAR: Don't negotiate.
Look, this is just to
push him back, this.
ERICA: To get his attention.
CESAR: Yes.
ERICA: Okay. Hey. Hey!
CESAR: Come on,
that's all you got?
Come on.
Gimme all you got.
Hey, hey.
That's good, that's good.
Come on.
Right, this one, the blue one.
Yes, exactly, like that!
This is good.
ERICA: So this is okay?
CESAR: Yes.
You're not saying not
to be at the fence.
You're telling them how to be.
You're saying calm surrender.
And you control the intensity.
Then they get too far,
you bring 'em back to zero.
ERICA: Okay.
CESAR: Look at that.
Can you give affection again?
Yeah, this is when you do it!
ERICA: Good boy!
CESAR: Yeah.
ERICA: Good boy.
CESAR: Being assertive
doesn't come easy to Erica,
but this is a first step.
These dogs right now
are just teenagers.
Every day that goes by,
they're gonna get stronger.
So she must take control now.
ERICA: I don't want to
run across an issue
where they bite a dog,
or because their
continued aggression
gets so worse that
I have to be kicked out
of where I live in order
for me to keep my dogs
because I'm not gonna
get rid of them,
and that's gonna be my option.
I'm either gonna get a
three-day notice to get rid of
the dogs or I have to move out
and my only option would be
to move out with the dogs.
CESAR: That's why your
homework is so important.
For the next week, I want you
to work on these calming
techniques every day.
Inside and outside.
ERICA: Yeah.
I wanna do whatever
I can on my end.
CESAR: To me, Erica's
fear of the dog park is
her biggest obstacle.
She must overcome her anxiety.
Hopefully, the homework
gives her confidence
to turn the corner with
the dogs and her own fear.
Come on, Xolos.
NARRATOR: For the next week.
ERICA: Sit.
(speaking native language).
NARRATOR: Erica works
daily with Papi and Chulo.
To avoid eviction from her
apartment, she must learn to
fully calm down the dogs when
they are over-excited before
they become aggressive and
destructive.
ERICA: Off.
I came home from work
today to find a letter
posted on my door.
(barking).
It states that their
behavior is unacceptable.
It's reminding me of the
rules and regulations
that we have here.
(barking).
If I get another letter,
we may have to find
another place to live.
I know, what am I
gonna do with you?
CESAR: Please, come on in.
ERICA: Oh my
goodness, let's go boys.
CESAR: Come on in, guys!
NARRATOR: Today, Erica,
Tony and her two Xolos are
back at the ranch.
But before they begin
work, Erica has something
to get off her chest.
ERICA: I do still feel.
CESAR: Okay, tell me, tell me.
ERICA: I do still
feel very nervous.
And fearful.
CESAR: Mm-hmm.
ERICA: Of myself
reverting into the state
of mind that I have.
They're gonna behave like
this, they're gonna be
jumping at the fence,
they're gonna do this.
Same thing with the walks.
Like, I think that I may
revert back to that because
that's my memory lane.
That's my vision.
CESAR: So when I
heard her saying,
"I'm afraid I'm not
gonna be able to do
this at home,"
she's already
defeating herself.
It's just, you know, the
words you say becomes
the house you live in.
That actually
becomes your reality.
She has to get rid of all this
stress and worry or the twins
are never gonna shape up.
This is super important.
ERICA: I do still feel...
CESAR: Okay, tell me, tell me.
ERICA: I am still a bit
nervous and that I won't be
able to fully follow through
at home, where I
struggle the most.
CESAR: Right.
So, I have another activity
that I think will help.
ERICA: Okay.
CESAR: All right, let's go.
CESAR: Erica has a
lot of doubts and insecurities
about her dogs.
She's completely
lost in so many ways.
So today, we're going to do a
simple but profound exercise.
If Erica is lost, I want to
ask her dogs to find her.
Search and Rescue is one
of my favorite activities.
It's the equivalent
of hide and seek.
We are gonna stay here in the
back, she's gonna go hide,
so this is the time
that once they find you,
then they can go crazy,
they can go excited.
ERICA: Then they can jump.
CESAR: 'Cause they find you.
Know what I mean?
ERICA: Yeah, okay.
NARRATOR: While Erica hides
in one of the shelters, the
dogs have to search for her
using only their sense of smell.
When they find her, they have
to work out how to open the
door and rescue her.
CESAR: All right
go find your momma.
♪ ♪
Look at that.
See how they're
going into hunting?
Now they're
looking for their mom.
♪ ♪
Look how they, how they
sweep the mountain like
it's nothing.
Yes!
Yes, yes.
Look at that.
Look, look, look.
He's sending the
signal to his brother.
Look.
See?
♪ ♪
Oh that's good!
That's really good.
As long as they're making
an effort, that's good.
Yeah!
Yes, yes, yes.
ERICA: Hi, baby!
Hi, babies!
CESAR: Get crazy,
go crazy there!
ERICA: You found me!
CESAR: So this activity
gives Erica access to
practice detachment,
to stay calm, to stay
quiet and start working
on her confidence.
And at the same time, when the
dog finds you, just go to the
highest level of excitement:
"Oh my God, I love it!"
Yeah, this is the time.
ERICA: Hi!
CESAR: Get those
tail moving super-fast.
ERICA: Hi, you
found me, good boy!
CESAR: This exercise was
not only a good metaphor
for Erica to find herself
and rediscover
joy with her dogs.
Look at that tail,
look at, he's find
his mom.
There's a
real world
benefit too.
Playing games like this
exhausts the dogs
physically and mentally.
It's another great way to
burn off excess energy and
bring them back to zero.
ERICA: Yeah.
CESAR: Look at that.
That's the outcome!
Look at that.
This is exhausting,
to find our mom.
ERICA: Yes.
CESAR: This is the kind
of work out that dogs
need but just can't get
in a small dog park, which is
for socialization not exercise.
This is how it looks like
when you drain the mind.
ERICA: Yeah.
This is beautiful.
CESAR: Yeah, it's like, they
don't, they don't have
energy to be nervous about.
ERICA: Yeah.
NARRATOR: After a week of
work with Cesar, today, Erica
puts her newly learned skills
to the test in a
final challenge.
CESAR: Her biggest fear
is her apartment complex
can tell her to leave
because her dogs
are not behaving.
If we're gonna stop that from
happening, we have to go back
to where all this first began.
We're here.
ERICA: Yes, we're here
at my nightmare dog park.
NARRATOR: Her apartment's dog
park is where Chulo was
attacked as a puppy.
It led to a downward spiral of
aggressive and destructive
behavior from both the twins
and causes anxiety
for Erica to this day.
CESAR: All right,
let's see it.
ERICA: Okay.
CESAR: Put your
skills to work, Erica.
Skills of calm confidence.
For Erica, the dog park
is where it all began.
But it's also where the dogs
get the most excited and
aggressive.
Then they'll take all
that aggression to the
sidewalk and back home.
If Erica can calm the dogs and
stop that overexcitement, that
will eliminate not only their
problems in the park,
but their destructive
energy back home.
They'll re-enter the apartment
in a calmer state, and if they
do get worked up inside,
she knows exactly how to
calm them back down again.
ERICA: So are we,
am I taking him in?
CESAR: Yeah.
TONY: Come on.
NARRATOR: Chulo's brother Papi
is in a calm state of mind, so
he can enter the park.
Erica must calm down Chulo
before he can join him.
ERICA: Okay.
CESAR: Just sit him
down, ask him to sit down.
ERICA: Sit.
CESAR: Just, just.
Yeah, there you go.
Listen, don't move too fast.
ERICA: Okay.
CESAR: Just calm, gentle.
ERICA: Sit.
CESAR: There you go,
that's better.
ERICA: Sit.
CESAR: The yawning is good.
So every time they go,
they're relaxed.
ERICA: Okay.
CESAR: That's good.
Sit him down again.
ERICA: Sit.
CESAR: Now you
can walk him in.
Breathe.
Things are going well.
Sit him down again
before you release him.
There.
Beautiful.
Don't say nothing.
Yes.
Yeah! Yes.
Yes. Yes.
ERICA: He's not
barking or attacking.
He's playing with them!
CESAR: It's because you took
the time outside, so you send
the brain all the way to zero.
ERICA: I'm really in shock
and awe that Chulo listened
and I was able to
actually enter the gate.
He's the first one, you
know, to the battle zone.
He's ready to go and,
you know, Papi follows
right behind him.
So, I felt really empowered
and successful at that time.
CESAR: Erica, Chulo's
started getting too excited.
You need to step in and
bring him down to zero.
ERICA: Okay.
CESAR: Oh, watch out!
Oh, no.
ERICA: (bleep).
CESAR: Are you okay?
NARRATOR: Erica
faces her biggest fear.
A final challenge at her
apartment complex's dog park
where a husky
attacked her dog, Chulo.
CESAR: Erica, Chulo's started
getting too excited.
You need to step in and
bring him down to zero.
ERICA: Okay.
CESAR: Oh, look out!
Oh, no.
ERICA: Ahh!
CESAR: Are you okay?
You all right?
ERICA: Yeah.
CESAR: Chulo started playing
with too much energy,
and went from healthy to
unhealthy energy in an instant.
He ran into Erica
and tripped her.
Luckily she was fine, but this
is a perfect example of why
you must calm your dogs
as soon as they get too excited.
ERICA: It wasn't fun.
It was definitely
eye-opener to me knowing
that I can get injured
just in a state of playfulness
as well, not just aggression.
CESAR: Grab Chulo again.
You wanna, okay,
bring him out?
Put him on the leash.
Now Erica's got to get Chulo
out of that overexcited state.
She needs to remove him
from the park, and bring
him back down to zero.
Sit him down.
ERICA: Sit. Sit.
CESAR: Okay, breathe.
ERICA: Sit.
CESAR: Sit him down.
ERICA: Sit.
Sit.
CESAR: There you go.
Yeah. Bring him in.
Same thing, as soon as he goes
on the other side, you have to
sit down as well.
So before you release
him, you sit him down,
and you don't say a word,
just release him once
he's completely relaxed.
Yes.
Don't say a word, just
let him figure it out
that he's off leash.
Yes!
You see how slow he goes?
ERICA: Yes.
CESAR: So then that
way the brain learns,
"Okay, I have to be
calm surrender, and if
I elevate myself,
my mom is gonna bring me
back to calm surrender,
and then I learn limits."
So now is your turn just to
repeat exactly what you did.
ERICA: Okay.
CESAR: With both of them.
ERICA: Okay.
CESAR: Who are you gonna
address first? Yes.
ERICA: Sit.
CESAR: Look at the formation.
Seeing her more relaxed
with a smile, the light
comes back into the face.
A huge transformation.
Beyond transformation.
Ah, yeah!
Well behaved Xoloitzcuintlis.
ERICA: Sit.
CESAR: Yeah.
You can release one at a time.
Oh!
Even better.
Even better.
ERICA: Good boy!
CESAR: And tell 'em
you're super proud, yeah.
ERICA: Good boy!
CESAR: Woo hoo!
ERICA: Today was
such a great day.
This is something I
never thought was possible.
I'm proud of myself.
CESAR: What do you think?
ERICA: I'm loving this!
I have no words to
express how I feel right now.
I'm beyond excited that
they're doing this with dogs
they've never seen before,
they're this close.
CESAR: Yeah,
they're all chilling.
ERICA: Yeah.
CESAR: Yeah, chilling.
Chilling.
ERICA: I'm really happy that
this happened and I'm glad to
see the twins enjoying other
dogs and I don't have to feel
anxious or nervous that I'm
gonna get kicked out of where
I live or that my house
is going to be destroyed.
CESAR: Your smile came back.
ERICA: Yes!
CESAR: I think my
job is done here.
ERICA: Cesar has definitely
given us not just our lives
back but a new life.
TONY: Babe, I'm proud of you.
ERICA: Thank you baby.
CESAR: All right, Xolos.
You did good.
There are some breeds that
are just part of who you are.
They helped raise
you, they loved you so
they stay with you
even if you don't
see them for years.
The Xolo is that breed for me.
These dogs took me right back
to my childhood and to get to
help someone like Erica
who loves them as much as I do.
That's everything for me.
The Xoloitzcuintlis
are a jewel of Mexico,
and an important part
of our tradition.
I was very proud to help them.
Captioned by
Cotter Media Group.