Raising a Dog & Mastering Calm Assertive Energy | Cesar Millan

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I’m not saying that to give affection. I’m just saying give affection to patience and calmness and open mind. Right? Cuz when you when your dog misbehave, you want him to go back there. Go back to your good state of mind, right?

You don’t want the dog to do fight flight avoidance. Those are the bad state of mind. The good state of mind is patience calm surrender or happy-go-lucky. Those are good state of mind. >> Welcome to the Huberman Lab Podcast where we discuss science >> [music] >> and science-based tools for everyday life.

I’m Andrew Huberman and I’m a professor of neurobiology and ophthalmology at Stanford School of Medicine. My guest today is Cesar Millan, better known as the Dog Whisperer and the preeminent dog trainer in the world. Today’s episode is truly for everyone, not just dog owners. You’re going to learn a lot about human psychology and behavior and it will help you better interact with other humans in every type of relationship. For instance, you will learn a simple tool that allows you to move through the world with a clear calm state of mind that will allow you to interact with others more effectively, to listen and act with more clarity and intention.

And not incidentally, that clear calm state of mind is also what dogs respond to best and what makes them feel safe and healthy. Today we talk about the critical importance about understanding dog biology and psychology and the fact that they are pack animals and that we have to remove our human sense about these animals as our pets and of course they are our pets and they’re extremely cute. They are family members, but understand the hard-wired aspects of their brain and biology that allow us to be the best leaders for them. I have to warn you, a lot of what you hear today may sound counterintuitive at first until you understand the biology of dogs and the fact that they respond to people’s energy and actions, not words. I know they can listen to commands, they can learn words and commands, but they’re responding to the energy and the actions associated with those commands.

Only then can you be the most effective dog owner. And by effective I mean making your dog as healthy and feeling safe as possible. I should point out that one of the reasons I’m so excited Cesar came on this podcast is that I had an amazingly positive experience with his methods years ago when I got my first puppy, Costello, who is a bulldog mastiff. I read his book Be the Pack Leader and the principles within that book were critical for developing an incredible relationship with Costello who lived 11 years. You could bring him into any environment.

I would bring him to class. I would bring him into different people’s homes. I could take him essentially anywhere. He loved kids. He loved people and he was extremely well-behaved.

Exceedingly lazy, too, but exceedingly well-behaved. And I credit that to the methods that I learned from Cesar’s book. So, if you have a dog or you’re considering getting a dog or you want to better understand how to regulate your energy and behavior in all types of interactions with dogs, with cats, and with other humans, today’s episode will teach you those extremely valuable tools. And I’m extremely pleased to announce the newest member Huberman Lab podcast team, Strummer. He’s also a bulldog mastiff mutt.

He’s similar to Costello in breed, but I should say not a pure English bulldog. So, not a lot of snoring and the other stuff that go along with English bulldogs. I love the English bulldog breed, but when they’re mudded with other breeds like this one, they breathe a lot easier and he’s just the sweetest thing. So, you’ll be seeing and perhaps hearing more from Strummer. I am applying all of Cesar’s methods to training Strummer.

You can see he’s a very calm, relaxed dog. He gets two walks a day and a bunch of other things you’ll learn about during today’s episode that will benefit you if you have or you’re thinking about getting a dog. Before we begin, I’d like to emphasize that this podcast is separate from my teaching and research roles at Stanford. It is, however, part of my desire and effort to bring zero-cost to consumer information about science and science-related tools to the general public. In keeping with that theme, today’s episode does include sponsors.

And now for my discussion with Cesar Millan. Cesar Millan. >> Yes, sir. >> Welcome. I’m a huge fan.

Thank you. >> Your book >> Same here. >> Thank you. Thank you. I’m honored to hear that.

I but I will say your book Be the pack leader. I read the hard copy. >> Thank you. >> my first puppy. We never had a dog in my home growing up.

Yeah. >> To raise Costello. >> Yeah. >> Bulldog mix, stubborn dog. We went 11 years together, he and I and that book and your other teachings were tremendously impactful for my relationship with him, yeah, but also in my work life and my entire life.

We’re going to talk about some of the themes from that book and beyond today, but I just want to extend my gratitude. It’s a true honor and pleasure to have you here. >> Yeah, in modern parlance, they say you’re the man. You’re the man. >> The pack leader.

That’s right. Many, many people want dogs, have dogs. Have these concepts of dogs that lead them to think they’re a great dog owner, but a lot of dog behavioral issues, emotional issues we know probably reflect something in the human as well. >> Not probably. >> So certainly.

Yeah, cuz there is no knowledge behind instinct. It’s all reaction. So you can never blame an animal for doing the wrong thing. You see it? So So you can guarantee for a dog to do the right thing.

Right? And And so how? Well, that means the human has good energy. And what’s good energy? Well, if you understand the power of silence, which that gives you patience.

The power of calmness, which that gives you trust. And calmness is you’re just learning how to breathe, right? The power of confidence, that’s knowledge, right? And then the power of love, when to give love. Cuz a lot of times people give love at the wrong time.

So you end up nurturing the wrong behavior. Right? So that’s what happened to my clients. And then the power of joy, that’s the celebration, right? We’re going to FIFA right now.

We’re going to World Cup. Nobody celebrates unless they make a goal. You see what I’m saying? But they have to be patient, calm, confident, love what they’re doing, and celebrate afterwards. See, they follow that formula.

It’s the silence, it’s the common before anybody’s going to go to something so powerful, such as winning, right? Or being in a team, or being in a group. The energies of silence, calmness, confidence, love, joy is what makes them become a great team, cuz that’s what connects your spirit, your instinct, your heart, and your mind. In the same way we have to connect with a dog. It’s not just emotional, it’s not just intellectual.

You know, just want to train the dog. What you train is the mind. What you connect is the spirit, the instinct, and the heart. That’s what you connect. That’s why I say trust, respect, love.

Trust the spirit, respect instinct, love with the heart, create with your mind. >> For many people, especially in the United States, they’re not familiar with feeling energy and exchanging energy with a dog. >> Right. >> I’ll give an example of when Costello, my previous bulldog, some probably bulldog mastiff, who knows what he was, but whatever he was, he was Costello. But I learned something very important from you.

Before he’s Costello, he’s an animal. >> That’s right. Spirit. >> Ah. >> Spirit, animal, specie, breed, [clears throat] name.

See, so the last thing they are is the breed and the name. >> Mhm. >> So when I rehabilitate a dog, what I’m doing is bringing back the happy spirit, bringing back the healthy instinct, and bringing