Dog Whispering in the Philippines

OFTENTIMES, when people learn that I am involved in exhibiting golden retrievers in the conformation ring and breeding them, I am asked if I am a fan of Cesar Millan. When I reply that I am not, they are bewildered. How could I not be a fan of the famous dog whisperer all over the world? His methods work like magic and he is able to tame even the most vicious of dogs.

Millan’s story is like a fairytale. He grew up in a farm working with animals. There he discovered that he had a natural way with dogs. When he was a teenager, he told his mother that he would be the best dog trainer in the world. When he was 21 years old, he illegally crossed the US border from Mexico with only 100 dollars in his pocket. He spoke no English. He started out as a dog groomer. Today, he is now the famous dog whisperer, a product endorser and successful businessman.

But even if the National Geographic brought Millan into our living rooms, I will not employ his methods.

The cornerstone of his dog whispering philosophy is instant behavior modification through basic dominance-based concepts (Alpha Theory). In layman’s term, a dog behaves badly because he or she does not recognize his human as his pack leader and most likely, the dog thinks he or she is the leader. The solution, as Millan espouses, is that the human should establish his dominance to be recognized as the pack leader through force, even if it is excessive. The dog then must be brought to submission by force: stare downs, alpha rolls and physical pain. In short, the aggressive dog becomes submissive (apparently obedient) out of fear.

But domesticated dogs are unlike wolves (even wolves in the wild were observed not actually practicing the Alpha Theory). People with longtime companion animals would know that their dogs have different personalities. What is true among domesticated dogs is that they learn by association. It is better and imperative, therefore, for them to learn good behaviors by associating these through positive experiences and not out of fear.

As a devout Jehovah’s Witness, my Auntie Adeling casts her vote every election but leaves the ballot blank as required by her religion: obey the government but do not take part in its politics. Devout as she is to Jehovah, the God of love, justice and mercy, she is a fan of Duterte. And of course, she was surprised when she learned I am not a fan of his.

I told her, sure he was charismatic. He (cunningly) fashioned himself to be the reluctant presidential candidate from the South thrown into the pits of Imperial Manila politics. He was of the people long mired in poverty brought about by the corruption of the traditional politicians. His Davao City is progressive. Its economy is flourishing. There are strong programs on gender, reproductive health and anti-trafficking. He restored peace and order. As a public servant of his city, his record of public service is sterling.

But his methods are akin to Millan’s, to sow fear to exact compliance via the use of force and iron fist rule. Whatever it takes. He promised to use the Davao City model to rid the nation of its problems: getting rid of the drug problem, eradicating the incidence of petty crimes, easing the Manila traffic, taking the power away from the oligarchs, defending our sovereignty, and solving the belligerency problems. Instantly. And like Millan, he became popular and won the presidency.

Millan is indifferent to fact that most aggression in dogs is a form of fear aggression shaped through time. Fear aggression often occurs through a lack of proper socialization, traumatic experiences with other dogs, or abuse at the hands of previous human companions and/or present ones. There are also other reasons why dogs are aggressive: resource guarding, illness, frustration, defense of a perceived territory, among others. To use one magic pill to solve all the aggression problems of dogs is fool-hardy.

Duterte is indifferent to the fact that the ills of the country are intertwined and shaped through the long years of our nationhood. The drug problem is both poverty and health related. The Manila traffic problem (and traffic in most major cities nationwide) are the combination of the failure to implement traffic rules, corruption and inefficacy. The problem of the concentration of wealth and power to a few groups of individual or families is deeply rooted in our early years as a nation (which was quite an ironic promise to rid the country of the oligarchs because Duterte’s family has been in power in Davao City for decades) and so are our problems with the West Philippine Sea and the belligerency.

But why did National Geographic keep on showing the Dog Whisperer? And why is Duterte still enjoying an apparent strong support from the executive and legislative branches of the government?

Because they are both popular.

But why are they popular?

Because there are people with problems who wanted instant solutions and people who get carried away easily by the Cinderella Story.

Populism.

Never mind if the long-term mental welfare of the companion dogs is at stake. Never mind if the long-term welfare of all Filipinos is at stake.

If you want to know, I am a fan of Victoria Stilwell, an English dog trainer. She employs positive experiences in her training techniques and her mission is to change the lives of dogs positively.

If you want to know my would-be president, keep on following me until 2022.

For feedback, email to noblepinegoldens@gmail.com

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