Be a Dog, No Leash by Cesar Milan

The Nanny Diaries is a best-selling book written by famed dog trainer Cesar Millan. It’s a quick read, but one that will have you begging for more. In this entertaining, informative, and motivational book, Millan shares his expertise about dogs and what is required to effectively train them. There are lessons on everything from obedience and training right through to shedding, potty training, house training, and much more. There are jokes, observations, and even some corny one liners which add just the right touch to an otherwise serious book. In many ways, The Nanny Diaries is a’must-read’ for any dog lover, and is sure to make some people smile.

Although The Nanny Diaries is mainly a humorous book, it does touch upon some serious issues as well. In the first chapter, Millan guides the reader through some of the most common mistakes made when it comes to housebreaking dogs. He refers to “the grab and pull” method which basically means that a dog will grab your arm or any other loose item in his hands to pull you towards him. He then gives detailed descriptions of how to correct this behaviour with a firm “no”. Another common mistake, according to Millan, is to leave food and water bowls outside of the home, so the dog has to find them himself. Millan also tells how to stop a dog from chewing electrical wires.

There are a number of funny scenes throughout The Nanny Diaries, which is perhaps one of the main attractions. Millan laments how our world is full of clutter, and how dogs are left to live their lives without so much as a bone. He shows how cleaning your dog’s ears can be more of a chore than it is worth. He even suggests making a game out of cleaning his own ears, which can be very amusing for the dog and for you! I especially found the part about a dog’s paws, which are arguably the worst part of his body, to be very touching.

What’s more, the book provides specific suggestions about what to do if a dog starts to bark all the time, or starts to wet your carpet. Some other suggestions are to use a spray bottle to distract a dog, rather than hitting him. It’s a good book for both owner and dog alike, and focuses strongly on establishing control over your dog’s behaviour. In fact, many people who have had problems with their dogs, including aggressive behavior, sometimes swear by The Nanny Diaries. In addition, the book has been used and endorsed by such famous celebrities as Jerry Seinfeld and John Stewart.

In his other three books, Be a Dog, Be a Man, and Do You Have What it Takes, respectively, the writer addresses different aspects of owning a dog. The last of these, Do You Have What it Takes, actually addresses the question: do you have what it takes to be a dog owner? Millan writes in a casual tone, almost as if he is speaking to an acquaintance. In this book, he tackles various issues related to dog ownership, from training techniques to proper grooming. The tone is conversational and light-hearted, and Millan does an excellent job of making even the most serious subject matter interesting to read.

In his other two books, the writer covers a wide variety of topics related to dog ownership and proper dog etiquette. And again, he does a great job of presenting information that is not just entertaining, but also sheds some light for those who are struggling with certain behaviours they don’t understand. In Be a Dog, Millan shares stories about his own experiences, as well as those of his own dogs. Even if you don’t have a dog, you can still relate to some of the stories in this entertaining book. It’s an excellent resource for anyone who is struggling with pet obedience.

One of the things I like about this book is that Millan doesn’t try to make himself into the solution for the problem of improper dog behavior. He simply shares his personal experiences, and then presents practical advice on how to correct those behaviors. You’ll learn some very good “do’s and don’ts” along the way, as well as some very practical dog tools for successful training. You may not immediately see the correlation between your pet’s misbehavior and your obedience, but after reading this book you will. It will certainly open your eyes to new ways to solve these problems, without breaking the bank.

If you’ve always wanted to know how to get your dog or puppy to obey, you should definitely add Be a Dog, No leash to your library. It is well-written, informative, and entertaining. And it addresses not just the dog owner’s issue, but the problems that owners of other pets may encounter as well. It may even be of interest to you if you already own a dog or even if you plan to start a dog rescue group.