Coldstream’s Brenda Steinmann says Cesar Millan (aka The Dog Whisperer) is the real deal.
She should know. She worked with him firsthand when she enrolled in one of his dog trainer clinics in Santa Clarita, Calif.
Steinmann says what people see Millan doing with problem animals on his popular reality TV show isn’t contrived.
“He is that good with dogs,” said Steinmann, owner of Coldstream’s Urban K9 Dog Daycare and Boarding. “It’s quite amazing. You see it on TV and it’s like ‘No way, that was edited.’ But he works very quickly with dogs.”
Steinmann says it is the follow-up by dog owners that takes time.
“Cesar works through the problem and shows the owner it’s possible, but then it’s up to the owner to follow up on it. Repetition is key.”
Steinmann learned about the course after signing up for Millan’s online newsletter. She then drove down to the Golden State for an intensive five-day training session.
Using the dog psychology and training principles she learned during the course, Steinmann offers services for obedience and behavioral issues such as basic obedience, dog aggression, dog park etiquette, shepherding and socialization.
“I’ve always liked Cesar and his methods are good because he works with the people,” she said. “He’s always good with people who have issues.”
Steinmann, who owns three Dobermans, also brings a dogs-first approach to the day-care and kennel. She allows a maximum of 12 day care dogs (plus boarding dogs at any one time), and the animals have access to private areas if they want to get away from the pack.
“We like to keep it small so each dog gets attention,” said Steinmann, who operates the business on her five-acre property along Highway 6.
“We built it from scratch in a way where we’d leave our dogs.”
