A Member of the Family: Cesar Millan's Guide to a Lifetime of Fulfillment with Your Dog

Cesar again Hits the nail on the head with this book. He goes through every aspect of the process from adopting the dog that is right for you to working through the loss of your dog that you love and when would be the right time to get your next dog. His family takes part in this book and that is very impactful especially for any wives or girlfriends taking part in the adoption of this new pet. Enjoy! I know I did.

(4.25 stars) Cesar Millan's books have shown a progression both in his ideas and in the ease with which he presents those ideas. This book is the easiest of the three to use as a guide for life with your canine companion(s).

MAJOR kudos for Mr. Millan's chapters on choosing the right fit for your entire family (other pets included!) and for how to evaluate a shelter dog. These chapters are the best of their kind I have read. Continued kudos for not shying away from the hot topics of food quality and vaccination shedules.

Other chapters that present his ideas for creating a balanced home and a balanced dog are easy to follow and contain sound reasoning, though he was still somewhat vague IMO. In particular, he fails to outline his concept of "corrections." He on occassion is explicit (I was especially pleased with the advice to withhold attention from a dog that jumps up, since jumping is usually an attention-seeking bevahior, and his caution that a pinch collar can simulate a bite and further arouse an aggressing dog). In other instances, he merely said "correct the dog." This vagueness leaves too much open to interpretation - is he talking vocal interruption, collar correction (which is what most people will assume), body blocking, what? Although I haven't gotten the impression from his books that he relies heavily upon collar corrections, because this subject causes him the most grief within the profession, he needs to be more specific.

There is a letter in this book from a couple who adopted an 85lb dog and, a mere one month into their relationship, put her into a down and held her there until she showed "submission." Earlier, Cesar acknowledged (hooray!) that submission is an offered behavior, not something one canine forces upon another. Does he still support a forced down? And for heavens sake, even on an 85lb dog that you barely know? His inclusion of this letter suggests he might, and that's unsettling. ("Surrender" is a more appropriate term in this context than "submission." Pinning is done in fights, not in ritualized dominance displays or disciplinary actions.)

Much as I enjoyed most of this book, I had the nagging feeling something was missing. It wasn't until Ilusion's chapter that I understood what - affection! Cesar focuses so much on excercise and discipline that - ironically, as he did with his wife so long ago - he neglected affection! By leaving out this third part of the equation, Millan has unfortunately created an "unbalanced" book.

Nonetheless, it is his best offering to date and a sound, comprehensive guide to provide dogs a balanced life (just don't forget the affection!).

p.s. For a more detailed and helpful discussion of body blocking ("claiming space,") Patricia McConnell's The Other End of the Leash: Why We Do What We Do Around Dogs can't be beat.

This has got to be the best of Cesar's three books! It's informative, entertaining, charming, and comprehensive. It covers everything from the day you bring your new dog home to the day he leaves you. You want to know how to house train your dog? Read this book! You want to know how to get your dog to walk nicely on a leash? Read this book! Cesar's wife, Ilusion, and their two sons, Andre and Calvin, each wrote a chapter in the book talking about how Cesar's philosophy has permeated their lives: calm, assertive (but not aggressive), and balanced, with exercise, discipline, and balance; rules, boundaries, and limitations; patience, persistence, and practice; and above all, exercise.

It's a dog owner's dream come true as far as how to make your dog happy and make you, your family and your friends happy with your dog. I heartily recommend it, along with Cesar's previous two books "Cesar's Way" and "Be The Pack Leader" for anyone and everyone who wants or has a dog of any breed or size!

I have found A Member of the Family to be the best in the series. We have recommended it to our potential adopters, foster families as required reading. The puppy section addresses all of the information one will need to raise a puppy the right way. Charts, schedules, and common problems with solutions are provided.
Focusing on adoption and rescue...this bokk will also help you find a reputable rescue, answer questions on personal assessment of energy levels.
A must read for all dog owners, and a must have for those considering adopting a puppy or adult dog...making them their new family member!
A book with chapters written by the Millan family for your family, this is definitely Cesar's "Marley and Me." I loved the book!

This, as well as all of Cesar Millan's books, should be required reading for anyone with a dog or who's thinking of adopting a dog.

I recommend all of his books. Every one of them has important information and helps piece the puzzle together of understanding your dog and being a great pack-leader. Many people see that positive only behavior training doesn't work for long without using it as a packleader.

Cesar has learned how to work with dogs by working with them the way they work with each other in nature. This is why everything works so quickly and so well with his philosophy. It really is eye-opening.

I used to have issues with my dog, but since I've been reading his books and applying what I've read, watching his tv program, and taking his "Sessions With Cesar" course (Cesar's online training program), my dog (a pit mix) has become a true gem and ambassador for the breed and I am most definitely a better and more confident dog mom.