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

This is my favorite thus far and I've read them all. Cesar and Melissa Jo make a great team once again! I really love Ilusion's chapter. I started with that one and once I opened it I sat in my car reading, unable to put it down. Cesar's books motivate dog owners and non dog owners alike learn to become more balanced. His energy jumps off the pages and you can't help but take it in. In this book he talks about adoption (really important to me), preparing for a visit to the vet, how the family energy as a whole effects your dog, healing and energy.....SOO much more. This is a must read!

This is a wonderful book for both first time dog owners and experienced owners. This gives a step by step direction from the moment you bring home your dog/puppy up to the sad day that we must face when our dogs reach the end. Cesar Millan shares many of his own life experiences which are wonderful to learn about. Also his wife and sons share some of their thoughts. This book is truly about family. This is an excellent book for people to read BEFORE getting a dog and also for those of us who have had dogs for years as there are many insights that we can overlook. Cesar Millan understands dogs from the dog's view and helps us to understand in an easy way how to have a fulfilling life for both dog and human. I highly recommend this book. I will read it many times over and keep it close by for future reference. Carol from Canada

Cesar Millan's and Melissa Jo Peltier's latest book continues their line of smash hits in their canine ownership and dog psychology series. Coming out its first week as #8 on the New York Times Best Seller List, Cesar Millan and his faithful sidekick, Daddy, at the Dog Psychology Center of Los Angeles show that there is still so much America - and the rest of the world - have to learn from and about relating to Man's Best Friend: dog. This book, Millan's and Peltier's third collaboration, is a continuation of the ideas and concepts developed in Millan's other two books: Cesar's Way: The Natural, Everyday Guide to Understanding and Correcting Common Dog Problems and Be the Pack Leader: Use Cesar's Way to Transform Your Dog . . . and Your Life. However, in this book, each chapter provides a vignette or an insight into a cornerstone of family life, whereas the two prior books sought to lay out Cesar's fundamental theory and philosophies regarding canine psychology, ownership, and human (pack) leadership and how to use the triad of that philosophy to solve basic human-canine behavioral problems, such as pulling on the walk, chasing squirrels, and so forth, this book is wholly different. Here, Millan seeks to show how dogs influence everyday family interactions in both beneficial and detrimental ways, and how to change our human behaviors so our dogs understand that we human are the pack leaders (the building block of his philosophy) and that they must follow us for guidance and direction. This, in turn, thus leads to beneficial interactions with family members. Other chapters include input from Millan's wife, Ilusion, on encouraging women to become leaders in their own right, and his two sons, on how children should approach and care for dogs (i.e. no screaming around dogs, no pulling tails or ears, etc.). While in no way is Millan's book meant to have political overtones, Millan is the primal feminist who recognizes the strength that women have and that is denied to them, by themselves or society: a power that he seeks to restore to them through his philosophy of "calm-assertiveness." Albeit, this is a simplistic review of a deep and richly toned book well worth reading and reflecting on. I highly, highly recommend getting it. Not only will your pet benefit, but so will you. You may not agree with all of Millan's teachings, but it will strengthen you in ways you never imagined possible.

I just finished reading this book: A Member of the Family. It is a great read. You will learn from Cesar what to do and how to do it. You'll get good advice for every day doggie problems. This is one of those books that will be reread and kind of used as a Doggie Bible. This is a must read for all dog owners. I give this book all five stars. Not only will your dog benefit from what you learn, but yourself and family will benefit from it too. Lucy and Schroeder

I received Cesar Millan's third book, "A Member of the Family" today. I have both of Cesar's other books, and figured by the third book it probably wouldn't be so great. Boy, was I mistaken! I turned randomly to the chapter written by Ilusion Wilson Millan, Cesar's beautiful wife. I was instantly hooked, and could not put this book down. I then turned to the chapter Cesar wrote about his beloved sidekick, Daddy, the greatest representative of Pit Bull known to man. I know there are a lot of people whom I call "anti-Cesareans". These are people who dislike Cesar Millan because a) he doesn't have a degree and b) they (erroneously) believe he is cruel to dogs and c) they (erroneously) believe he is an illegal immigrant. For those anti-Cesareans, I have a message for you. READ THIS BOOK. You will find out about a man who has a deep and abiding love for dogs of all kinds, his family, his friends, and all human beings. Millan is a true specimen of humanity. The definition of "a good guy". After reading this book, there should be no doubt in ANYONE's mind that Cesar is uniquely qualified to work with problematic dogs as perhaps no one else in popular culture today. But what is most remarkable is his open-arms approach to other dog behaviorists (some of whom have degrees, some who may not), and his understanding that there is room enough in this crazy world of ours for everyone. There is time and space for every method of interaction with canines, as long as it does NOT harm the dog. That is what Cesar Millan stands for. I cannot stress enough (and for the bazillionth time!) Cesar Millan is not a dog trainer. He understands canine behavior and "what makes a dog tick" (pun, sorry) based on a lifetime of living with, and LOVING dogs (and humans alike). Do not pass "GO". Get this book, now! I promise you, you will not be disappointed. And for those anti-Cesareans: life is too short. Stop being so petty and give this guy a chance. If he were standing in a room with you, he would give YOU a chance, of that I am positive. Happy tails. K.S. Mueller