03x12 - Pack to the Future

[bunniefuu]

CESAR: When my journey
began as the dog whisperer,

I taught the world there is
no such a thing as a bad dog.

Today, my message has evolved.

Shh!

But it's clear that people
and dogs still need help.

WOMAN: The problem is me.

CESAR: He needs rehab like ASAP.

MEGAN: I just don't
want you to get bit.

CESAR: Do you know who I am?
MEGAN: Yes.

CESAR: Together
with my superhero pack,

our mission is to create
better humans and better dogs,

one pack at a time.

(theme music playing)

CESAR: A lot of people mistake
an excited dog for a happy dog,

but today I'm on my way to
meet a desperate pack who is

a grim reminder of why
it is not always the case.

MONICA: Hi. I'm Monica.
This is my husband, Carlos.

CARLOS: Oh, she, yeah,
she would take the lead.

MONICA: I'm always...

CARLOS: That's
how we will do it.

MONICA: I'm very extroverted.
CARLOS: Yeah.

MONICA: I always tell him
we're like the Up couple.

You know, the little girl's like,
"Adventure is out there,"

and he's like, "Okay."

I'm like, "Come on, honey.
Come with me."

(laughs)

Recently, our two sons
moved out of the house.

We have two older ones.

And it hit me
that we're lonely now.

And that's when I had said,

"Hey, I'm gonna swing by the shelter
and see if I can look for a pup."

And then that's
when we found Storm.

Storm is an Australian
Shepherd Kelpie, pit bull mix.

She was sitting like such
a confident, strong little pup.

And when I looked
at her, we connected.

I just fell in love.

Like I knew she would love me
for who I am, unconditionally.

CARLOS: Storm, to me,
is a beautiful creature.

This is the first dog
I've loved to this extent.

MONICA: But our life has
changed significantly because

of her behaviors.

Sit! Sit! No!

(barking)

Come on. Calm down.

Storm.

Storm has lot of anxiety.

Stop! Stay!

Up! No! Storm, go back!

CARLOS: She gets fixated on whatever it
is that's got her eye.

She does not listen to us.

MONICA: It's almost like ADD.

She's out of control. Storm!

She's all over the place.

No, calm down!

CARLOS: She will jump and bite.

MONICA: Storm! I'm sorry.

And, um, it has gotten worse.

(barking)

Now it's affecting our walks.

You know, I'm
constantly screaming,

"Storm, no!
Don't go over there."

Because I fear a dog fight,

especially when I'm
at the dog park and

there's like four big dogs.

Oh, there's several other dogs.

Oh, my gosh.

CARLOS: She's
definitely a alpha female.

She doesn't back down and so
she could bite a bigger dog.

MONICA: Storm!

Life with Storm
is sad and happy.

Happy because Storm has helped
me enormously with my emotions.

Unfortunately, I had undergone
some trauma in the past.

And she does this thing
where she sits on my feet or

just keeps on
looking at me like,

"Touch me, touch me,
touch me," and I do.

And then when I start petting her
then that bad memory goes away.

So...

But I'm sad because Storm's
behavior causes me anxiety.

It's crippling.

Storm!

CARLOS: This dog is hyper.

MONICA: What
happens if she bites?

Do I have to give her away?
Do we have to put her down?

I'm devastated to think
that that could even happen.

I'm scared of that.

CARLOS: Right now, Monica
and I obviously need help.

NARRATOR: Before he
officially meets this pack,

Cesar needs to see Storm's
problematic behavior in action.

MONICA: Go back. No!

Don't, don't run out.

NARRATOR: So he has Monica and
Carlos walk Storm down the block

while he observes.

MONICA: She's pulling hard.

This way.

Oh, sorry.

CARLOS: It's okay.
MONICA: She's out of control.

Come on.

Okay, Storm, calm down.

CESAR: Storm is
definitely nervous and excited.

She's running around in
this frantic, nervous way.

MONICA: Come on.

CESAR: But what I'm noticing
is an incredibly nervous energy

coming from the humans.

MONICA: Oh, my God.

CESAR: Especially Monica.

It's so strong, I can
feel it down the street.

MONICA: Storm. Storm.

Oh, my gosh.

I feel that walking Storm
heightens my anxiety because

having confrontation with people
is not something that I want.

CARLOS: Come on, Storm.
MONICA: Come on, Storm!

CESAR: How are you guys?
MONICA: Hi.

CESAR: How are you? You good?

MONICA: How are you?
CESAR: Nice to meet you.

MONICA: Nice to meet you.
CESAR: Monica...

MONICA: Yes!
CESAR: That's my sister's name.

MONICA: It's such a pleasure.
Oh, really?

CESAR: Yes. Carlitos.

CARLOS: Hi, Cesar.
MONICA: That's so nice.

CARLOS: How are you?
CESAR: You good?

MONICA: That's so nice.

CESAR: Pleasure.
Pleasure. Pleasure.

MONICA: It's a
pleasure to meet you.

CESAR: So tell me,
what's going on with Storm?

MONICA: When she
comes around the dogs,

I get really scared that
she's gonna like start a fight.

CESAR: Right.
That's why it's important,

when she's in this
excited state, to do no touch,

no talk, no eye contact,

because that could
make her more excited.

Carlos, what do you think?

CARLOS: I...
CESAR: What do you think?

What kind of problem
do you think you have?

CARLOS: I, I think I'm
nervous when she's around dogs

and people she doesn't trust.

CESAR: So the
whole family is nervous?

MONICA: Yeah,
'cause she makes us.

CARLOS: I'm nervous
30% of the time.

CESAR: Okay.
CARLOS: Yeah.

CESAR: But that's
like having 10% COVID.

MONICA: Oh.
CESAR: You know what I mean?

Like having a, like
a virus or something.

Even if it's 1%, you
don't want 'em inside.

CARLOS: Yeah.

CESAR: Anxiety breeds anxiety.

So if you are a
nervous pet parent,

you are signaling to your dog
that they can get nervous too.

And then they get
super alert to any threat,

real or imaginary.

CARLOS: She gets excited where
it's overwhelming, for sure.

CESAR: Yeah. Let's go home.

MONICA: Okay.

NARRATOR: Now that he
has seen her on the street,

Cesar is going to watch on a
monitor to see how Storm behaves

inside her own home.

He needs to see if
this nervous excitement and

bad behavior continue inside
a place where both she and

her pet parents should
feel more comfortable.

CESAR: So this is
what we're gonna do.

We're gonna have one of my
producers go inside and create

whatever distraction and I wanna see
how they deal with this excitement.

(knocking)

MONICA: Coming.

CARLOS: So Storm, when
she meets someone new,

I feel that Storm is a wildcard.

I don't know what
to expect from Storm.

MONICA: Hi.
PRODUCER: Hey. How are you?

MONICA: How are you?
PRODUCER: Hey, hey...

MONICA: I'm good.
PRODUCER: Bud.

MONICA: Good to see you.

CARLOS: Storm. Storm.
MONICA: It's okay. Go.

CESAR: The dog is excited,

but Monica and Carlos
are not calming her down.

PRODUCER: She's
so full of energy.

MONICA: Yeah.
That's Storm for you.

CESAR: They're excusing
the bad behavior when

they should be stopping her.

MONICA: She's the
initial greeter of everybody.

(laughs)

CESAR: We know that among the humans,
the dog is leading the pack.

We know that.

MONICA: Oh, okay. Yeah, Storm.

CESAR: Storm has no respect for
personal space or boundaries and

Monica and Carlos
don't do anything about it.

MONICA: She's
gonna bite you. Oh.

CESAR: They just
laugh and excuse it.

This is really dangerous.

This kind of energy will absolutely hurt a
toddler or a grandparent.

And some adult humans will find
that absolutely disrespectful.

PRODUCER: Oh, did
you make a new friend?

PRODUCER: Yeah.
MONICA: Oh, no.

CESAR: Not everybody wants somebody else's
dog to jump on them.

PRODUCER: Goodness.
MONICA: Energy.

CARLOS: Oh, Storm!
MONICA: Storm. Oh!

CARLOS: Storm.

CESAR: All right.
I've seen enough.

Storm is a nervous,
excited case.

Because her pet parents
are so nervous all the time,

Storm has learned
to be nervous too.

That turns her excitement
into nervous aggression outside

and disrespect inside.

But Storm's problem starts with
Monica and Carlos own issues.

So I wanna sit down and figure out
where their nervousness is coming from.

Okay. What do
you think Storm has?

How do you think
she came this way?

Why she's misbehaving?

MONICA: So when
we first got her,

I took Storm to a dog park
and I went by myself.

And, um, as I was approaching,

there was a bunch of dogs.

So I'm like, "Okay, Storm."

So I take off
her leash and she's,

you know, running around.

And then these dogs
start like corralling her.

CESAR: Yeah.

MONICA: They start growling
and they start fighting and

they start attacking her,
so I go and picked her up.

And one of the dogs,
you know, kind of bit me.

And I left so incredibly like
broken and just like battered.

And it took me to a
place where I was ten,

20 years ago
where I was assaulted.

CESAR: Mm-hmm.

MONICA: Unfortunately, I
got attacked by an individual

at work and I was saved
right in the nick of time.

And it sucks because
for the rest of my life,

I can't take her to a dog park
because I'm afraid that people

are gonna attack me.

CESAR: Mm-hmm.

MONICA: So how do I
deal with the fact that...

MONICA: What I went
through is not gonna affect

my relationship with her.

CESAR: Mm-hmm.

My job is always the same,

to help people move
past their traumas.

But I can't do that if
they're not ready to move on.

So what I wanna help,
when you're with Storm,

you think about
what's right now so the past

doesn't come into your present.

MONICA: But it's in here
and I'm never gonna forget it.

It's here.

MONICA: There has to be a better
life than what I'm living.

(sighs)

I can't live like this.
This is not normal.

CESAR: Monica is letting her past traumas
dictate her current life

with her dog and so Monica's
fear and nerves are making

Storm on edge every
time they leave the house.

That leads to
barking and charging.

(barking)

The disrespectful behavior
continues inside the house.

MONICA: Storm, sit!

CESAR: And Monica makes it worse
by excusing instead of correcting it.

But the bad behavior
is starting outside with

Monica's nerves
around other animals.

MONICA: Oh, there
are several other dogs.

Oh, my gosh.

CESAR: Monica's fear and traumas
are not just her problems.

They are Storm's problem.

Monica needs to
let go of her past and

learn to stay calm and
confident in the moment.

This will teach Storm she
has nothing to worry about and

she will calm down as well.

Whatever happened did happen.
I'm not saying they didn't.

MONICA: Mm-hmm.

CESAR: It's just not
happening right now.

MONICA: Right.

CESAR: So what you're not focusing in
is in your calm confidence.

So you're letting
the past take over.

MONICA: Mm-hmm.

CESAR: I need you to
live in the present so

you can heal your problem.

You have learned to live with this source
of energy for a long time

so you're, in a way, used
to it but it doesn't mean

you have to live like this
for the rest of your life.

MONICA: I don't want to.
CESAR: That also.

So, if you're at, at your limit?

MONICA: I'm done.
CESAR: Okay. Good.

Okay. Declare that.

Well, the ranch
is gonna be magic.

I wanna work one on one
with you and Storm, Monica.

It's going to be
a very healing day.

You're gonna see it.
You're gonna experience it.

So it's another
level of feeling.

MONICA: Yeah.

NARRATOR: The next day, Monica
and Storm make their way out to

the ranch to begin
their rehab together.

MONICA: We're gonna both
have quite an adventure today.

CESAR: Storm is nervous excited
and that's what's leading to

the barking and charging.

The reason she's
nervous is because of Monica.

She was attacked 20 years ago
and the bite at the dog park

more recently has left her
terrified when she's out in

public with Storm,
especially around other dogs.

We have to address
those fears head on because

they're taking
Monica to a dark place.

She's thinking
about putting Storm down.

MONICA: Look at, here's Cesar.

(laughs)

Go back, please. Go back.

CESAR: We already
have an excited dog.

He's right in the
middle of the console.

Not ideal.

MONICA: Storm, go back.

Good morning.

(takes deep breath)

CESAR: Big breath.

MONICA: Zen.
CESAR: Yeah.

Welcome to my ranch.

MONICA: Thank you.
CESAR: She's excited.

She's a little anxious,
a little bit.

MONICA: Yes.

CESAR: So we're gonna
go inside with the pack.

MONICA: Oh. Okay.
CESAR: Okay? Yeah? That's it.

MONICA: Okay.

CESAR: We're just
gonna live in the moment.

So whatever happened
in the past, it happened.

MONICA: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay.

CESAR: All right. Bring her out.
MONICA: Okay.

CESAR: Monica was bit in a dog park a few
years ago while walking Storm.

That is the incident
that is triggering Monica.

To deal with this fear directly,

we must put her in a similar situation
with my well-balanced pack.

That will begin to change
Monica's fear around other dogs.

We'll start inside the gated
area first where they will have

no direct contact
with other dogs.

Go inside.

Take the leash off.

Whenever you go to a dog park,
you always want to walk into

the gated area first.

If you take the leash off, make
sure both you and your dog are

calm before walking
in with the other dogs.

So see the hair right there?

She's a little bit
unsure because obviously

she's never done it or she
hasn't done it in a long time.

So this is important, you know,
like the etiquette for dog parks

because a lot of times
people just walk in.

MONICA: That's what I did.
CESAR: How do you feel?

You, you want to
take your jacket off?

MONICA: Yeah. I do. I do.
CESAR: Yeah. Come on.

Get comfortable.

MONICA: I'm feeling
a little nervous.

In my mind, I was
thinking the worst,

that Storm was
gonna get into a fight.

She jumped on me.

CESAR: Yeah, because
you're shrinking in energy.

They only just arrived and I
can see that Monica is clearly

not comfortable being here,
physically or emotionally,

so her uneasy energy is
transferring over to Storm.

Just know we got
this under control.

MONICA: Okay.

CESAR: So there's no need to
be afraid of what might happen.

MONICA: Okay.

CESAR: So now, with this,
I'm going with you 'cause

you need the support.

MONICA: Strong and confident.

CESAR: Yup.

(growling)

Psst!

MONICA: Excuse me.

CESAR: No, no, no.
Don't apologize. Own the place.

MONICA: Okay.
CESAR: We're going in there.

MONICA: I'm very apprehensive.
I didn't wanna go in.

And if you ever had the
opportunity to like walk like in

a tight little rope,
that's how it felt.

I'm like falling.

CESAR: Don't stop. Keep going.
MONICA: Keep going?

CESAR: Yes.
MONICA: Okay. Okay.

CESAR: Own your freeway.
MONICA: They move for us. Okay.

CESAR: Yeah. They have to move.

(takes deep breath)

CESAR: Different?
MONICA: Yeah.

When I was walking
forward and through the dogs,

it felt very empowering.

Like I was claiming my space.

I feel amazing.

CESAR: Breathe. Breathe.

This is what
you're doing right now.

So I want you to...

(taking deep breaths)

You gotta go back
to the breath, right?

You hold the breath,
you hold the memory.

MONICA: Right.
CESAR: Look at the hair.

She's not in the top
anymore so she's becoming...

MONICA: Yeah. Her hair was.
CESAR: Comfortable.

Back at the gate, I noticed that
some of the hair on Storm's back

was standing up, which signaled
to me that she was nervous.

But after walking the
Serengeti with my pack,

her hair is down, which
is natural and more relaxed.

And sure enough,

Monica is slowly getting
a handle on her fears.

And that is not a coincidence.

Let's go back and do it again.

They'll now do the
same exercise without me.

Now that we did it already.

MONICA: Yeah.

CESAR: So, I want
you to live a good past.

MONICA: Yeah.
CESAR: And recreate a good past.

You see what I mean?
Most people repeat the bad past.

MONICA: No, I
want the good past.

CESAR: Yes. It's time.
MONICA: Yeah. Okay.

Come on, Storm.

CESAR: Get in there.

Stay calm.

You're doing great.

We have to work really
fast with people like Monica.

It's so easy for her to get trap
in the mud the, the negative memory.

But you can see how fast things
change with some calm confidence

and a few deep breaths.

And when Monica
calms down, so does Storm.

MONICA: I'm so
proud of you, Storm.

It's exciting yet
it's a scary voyage,

and I just have to open my
eyes and be strong and not fear

and show Storm,
"You don't have to fear.

So I'm not scared,
you're not scared."

CESAR: What I would like to
do now is go for a pack walk.

MONICA: Okay.

CESAR: I need you to
walk a pack of dogs.

MONICA: I'm gonna
walk a pack of dogs?

CESAR: Yes.
MONICA: Okay.

CESAR: No. You need to stay calm
though or it will trigger Storm.

Psst!

See? That's what I mean.
That is anxiety.

Look. That is anxiety.

Okay. That's too much.

That's too much of a...

Hey!

Very good. There you go.

That, see?

So my German just told her,
"Your energy is not healthy."

You all right?

MONICA: I'm sorry.

CESAR: What's wrong?
MONICA: It scares me.

CESAR: But, look,
she's not scared.

Let it go.

Even though Monica and Storm
are starting to make progress,

the idea of a pack walk
made Monica nervous.

Storm felt that
and became anxious.

So my German Shepherd
made a healthy and

necessary correction on Storm.

But the correction immediately
send Monica right back into

that fearful place.

It's her trauma
taking over again.

The only thing she's
saying is, "Calm down.

Like you're, you're
the only one that's."

MONICA: Mm-hmm. It's annoying.

CESAR: "It's, it's,
it's annoying. It's annoying."

MONICA: That's how
I feel, like, "It's annoying."

CESAR: It's annoying,
that's right.

MONICA: Yeah.

This particular dog kind of like
snapped at Storm and she was fine.

And that's where
I was like, "Oh."

I got the understanding that
to be a little more calm and

more he educated means
the less fear I had.

CESAR: Okay.
Let's get ready for the walk.

MONICA: Okay.

CESAR: The walk is where a dog
learns how to follow a leader

and how a pet parent learns how
to take charge of their pack.

If Monica can set aside her fears and walk
Storm with calm confidence,

that will be a huge step
forward on both of their rehabs.

You're gonna have
them next to you.

Not so much leash.
She's right next to you.

Sure, not tense.

(takes deep breath)

CESAR: Okay.

The first time I saw them walk,
it was a bit of disaster.

They were both nervous and

Storm was lunging
at other dogs in the street.

It's clear that Monica's still a
little shaken by the correction

that just happened so I
am going to start the walk.

And two members of my pack
will join us to demonstrate

how to follow calmly.

So, I want you to see how I
ride this wave of excitement

and anxiety at the same time.

Psst!

MONICA: When we were gonna go
on a walk with a pack of dogs,

I was really reluctant.

I was even doubting myself like if I was
even capable of doing that.

So I was trying to
visualize myself being calm,

and being in the moment.

CESAR: I can't add any
negative emotions on her, right?

MONICA: Mm-hmm.

CESAR: The only thing I can
give her is calm confidence.

MONICA: Mm-hmm.

CESAR: And that eventually
will settle her down and

the excitement and anxiety
will turn into calm surrender.

She's calming down. You see it?

MONICA: Yeah.

CESAR: Ready?
Just grab her right here.

Relax. Don't put
tension in your hand.

MONICA: Oh, okay.

CESAR: Like I gave it
to you, you did this.

MONICA: Sorry.
CESAR: No. No. Not sorry.

I'm just, I'm
just making you aware.

MONICA: Observation.
CESAR: Yes.

Because as soon as I gave you
the leash, you did this, right?

So I want you to grab the
leash calmly, confidently.

MONICA: Calmly. Okay.

CESAR: Calmly, confidently.

MONICA: Like that?
CESAR: Yeah. Yeah.

MONICA: I've never
walked with a pack of dogs.

Never.

I've always seen it in movies.

It just happened so fast and
I was able to talk with them.

And I was like, "Oh,
I'm walking with the dogs."

You know what?
She is not pulling.

CESAR: Yeah.
MONICA: It's just amazing.

CESAR: Right.

MONICA: So that showed
me that I could lead.

For the first time in,
in my life of having Storm,

instead of her
always being the leader.

I have the ability
to walk three dogs.

I've never done this in my life.

CESAR: So what are
you learning right now?

MONICA: Calm confidence.
CESAR: Yeah.

MONICA: It's very liberating.
CESAR: Oh, yeah.

I want to liberate
you from your fear.

I am glad Monica used the word
liberating because a proper walk

can release you from your fears,

even when they are as
deeply-rooted as Monica's.

Everything here feeds me
calm confident love and joy.

Everything.

And now that we
reached that with Monica,

Storm is in a relaxed
follower frame of mind.

So I wanna take advantage
of this in the agility arena

and work on Storm's
disrespectful space claiming.

When we first met her, she gave
one of my producers a very rude

greeting and Monica stood
back and just let it happen.

They both need a crash
course in Boundaries 101.

Let's take care of
the excitement and

then we're gonna
take care of the anxiety.

MONICA: Okay.

CESAR: So we're gonna bring
things that is going to trigger

her moving to people and we're
gonna ask her to give her space.

MONICA: Okay.
CESAR: Okay.

Bring in the duck.

So stay right there.

Now you gotta look.

She's looking to
you for guidance.

So give her calm confidence.

And you look not like this.

MONICA: Okay. How do I look?

CESAR: Just relax.
MONICA: Okay.

CESAR: Go a little lower.

This is how she should behave with
people at the door, distance.

MONICA: Hmm.
CESAR: You understand?

MONICA: Yeah.

CESAR: Storm is quickly picking
up what we want from her,

which is respect and distance.

It's a huge improvement in behavior
from day one in her living room.

Now, we're gonna
give you the duck.

MONICA: Okay.

CESAR: Have you
ever grabbed a duck?

MONICA: No. Never.
CESAR: Okay.

So let me show you. Come over.

And so she had to move away.

Psst! She has to move away.

Psst!

MONICA: Okay.
CESAR: See that?

So, she has to be away
from your intimate space.

MONICA: Hmm.
With the duck? Okay.

CESAR: With anything.
MONICA: Okay.

CESAR: Look. So just,
so this will become your,

your intimate space.

MONICA: Okay.

CESAR: This is
your personal zone. Oh.

MONICA: Psst!
CESAR: There you go. Good.

MONICA: Did I do that right?
CESAR: Yes. Of course.

She moved.

Monica's correction
was a huge moment.

I feel like I've seen
her blossom today and

she's no longer frozen in fear.

And you see when Monica learned,

just how quickly
Storm changes too.

So that's how
fast her brain learns.

MONICA: Oh.

CESAR: Social
distance means respect.

MONICA: Mm-hmm.

CESAR: And then, "Ah, so
what you want me to do when

people come in is
to give them distance."

MONICA: Mm-hmm.

CESAR: She doesn't know that because you
guys haven't conveyed that.

So her name is a Storm
but she's a breeze.

MONICA: I definitely
feel different now from

how I felt in the morning.

I'm a little more empowered.

In the beginning,
I was reluctant.

And I caught myself,
when I went in,

I hated this about myself,
but I went into the corner.

I cornered my own self.

And that is like, have I cornered myself
all my life in my mind?

So that helped me.

CESAR: Good?
MONICA: Yeah.

CESAR: This is how you're
gonna deal with excitement.

You're going to ask for space.

MONICA: Okay.
CESAR: Okay. Simple homework.

MONICA: Okay.

CESAR: Let go of the bad past
and use calm confidence.

MONICA: Yeah.
CESAR: To claim your space.

That's exactly what we did.

MONICA: Yeah.
CESAR: Right?

MONICA: Okay.
CESAR: Right?

And I'll see you next time.
You did great.

MONICA: Thank you.

CESAR: Monica's homework
is pretty simple.

She has to let go
of her past traumas by

staying in the moment.

I want her to take calm confident walks
with Storm every day.

And I want her to enforce
boundaries and discipline inside

the home so that Storm
learns to stay calm there too.

There is a lot more work to do.

But today was a
big step forward.

(clapping)

TODD: Come her. Isley.

Isley, come here.

NARRATOR: The next day, Cesar
heads to Studio City where a

first-time pet parent fears his
young Australian Shepherd's out

of control walks are going
to get the dog hurt or worse.

TODD: I'm Todd.
This is my dog Isley.

He's a year-and-a-half-old
Mini Aussie Shepherd.

I got Isley in 2020
during the quarantine,

during the shutdown.

My brother actually
was diagnosed with cancer.

And so when I knew that he was
gonna be going through chemo,

I just felt having a puppy
around would be one thing that

I can do within my power to
help lift everyone's spirits,

as cheesy as it may sound.

Growing up, I always
had dogs but this was

my first real experience
with having, you know,

a dog all on my own.

And so I was
like really excited.

He's a great dog.

He's just super smart,
super friendly, super loving,

always wants to play.

Give me that stick.

I really love him.

But from early on, like
he was just like super...

(growls)

Uh, I just, the
thing about Isley is

he is just a ball of
energy all the time.

Isley. Dude, you're
popping a wheelie.

He craves attention.

MAN: Whoa, whoa,
whoa, whoa, whoa.

TODD: He just wants to
play with everyone so bad

that he's literally
clawing at the ground.

(barking)

He just starts to freak out.

It actually creates a
lot of anxiety for me.

I definitely see the potential
for Isley running up on a dog,

wanting to play, not knowing
that they are an aggressive dog,

and he could get hurt.

No.

But then also, on a
daily basis, there's a fear.

Hey. Come on.

About Isley running to the
street in such a way that would

either get him hurt
or someone else hurt.

Stay. Lay down.

All right. Good boy.

I know him.
And I know how he is.

But I love him to death.

I look at him as
my little buddy.

And, you know, I'm responsible
for this little life.

I think that that's
why it is so important for

him to get help right now.

NARRATOR: Cesar wants to see Isley's
overexcited behavior firsthand.

So he's arranged
to meet this pack in

a busy park in
Todd's neighborhood.

CESAR: That's probably Isley.

TODD: Come on, buddy.

(barking)

No. Isley.

Isley. Settle down, buddy.

Isley. Come on. No.

CESAR: He stops everywhere.

Todd literally stops everywhere.

Todd. You need help, buddy.

TODD: Dude.

CESAR: What's up, man?
TODD: Hey. How's it going, man?

CESAR: How you doing?
TODD: Good. Nice to meet you.

CESAR: Good thing
you're strong, man.

Good thing that you're strong.

TODD: Yeah, no.

He's, he's small but
packs a lot of power.

This, what you're seeing, the
darting back and forth and just

that he can't, he can't, he
doesn't know who to focus on.

But if he were to see someone
that he knows across the street,

he's making a
beeline for that person.

CESAR: Right. It's dangerous.
TODD: So, you know, yeah.

Which is certainly dangerous.

So I'm just worried about
him getting hurt or worse.

CESAR: Let's get
one thing straight.

Todd is anxious and
anticipating trouble with

every man, child,
or dog they approach.

That tension causes
him to pull on the leash.

TODD: Come on, buddy.

CESAR: And say anxious words.

TODD: No. Isley. Isley.

CESAR: Both of
which makes Isley tense.

If Todd was calmer,
Isley will be calmer.

So let's go for a walk.
I'm just gonna show you.

TODD: Good boy, good boy.

TODD: Good boy.
CESAR: Wait, wait, wait.

If you say, "Good boy,"
in excitement and then

you're nurturing excitement.

TODD: So praising that behavior?

CESAR: Yeah. Yeah.
TODD: Okay.

CESAR: Now that Todd
has gotten Isley anxious,

he's making it worse by
nurturing that excitement

with praise at the wrong time.

I wanna change leashes
because the harness lets Isley

use his full body weight
to drag Todd around.

All you really need
is a simple rope leash.

All right. So this is my plan.

I'm gonna blindfold you.
I'm gonna be right next to you.

TODD: Okay.

CESAR: 'Cause I want you
to focus just on the leash.

TODD: Okay.

CESAR: I want you to
feel without you seeing.

TODD: Yeah.
CESAR: You know what I mean?

It's to look in
versus to look out.

TODD: Okay.

CESAR: I wanna help
you move the tension,

remove it and
turn it into calmness.

TODD: Okay.

CESAR: A simple rope leash
allows very direct communication

between dog and pet parent.

Todd will be able to feel
when Isley's head is turned by

something and then use the leash
to redirect the dog's attention

and keep moving forward.

But, also, Todd's own energy
will pass through the leash.

So if Todd is anxiously anticipating some
approaching dog or a person,

Isley will feel that
and get anxious too.

Todd needs to stay
calm and confidence.

TODD: Don't mess my hair up.

(laughter)

CESAR: And the easiest way
for him to stay calm is if

he can't see anything
to get nervous about.

Let's go.

TODD: All right.

CESAR: Relax the hand.
There we go.

And just trust me.

I'm your eyes and
you are the feeling.

TODD: Okay.
CESAR: Yeah.

So there's two dogs
coming on your left.

One is a dog.

MAN: Hey, Cesar.
CESAR: What's up, man?

MAN: Hey.
CESAR: One is, there we go.

Move his head forward
and then relax the hand.

Yes.

TODD: Okay.
CESAR: Then we have Rio.

No. Don't tense up.

Relax the leash.
He can feel your tension.

Then we have
four little dogs coming.

Let's move a
little bit to our right.

TODD: Yeah.

CESAR: So we can give space and that, that
allows him to feel respected.

You just passed by them.

TODD: Okay.
CESAR: Then relax the hand.

There you go.

TODD: Yeah. Okay. Yeah.

CESAR: See?
TODD: Thanks very much.

CESAR: Nothing bad is happening.
You see what I'm saying?

TODD: Yeah.

CESAR: So you're
unconsciously becoming tense

when you don't need to be.

When you're not tense,
neither is Isley.

TODD: That, for me,
was a big aha moment,

'cause a lot of times,
out on our walks,

I'm anticipating certain things
that's gonna trigger Isley.

So for me to be blindfolded, I
was just able to really focus on

being calm and
confident in that moment.

CESAR: Again, the
two big dogs coming in.

MAN: Hey, Todd.

CESAR: Hey.
TODD: Hey. Hey.

CESAR: The leash
is for communication.

It's literally like
the steering wheel.

TODD: Yeah. It's night and day.

Isley is allowing me
to actually guide him.

There's less resistance.

There's, there's
literally no pulling.

So I feel like I'm in
control of Isley as opposed to

the other way around.

So I'm just in amazement.

CESAR: You did it better without
the eyes than with the eyes.

(laughter)

Okay.

The energy, first and foremost.

You know, just to hold that.

TODD: Yeah.
CESAR: That's it.

TODD: Yeah. Yeah.

CESAR: And after that,
it's gonna be good.

It's gonna be easy.

TODD: Okay. Awesome.

NARRATOR: A few days later,
the pack heads to the ranch to

continue work on
Todd's calm confidence.

TODD: All right, buddy.

NARRATOR: He must eliminate his
own anxiety and fear in order to

stop Isley's dangerous
overexcitement on walks.

CESAR: Good morning
and welcome to the ranch.

TODD: Thank you for having us.
CESAR: Absolutely.

TODD: Let's go.
CESAR: All right.

So how's it going?

TODD: It's going well.

You know, trying to focus
on being calm and confident on

the walks and I think that he's
definitely getting accustomed

to me, you know,
being the leader and he's,

you know, allowing
me to guide him.

CESAR: Well, for that,
we have a surprise for you.

So follow me.

Isley's excitement issues
start and end with Todd.

This is not a hard case.

In fact, they both show
quick improvement in the park.

TODD: Sorry.
I'm just in amazement.

CESAR: Good, good, good.

So this morning, I'm taking them
over to the football field where

I'm gonna throw
everything I got at them.

All right, let the
chaos begin please.

CESAR: So for this challenge...
TODD: All right.

CESAR: We're gonna create a chaotic,
contained environment here.

And your job is
just to pass by with Isley

paying attention to them.

So he needs to
practice avoidance...

TODD: Yeah.

CESAR: To the environment
and calm surrender to you.

TODD: Yup.

CESAR: This is a supercharged
version of all the distractions

that make Todd so
nervous on walks.

He was scared Isley might start
a fight or run into traffic.

TODD: Dude, you're
popping a wheelie.

CESAR: All Todd needs to
do is to stay calm and focus.

First, you're gonna go...

TODD: Okay.

CESAR: From here all
the way to the fence.

TODD: All right. Perfect.

CESAR: Okay?
TODD: All right.

CESAR: These are all the kinds
of distractions that Isley gotta

ignore to stay calm and safe.

But the key is for
Todd to ignore them first.

Don't focus on the floor.
Don't focus on the dog.

Over here. That's right.

That was good.
That was good.

All right. Let's, let's,
let's amp it up.

Now, you're gonna go
through the, through the cones.

You're gonna zigzag.

TODD: Zigzag?

CESAR: You have to lead him
even more as you move through

the cones, in the zigzag.

TODD: All right. Let's do it.

Come on, buddy.

CESAR: Nice. Relax the arm.

There you go.

A walk in the park, literally.

TODD: I would say the, the
biggest things that I'm learning

is that I just need
to be more confident and

take deep breaths, roll
my shoulders back, you know,

be mindful about being relaxed.

CESAR: Yes.

TODD: Very
little tension at all.

CESAR: Very, very little.
That's right.

Normally parks are not
this quiet so we're gonna

add another
element which is sound.

TODD: Okay.
CESAR: Okay?

So let's do it, guys. Yeah.

TODD: Come on, buddy.

(cheering)

CESAR: Ignore the sound.
Ignore the sound.

Keep the leash short, not tense.

I like that calm confident.

(cheering)

CESAR: Yes, sir. Yes, sir.

(clapping)

TODD: This is definitely the calmest
that I've ever seen Isley.

He is listening and
he's respecting me and, yeah,

we are connecting.

So, yeah, that's
definitely a surprise.

I feel like...

CESAR: Absolutely.

TODD: I feel like
we're getting there.

CESAR: Oh, yeah. It's great.

All right. I, I love it.

I love it.

Changes from Todd are subtle.

A little more confidence,

less nervous talk,
better leash work.

But you can see the profound
difference it's made in Isley.

A few days ago, he
couldn't stop barking.

Today, he didn't bark once.

Not one time.

He was just following Todd's
calm confident leadership.

Now that Todd has established
himself as pack leader,

all their problems
should behind them.

You passed.

TODD: All right. Sweet.
CESAR: You passed.

Todd, you passed. You passed.

TODD: This experience today
changes my perception of,

you know, Isley
and our relationship.

Before, I hate to say it but I feel it was
kind of like rooted in fear.

And now I don't
feel fear anymore.

I, I feel a lot more
confident and I feel hopeful

that things are gonna
continue to get better.

NARRATOR: One week later,
Monica, Carlos, and Storm

return to the ranch.

MONICA: Are you ready?

NARRATOR: When
Cesar first met them,

traumas from Monica's past
made her afraid to go on walks.

MONICA: She's pulling hard.

NARRATOR: And Storm's dangerous
aggression was the result.

MONICA: Storm.

NARRATOR: But a day of work at
the ranch helped Monica begin

to let go of her fear.

CARLOS: Hi, Cesar.

(speaking in native language).

CARLOS: How are you?
CESAR: Really good.

CARLOS: Nice to see you.
CESAR: Welcome to the ranch.

When I first met Monica,
she was so fearful that

she was considering
putting her dog down.

So I knew I needed to work one on one
to help her overcome her own traumas.

CESAR: Hey!

CESAR: Which left her
constantly afraid and

trigger Storm's
nervous aggression.

Wait, what's wrong?

MONICA: It scares me.

CESAR: But look,
she's not scared.

Monica made great
progress and Storm followed.

MONICA: Psst!
CESAR: There you go. Good.

So now the test is
whether Monica is continuing to

embrace what we practice.

How's it been?

CARLOS: So far I've seen
an improvement in Storm,

gradual improvement.

MONICA: Like I'll leave her
in one room and then I'll go to

another and she'll stay in
the kitchen for 20 minutes.

CESAR: That's right.
That's called waiting.

MONICA: Yeah. So I've been seeing that
she's good with that.

CESAR: Good.
What's different about you?

MONICA: Why? Do you
see something different?

CESAR: Yeah. You happy?

MONICA: Yeah.
I feel more enlightened.

CESAR: Okay.

MONICA: So we've been practicing and
I've had more confidence in doing that.

Go back.

You only go when
I let you go in.

When you're calm, you can come.

I just, I could hear
your voice in my ear and

I could imagine you there and you're kind
of like my spirit guide.

CESAR: Perfect.

When a pet parent begins
to move with calm confidence,

it creates a
positive feedback loop.

The dog respond with
better behavior which makes

the pet parent more confident and things
get better and better.

After everything
I'm hearing and seeing,

I think they're ready to go
straight to the final challenge.

So for the final challenge.

MONICA: What? Get down. Sorry.

CESAR: It's okay.
MONICA: She was just...

CESAR: For the final challenge,

ranch handlers will
approach with barn animals.

Storm must stay calm
surrender the whole time.

No jumping or
barking like before.

I saw on day one how Storm
goes off the rails whenever

someone enters her house.

MONICA: Storm! Oh.
CARLOS: Storm.

CESAR: If that
behavior continues,

it could lead to
somebody getting hurt.

But I am encouraged by the
progress that Monica and Storm

had made so I wanna recreate a similar
houseguest situation here.

This is what we're
looking for calm surrender.

People can be
excited with you but

she can't react
to that excitement.

MONICA: Mm-hmm.

CESAR: I'm gonna have
each of my handlers enter with

a different barnyard friend
and Monica will have to use

her energy and
leadership to keep Storm calm.

So, Monica, please put
Storm on the raised bed.

MONICA: This way. Storm.

Go. Mm-hmm.

CESAR: Very good.

MONICA: I am ready
for the challenge.

Whatever Cesar has for us,
I'm ready to face it.

CESAR: All right.
Send in the guests please.

MONICA: Hi.
WOMAN: Hi.

CESAR: Oh.
MONICA: Psst!

MONICA: Oh, excuse me.
CESAR: Very good. Very good.

Good job.

MONICA: Lay down.

Nice to see you.

MAN: Nice to see you.
MONICA: Who did you bring?

MAN: Hi. This is Achilles.

MONICA: Hi, Achilles.
MAN: Achilles.

CESAR: Use your
body to block her.

MAN: Super sweet guy.
He's only interested in food.

MONICA: Hi, Achilles.
CESAR: Perfect.

This challenge is about Monica
using her calm confident energy

to show her dog that
she needs to stay calm.

MONICA: Oh, excuse me.
CESAR: Very good.

Very good. Good job.

And a result, Storm needed
just a couple corrections which

Monica delivered perfectly.

MONICA: Help yourself
with some refreshments.

MAN: Thank you. Oh, perfect.
MONICA: Thank you for coming by.

CESAR: All right.
So we'll get another one?

MONICA: Oh, she's so pretty.
CARLOS: Hey, bud.

How are you? Nice to see you.

(speaking in native language).

CARLOS: Amadeus.
Nice to see again, Amadeus.

MONICA: Amadeus.
CESAR: That's right.

CARLOS: Nice to see you again.
MONICA: Amadeus likes a drink?

MAN: Uh, just some water.
MONICA: Okay.

I have some punch for him, okay?

CARLOS: Welcome.

MONICA: Help yourself to
some drinks. Thanks for coming.

CESAR: Very good.

That one was almost perfect.

Storm was whimpering but
stayed on her bed the whole time

because Monica's calm confident
energy is keeping her there.

Now it's time
for one last guest.

(bellows)

This is the moment of truth.

MONICA: Oh.
CARLOS: Okay. Hi. How are you?

WOMAN: How are you?
MONICA: Hi.

CARLOS: Nice to see you.
MONICA: It's nice to see you.

WOMAN: Nice to see you.
MONICA: Who do you have there?

WOMAN: My girl, India.
MONICA: Oh, nice to meet you.

CARLOS: India.

MONICA: Oh, I'm
glad that you came.

Did you drive far?

WOMAN: Yes.
CARLOS: Join the party.

MONICA: Thank you.
I'm so glad you can come.

Go ahead and enter.

CESAR: Yeah. Enter. Enter.

(speaking in native language).

(whimpering)

CESAR: There you go.

Very good.

Even though still a little
bit of whimpering from Storm,

there were no corrections needed
from the last two guests because

there was no nervous energy
coming from Monica or Carlos.

And that change in energy
is doing all the work for us.

Did you enjoy what we did?

MONICA: I have to say that this has
changed in such a positive way.

Now I know that I
have a confidence and

I don't have to
feed into the fear.

CESAR: Right. So you passed.

MONICA: Yay! Woo!

ALL: Woo!

CESAR: Let's go celebrate.
MONICA: Thank you.

CESAR: Come on, guys.
Let's go for a walk.

It's been amazing seeing Monica
transform over the past week.

When I first met her,
she was full of fear,

haunted by the
traumas of her past,

and so she was telling Storm
she needed to be afraid too and

Storm was lashing out
with nervous aggression.

But I can see a
total change in Monica.

She's calm and confident,

no longer afraid,
and neither is Storm.

So right now we're just letting
her explore a little bit.

(speaking in native language).

MONICA: I feel like
a leader of the pack.

I, I felt so caved in before.

And so, you know, afraid and...

Good boy.

Cesar's wisdom has given
me the ability to reform and

to face whatever fears,
sometimes we have to be pushed.

I almost feel like
I'm not afraid anymore.

Like Home Alone.

I believe that sometimes we come
into a slump in our lives and,

you know, we get so caught
up in trauma in the past,

it can take over our present.

And I was trying to get back but
I needed that little extra help.

I just felt like I am
owning my space because

I deserve this space.

CARLOS: Walking with Storm,
it's a sense of peace.

I think Storm has a
sense of tranquility.

It was very calming.

CESAR: Here, Carlos, it's not about
thinking and work or anything.

MONICA: Yeah.

CESAR: You see this is about
happiness, gratitude, love.

CARLOS: I like that, yeah.

Mission accomplished.

(bleating)

CESAR: Will you shut up?

This is gonna be the,
the loudest walk ever.

Once of the greatest things
about dogs is that they tend to

live in the present.

Past traumas don't affect them
to the degree they do us humans.

I think we can all
benefit to follow their lead.

As the saying goes,
yesterday is history.

Tomorrow is a mystery.

Today is a gift.

That's why it's
called the present.