Cesar Millan's Lesson From The Pack: Dogs should be our life guru

The latest book from the world-renown dog whisperer Cesar Millan isn't about how to raise a perfect dog or how to fix your dog's behavioral issues, but about stories of amazing and inspiring dogs that Cesar has been lucky enough to meet throughout his life. It's about how humans can learn important life lessons from dogs which are often taken for granted. 

It all started with a little background history of dogs and how they come to be where they are right now in our life. It is then continued with a tale from Cesar's childhood, he gave us a raw insight of his rough childhood life back in Mexico. He tells a story of the first dog he has ever met and his first pack that lived in a farm with his grandparents and his whole family. Since he was a child, Cesar has learned how animals are sensitive to humans' energy and how animals, especially dogs, are great teachers. 

The book itself is divided into different chapters, each focusing on a specific life lesson (e.g, respect, freedom, forgiveness, wisdom, etc) blanketed with a story from a particular dog he has trained/met. From his stories I can feel how incredible dogs are, and how they are not only creatures without pretenses but also companions with influential presence, and most of the time, if we inspect them ever so closely and listen to their voices, we will realize how we should live more following their worldview, lifestyles, and values. It also provides stories from celebrities like Jade Pinkett Smith who is somehow also transformed by dogs.  

Unlike what many people think, this book isn't a book where Cesar tries to teach us how to live our life, but more about Cesar sharing stories from his canine friends in a hope of inspiring us all. That's why reading this book brings me so much joy and admiration to dogs, and it brings me to tears as well. A story about a pitbull named Rosemary which was set on fire alive for losing in a dog fight, for instance, teaches me about forgiveness, and her rescue story, though tragic and painful, resonates within me. No dogs bear grudges. They live in the now. Seeing how Rosemary can survive all torture, abuse, and pain inflicted on her by some low-lives, and is still able to trust humans again, slapped me hard. Humans who are thought to be the highest and most powerful creatures on Earth are nothing but some egomaniacs. Dogs, in contrast, like other animals, can be even more human than most of us. They somehow resemble characteristics God wants humans to have. How do animals do that? 

Another chapter in the book about wisdom, in addition, strikes me personally as Cesar introduces his best dog, Daddy as his role model in practicing wisdom. I remember watching Daddy for the first time on NatGeo's Dog Whisperer, thinking how incredible this pitbull was -- tough-built but soft-hearted, and undoubtedly the calmest, most well-behaved dog in the world. Daddy was the first pitbull who stole my heart. He was the one who changed my perspective on powerful breeds. Even through my small TV screen I could feel his charisma radiating and affecting all those problematic and imbalanced dogs; he affected me too. So when Cesar tells even further the effects Daddy had in his life and people around him, I couldn't help but feeling deeply moved. I wish I had a chance to meet him before he passed. He's probably the world's most loved pitbull, and even after his passing, millions of people remember him dearly, and we take with us our fond memories of Daddy, of how wise he was, and how we had been lucky enough to be introduced to him through Cesar. As Cesar retells the last moment he shared with his right-hand, perfect dog, I cried like a baby, somehow missing Daddy even more (which is weird since I never even met him in real life), and all the while being reminded of my own passing dog, Leo which until today I miss tremendously to the point where I bring his picture with me every day in my purse as a gentle reminder.

I believe that everyone, even those who aren't a fan of Cesar or disagree with his methods, will enjoy and agree with a lot of points presented on the book,as this book touches about a universal theme -- love. It's not about how to raise the four-legged angels, but how to learn from them and see them more as dogs, not as humans. It makes me feel grateful of my own perfectly imperfect companion, Rocky, which has been with me for the past 8 years. 

Thank you. That is the only thing I can say for all animals, dogs or what not. 

Cesar Millan's Lessons From The Pack is now released (in English only) and can be purchased through local bookstores, Amazon, or National Geographic online shop.