An Interview with Cesar Millan

Photo of Cesar Millan Courtesy of Cesar Millan/Halo Collar.

Cesar Millan is a true fixture in the world of modern pop culture. Courtesy of the fact that he has been in our homes via television for the past twenty years. In fact, his new show, Cesar Millan: Better Human Better Dog is now in its fourth season and Cesar continues to work to impact the lives of pet owners, as evidenced by new venture, Halo Collar. Recently, we had the opportunity and honor to sit down with Cesar to discuss his new venture and his career.
 
John Betancourt: I'd love to know, what keeps you so passionate about your work?
 
Cesar Millan: Well, there's a need of knowledge, right? So, when I talk to networks, you know, obviously, they focus on entertainment. And I focus on education and enlightenment, right? Because I see that humans still need the educational aspects so they can become enlightened, right, which enlightenment to me, means you're happy from your spirit. And then your nature part is you're using your instincts. And then that way you know when to love, right? And that way, you can say I'm smart, right? So, I'm a happy and healthy, loving person who does smart behavior, especially with a dog. And because I know, you know that the world is definitely a very smart world, but at the same time, they forget about the natural, simple, profound of things in a dog.
 
Because you know, with a dog, you don't have to have money, fame and power to you, for you to have a dog, I come from a third world country, my family comes from low income family, but we never had a bad relationship with a dog until I came to America, I saw the dogs will develop aggression, develop fear, develop avoidance, fight/flight avoidance, to people who love them very much. So, you know, this is what I love, I love you know that I can make a difference in the world. And I'm a father. So, you have to lead by example. You know, what makes you a good dad is to have the right energy, the right philosophy, the right actions, so that way my kids can’t fight, avoid me, when I say we have to do the right thing.
 
John Betancourt: I'm curious how that passion and that same mantra, how did that translate into the creation and the mission statement of Halo Collar?
 
Cesar Millan: Well, because like I said, humans need help, humans need the help through a book, through a TV show, or through technology, you know, so the more and more the world goes into the future, the more they rely on technology. So I said, “Well, we have to create a tool that can help people with the trust, respect, love, and follow, and play, explore with rules, boundaries, limitations,” you know, so everything that I said in the show, we have to create some kind of tool that people maintain this, this discipline, right, because I'm helping the world to become disciplined to do the right thing. But in the meantime, as you know, people take longer to do the right thing.
 
We're the only species that follows unstable leaders. And so therefore, unfortunately, that's going to trigger you know, all the way to the pack, which is us, the wrong energy, the wrong philosophy, the wrong actions. So, we have to create something that can give people at least, a good connection, good communication, good relationship with a dog, right. So, the back of the pack needs to make a difference to the front of the pack. It should be leaders that tell us “Do the right energy, do the right philosophy, do the right actions.” Because that way you become a good human, and your home is going to feel good, your family is going to feel good. And your dogs are going to feel good. That's it. It should be… natural, simple profound, right? But they don't tell you that, so for me, let's create a tool that reminds you to live a natural simple profound life.
 
John Betancourt: What are you most excited for people to gain out of Halo Collar?
 
Cesar Millan: That they feel safe and at peace, you know, my clients are dog lovers. But the reason why they call me is because they don't feel safe and peaceful. They don't have trust and respect, right? So again, my clients are dog lovers, but what they're missing is the understanding of energy, the understanding of the philosophy, right, so if you're missing those two, you're not going to be able to create trust. You're not going to be able to create respect, trust, respect, love. So, with without trust, respect, you don't have anything, you just have an idea. A story. You know, you don't have reality and so my goal is to create the reality that everybody wants. Everybody wants to have an off-leash experience with the dog, everybody wants to go to the beach, and enjoy the beach with their dog, you know, they want to go to the park. So, that way you can go anywhere in the world and have trust, respect, love, follow, play, explore, rules that has limitations because the tool is already programmed to help you achieve that.
 
John Betancourt:  What are you most excited for audiences to experience in this new season of your show, without any spoilers of course.
 
Cesar Millan: You know, obviously, the older I get, the more precise I become, you know, the more I teach about energy, you know, the more it’s easier to say, this is how you practice energy, you know, with silence calmness, confidence, love, joy, you know, this is the philosophy. Dogs are nose, eyes, ears. This is the activities, exercise, discipline, affection. So now people are gonna say, “Yeah, yes, whatever Cesar says, we’ve got to do.” And the older you get, of course, the more you believe in what you do, and then obviously, is the proof is in the pudding. Right? The more people learn, begin to execute the plan. But it took 20 years to get here. Right? The Dog Whisperer really helped me to learn, you know, this idea that I train humans, rehabilitate dogs. Now when people sees me everywhere, “It’s me, Cesar, I know that it’s me. I just don't know how to how to change my energy, how to change the way I think. But thanks to your show, it reminds me every single time.” So, you know, humans are the smartest species in the world, but the one that takes the longest for rehab.
 
John Betancourt Now you just talked about some of the impact of folks who've spoken to when they when they meet you on the street and get a chance to chat with you. What does it mean to you to have been able to help and inspire so many people?
 
Cesar Millan: I think, you know, I thank God my parents are alive. And that was my dream when I was 13 years old, when I told my mom, “Mom, I think I can be the best dog trainer in the world.” So, for them to see that my dream became bigger than what I thought is the greatest feeling. And now that I'm a father, obviously, you know, to lead by example, you know, how you don't just come to this Earth to make money, fame and power. You come into this Earth to make this world better, or to help the world become better. Right? So, to be able to be that kind of role model, and to be able to show my parents that their time and their sacrifice was worth it. It makes me have some, you know, tears in my eyes right now, because I'm very proud. And they're very proud and we are all very happy, here. We did it. We did it as a pack.
 
This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.
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