Dog Whisperer | Final Episodes - Sept 8th and 15th - 8 PM ET

The Dog Whisperer has become so much a part of our culture that I catch my sister trying to "Tssst!" her grand-dog into behaving as I try "Tsst-zing!" my husband into doing the same. I imagine there are millions of Dog Whisperer devotees, just like us, who are also doing their darndest to mimic Cesar's mystical methods. LOL!

Check-out the Captain of Canine Conversation in this hysterical video:

 

As another season of the Dog Whisperer comes to a close we thank our lucky liver treats for Cesar's serene supervision as we delved deeper into the canine psyche. Only two episodes left and we're here to tell you that they were worth the wait!

Tonight's episode, "Hollywood Hounds" features fitness guru, Jillian Michaels, and her Chihuahua, Richard, who is in desparate need of a mental "chill pill." Jillian is in the process of adopting a two year old daughter and doesn't want to fear for her new babe's safety around her pup.

Next we visit Kelsey Grammer and his wife, Kayte, whose dogs, Elvis and George, have a propensity for pottying indoors rather than dirtying their outdoor play-space. Will Cesar be able to save the day and the carpet?

In next Saturday's episode, "Cesar's Worst Bite," Cesar comes face to face with Holly, a Lab pup with some serious food aggression issues. Cesar learns first-hand just how dangerous this pooch's problem is when he is rushed to the hospital after sustaining a bad bite.

In Cesar's next case we meet Lenie, pregnant and homeless, with an opportunity to make a fresh start courtesty of a women's shelter that is willing to take-in her and her beloved Pit Bull, Tucker. But will Tucker's protective nature keep Lenie from making a better life for her and her unborn baby? Can the Dog Whisperer work his magic and keep this family together?

Tune in to Nat Geo Wild tonight, September 8th, and next Saturday, September 15th, for the exciting, final installments of our favorite Dog Whisperer, Cesar Milan!

Dog Whisperer | New Season. New network. Tssssst!

Dog Whisperer begins its new season on Nat Geo Wild this Saturday. Cesar Millan comes to the rescue of a new crop of canines and their furless counterparts with his dog whispering magic. As always, no job is too daunting for the Dog Whisperer. Of course Cesar has an advantage over most of the rest of us...he speaks dog.

I previewed 3 of the 10 new episodes, the first of which will air on Saturday, January 7th, at 8pm ET, followed by a bonus episode from 9 to 10pm, on Nat Geo Wild. As usual, I walked away from each episode dumbfounded by Cesar's ability to tame (and train) even the wildest beast, both canine and human.

Why Dogs Fight
January 7 @ 8 pm

In this episode we watch Cesar tackle a fascinating situation where two Jack Russel Terriers would rather battle it out to the death than share a bone on Mom's cozy couch. Cesar teaches us that understanding the cues that bring out a dog's killer instinct is imperative in turning your beasty boy into a prince of peace. It's cool to watch Cesar as he holds the fighting Terriers apart for several minutes, all the while maintaining his zen-like composure. You can just see the dogs' negative energy bouncing off of his invisible DW force-field. I want to be like Cesar when I grow up.

Mascot Mayhem
January 14 @ 8pm

In this installment we meet an ill-mannered English Bulldog who terrorizes her family's dog-friendly cafe and is in desperate need of boundaries; two Min Pins and their humans, a former pro wrestler and her sister. The dogs both survived past traumas only to become nippers and biters by feeding off of their humans' negative energy; and a German Shepherd with some serious pent-up energy that results in constant barking, chewing everything in sight, and general mayhem. As always, Cesar works his magic and leaves behind some very happy, and better trained, humans and dogs.

Army Brats
January 21 @ 8pm

This week we travel to Fort Hood in Texas where Cesar meets up with an Australian Shepherd who is terrified of anyone in uniform. Could there be a worse affliction for a dog who lives on an Army base?; a Shetland Shepherd that barks at everything that moves, makes noise, or both, particularly helicopters and lawn mowers; and a Miniature Bull Terrier who operates in hyper-drive most of the time. I love how Cesar takes a young neighbor girl under his wing and dubs her "the new Dog Whisperer on the block." He's even good with kids! Is there anything this guy isn't good at?

 

Sometimes, when Cesar explains the reasons for a dog's bad behavior, and what the owner needs to do to correct it, the cause and solution seem so obvious. I experience several, "I could've had a V8!" moments when watching Dog Whisperer. I've even tried the "Tsssssst!" sound on my own manner-challenged pups, but it only works for short periods of time. Clearly, I'm in need of a Dog Whisperer intervention. We love this show!

For more details on the new season of Dog Whisperer on Nat Geo Wild, and to view the full episode guide, visit NationalGeographic.com.

Nat Geo WILD's new series Philly Undercover | The war on animal cruelty

The City of Brotherly Love has declared war on animal cruelty with the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PSPCA) Task Force, a highly specialized crime-fighting unit, on the front lines.

We were given a sneak peek of Nat Geo WILD's new 6 part series, Philly Undercover, in which the Undercover crew shadows the PSPCA as they infiltrate Philly's criminal underworld to battle dogfighting, cockfighting and other extreme cases of animal abuse.

In the first episode, "Fight Night,"  we meet the team and follow them on a 2 day stakeout ending in the biggest dogfighting bust in Philadelphia's history. As we watched, we were struck by the level of danger faced by the officers. These undercover heroes literally put their lives on the line as they clean-up their town, one loathsome animal abuser at a time.

While the images can be tough to watch at times, the series shines a much needed light on the darker side of the human condition. If you want to join in the fight, it helps to know what and whom you're fighting. We plan on tuning in for the rest of the series.

“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” Mahatma Gandhi

Some facts about the PSPCA Humane Law Enforcement Team:

• The PSPCA handles 41,000 animals a year, including cats, dogs, horses, reptiles, snakes, tigers, crocodiles and more.
• In 2007, the PSPCA conducted more than 7,000 investigations and made 75 arrests.
• The headquarters animal abuse hotline receives up to 80 calls a day.
• In addition to cases of animal abuse, the team is dedicated to eradicating dog fighting rings, puppy mills, the abuse of carriage horses, illegal exotic pets, and the abuse of racehorses.

2011 Petties Pet Blog Award Winners walk away with $8,000 for shelters!

 
The blog community is all a-buzz with the results of the 2011 Petties Pet Blog Awards. Considered the "Oscars of the pet blogging world," the extravaganza was aired world-wide last week via YouTube. Master of Ceremonies was DogTime's own, Leslie Smith, accomplished writer, passionate animal welfare advocate, Editor-in-Chief for the DogTime Media empire and a living doll.

Out of 32 talented nominees, 8 winners were selected by popular vote.  Each winner receives a Petties statuette and a $1,000 donation to the non-profit animal shelter or rescue of their choice. Two viewers who tweeted their congratulations to the winners will also be awarded a $1,000 donation to the shelter of their choice. If you missed the festivities, you can still catch them here.

 
 Congratulations to all the winners of the 2011 Petties Awards! You rock!

You could win $10,000 for your favorite shelter by installing DogTime's adoptable iframe on your website or blog between August 26th and October 31st. Visit DogTime's Petties page for more information on how to enter.