Audible Teams up with Cesar Millan to Launch Audible for Dogs
Michelle Fern chats with The Dog Whisperer himself, Cesar Millan about his new accomplishment - Audible for Dogs. Audible and Cesar Millan, launched Audible for Dogs, a new service aimed at keeping your dog calm while home alone.
Audible for Dogs features original content written and narrated by Cesar Millan, in addition to a curated rotating selection of audiobook titles with personalized introductions and how-to videos by Millan.
Audible is also committed to bringing the service to owners of shelter dogs, so for every download of Cesar Millan’s Guide to Homing a Shelter Dog, Audible will donate a dime to The North Shore Animal League, the world’s largest no-kill animal rescue and adoption organization, for up to $250,000.
Cesar Millan shares valuable insights on the importance of providing dogs with relaxation and a sense of calmness, especially when pet parents are not around. He discusses how the audiobooks aim to address separation anxiety in dogs and offers guidance on selecting the right titles tailored to the dog's environment and relationships. Cesar Millan also emphasizes the significance of exercise and mental stimulation for dogs, shedding light on ways to support shelter dogs in finding their peace. Find out how Audible for dogs can make a difference and tune in as Cesar Millan provides valuable tips for pet parents to ensure a tranquil environment for their furry friends.
"A dog should be able to stay calm inside the house. A dog should be able to ride in your car with you, being calm, being secure, feel safe."
— Cesar Millan
BIO:
New York Times best-selling author and twice Emmy-nominated television personality Cesar Millan has earned a trusted reputation as the preeminent authority in the field of dog rehabilitation. With more than 25 years of experience working with canines, Millan uses a philosophy of trust, respect and love to rehabilitate aggressive, frightened and neurotic dogs while educating owners on how their own behavior affects their pets. Millan extends his reputation in dog training and care through retail and home entertainment products, books and Cesarsway.com, which have become top resources for dog help and advice; through the ongoing work of the Cesar Millan Pack Project; and through connecting with TV audiences via his television series, Cesar Millan’s Dog Nation and Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan.
Transcript:
Michelle Fern [00:00:00]:
Hello, all my furry friends out there and their pet parents that are listening. This is Michelle Fern, host of best bets for pets on pet Life radio. Okay. For anyone in the canine world, this man needs very little introduction. He is a master at understanding the behavior of dogs. He is a New York Times bestselling author and a twice Emmy nominated television personality. Stay tuned. We'll be right back.
Michelle Fern [00:01:08]:
Welcome back, everyone. Today we have as our guest, Cesar Milan. It's always a pleasure to have you on. It's wonderful to talk with you again.
Cesar Millan [00:01:18]:
Thank you. Thank you very much.
Michelle Fern [00:01:20]:
So let's talk about this new, exciting venture that you're doing with audible for dogs. This is for audiobooks for dogs that will make the dogs calmer.
Cesar Millan [00:01:31]:
Well, people talk to dogs so that already we know that sometimes we use our talking to calm the dogs down or to get them excited or simply just to bend with the dogs because dogs are great listeners. So we need somebody to talk to. So talking is an activity that we already do. So I know for a fact that a lot of people are having more and more problems with the anxiety due to the separation, when people go to work, when people go to school or when people just leave the house for whatever reason. So what I'm doing with audible is just to extend that state of mind or relaxation that we achieve when we talk to our dogs. So that way when the dog is left behind and we are going to call it his alone time, he's going to be in a state of meditation, in a state of relaxation.
Michelle Fern [00:02:19]:
It makes a lot of sense because people have called their dogs over the phone and talked with them. They leave music on. Why not audiobooks? Now how are these audiobooks different than other audiobooks?
Cesar Millan [00:02:33]:
Well, it's definitely finding the tone that a dog is actually used to or familiar. Just you as a dog owner have to understand, when you talk, what kind of tone do you use? Who do you sound like? Of course, if a dog lives with a female human, and it's best if the dog hears a female voice in the beginning, and this is just to get the dog used to or conditioned from, let's say from nine to three, he's going to listen to the audiobook. And then what happens is he stays listening to it in a calm state. So a lot of times people don't want the dog to feel alone. And so that is also served the purpose for people not to feel guilty of leaving the dog by themselves, of not doing some kind of activity.
Michelle Fern [00:03:16]:
Okay. And you have something when you're working with audible to do audible for dogs. So your guide will help people to know what type of books they should get for their dogs. Is that correct?
Cesar Millan [00:03:31]:
Yeah. We selected six titles. Dog purpose is one of them. This is books. They're for humans. Right. But for me, as dogs, as books that make me feel in a sense of a loving state of mind and a motivational state of mind, a relaxation state of mind. And so we know dogs don't understand the words, but they understand the tone, the feeling.
Cesar Millan [00:03:52]:
That's what we use baby talk, or that's what we use sounds like to calm them down or sounds to stop the brain. So they don't understand what we're saying. They understand how we are feeling, and it's the feeling that I'm going after.
Michelle Fern [00:04:05]:
Okay, I understand. So if my dog is around, say, my significant other, and he has a deep voice, I should look for the book that has more of a male voice and a deeper voice.
Cesar Millan [00:04:21]:
If the dog is comfortable listening to that, it's definitely something to take in consideration. So when I go in a family situation, I study who the dog spends more time with and what kind of relationship they have. So it's based on who the dog spends more time with, because that's just familiar to the dog.
Michelle Fern [00:04:38]:
What about different breeds? Do you find different breeds have a preference for different types of voices for the books, or does it not matter, or is it just based on the family?
Cesar Millan [00:04:50]:
No, because it's four dogs. It's not four breeds. Like, when we listen into a book, it's not what raised emma, it's what title, you know? So it's me as a male, me as a human being has nothing to do with my race. And the same thing with a dog has nothing to do with the breed. It's really the dog in them. They're all dogs, different breeds. So we all want our dogs, when we leave the house to stay calm. So it's not the breed that I focus on.
Cesar Millan [00:05:16]:
That's something that I do for activities like a Labrador where I retrieve border collie. I will do the more in the herding aspect, but when it comes to just the calm aspect of it, it's for all dogs. So that's why it's going to be able to help the anxiety and the guilt that people feel when they leave the dog behind. So it's something that is universal.
Michelle Fern [00:05:37]:
I think it's a great idea. I know that people have used music at times, but the spoken voice, I think, can be maybe even more soothing. What do you think?
Cesar Millan [00:05:48]:
Well, remember, speaking is what we do the most. Music is what we do every so often. It's something that the dogs are more accustomed to the human talking than the human playing music. So we use our conversation to calm a dog down. We use our conversation to give a dog guidance. We use our conversation to give a dog affection. Music is something that we use every once in a while. It's like a treat, right? But what we do the most is food.
Cesar Millan [00:06:15]:
So to me, the speaking, the reading is closer to what we do every single day. That's something the dog relates the most in his daily life, is the coming effect. Reading a book, plus the reading the book, what it does, it just keeps this constant level of tone versus music goes up and down, or radio goes up and down, and when they play the commercials, the volume goes a little higher. So that was going to take away the state of relaxation for a dog or the state of concentration. So the reason when humans go to a yoga class or meditation, it's a certain music at a certain level. It's a certain tone.
Michelle Fern [00:06:56]:
I think this is amazing. It's fascinating and it makes so much sense. So how does audible for dogs work?
Cesar Millan [00:07:03]:
Well, this is what we need to do. We need to, first and foremost, as soon as we wake up in the morning, we need to remove the physical energy the dogs gain by sleeping. It only makes sense, right? The dog just woke up. And then our responsibility is, before we leave the house, is to exercise. What that does is remove that physical energy. Once the dog comes back for a good long walk, what the brain goes is into a resting state. Once the brain goes into a resting state, then you play the audible. Then they start associating the audible with the resting state.
Cesar Millan [00:07:35]:
That's how we are going to achieve the state of relaxation. And so at the same time, you know that once your dog is in a relaxed state, he's not going to be anxious, he's not going to be excited. You're going to feel good because the dog is already resting before you leave.
Michelle Fern [00:07:50]:
And then you don't have to worry about coming back home and finding an anxious dog. Your dog will be very calm.
Cesar Millan [00:07:57]:
Remember, dogs are looking for direction. What do you want them to do when you go away from home? The thing is, most people, when they go away from home, they feel bad, right? So the dog associates staying by themselves with a bad thing. It's a bad association. It's no different when parents drop off kids for the first time in preschool and they feel bad. So many teachers will tell the parents, just leave, and I take care of the kids, because the kids become worse when the parents are there because the parents feel bad. So the same thing with a dog, you know, the dog feels our emotion, and so they're going to associate the activity based on how we feel. So if you feel bad leaving them behind, why would they want to stay behind? At the same time, if people don't exercise them, they're not going to be in a state of relaxing because they just woke up and they have to stay behind doors. So it's very important, the exercise aspect, with or without the audiobook, it's important that people exercise the dog in order for the dog to stay behind because he's not going to go to work, he's not going to utilize his energy.
Cesar Millan [00:08:59]:
His job is to stay behind even though he just woke up. So it's extremely important for us to really learn how to use common sense, how to use technology to make sure our dogs, while they are at home, they're practicing something. And that practicing is the same thing as we do with meditation, yoga, praying, just practicing, just relaxing. It's something that we need to really focus and we really need to understand that when we leave our dogs behind is what we often need at a long time. Every once in a while, you need your alone time and you shouldn't feel bad about it. The same thing with the dog. So that way people feel the dog is doing an activity.
Michelle Fern [00:09:42]:
I understand. So how do pet parents, how would they get audible for dogs?
Cesar Millan [00:09:48]:
Well, audible.com, what I have is I have an app, and so whenever I want to play whatever title I have, I just play on my echo. Those who have an echo, otherwise you can play on your iPhone or any device that is compatible to audible.
Michelle Fern [00:10:03]:
Okay. So people can go to audible.com or download the app and go to audible.com slash dogs.
Cesar Millan [00:10:10]:
Yeah. You know, one thing that is always, and you can see the difference, okay. You can immediately see the difference is when you introduce the first time that your dog is going to listen to audible, you go for a long walk, right? It's good for you. It's good for your dog, right? And then you come back home and you guys listen into the audiobook that you will like. But because you like the audiobook, he is going to feel that that sound made you feel a certain way. That's the introduction. That's the best way to introduce this experience. As you're supervising, at the same time you're guiding.
Cesar Millan [00:10:41]:
What are you supposed to feel when you hear this sound? Because you hear this audiobook, what is your eye supposed to feel no different. When you introduce a dog to people, sometimes you don't like a certain person and he knows it. And sometimes you like people and he knows it. Right. So it's an introduction to the technology.
Michelle Fern [00:10:59]:
Right. Now, you chose six titles you had mentioned before. What are these titles?
Cesar Millan [00:11:05]:
One of them is dog purpose, soldier dogs. It's a story about hero dogs. Dogs, they participated in wars and they're heroes. So it's an uplifting story. They talk about dogs. Nothing sad about it. It's very uplifting. It's great things they have done for the country, for people and for soldiers.
Cesar Millan [00:11:25]:
So those stories, that makes me feel, that makes me feel good about it, about what dogs have done. I like to choose a lot of the dog titles. And we have a list. So you guys can go to caesarsway.com and they find the rest of the list, or they can go, you know, and they find all the lists that we have.
Michelle Fern [00:11:43]:
I think this is a great way for pet parents to know. This is like having you, Caesar, in their home when they're getting ready to go away. This is like a great lesson. It's like having you there giving them some direction. Do this and your dog will be calmer. And you're right. It's such an anxiety time when people are leaving for the day and their dogs are home alone. We'll be right back after this break.
Michelle Fern [00:12:48]:
Welcome back, everyone. So how did this come about?
Cesar Millan [00:12:52]:
Well, I'm always looking for ways to help. Psychology center in Florida. We have the psychology center here in LA, and we do a lot of workshops and seminars all over just to teach humans how, know, behave calm, how to understand the power, know when you give direction, just to have that sense of confidence, because the dog needs know. It's an important thing for a dog. How to walk a dog, how to feed a dog. Why feeding a dog in a calm state is better if you feed the dog in an excited state. And so leaving the house, believe it or not, the separation anxiety problems has become higher and higher. So used to be aggression, used to be fear, but nowadays it's the anxiety.
Cesar Millan [00:13:33]:
And the funny part is dogs went from living outside to living inside. So the whole point was, so the dog lives happier, more comfortable, more safe, and now the dog is developing anxiety. Now the dog is finally indoor, finally in our intimate space. Many of the dogs that I know sleep in people's bed, but the dog has anxiety. And why, now that the dog lives indoor, is actually developing problems. That was the whole point of the transition from the backyard into the inside. So the reason for me is what I do. What I do is to find solutions for people.
Cesar Millan [00:14:09]:
How do we make sure that people practice what they really want? They want to have a peaceful home, a safe home. Of course they want to come back home, and the house is nice and clean and comfortable.
Michelle Fern [00:14:19]:
Well, you understand dogs minds like no other. I had the pleasure to see you at the dog psychology center in Florida, and it was amazing seeing you around a dog that's so anxious and just having the dog calm and do what you want. And how you explain this to the people that were at this center. So this just seems like another generous idea coming from you to help people with their dogs, which is so wonderful of you to do this. It's just such a great idea. And it's going to make. I can see so many pet parents out there going, oh, this is what I need. I think that's one of the biggest issues with people, is when they separate from their dogs, they are anxious, and then they make their dogs anxious.
Cesar Millan [00:15:09]:
Yeah. And remember, for people that have dogs that get anxious in the car and you're traveling with your dog, this is a perfect also training experience for the dog because he's going to be used to the audible. So once you go in the car, if your dog has anxiety, only in the car, you can play the audible in the car and have the same effect. The thing is, why would the dog develop issues? To me is lack of exercise and lack of mental stimulation. See, if a dog doesn't have information of what to do, he gets nervous, he gets anxious, he gets frustrated, he gets confused. And so that confusion is what's going to lead him to become afraid, to become anxious, to become aggressive. So once the dog knows what to do, he knows, he naturally knows to go into a state of calmness. When people read the book eat great love, what they're looking for is a sense of joy, a sense of calmness.
Cesar Millan [00:16:00]:
It's a sense of enlightenment. Well, a dog knows how to do this very well. He doesn't need to read eat great love. What he needs is a direction from you how to stay in that natural state. A dog should be able to stay calm inside the house. A dog should be able to ride in your car with you, being calm, being secure, feel safe. So very important to know that what we're asking the dog to do is something that he already knows. So we need to make sure that we provide those activities, allows him to practice what he already knows is that sense of calmness, that sense of understanding that sense of what can I do for you? The dogs, in my opinion, dogs should never develop issues.
Cesar Millan [00:16:41]:
Never. Why? Because they live already indoor, they have everything. They have great food, they live inside the house, they have know to their disposal. So they have a great life here in America. Dogs should not have problems in America. They shouldn't have any.
Michelle Fern [00:16:58]:
I think it's the pet parent. What is it the pet parents that give them the.
Cesar Millan [00:17:04]:
You know, without a doubt it's not because that's what they want is they unconsciously don't do the right things. It's like health, you know what I mean? Why you become. I understand when you inherit certain genetics, but for the most part you can practice healthy habits and your body will be healthy and your mind will be healthy and your emotions will be healthy. But if you practice unhealthy habits, of course you're going to have those side effects. So the pet parents are without a doubt responsible on the balance on the health of the dog because the dog has to depend on you opening the door, unless you open that door, unless you practice those activities, unless you have healthy habits, he's not going to be able to do it on his own because he really depends from you.
Michelle Fern [00:17:44]:
I heed your words of wisdom. It's always wonderful to talk with you because you have so much insight on our canine friends. You just understand them so well. People can also go to Caesar's way and find out more information. Is that correct?
Cesar Millan [00:18:01]:
Yeah. They can always go to my site and we have tutorials. We have some ways that we can show why it works. How it works. We try without our pets, without our rescue dogs that we have at the center. So people can see how it works and we already do it. The thing is, we are already talking to our dogs. People talk to their dogs to calm them down.
Cesar Millan [00:18:23]:
So we know that this message, that this conversation, that this way of relating to a dog works. But when we are not there, what do we do? So we are going to extend this already knowledge. But the only way it's going to work is if a dog is in a relaxed or resting or tired state. Exercise is going to play a big role. It's going to be healthy for everybody. You don't want to leave a dog full of physical energy when you went to work. It just doesn't make sense.
Michelle Fern [00:18:50]:
And then you come home to physical energy done on your. So that's, it doesn't make sense, right.
Cesar Millan [00:18:57]:
Exactly.
Michelle Fern [00:18:58]:
I want to mention now if people go to audible and download your guide to bringing home a shelter dog that there will be a donation. What is that about?
Cesar Millan [00:19:10]:
Well, we work with rescue organizations. In this case, we work with North Shore Animal League, and it's all partners of mine that we have done many activities together. And to me, it's always about giving back. How can we make sure the dogs in the shelters get a chance?
Michelle Fern [00:19:25]:
Well, I think that's wonderful. And as you've always said, I mean, sheltered dogs can be calm as well as any dog, right?
Cesar Millan [00:19:34]:
Well, sheltered dogs, they definitely need more of the calmness because many of the people, they live with them, they surrender the dog. So they're definitely very confused. They feel abandoned. And so they're definitely going to need more of the practicing of relaxation because they're in a shelter. They don't know how they got there. They just know their human brought them there. And there's a lot of dogs right next to each other barking and practicing insecurity and practicing fear and frustration. So definitely a shelter should be the common place for a dog in order for them to have a new life.
Michelle Fern [00:20:06]:
Well, thank you so much for telling us about audible and all these great ideas for with audible, how to calm your dog. Do you have anything coming up in the future that you can let us know about?
Cesar Millan [00:20:20]:
Well, I hope people enjoy, you know, a show that I did with my older son, Andre. I hope people are enjoying mutton stuff, which is a tv show that Calvin, my younger son, is. You know, we're a family of dog lovers and we definitely want to make sure that we influence all stages of, you know, it's all about making a difference in the world. And I hope we're doing a good job as a family.
Michelle Fern [00:20:43]:
I think you're doing a great job and I think people are going to be really excited about this. Thank you so much for coming on best bets for pets on pet life radio and telling us about audible for dogs and about just great ways to calm your dog with audible. Thank you so much, Caesar.
Cesar Millan [00:21:00]:
Thank you. Bye bye.
Michelle Fern [00:21:02]:
Bye bye. Wow, what a great show. Thank you so much, Caesar, for coming on best bets for pets and telling us all about audible for dogs. What a great way to calm your dog. I think calm the pet parent as well for when you're leaving the house and making your dog less anxious. I'm going to have my crew, Nikki and Mr. Z, listen all the time when I'm away because they definitely need calming. Keep listening.
Michelle Fern [00:21:31]:
We have some great shows coming up.
Timestamped overview:
00:00 Talking to dogs helps ease separation anxiety.
06:15 Reading creates constant tone for dogs' wellness.
07:57 Train dogs positively, exercise for successful departure.
12:52 Psychology center teaching calm dog behavior techniques.
15:09 Traveling with anxious dogs? Use audible training.
19:34 Sheltered dogs need calmness, relaxation, and support.
21:02 Caesar shares tips for calming dogs with Audible.
Key topics and bullets:
Primary Topic: Introduction to Audible for Dogs
- Cesar Millan's partnership with Audible for Dogs
- Purpose of the audible audiobooks for dogs
- Differences between audible audiobooks for dogs and regular audiobooks
- Selecting the right audiobook based on tone and voice
- Introduction of six selected titles for dogs
Primary Topic: How Audible for Dogs Works
- Creating a relaxed state for the dog through exercise
- Associating audible audiobooks with a resting state
- Ensuring the dog's relaxation and calmness before pet parents leave the house
Primary Topic: Relationship Between Pet Parents and Dogs
- The importance of the pet parent's demeanor and energy
- The impact of pet parents' emotions on the dog's behavior and anxiety
- The analogy between pet parents' absence and anxiety in dogs or kids
Primary Topic: Benefits of Using Audible for Dogs
- Calming anxious dogs at home
- Extension of the Audible benefits to dogs with car anxiety
- The positive impact of mental stimulation and exercise on a dog's behavior
Primary Topic: Cesar Millan's Efforts in the Canine World
- Cesar Millan's work in understanding dog behavior
- The significance of providing solutions and educational resources for pet parents
- The partnership with rescue organizations and the importance of helping shelter dogs
Primary Topic: Upcoming Projects and Shows
- Brief mention of Cesar Millan's recent and upcoming projects
- Highlighting the family's involvement in promoting positive change in the world
Primary Topic: Conclusion
- Michelle Fern's appreciation for the insightful interview with Cesar Millan
- Reflection on the potential benefits of using Audible for Dogs
- A teaser for upcoming episodes on the show