CESAR MILLAN is a best-selling author, star of “Leader of the Pack,” and longstanding hit TV show “Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan,” on National Geographic WILD. Simply put, Millan is the pet care industry’s most recognized and sought-after authority working in the field of dog care and rehabilitation.

Notably, Millan has co-authored five books: the New York Times #1 Bestseller Cesar’s Way, the New York Times Bestseller Be The Pack Leader, A Member of the Family, How to Raise the Perfect Dog, and Cesar’s Rules. Millan will release his sixth book, Short Guide to a Happy Dog, on January 1, 2013. He has also generated numerous instructional DVDs and CDs, and continues to host a popular series of seminars called Cesar LIVE, where attendees learn how to apply his extensive knowledge of dog psychology and rehabilitation techniques.

His website, Cesarsway.com, is the largest dog dedicated website in the U.S. with over 1.2 million unique views per month. The site gives insights into dog behavior issues, rescue and adoption, and health issues.

In the summer of 2008 Millan designed and created his own proprietary, exclusive line of dog products, which include health aids, toys, natural treats, leashes, ergonomic collars, and specially designed, breed-specific beds, among other items.

Millan was born in rural Culiacan, Mexico, and grew up in a small house with no amenities. He spent much of his early childhood on his grandfather’s farm in nearby Ixpalino, where he observed the behavior of the farm’s many dogs. When he was a teenager, his family purchased their first TV set. He preferred the classic “Lassie”and “The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin” series and, inspired by them, dreamed that he would move to California and become the world’s best dog trainer.

In December of 1990, at the age of 21, Millan, who spoke no English, crossed the border into California and began living in San Diego. He lived on the streets for a month until he landed a job grooming dogs, soon gaining a reputation for his calming effect on even the most difficult dogs. With a few dollars in his pocket, he moved north to Los Angeles and took a job washing cars.

During this time, Millan was surprised by how troubled so many of the dogs he encountered seemed to be and how disconnected Americans seemed to be from nature and the world around them. He began thinking that he should redirect his dream to becoming a rehabilitator of dogs and a trainer of humans. With the money he saved from washing cars, he started a freelance dog rehabilitation service, primarily offering his expertise with extreme cases. He was quickly recommended around town and his client list expanded rapidly. In 1994, he came to the attention of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith who likewise referred him to other celebrities. Millan became inspired to upgrade his business and broaden his exposure in the community, which led him to open his first Dog Psychology Center, a two-acre facility in South Los Angeles, designed to rehabilitate troubled, aggressive, and condemned dogs. The center, which housed a pack of thirty to forty “un-adoptable” and abandoned dogs, was moved to the Santa Clarita Valley to allow for expansion and modernization. The new facility stretches over 43 acres and includes a sheep herding area, swimming pool, obstacle course, and hiking trails.

In 2002, Millan was profiled in the Los Angeles Times. Following the profile, Los Angeles-based production company MPH Entertainment and Emery/Sumner Productions called upon Millan with the idea of creating a TV series around his unique practice.

Today, Millan is a pop culture icon, inspiring flattering parodies on “South Park” and “Saturday Night Live;” references on popular shows including “Two and a Half Men,” “Jeopardy!” and Bravo’s hit series “Work Out;” as well as personal appearances on “Oprah,” “Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart,” “Martha Stewart,” “Carson Daly,” “Today Show,” “The View,” and “Live with Regis and Kelly.” He has also appeared in cameo roles on the hit TV series “Ghost Whisperer” and “Bones,” the DVD premiere film, “Beethoven’s Big Break,” and most recently “The Backup Plan” starring Jennifer Lopez. Millan’s influence and the success of the show have raised so much interest in dog-related entertainment that CBS and Animal Planet, among other networks, have created their own TV shows focused on dogs.

Millan has worked with many celebrity clients including Charlize Theron, Scarlett Johansson, Oprah Winfrey, Nicolas Cage, Michael Eisner, Mark Zuckerberg, Scott Rudin, S.I. Newhouse, Ridley Scott, Rebecca Romijn, Michael Bay, Hillary and Haylie Duff, Denise Richards, Ashley Simpson and Pete Wentz, Virginia Madsen, Vin Diesel, Gisele Bündchen and Tom Brady, and many others.

Millan has been recognized with numerous awards throughout his career. In 2005, the National Humane Society Genesis Award Committee presented him with a Special Commendation for his work in rehabilitating animals; in 2006, 2007 and 2009 “Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan” was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Reality Program; in 2010 “Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan” was awarded a People’s Choice Award for Best Animal Show; in 2006, Millan was awarded honorary membership in the International Association of Canine Professionals; in 2007, he was awarded the Michael Landon Award for Inspiration to Youth Through Television; and in 2008, he was honored with a Treasure Award from the City of Los Angeles. In March 2013, Millan was honored by Bergin University for his work with service dogs and received a Master’s Degree in Canine Life Sciences from the institution. He continues to be recognized and awarded by rescue and animal welfare organizations for his commitment to the betterment of animals and their relationships with people around the world.

On Valentine’s Day 2007, Millan officially launched the Cesar Millan Foundation, “a national, non-profit organization designed to aid and support the rescue, rehabilitation, and placement of abused and abandoned dogs.” The cornerstone initiatives include Shelter Stars, an affiliation program created in 2009 that promotes positive, healthy relationships between families and the dogs they adopt; a Spay/Neuter education and awareness campaign about the overpopulation of pets that leads to over 4.5 million euthanized animals every year, including a public service announcement directed at the Spanish-speaking population; and the recently launched Mutt-i-grees curriculum, a joint effort with Yale University’s School of the 21st Century that aims to teach children about social and emotional intelligence, using natural instincts to develop care and compassion not only to other people, but also to shelter dogs.

In the Fall 2009, Millan launched Cesar’s Way Magazine. Cesar Millan Inc. produces a weekly e-newsletter and website that features Millan’s tips, news, and other content of interest to fans and dog lovers alike. He also appears in Cesar Live tours around the world, an upbeat series of live training seminars. He has completed tours in Australia, the U.S., the U.K., Canada, and Europe.

“The Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan,” premiered its ninth and final season in September 2012 in the US on Nat Geo WILD, bringing the legendary show to a closing. The series continues to air new episodes in more than 110 countries worldwide, including encore episodes in the US with a global viewership of over 30 million fans.

Millan announced a partnership with POWWOW in April 2011, a VéRTICE 360 media and entertainment company, with offices in Los Angeles, Miami and Buenos Aires. The partnership created original new content for the Spanish speaking audiences of Latin America and Spain, including El Lider de la Manada which aired in 2012 in Spain and premiered in October 2012 in the US on Nat Geo Mundo, being the first time that Millan will star in his own series speaking his native language.

After a successful career filled with many accomplishments, Cesar released a biopic that - for the first time - documented his life from illegally entering into the United States and living in poverty to becoming the international icon that he is today. The one-hour special, entitled “Cesar Millan: The Real Story,” aired November 2012 on Nat Geo WILD, making headlines around worldwide.

Cesar Millan made history once again with his brand new 12-part series “Leader of the Pack,” which premiered January 2013 on Nat Geo WILD. In the new series, Millan combats the global issue of canine abandonment, giving 'unadoptable' dogs a second chance and coaching families from across Europe who are vying for the opportunity to adopt these lucky pups. 

Millan lives in Southern California and is the proud father of two sons, Andre and Calvin.

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