Cesar Millan has proven to be a rather polarizing figure in the dog training industry but it's fair to say that it doesn't matter what the subject matter is, there will always be people who take extreme positions of pro or con.

For example, on one extreme I am aware of people who call Cesar Millan the worst thing to ever happen to the world of dog training, and on the other side of the spectrum I have met those who are disciple-like in their approval of him.

Having said that, it's well worth noting that dog trainers are notorious for being quick to criticize each other, and Cesar's massive public profile does bring him under a lot of scrutiny from trainers and others in the expanding canine industry.

Cesar Millan freely states that he is not a dog 'trainer' but, instead, that he rehabilitates dogs with behavioural problems. He does this using intuitive and instinctual methods and techniques based on a lifetime of his observations on how dogs interact and communicate with each other. While his personal history, techniques and charisma tend to be inspirational to the lay-person, they are not quite so appealing to some in the canine industry.

The Most Common Criticisms I Have Heard Are:

- That he specializes in dog behavioural issues without any formal education or credentials in ethology.

- That his opinions on canine dominance and submissiveness are (depending on whom you listen to) either over simplified, out-dated or just completely inaccurate.

- That his opinions on dog pack theory are (depending on whom you listen to) either out-dated or completely inaccurate.

- That he will physically 'correct' a dog - most commonly using his hand as a mock 'bite' or submitting a dog using the 'alpha roll' technique when a dog won't otherwise submit to his commands.

Unfortunately, from my own experience in the dog training profession I have found far too many trainers to be overtly close-minded and critical of others in the industry. In general terms, as long as the means and methods are humane and based in positive reinforcement I don't consider someone who is doing something "differently" than me to be doing something "wrong". From my decidedly centrist point of view I believe that there can be a number of different paths that lead to the destination or end-result we want. In short, 'different' doesn't necessarily equate to being 'wrong'.

From my standpoint I cannot help but view Cesar Millan in a 'bigger picture' perspective. To put all of the petty criticisms and academic debates to the side, if nothing else, he has shown countless millions of people that:

- They are not alone in having issues with their dog - it happens to just about everyone at some point.

- They don't have to give up on their dog because a solution can almost always be found.

For those dog trainers who believe Cesar Millan is the worst thing to happen to the industry it is with no small amount of irony to note that he has provided quite a boost for the dog training industry as a whole. All trainers are sure to benefit from Millan's ambassadorship to some extent, by giving dog owners inspiration, hope, and reason to call their local dog training or dog behaviour professional.