Dog Whisperer

Boomer and Josh (1x4)

Air date: Sep 16, 2004

The Yap Dog Kristy Thom and Jody Sherman live with a Chesapeake Bay Retriever named Boomer, who barks incessantly and demands constant attention. Cesar counsels them that they will need to change their behavior toward Boomer so that Boomer will see them as the pack leaders, and advises them not to nurture the excited, out of control behavior by showing affection while Boomer is in an excited state. He stresses that they must maintain a calm, assertive energy, and be consistent about exercising Boomer since he is a high-energy breed. The Grooming Gremlin Josh is owned by Ronette Thomlinson who rescued him from a shelter, where he would have been put down the next day. Josh is a poodle/schnauzer mix who growls and bites everyone but Ronette. He is food-aggressive and will not tolerate being groomed. Cesar tells Ronette that she and everyone in the household must become Josh's pack leaders instead of his followers. Cesar first takes Josh for a walk to establish his authority, then begins to groom him. Josh screams and bites Cesar, but Cesar gains control of Josh and is able to cut his hair. He explains that often small dogs show their teeth and people back off, which teaches the dog that they can control people with their teeth, and sometimes it isn't aggression, just nervousness.