Dog whisperer shows Hong Kong pet lovers why he's leader of the pack
TV's Cesar Millan tells Hongkongers that owners often need more training than their pets
As a celebrated "dog whisperer", Cesar Millan knows a thing or two about animal behaviour. But often it's the owner he needs to teach.
According to him, Hongkongers who say dogs are too much of a handful for their hectic lifestyles are only making excuses.
"[Saying] 'I'm busy or it's hectic' - it's just an excuse to not be there for someone," Millan told hundreds of dog-lovers at Stanley Plaza yesterday.
Between 2010 and 2012, almost 20,000 abandoned and wild dogs were put down in Hong Kong, with many others left in kennels and shelters. But Millan denied that the city's pace and lack of space made it unsuitable for dogs.
"Someone who abandons their dog is likely to abandon their families as well. The difference is, the family can drive away, but the dog can't. It's left there." Owner responsibility is a strong theme in his reality TV shows and .
"My clients went to Harvard, but they don't know how to walk a Chihuahua. They're smart, but they don't understand nature."
He pointed to a teenage girl who was clutching her terrier protectively as it was introduced to a bulldog several times its size.
He picked up another dog which had become alarmed by the crowd. "The best thing to do is give him a massage. Don't let him hold the experience. Change the experience."
One fan, Jack Hoi, 58, a retired civil servant, admitted to having "some problems at home" with his mini-pinscher, Mickey.
Hoi said he watched Millan's YouTube show every night. "I love his philosophy on how to teach the owner," he said.