'The Dog Whisperer' has become a commonly used term that has been referenced by people of all walks of life, across the globe. Even people who have not tuned in to Cesar Millan's show recognize his name and know the premise of what his contributions to television have been.
He has become world renown for his innate ability to calm aggressive dogs and has been a mastermind when it comes to dog training and expanding the overall understanding of canine behavior. Aside from his wildly successful series on National Geographic, The Famous People reports that he has also penned three books that became New York Times bestsellers and has started a rehabilitation center dedicated to saving abused and abandoned animals, The Cesar Millan Pack Project.
8 He Displayed Skills With Dogs From A Young Age
There are some people that are truly born with a unique talent, and just seem to refine that skill more and more over time. Cesar Millan is definitely one of those people. He displayed masterful skills with dogs from a very young age, and his parents, Filipe and Maria were thrilled to have him assist with all the animals on the family farm.
The family knew they could rely on Cesar, and it was evident that he had a very special way with animals. His unique, and very authentic skill, paired with his passion and adoration for all animals was easy for anyone to spot.
7 His Nickname Was Once 'The Dirty Dog Boy'
As an energetic young boy who helped out on the farm, Cesar Millan quickly became popular in his community for his incredible skills with his farm animals. What stood out the most was his love for dogs and the very special way he was able to associate with them.
Sadly, Cesar was bullied over this, and due to the fact that he was always frolicking with animals, he was given the nickname of "The Dirty Dog Boy."
According to Sun Signs, now, in his adult years, he definitely has gotten the last laugh over those bullies.
6 He Became A Limousine Driver When He Moved To The U.S.
When Cesar's family moved to the United States from his home town of Culiacan, Mexico, he was 21-years-old, and he didn't speak a single word of English. He struggled to assimilate, but he was determined, and tenacious. Unable to speak English fluently, and only starting to recognize words and letters, Cesar took on a side hustle.
He began driving a limousine driver, and this would eventually lead him to meet a special person who helped him find his way down a very successful path.
5 He Continually Kept Committing A Specific Crime...
In order to make ends meet, Cesar continued to work with dogs after his Limousine driving shift. He was doing his best to succeed without yet having mastered the English language, so he followed his passion and found a simple way to work with dogs again - he became a dog walker.
His skills with dogs were already so greatly defined that he would continuously walk 30-40 dogs while off-leash, not knowing that walking them off leash was a crime in the U.S.
4 Jada Pinkett Smith Helped Him Cultivate His Career
As a limo driver, he wound up meeting none other than Jada Pinkett Smith. After getting to know one another, he began to express his dreams of having a show about pets on television, and she saw something special in him. She told Cesar that he would need an English tutor to pull this off, and she helped him find a teacher to do just that. She went on to be his biggest supporter and greatly helped him along in establishing his career in America.
3 He Threw Himself Into All Aspects Of His Career
Cesar Millan immediately began to see success in his career, and eventually his show became the number one show of National Geographic, with viewership in over 80 countries. He remained dedicated to the rehabilitation of animals and continued to educate owners on how to properly fulfill their dog's energy levels and cultivate a relationship with their pets.
As Cesar continued to see success, he remained dedicated to all aspects of his work and was locked in and focused on how he could leverage his position to continue aiding animals. No matter how wealthy he became, he never abandoned his mission.
2 He Has Been Open To New Experiences
Cesar's show was demanding and took a lot of focus and energy, yet the remained open to new ideas and experiences. He made a video set and appeared on an episode of the animated show, South Park. He played himself in an episode of Beethoven's Big Break, as well as an episode of Bones.
In 2005, he made videography, "Cesar Millan’s Mastering Leadership Series, Volume1: People Training for Dogs." In 2006, Millan guest-starred as himself in episode 18 of Children of Ghosts of Season 2, GhostWhisperer. In the episode, Melinda seeks advice from him on how to help Ghost Whisperer’s ghost dog.
He also launched his very own magazine called Cesar's Way and appeared on Jeopardy and The Apprentice, where he was a judge. He has also appeared on Hell's Kitchen.
1 He Tried To Commit Suicide
Although his career most certainly took off, things haven't always been easy for Cesar. In fact, he dipped into a serious depression and struggled with his mental health at one point.
This all began in 2000 when Cesar discovered his wife was preparing to file for divorce and custody of their two children. She wanted spousal support, as well. As this was going on, his dog of 16 years, Daddy, sadly passed away.
Cesar Millan couldn't handle all the negativity that was spiraling around him, and he felt he was losing everything he loved dearly. In a dark moment, he attempted to take his own life. Thankfully, he went on a path of healing and is doing very well these days.
