Photo Gallery: Dog Whisperer Case Files
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Bully Free Zone
Get to know the dogs that will be featured on the newest season of Dog Whisperer. Learn about what troubles them and about their owners.
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Sony, 3-Year-Old Red Nose Pit/Chocolate Lab
Jon Klein owns a fishing boat and when he and his crew were docked in Washington State during the 2008 season, Jon’s first mate, Brandon, rescued a dog that was going to be sent to the pound. At first Jon was adamant that the dog not be on the boat, but after some convincing, Jon finally let the dog on board. Over the next two weeks, Jon grew very attached to the dog and named her Sony after her penchant for sitting and watching the sonar screen. Sony did great at sea until last year when, during a huge storm, Jon and his crew nearly lost the boat. Usually in heavy conditions Sony would be barking and running around with the crew, but during this storm she got very anxious and began to shake. Since then, Jon has had to medicate Sony any time they go out on the boat. Having to drug his dog upsets Jon so much that he is ready to give up this next fishing season and stay on shore with Sony unless something changes.
ABOUT THE OWNER:
When Jon Klein’s last dog, Oso, died ten years ago, he was so devastated that he never wanted to have another dog. So when he bonded so quickly with Sony he was a little surprised. Sony’s problems on the boat are particularly problematic for Jon because as a fisherman, the boat is out at sea for nearly three whole months. Jon doesn’t feel he can leave Sony with anyone else, so he is anxious to get help.
BEHIND THE SCENES:
As under the radar as the crew tries to be, word got out at the marina that Cesar was in town, and an oddly large number of people just happened to be walking their dogs at the marina that day. -
Fuzzy Monster Truck, 1-Year-Old Toy Australian Shepherd/Chihuahua Mix
Evie Ryland has always been a cat person, but when she was asked to watch four-month-old Fuzzy Monster Truck for a short time, she quickly fell in love. The fact that Monster Truck was so small appealed to Evie, and she started to take the dog everywhere. Fuzzy Monster Truck was easy to train, but Evie noticed early on that Monster Truck was very unsure about strangers. This creates a difficult situation, because he’s an adorable little dog and everyone wants to be his best friend. The feeling, it appears, is not mutual. The more people pestered him, the more he pushed back. Evie’s roommate, Richard, and Monster Truck have never warmed up to one another. Richard has a very loud personality and this may have scared the dog early on. If Richard is around, Monster Truck will either bark at him or stare him down. When he’s on the phone, the dog barks nonstop. This is obviously very frustrating, and Evie doesn’t know how to control it.
ABOUT THE OWNER:
As a cartoonist, Evie Ryland is constantly looking for inspiration for her work, and Fuzzy Monster Truck provides that in spades. Evie created a game to help Monster Truck warm up to strangers called “Cover Monster” where people repeatedly cover him with a blanket. Evie’s latest book of illustrations is called Sun Gone Nova.
BEHIND THE SCENES OF FUZZY MONSTER TRUCK'S EPISODE, PACK LEADERS IN TRAINING:
Evie had a lot of her cartoons hanging in her house, and it was fun for the crew to see all the different characters she draws. -
Zeus, 9-Month-Old German Shepherd
Hazette Anderson has owned dogs all of her life. Zeus is he first German shepherd, and she brought him home at three and a half months. At the time, Hazette also owned a Rottweiler named Aries who was quite old. Zeus and Aries got along very well, playing and sleeping together. Zeus would follow Aries lead and bark at something if Aries barked at it first. Aries had to be put down in September 2010, and Zeus became very reserved for a couple weeks following, hardly eating or moving from Aries’s old bed. Zeus finally came around, but there was a definite change in his behavior. He will now bark at anything, and once he starts, it’s almost impossible for Hazette to get him to stop. Hazette’s neighbors have complained, and Hazette has tried many different tools in a attempt to curb Zeus’s barking. Hazette finally received a citation for noise disturbance from the city, and if she can’t find a solution, Zeus’s license will be revoked.
ABOUT THE OWNER:
Hazette Anderson has always loved the companionship of animals. When her daughter Jamelia was five, Hazette heard someone say Rottweiler’s were a good breed of dog for young children. She owned a total of three Rotties when her children were young. She enjoys Zeus when it’s just the two of them, but she needs to learn how to make him listen whenever he’s distracted by something.
BEHIND THE SCENES OF ZUES' EPISODE, MASCOT MAYHEM:
The crew had to find a sporting goods store the day they shot with Hazette because Cesar decided that Zeus needed a treadmill. -
Stella, 1-Year-Old English Bulldog
When the Sonken family adopted Stella as a puppy, they hoped she would become the mascot of their business. The Sonkens own an outdoor café in Del Mar, California that is extremely dog friendly. All of the regulars bring their pets with them when they stop at the café. The first time Stella went to the café, she promptly pooped right in the middle of the dining area. This had never happened before. Soon Stella proved that she couldn’t be off leash or she would run around and bother all the customers. She once ran straight into the kitchen, a serious health code violation. Needless to say, Stella is no longer welcome at the café. Unfortunately, she isn’t any better in the Sonken’s home. A gate has been put up to keep her out of the living room, but if she gets in someone has to take the time to catch her, which is never an easy task. When people come to the door, Stella gets very excited and charges, often running out the door and then around the neighborhood. She has even run into neighbor’s houses. The Sonkens really just want Stella to be calmer so she could participate more with their family.
ABOUT THE OWNERS:
Greg and Terry Sonken purchased the Stratford Court Café in Del Mar, California three years ago. A 22 year institution in the community, the Sonkens inherited a large, regular clientele that bring their dogs with them to the café. There are even celebrities that go to the café when they are in town. One of Greg and Terry’s daughters, Marleigh, was the one who found Stella. She had graduated from college and moved back home to save money and now works as an educator.
BEHIND THE SCENES OF STELLA'S EPISODE, MASCOT MAYHEM:
On his first trip to The Stratford Café, Cesar got ill and couldn’t work with Stella, but in the short time he was there, he saw that Stella really wasn’t ready for the challenge. So the plan changed, and Cesar took Stella with him to get some one-on-one work. -
Roxie and Smokey, 8 and 3-Year-Old Pit Bulls
Erik Galindo and his family own a whopping six dogs, including three pit bulls: 8 year old Roxie, 3 year old Smokey, and Hazel who they estimate is 2 or 3 years old. Erik has owned Roxie the longest and originally found her as a stray. Over the years she has become more and more aggressive and Erik can no longer take her to dog parks because Roxie constantly tries to get into fights with other dogs. When Hazel was introduced to the pack less than a year ago, she and Roxie got along for a couple hours until, seemingly out of nowhere, Roxie went after Hazel. Since then Erik has done his best to keep the two female pits separate, but Hazel has escaped from her enclosure and gone after Roxie. Erik also has trouble controlling Smokey, who has become the family’s favorite dog due to his energy and friendliness. On walks Smokey gets so excited that he pulls a lot and has almost knocked people over while Erik struggled to control him.
ABOUT THE OWNERS:
Erik Galindo never officially joined a gang, but when he was a young teen he hung out with many people who were gang members. After he was arrested on a DUI he realized that he had to get him life on the right track and found help through Homeboy Industries. Now Erik is training to be a solar panel installer. Kevin Mora, Erik’s cousin, was in a gang, but Erik’s example of responsibility through job training and taking care of his dogs has helped Kevin realize he needs to do something with his life as well. The cousins have bonded while taking care of the dogs together.
BEHIND THE SCENES OF ROXIE AND SMOKEY'S EPISODE, HOMEBOYS AND HOUNDS:
The crew was excited to see that Homeboy Bakery salsa and tortilla chips are now available in Ralph’s supermarkets throughout the U.S. Director SueAnn Finke likes the salsa verde in particular. -
Shaggy, 2-Year-Old Maltese
Many ex-gang members feel the need to have big, aggressive dogs. Not so for Sergio Ahumada. Sergio fell in love with little white Shaggy as soon as they met. After convincing his wife, Lizbeth, that they should adopt the Maltese, Shaggy quickly became Sergio’s “youngest son.” But now Shaggy has become a liability for the Ahumada family. He has bitten Sergio and Lizbeth, as well as their four young children. According to Sergio, Shaggy has a Napoleon complex and tries to go after larger dogs. Anyone who runs by their house is also subject to Shaggy’s wrath. He will charge out the front door barking loudly and nip at the runner’s heels. Sergio and Lizbeth are worried that Shaggy might go after the wrong person and they could end up getting sued. There’s one other big problem: Shaggy likes to dart out of the house and across a busy street. The dog was actually hit by a car, but luckily suffered no injuries. Sergio is worried that it’s just a matter of time before Shaggy gets hurt.
ABOUT THE OWNER:
Sergio Ahumada has a long history with gangs. In his family, gang membership was passed from father to son, and Sergio grew up knowing nothing else. After being in and out of prison several times and loosing several good jobs, Sergio found his way to Homeboy Industries. There, founder Father Gregory Boyle personally sent him to work in Homeboy Bakery. Sergio started as a dishwasher but has worked his way up a managerial position within the bakery. Sergio has seven kids and lives with the four youngest and his wife Lizbeth Ramos.
BEHIND THE SCENES:
Before every episode producers do in-depth interviews with the dog owners. Segment Producer Todd Henderson found Sergio so entertaining that his pre-interview has now become one of Todd’s favorites. -
Monster, 1-Year-Old Blue Nosed Pit Bull
Ray Moreno adopted Monster from a breeder after his wife, Ana Montoya, was pressuring him to have a baby. Ray had been out of prison for less than a year, and didn’t feel ready to have a child. When they visited the breeder in Arcadia, California, Monster approached Ana and Ray knew he was the dog for his family. Upon his arrival, Monster became the baby of the family. Ana spares no extra expense on his bed, toys, and covers. Monster jumps on guests and destroys the toys Ray and Ana’s kids leave out. There is a lot of pent up energy in Monster because he is never walked. Though Monster looked cute as a puppy, he is now living up to his name. Little by little, again and again, he is over powering the family to get his way.
ABOUT THE OWNERS:
Ray Moreno is a former gang member who has spent most of his adult years in and out of prison. He recently finished a ten year prison sentence and has been out of jail for 14 months. Ray has found a new life through the love of his wife, Ana, and through the opportunities provided by Homeboy Industries, an organization that assists at risk youth and former gang members create better lives for themselves through job training, counseling, and job placement. Ray currently lives with his wife and two young children, ages three and four.
BEHIND THE SCENES OF MONSTER'S EPISODE, HOMEBOYS AND HOUNDS:
On the last day of the shoot, Ray brought the crew several samples of Homeboy Bakery bread to try. Everything was delicious from the basic sourdough to the exotic rye currant bread. -
Sammy, 3-Year-Old Terrier Mix
Sammy was found wandering the streets of San Bias, Mexico at four months of age. He was transported to a shelter in southern California where he was rehabilitated for three months before being adopted by the Bakers. Sammy immediately demonstrated some of his many issues. He is afraid of hardwood floors, skateboards, roller skates, and other dogs. He reacts by vocalizing a very harsh, screaming sound that doesn’t even resemble a dog. The Bakers have tried several different trainers, even unsuccessfully putting Sammy through training as a therapy dog. They have also tried both citronella spray and a shock collar, all to no avail.
ABOUT THE OWNER:
Bill and Francine Baker live in the quite suburban town of Claremont, California. Bill is a semi-retired real estate attorney and Francine is a part-time arts coordinator for the city. Sammy is not their first dog, but they had never had problems with any of their pets until Sammy.
BEHIND THE SCENES OF SAMMY'S EPISODE, HOUNDS FROM HELL:
Sammy would go after skateboarders, and Francine’s friend Marc Cohen brought a battery powered skateboard for Cesar to use for an exercise. Cesar is very athletic and good on skateboards, but he had a lot of trouble standing up on this one! -
Fred and Ethel Mertz, 10 and 5-Year-Old Mini Pinschers
Former wrestler Shelly Martinez adopted her mini Pinscher, Fred, when she was first getting involved with professional wrestling. When he was two, someone Shelly knows broke Fred’s leg, and then the problems started. Fred became very aggressive and territorial of Shelly. She would take the dog on the road with her when she traveled for work, but Fred became a joke with the other wrestlers because he would snap at anyone who came close to Shelly. As her work schedule became more and more demanding, Shelly was no longer able to bring Fred with her, so she adopted Ethel to be his companion. For the most part Ethel was a nice and easy going dog, until an incident three years ago when she was attacked by a pit bull. Shelly’s sister, Danielle, was present at during the attack was traumatized so that now she has a lot of anxiety around other dogs. Since the attack, Ethel has become very aggressive on walks and has even bitten people. Shelly and Danielle are both very nervous that something big could happen and they could lose the dogs.
ABOUT THE OWNER:
Shelly Martinez was one of the leading women in professional wrestling for many years. Now mostly retired, Shelly is focusing on her acting and building a social media following. She lives with her sister, Danielle, who helps Shelly maintain her website and is also a singer. Danielle is also petrified of dogs, especially pit bulls, after what happened to Fred and Ethel.
BEHIND THE SCENES OF FRED AND ETHEL'S EPISODE, MASCOT MAYHEM:
The crew enjoyed watching scenes from Shelly’s web-series “Sprinkles,” a campy send up of the superhero genre. -
Sahzi, 3-Year-Old Belgian Tervuren
When Mike and Robin Loperfido adopted Sahzi at one and a half years of age, the breeder told them that there were certain eccentricities that the dog had. Sahzi wouldn’t drink water, was afraid of certain area in the house including hallways and the kitchen, and she would nip at strangers. The Loperfidos thought that Sahzi seemed normal enough, but when they got her home, they soon realized that extent of their problems. There are only two hallways in the house, and Sahzi tried her hardest to avoid both of them. If she does have to pass through a hallway, she paces several times and then runs through as fast as she can. When strangers come to the house, Sahzi will run out the dog door and hide in the back yard, and she has become so protective of Robin that on walks she nips at people who approach them.
ABOUT THE OWNERS:
When she was young, Robin Loperfido had show dogs, and her husband Mike had a Golden Retriever when they first met. They have always been dog lovers. Robin and Mike had triplets who are in their twenties and have moved out. They had an Australian Cattle Dog named Zeke for many years, and adopted Sahzi to avoid an empty nest after Zeke’s death.
BEHIND THE SCENES OF SAHZI'S EPISODE, HOUNDS FROM HELL:
Belgian Tervurens are graceful runners and Robin gave Cesar a demonstration on Sahzi’s fast and elegant footwork. The crew was so transfixed that director SueAnn Finke finally had to tell everyone to get back to work. -
Ruby and Jinx, 10 and 3-Year-Old Jack Russell Terriers
Sandy Hill bought Ruby to train her as a hunting dog. While Ruby is dainty in stature and delicate in her manners, she has proven to be a natural born hunter. She is always on alert, looking for her next kill, and any animal she perceives as fearing her is fair game, including live bulls. Jinx is much younger than Ruby, and has a completely different temperament. Jinx is a clown compared to Ruby. She loves doing tricks and playing and being with other people. She hunts, too, but she is afraid of gun shots and lacks the intensity exhibited by Ruby. Because of their different personalities, the dogs never got along wonderfully, but they tolerated each other. That is, until four years ago when the dogs had their first fight. It was at night and the dogs had been given raw hides and put to bed. Ruby decided she wanted both pieces of raw hide and stole Jinx’s. When Jinx went to get it back a very violent fight broke out which resulted in both dogs and Sandy suffering injuries. Another year went by without incident, but then there was another unexpected altercation and since then the dogs end up fighting almost every time they are together. Sandy now keeps the dogs separate at all times, creating two parallel lives and taking twice as much time. Every time Sandy has let her guard down, the dogs have attacked one another.
ABOUT THE OWNER:
Sandy Hill is a writer and editor by trade and has contributed to Vogue, Mademoiselle, Bride’s, Condé Nast Traveler, Allure, Men’s Journal, and USA Today, among others. Her passion is the great outdoors. Sandy has tackled “the seven summits,” climbing the highest mountains on each continent, including Mt. Everest, about which she reported on camera and online for NBC News. In 2000, she realized another dream, to own a vineyard and ranch in California. Sandy now divides her time between Venice, CA and Santa Barbara County.
BEHIND THE SCENES OF JINX AND RUBY'S EPISODE WHY DOGS FIGHT:
Sandy owns an African Grey Parrot, which as a species has a very long lifespan of between 30 and 60 years. The parrot was so loud and talked so much while the crew was filming that they had to move it outside. -
Swizzy, 6-Year-Old Pit Bull
Swizzy is owned by a large family, the Salvatores, and the only person who has an issue with Swizzy is Melody, which puts a strain on family gatherings that Melissa holds at her new house. When Melody comes over, Melissa either has to put Swizzy in the side yard or lock him in the bathroom. While Swizzy has never been overly aggressive, because he is a Pit Bull, many people are afraid of him. This fact makes Melissa nervous, and in turn, Swizzy feeds off her energy and can sometimes react in a negative way. When Dog Whisperer producer Todd Henderson initially went to shoot at Melissa’s home, Swizzy actually went after him!
HOUNDED BY FEAR: MELODY: Melody Salvatore is a fun loving, happy woman in her early twenties who enjoys spending quality time with her family, especially her older sister Melissa. Unfortunately for Melody, Melissa owns a dog, a source of constant fear for Melody ever since she was attacked by a pit bull when she was younger. It’s a constant but manageable ordeal to keep the dog locked away whenever Melody visits, but now Melissa plans to use her beloved dog as the ring bearer in her upcoming wedding… in which Melody will serve as a bridesmaid. Both girls know that in order for the day to be as special as they intend it to be, Melody must get past her fear of dogs. They are both hopeful and confident that Cesar can help them achieve this goal.
BEHIND THE SCENES OF SWIZZY'S EPISODE, HOUNDED BY FEAR:
It’s quite rare for the crew to be attacked by the dogs they work with, but in this case, Swizzy ended up going after two crewmembers. Swizzy didn’t just go after field producer Todd Henderson, while cameraman Gudio Verweyen was shooting on the first day, Swizzy ripped open his jeans! -
Dodger, German Shepherd/Chow Chow Mix
Dodger is owned by one of Tom the pool man's clients. Dodger acts like Tom is an intruder every time he comes to clean the pool. He runs to the gate, barking and baring his teeth. Tom once entered the back yard with Dodger there, using his pool pole to keep the dog at a distance. The entire time Tome worked, he kept an eye on the dog. When Tom was finished, he went to open the gate. The moment he took his eye off of the dog, Dodger bit him on the leg. Tom went to the owners, who were apologetic and assured Tom that the dog’s shots were up to date. Tom had to get a tetanus shot, but didn’t require stitches.
HOUNDED BY FEAR: TOM, THE POOL MAN
Tom Voda has a long and complicated history with dogs. One of his earliest memories is petting a dog and being bit randomly. His parents said that he was too close to the dog’s food, but all Tom remembers is growling and then biting him on the arm. When Tom was about 6 or 7, his brother was attacked by a neighbor’s German shepherd while Tom watched, causing his brother to have to get stitches. As an adult, Tom has had several incidents with dogs while running out doors. Tom’s career as a pool man causes him to have to interact more than he’d like. When Tom knows a particular household owns a dog, he requests that the dog be put in the house when he comes to clean the pool. If the dog has been left in the backyard and no one is home, Tom will leave and come back later. Tom really wants Cesar’s help to overcome his debilitating fear both for his professional life, as well as his personal life.
BEHIND THE SCENES OF DODGER'S EPISODE, HOUNDED BY FEAR:
Director SueAnn Finke says that Tom dealt with his fear using humor and had the crew in stitches the entire shoot. -
Patches, 3-Year-Old Australian Shepherd
Patches was thrown over the fence at a dog shelter, so when the Walkers adopted her, they didn’t know how old she was exactly or what kind of problems she would have. Right away they could tell she was fearful of men, but she showed extreme fear and avoidance of men in uniform. This is a major issue because Martin is an active service member in the army. When he is deployed but not overseas, he wears his uniform almost every day. When he comes home after work, Patches will run away from him and hide. The Walkers have tried desensitizing Patches by having Martin wear his uniform more than he normally would and by placing the uniform where Patches sleeps. Nothing has worked so far.
ABOUT THE OWNERS:
Martin Walker is currently deployed overseas with the 1-44 Air & Missile Defense Battalion. His tour ends in December 2011. Martin and his Wife, Ciarra, have two children, two year old Skyler and 3 month old Martin Jr. Ciarra’s mother, Deborah, lives with them.
BEHIND THE SCENES OF PATCHES' EPISODE, ARMY BRATS:
The Walkers also own a Border collie named Maggie, who wasn’t spayed. The Walkers really wanted to get her the operation, but it’s very expensive to have dogs spayed in Fort Hood. On the last day of shooting, Cesar gave Ciarra the money for her to get Maggie spayed. -
Ginger, 1-Year-Old Miniature Bull Terrier
Ginger was adopted by the Sissoms, Amber and Kyle, when she was four months old. She has boundless energy and she is very strong for her size. While she is very friendly towards people and children, Ginger often knocks kids down when she jumps on them. Last summer, Ginger saw the Sissom’s schnauzer, Molly, get attacked right in front of her. Since then, Ginger has been very protective of both Molly and Amber, barking and pulling on her leash when other dogs are nearby.
ABOUT THE OWNERS:
Kyle Sissom is a first Lieutenant in the 289th Quartermaster Company and is currently deployed in Iraq. His wife, Amber, helps her neighbors by cleaning houses. The Sissoms adopted Ginger because Kyle wanted a dog, but he only had a month and a half to bond with Ginger before he was deployed.
BEHIND THE SCENES OF GINGER'S EPISODE, ARMY BRATS:
When the crew was in Fort Hood there were a lot tornadoes throughout Texas, and there was even a tornado warning one evening at their hotel! -
Azzy, 7-Year-Old Shetland Shepherd
The Musser family adopted Azzy in 2003 from a breeder. As a puppy, Azzy would bark at kids who rode by their yard on bikes, and eventually he started barking at the lawnmower and the vacuum. Mark is in the army, and in 2008, the family moved to Fort Hood, Texas. Azzy barking became out of control. He started barking at helicopters and other airgraft when they flew overhead. Living on an army base mean that there is a lot of air traffic, but it’s worse for the Musser’s, they live right under the flight path! Kim tries to discipline the dog, but nothing so far has worked.
ABOUT THE OWNER:
The Mussers are Mark and Kim and their children Layna and Micah. Mark is an army chaplain and Kim is a homemaker. Layna has really wanted a small dog for a while, and soon the Mussers plan to adopt a male Chihuahua puppy.
BEHIND THE SCENES OF AZZY'S EPISODE, ARMY BRATS:
There is a tradition in the army of giving someone a sterling silver coin if you want to thank them for doing something. On the last day of shooting, Mark gave Cesar coins to show his appreciation. -
Hugo, 3-Year-Old English Bulldog
Bill Leitner first noticed Hugo behaving aggressively when Hugo was approximately seven months of age. Hugo would growl at strangers and grab people’s shirts with his teeth. Bill really knew he had a problem when Hugo started to chase men’s shoes and bite at their ankles. Small events like this escalated until Hugo finally bit someone when he was about one year old. Since then he has bitten people on several occasions, most seriously causing one of Bill’s friends to have to get stitches after Hugo bit his ankle. Hugo was even kicked out of doggy daycare after getting in numerous fights with other dogs. Bill has tried everything: positive reinforcement, prong collars, shock collar, two long walks a day, putting in submissive position, an animal behaviorist, doggy Prozac, and a doggy anxiety drug. Nothing has worked.
ABOUT THE OWNER:
Bill Leitner is a quality assurance manager for a medical device company. He adopted Hugo from a breeder at 12 weeks. Hugo was Bill’s first dog as an adult until Bill adopted a second bulldog, Ace, in Spring of 2010. Bill hopes to start a family in the next few years, but he feels like Hugo’s behavior is a major roadblock that much be overcome before he can even consider children.
BEHIND THE SCENES OF HUGO'S EPISODE, BULL-WHIPPED:
The entire crew was very cautious around Hugo at first, practicing no touch, no talk, no eye contact. At one point he even bit cameraman Bryan Duggan. However, by the end of his rehab with Cesar, the crew had come around and accepted Hugo as part of the pack. -
Crusty, 8-Year-Old English Bulldog
When Dr. Otto Yang decided he wanted a dog for companionship, he knew he wanted an English bulldog. Crusty was the last of a litter of ten when Otto bought him. He was pretty normal when he came home from the breeder, except for the fact that he was a little scared, something he quickly overcame. Crusty soon began to act aggressive. He was expelled from doggie daycare after only one day; Otto was told that while Crusty wasn’t attacking, he was clearly bullying the other dogs. Otto hoped the behavior would improve on its own, but Crusty eventually ended up biting another dog at a dog park. Since that incident, Otto has avoided other dogs on walks with Crusty. In the last couple of years, Crusty has started to lunge at bikes and joggers, which concerns Otto.
ABOUT THE OWNER:
Dr. Otto Yang is an Associate Professor of Medicine, Infectious Diseases at UCLA. About ten percent of his time is spent with patients, while the rest is dedicated to research and working with PhD students on HIV vaccine research. Otto had a dog growing up, but Crusty is his first as an adult.
BEHIND THE SCENES OF CRUSTY'S EPISODE, BULL-WHIPPED:
Dr. Yang is an avid collector of phonographs and has many framed and hanging throughout his house. -
Betty, 6-Year-Old Jack Russell Terrier
Jeanine Buller was given Betty by a former boyfriend when she first moved to LA. The dog was only 5 weeks old when she was taken away from her mother, and has always had a problem with biting at Jeanine’s feet. After a bad break-up, Jeanine adopted Lucy. The dogs have always gotten along and are like sisters. When Jeanine started dating Justin, the dogs were an automatic problem. Betty, who is more social, was very affectionate from the outset, but Lucy is still an issue. And if Justine and Jeanine were ever affectionate towards one another in front of the dogs, they would both go ballistic. Now that the two owners are married, this has become a huge issue. The newlyweds can’t kiss each other good-bye, and forget about snuggling on the couch, Lucy is so protective of Jeanine that she will try to bite Justin.
ABOUT THE OWNER:
Jeanine and Justin Buller were married in September, 2010. They first met in 2006 when Jeanine was assigned to train Justin at a restaurant where the wait staff sings. The two had an immediate connection, they both love to perform. Their first date was going to see a play together. Even though Justin has known Betty and Lucy for several years, they are still extremely protective when Jeanine is around.
BEHIND THE SCENES OF BETTY'S EPISODE, HOME-WRECKING HOUNDS:
When the episode was shot, everyone on the crew took for granted that NoHo is the nickname for the North Hollywood neighborhood of Los Angeles. When it was shown to people outside of LA, there was more than a little confusion about what NoHo meant and establishing shots to be taped. -
Ringo, 10-Year-Old Pointer Mix
Ringo was adopted by David when she was six weeks old. According to David, Ringo has always been a little “OCD” about fixating on objects. When Ringo is let outside, she will quickly find an object, usually a pinecone or a ball, and fixate on it incessantly for hours, hoping someone will throw it for her. The only way the Youngs know how to deal with the problem is by ignoring it, and they have been unable to truly connect with Ringo for nearly ten years as a result.
ABOUT THE OWNERS:
David Young works in the sales at a jet company, running the entertainment division. Healey, David’s wife, is a stay at home mom who used to work in the entertainment industry. The two met soon after David adopted Ringo; they were married in 2002.After the birth of their first child, Drake, they moved from LA to Goleta for a quieter life. They had a second boy two years later, Beck.
BEHIND THE SCENES OF RINGO'S EPISODE HIGH ANXIETY:
During shooting, director SueAnn Finke had to duck out of a shot in the Young’s tree house. She had to direct from in the tree house until they were done with an exercise. -
Jäger, 3-Year-Old Chocolate Labrador Retriever
Jäger has always loved to travel with his owner, Rani, wherever she goes. When Jäger was about a year old he started to act up whenever Rani took him for a drive. She can’t pinpoint why it started, but Jäger will go crazy in the car, jumping from the back seat to the front seat and howling incessantly. The worst part is Rani drives a Jeep with a stick shift, causing a potentially dangerous situation anytime Jäger starts to jump around!
ABOUT THE OWNER:
Rani Hoover lives in Buellton and is a professional wedding and event planner. She works from home full time and thus has ample time to exercise with Jäger which she does frequently. Rani takes Jäger rollerblading, walking, hiking, or running for at least one to one and a half hours a day.
BEHIND THE SCENES OF JÄGER'S EPISODE, HIGH ANXIETY :
Jäger’s nervous energy was affecting Cesar so much that he became frustrated and had to calm himself down in the Jeep. -
Abbie, 5-Year-Old Australian Shepherd
The Wagners have had Abbie since she was a 10-week-old puppy. The family can’t pinpoint exactly when her odd behaviors started, but Abbie has become sensitive to specific noises. When someone vacuums, opens the junk drawer, or pours a glass of wine, Abbie goes into frenzy, barking and running around. Needing an outlet for her anxiety, Abbie will chase the Wagners two cats, and has even put her teeth on them, but never bitten down.
ABOUT THE OWNERS:
The Wagners are a typical proud, yet friendly All-American family. Husband and wife Bill and Jan work in the technology industry. They are avid Dodgers fans and enjoy exercise. Their children are Jake, a star pitcher at Newbury Park High, and Lauren, an international business major at Cal Poly.
BEHIND THE SCENES OF ABBIE'S EPISODE, HIGH ANXIETY:
At one point, the Wagners went outside to be interviewed. Cesar wanted to find out if Abbie would be less anxious if he worked with her alone. “Curiosity killed the cat,” Cesar said. “But it also helped the dog.
I don't think you can get in touch with him any longer since the show is canceled. But I would be interested in finding out myself.
How can I get in touch w/Cesar? I want him to come help me out w/my American Bulldog named Tasha!