In 2004, Mr. Millan's series, Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan, premiered on the National Geographic Channel, becoming the network's top-rated show in its first season.

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And in the title piece, "What the Dog Saw, " Gladwell probes why "dog whisperer" Cesar Millan seems able to calm almost any aggressive dog in almost any circumstance.

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Cesar Millan, the dog whisperer.

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Mr. Brannaman's techniques stress kindness (how you treat a horse reflects how you treat your family and other people in your life) combined with firmness. (Like Cesar Millan, TV's "Dog Whisperer, " he teaches humans how to be an animal's parent, not its friend.) Ms. Meehl's own techniques include astute showmanship and, in one instance, a shocking illustration that some horses remain immune to humane ministrations.

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