No one hears the name Cesar Millan and doesn't immediately think about dogs. Cesar made a name for himself in Hollywood with an unlikely profession as a dog trainer. After migrating to the United States in the '90s, he started as a groomer, and his impressive talents soon paved the way for him, giving him his reality television series.
Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan aired from 2004 to 2012, establishing Cesar as an authority in canine training and a verified expert in all things dogs. Alongside the success of the series, Cesar is an established author of three books, all on dog training. His success stems from his innate ability to train the most aggressive dogs and his deep love for dogs. However, when Cesar isn't busy with training dogs, what is he up to? Keep reading to find out.
10 A YouTube Channel
When Cesar isn't busy training dogs, he has a YouTube channel where he shares content on dog behaviors and his life philosophies. He has 1.75 million subscribers and often adds a personal twist as he opens up about his life challenges. Cesar averages hundreds of thousands of views per video and sometimes garners more than a million views for exceptional posts. There's no doubt he's getting quite the hang of being a YouTube influencer.
9 Television Show Features
Although it has been almost a decade since Dog Whisperer wrapped up, Cesar's celebrity status has been put to use in a couple of television shows. In a season 2 episode of the series, Children of Ghosts, the famous dog trainer starred as himself to help the family to train the Ghost Whisperer's ghost dog. His other acting credits include Bones, The Back-Up Plan, and Beethoven's Big Break.
8 Guest Judge Appearances
Cesar's forte is dogs, but that hasn't deterred the Mexican native from being open to new experiences that don't necessarily involve him dealing with canines. He has made some guest appearances as a judge on famous reality shows like Jeopardy! And The Apprentice. He was also a chef's guest during the 2016 season of Hell's Kitchen.
7 A Fondness For Birds
The 51-year-old's first love will always be dogs, and that's undebatable. However, Cesar has a natural passion for being around animals of all types but seems particularly drawn towards birds. On his Instagram page, several fun posts show Cesar boding with birds around him. He is often seen with a stick across his neck where the birds rest and even has two bird pets named Maluma and Rio.
6 Exploring Nature
Cesar is a lover of all things nature and often takes time to bask in the beauty and simplicity of nature. He keeps busy hiking and mountain climbing with his dogs. Another fun outdoor activity Cesar likes to bird-watch. Earlier this month, a video shared on his Instagram page showed him taking in a beautiful sight of a lavender garden with bees.
5 Tending To A Ranch
Cesar is the proud owner of a ranch called the Dog Psychology Centre located in Santa Clarita, California. The 45-acre property features hiking trails, a swimming pool, a sheep-herding area, air-conditioned kernels, and obstacle courses. He created the training ranch as a rehabilitation center for dogs and has since expanded to include other animals like llamas, donkeys, and horses. From time to time, he visits the property and takes lovely contents of the animals.
4 Staying Fit
When your job is training animals, it's no news that fitness would be a huge part of your life. Hence, it's no surprise that Cesar takes working out seriously. The celebrity dog trainer used to practice judo when he was younger but has adapted more modern fitness routines. According to him:
"I'm up at 5 a.m. and get up and stretch and go for a run in Runyon Canyon with all five of my dogs. Then later, I do about 45 minutes of weights at LA Fitness."
3 A Business Partnership With Mike Tyson
Away from spending time with dogs, Cesar is fast becoming a businessman. In 2019, it was announced that he was partnering with one of Mike Tyson's companies, The Ranch, to launch a supplement line of hemp-based treats for canines. The collection of cannabidiol products includes Probiotic Soft Chews, Calming Soft Chews, Support Soft Chews, and Skin and Coat Soft Chews, all aimed at boosting the dog's immune system.
2 A Loving Father
Cesar is quite busy with training dogs, running a ranch, and managing business, but his priority remains his family. Although he got divorced from the mother of his sons, Ilusión Wilson, in June 2010, Cesar remains an ever-present father. He always incorporates the boys, Andre and Calvin, into his public life. The siblings always make regular appearances on their father's YouTube channel, showcasing their love for animals. Other times, Cesar and his sons travel all over the world for fun vacations and tours.
1 Planning A Wedding
Despite the harrowing experience of his divorce from Ilusión ― which almost caused him to take his own life ― Cesar was able to rise from the ashes and fall in love again. In 2016, he proposed to his girlfriend, Jahira Dar, during a getaway in Greece at the top of Mount Lycabettus. The lovebirds first met in 2010 at a Dolce & Gabbana store, and she even appeared on his show. The duo shares a deep love for dogs, and it was a connecting point. Since announcing their engagement, the couple has kept a low profile, but we hope they're planning their nuptials behind the scene!