| DogsAreOK |
The Perfect Magazine For Dog Lovers
Q&A WITH MIAMI’S DOG WHISPERER RICHARD HEINZ
What is a Dog Whisperer?
There is a big difference between a dog trainer and a dog whisperer. A dog trainer will train your dog to sit stay, and heel. The dog trainer will often have one method
they implement with all dogs, no matter what the issue or the dog, regardless of whether it is effective or not. A dog whisperer will use many different techniques, and
cater to the dog’s unique characteristics, the owner’s needs and the behavior situation at hand. The term “Whisperer” is given to someone that has a natural and
inborn ability to understand what is going on inside a dog’s mind, as well as being able to read a dog’s body language quickly and accurately. A dog whisperer can
communicate with dogs in their own language and be the lea son between the dog and the owners. The dog whisperer is as much a human trainer as they are a dog
trainer. The dog whisperer is not only able to fix the problems themselves and make the dogs behave when he is there, but they can transfer that knowledge over to
the dog owners and teach them how to do it every day. A truly successful dog whisperer is able to transfer their ability and knowledge to the owners and help them
better understand their dogs and have a happier, healthier relationship. These unique abilities are very rare in the
dog training industry and therefore you see very few people with the Whisperer term attached to their name. You do not become a dog whisperer by going to school
and getting a “whisperer” degree. You are born with an ability to read dogs, and then perfect that ability through years of experience and the perfecting of not one,
but all the dog training techniques, with the ability to know which one to use, in what situation and with what dog and then transferring that knowledge to the dog
owners. I am known as The Miami Dog Whisperer, a name I have earned through my career and my success in this field, and I am always humbled , grateful ,and
proud when I get the opportunity to share this ability with my clients always with amazing results .
You went from studying Psychology to becoming a Dog Whisperer, are humans and dogs that much alike?
There are some similarities, but a lot of differences. The reason why so many people
struggle owning dogs is because
they are viewing the dog through their eye as a human. Thinking that dogs feel the
same thing they do physically and
emotionally and that is not the way dogs work. When I start working with people to resolve their dog
problems they quickly realize how little they really knew about dogs and how different dogs think and act,
compared to what attributes , we as humans give them. Studying human psychology does help in training the
humans, because dog whispering is not only about dogs, but their humans, too.
What was your first job?
While in school, my first paying job was delivering potato chips to big retail stores like Publix and Winn Dixie. As you may imagine, it definitely was not my thing.
How old are your children? And what do they think about your gift with dogs?
I have a 6 year old son and a 7 month old daughter. My son is just realizing that something is different about me. Seeing me on TV shows and being interviewed quite
a bit he’s becoming more curious. The thing that really intrigues him is why people come up to me and ask for autographs (to be honest, it is also something I still have
not gotten used to either). My son tells everyone that he wants to be a ‘dog train’ when he grows up. Nothing would make me happier.
What do you like most about dogs?
I love dogs. There has never been a dog I did not like. When a dog is trained properly and they are getting
needs met as a dog (not as a human) you see such great and wonderful things from them. They become willing,
confident, and happy pleasers
who bring joy to all of those who come in contact with them. I have had many happy, well balanced dogs.
I have also helped make thousands of dogs happy and well balanced.
I guarantee that once you own a dog that is happy, balanced and allowed to be a dog, there is nothing more beautiful
and more wonderful in this world.
Tell us an anecdote of one of the smartest dog you have ever trained?
This is a difficult question for me, because I believe all dogs are smart. Some dogs are not properly handled, or properly trained, and some don’t understand human
language and can’t communicate with their owners, and that makes their owners and some dog trainers think they are not smart. However, it is all about knowing the
dog, how they communicate and what they are telling their owners. Many times I have gone to a home with a dog tagged as “dumb” and once I start to work with their
owners and with the dog, the owners can’t believe just how brilliant their “dumb” suddenly seams and they gain a whole new love and appreciation for them. I love to
see that!
When a dog is really barking and growling at you, how do you hide your fear, if there is any?
You can’t hide fear from dogs. They read us better than we read them. I walk into homes everyday in which a dog acts like they want to kill me. To be honest I never
get scared because in most cases the dog is bluffing and I can see that from the second I look at them. I think because I know the dog game so well and the fact that I
deal with the worst of the worst of aggression cases that they wouldn’t even show on TV, that it’s just become a normal part of my life. The more aggressive the dog
acts, the more calm and relaxed I am.
Which is your favorite dog character in the entertainment industry?
I always loved the dog from the movie Turner and Hooch. I laugh because that dog and his behavior is a typical day for me. Still, I don’t get turned off by naughty
dogs, I love reading them and then helping their owners help them through and make them well balanced, happy and well behaved. If you haven’t seen the movie, I
recommend it.
Do you think all dogs go to heaven?
I absolutely do. What would heaven be without dogs? Plus, I think all of us who have lost a dog and who believe in heaven, are looking forward to seeing them once
more someday.
Is it in dog’s nature to be around humans?
This is a very tricky, but good question. This is very difficult for a lot of dog lovers to hear, but I actually mention this to a lot of my clients. Dogs are domesticated
which means that they are meant to work with and for us without trying to harm us, but the truth of the matter is (and the numbers don’t lie) is that the reason that
millions upon millions of dogs are in shelters and given away is because they are not meant to live with humans the way we force them to live with us. We treat dogs
like humans and forget that they are dogs and have a whole other way. It is important to understand that it is okay to let our dogs be dogs and just enjoy them for what
they are. We love them and feel that we are helping them by humanizing them, when in fact we are hurting them and ourselves.
Has there been any cultural change in Miami regarding the care and love given to dogs since you first came to this city so many years ago?
The biggest change that I have seen since moving here from New York is that people used to have their dogs mainly living outside because they thought of them as
an animal and now most people have them inside and view them as a family member. Not that I have anything against having your dog living inside, as long as they
are happy and well balanced, but remember, dogs are outside animals by nature, so having them spend time outside in a safe environment, is not only okay, but
healthy for them. The funny part is that you hear people say that they feel bad for a dog that lives outside as if the owners are abusive because they make them live
outside. It is okay to let your dogs go outside and play in your enclosed yard, or take them for long walks, or to a dog park. Just keep them hydrated!
When you go for a walk with your dogs where do you like to go?
I enjoy taking them to a lot of places, but my favorite thing is taking them to open country areas where I just let them get loose and crazy running and chasing things
and seeing that true dog nature come out. There is nothing more beautiful!
Have you ever traveled with your dogs?
Yes, I have traveled all over the country with them. I really enjoy it.
I am from Mexico City, where we have the Xoloitzcuintle breed, have you ever trained one?
This dog is so rare here in the U.S. that although I know about them and the breed, I have never even seen one in person.
We know that you have been in this project for more than 20 years!! Do you have more new projects to come?
Yes, I have a lot of projects on the table right now. I have a book coming out soon as well as being very close to signing a weekly TV deal and the possibility of a major
cable network that wants to do a documentary on me. A lot of very exciting things hopefully to come.
DogsAreOk is really thankful for this interview and for your time.
I am honored that you allowed me to be part of the first issue of your magazine. I know it is going to be very successful. I hope I can be a part of your magazine often.
What is a Dog Whisperer?
There is a big difference between a dog trainer and a dog whisperer. A dog trainer will train your dog to sit stay, and heel. The dog trainer will often have one method
they implement with all dogs, no matter what the issue or the dog, regardless of whether it is effective or not. A dog whisperer will use many different techniques, and
cater to the dog’s unique characteristics, the owner’s needs and the behavior situation at hand. The term “Whisperer” is given to someone that has a natural and
inborn ability to understand what is going on inside a dog’s mind, as well as being able to read a dog’s body language quickly and accurately. A dog whisperer can
communicate with dogs in their own language and be the lea son between the dog and the owners. The dog whisperer is as much a human trainer as they are a dog
trainer. The dog whisperer is not only able to fix the problems themselves and make the dogs behave when he is there, but they can transfer that knowledge over to
the dog owners and teach them how to do it every day. A truly successful dog whisperer is able to transfer their ability and knowledge to the owners and help them
better understand their dogs and have a happier, healthier relationship. These unique abilities are very rare in the
dog training industry and therefore you see very few people with the Whisperer term attached to their name. You do not become a dog whisperer by going to school
and getting a “whisperer” degree. You are born with an ability to read dogs, and then perfect that ability through years of experience and the perfecting of not one,
but all the dog training techniques, with the ability to know which one to use, in what situation and with what dog and then transferring that knowledge to the dog
owners. I am known as The Miami Dog Whisperer, a name I have earned through my career and my success in this field, and I am always humbled , grateful ,and
proud when I get the opportunity to share this ability with my clients always with amazing results .
You went from studying Psychology to becoming a Dog Whisperer, are humans and dogs that much alike?
There are some similarities, but a lot of differences. The reason why so many people
struggle owning dogs is because
they are viewing the dog through their eye as a human. Thinking that dogs feel the
same thing they do physically and
emotionally and that is not the way dogs work. When I start working with people to resolve their dog
problems they quickly realize how little they really knew about dogs and how different dogs think and act,
compared to what attributes , we as humans give them. Studying human psychology does help in training the
humans, because dog whispering is not only about dogs, but their humans, too.
What was your first job?
While in school, my first paying job was delivering potato chips to big retail stores like Publix and Winn Dixie. As you may imagine, it definitely was not my thing.
How old are your children? And what do they think about your gift with dogs?
I have a 6 year old son and a 7 month old daughter. My son is just realizing that something is different about me. Seeing me on TV shows and being interviewed quite
a bit he’s becoming more curious. The thing that really intrigues him is why people come up to me and ask for autographs (to be honest, it is also something I still have
not gotten used to either). My son tells everyone that he wants to be a ‘dog train’ when he grows up. Nothing would make me happier.
What do you like most about dogs?
I love dogs. There has never been a dog I did not like. When a dog is trained properly and they are getting
needs met as a dog (not as a human) you see such great and wonderful things from them. They become willing,
confident, and happy pleasers
who bring joy to all of those who come in contact with them. I have had many happy, well balanced dogs.
I have also helped make thousands of dogs happy and well balanced.
I guarantee that once you own a dog that is happy, balanced and allowed to be a dog, there is nothing more beautiful
and more wonderful in this world.
Tell us an anecdote of one of the smartest dog you have ever trained?
This is a difficult question for me, because I believe all dogs are smart. Some dogs are not properly handled, or properly trained, and some don’t understand human
language and can’t communicate with their owners, and that makes their owners and some dog trainers think they are not smart. However, it is all about knowing the
dog, how they communicate and what they are telling their owners. Many times I have gone to a home with a dog tagged as “dumb” and once I start to work with their
owners and with the dog, the owners can’t believe just how brilliant their “dumb” suddenly seams and they gain a whole new love and appreciation for them. I love to
see that!
When a dog is really barking and growling at you, how do you hide your fear, if there is any?
You can’t hide fear from dogs. They read us better than we read them. I walk into homes everyday in which a dog acts like they want to kill me. To be honest I never
get scared because in most cases the dog is bluffing and I can see that from the second I look at them. I think because I know the dog game so well and the fact that I
deal with the worst of the worst of aggression cases that they wouldn’t even show on TV, that it’s just become a normal part of my life. The more aggressive the dog
acts, the more calm and relaxed I am.
Which is your favorite dog character in the entertainment industry?
I always loved the dog from the movie Turner and Hooch. I laugh because that dog and his behavior is a typical day for me. Still, I don’t get turned off by naughty
dogs, I love reading them and then helping their owners help them through and make them well balanced, happy and well behaved. If you haven’t seen the movie, I
recommend it.
Do you think all dogs go to heaven?
I absolutely do. What would heaven be without dogs? Plus, I think all of us who have lost a dog and who believe in heaven, are looking forward to seeing them once
more someday.
Is it in dog’s nature to be around humans?
This is a very tricky, but good question. This is very difficult for a lot of dog lovers to hear, but I actually mention this to a lot of my clients. Dogs are domesticated
which means that they are meant to work with and for us without trying to harm us, but the truth of the matter is (and the numbers don’t lie) is that the reason that
millions upon millions of dogs are in shelters and given away is because they are not meant to live with humans the way we force them to live with us. We treat dogs
like humans and forget that they are dogs and have a whole other way. It is important to understand that it is okay to let our dogs be dogs and just enjoy them for what
they are. We love them and feel that we are helping them by humanizing them, when in fact we are hurting them and ourselves.
Has there been any cultural change in Miami regarding the care and love given to dogs since you first came to this city so many years ago?
The biggest change that I have seen since moving here from New York is that people used to have their dogs mainly living outside because they thought of them as
an animal and now most people have them inside and view them as a family member. Not that I have anything against having your dog living inside, as long as they
are happy and well balanced, but remember, dogs are outside animals by nature, so having them spend time outside in a safe environment, is not only okay, but
healthy for them. The funny part is that you hear people say that they feel bad for a dog that lives outside as if the owners are abusive because they make them live
outside. It is okay to let your dogs go outside and play in your enclosed yard, or take them for long walks, or to a dog park. Just keep them hydrated!
When you go for a walk with your dogs where do you like to go?
I enjoy taking them to a lot of places, but my favorite thing is taking them to open country areas where I just let them get loose and crazy running and chasing things
and seeing that true dog nature come out. There is nothing more beautiful!
Have you ever traveled with your dogs?
Yes, I have traveled all over the country with them. I really enjoy it.
I am from Mexico City, where we have the Xoloitzcuintle breed, have you ever trained one?
This dog is so rare here in the U.S. that although I know about them and the breed, I have never even seen one in person.
We know that you have been in this project for more than 20 years!! Do you have more new projects to come?
Yes, I have a lot of projects on the table right now. I have a book coming out soon as well as being very close to signing a weekly TV deal and the possibility of a major
cable network that wants to do a documentary on me. A lot of very exciting things hopefully to come.
DogsAreOk is really thankful for this interview and for your time.
I am honored that you allowed me to be part of the first issue of your magazine. I know it is going to be very successful. I hope I can be a part of your magazine often.
Winter 2009 Issue
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