Episode 213:
Laker Dog
"Princess, (aka Cujo)," Maltese

Jeanie Buss, executive vice president of operations for the Los Angeles Lakers, is one of the highest-ranking female executives in professional sports. But the biggest stress in her life comes from dealing with the split personalities of her Maltese, Princess. At times, the fluffy dog is cute and cuddly, but often in the presence of company, Princess is hardly a princess. Jeanie's boyfriend and coach of the L.A. Lakers, Phil Jackson, has given her the nickname of Cujo because of her gnashing teeth and ferocious barking. Jeanie feels it's her fault that Princess Cujo now tries to attack and bite the Laker team members and any other visitors to her office. "I think I need some training," she says.

From the moment he enters Jeanie's office, Laker fan Cesar witnesses Jeanie's inability to control Princess. Jeanie reveals that Princess hasn't been the same dog since she was attacked by two German shepherds in a park. "I feel I let her down because I'm supposed to be her leader and her protector," Jeanie admits. Cesar observes what a powerful leader Jeanie is in a male-dominated profession and suggests that she can best help Princess become less of a Cujo by channeling those same skills toward her relationship with her dog.

To help improve Princess's social skills, Cesar brings along a pack of calm-submissive assistants: Coco, Louis, Nicholas, and Daddy. Princess immediately cowers between Jeanie's legs. "Now I really need you to not be there for her in a nervous way," Cesar tells her. "If she goes behind or under you, just move. Do not nurture insecurity." Now, using that strong energy, Jeanie learns how to stop Princess's barking with just a sound. Jeanie gets it immediately, and Princess relaxes, avoiding, but giving room to, the new dogs. When Phil Jackson drops by, he reveals himself to be another source of the problem, by encouraging Princess's aggression and treating it as "cute."

Three days later, Jeanie comes to the Dog Psychology Center to take Princess's rehab to the next level. Cesar lets Jeanie witness Princess interacting with a pack of small dogs and actually becoming curious about them, just like a normal dog. Next, he brings in German shepherd Zeus to help Princess get over her fear of the breed of dogs that attacked her in the park. By Jeanie asserting dominance over Zeus, she proves to herself that she can once again know she is her dog's protector.

Follow up: Princess is markedly better about barking when people walk into Jeanie's office and is much more confident and better behaved when she and Jeanie go places together. She's not totally cured, but Jeanie says the lessons Cesar taught her about leadership have really helped, and she promises to keep working until Princess is 100 percent Princess and 0 percent Cujo.

Behind the scenes: Phil Jackson usually gets stopped in airports and asked by fans, "What's Shaquille O'Neal really like?" Lately, he reports that he's more often asked, "What's Cesar Millan really like?"