Kristy Gamayo of San Francisco, CA

I am a licensed marriage and family therapist who works with children and families at a non-profit family resource center in San Francisco. Since watching every episode of every season of the Dog Whisperer, I was able to learn the key principles of exercise, discipline, and affection. One day, while overseeing our drop-in program full of energetic and some aggressive toddlers, I decided to pay attention to my energy and began setting firm yet gentle limits with the children. Immediately, I saw a shift in the environmental energy as well as seeing the aggression decrease with the children. From that point on, I decided to teach the caregivers the concepts of exercise (in the form of play and interaction with their children), discipline, and affection. I implemented this approach about a month ago and I have seen tremendously positive results and less kicking, hitting, or toy stealing with the children.

Dina Jorgensen of Chesapeake, VA

As a dentist, I have learned to use calm, assertive energy when dealing with my younger patients. Children's energy will often reflect the energy of the adults around them. If I have an anxious parent in the room with the child, I will ask them to leave the room to remove that energy. I often will tell parents NOT to comfort or touch their anxious children because that it "telling" the child that they agree with that behavior. I also mentally "tell myself a story" before I go into the room. I envision the child being cooperative and the appointment going smoothly. Amazingly, these techniques work as well on children as they do on dogs!!

Mary Hirt of Los Angeles, CA

I'm a physical education teacher for middle school students. I met Cesar while volunteering at Boxer Rescue Los Angeles and immediately made the connection between how I, as a teacher, have the power to create a positive learning environment for my students.

In 2003, I was named the Middle School National Physical Education Teacher of the Year and have since made over a hundred presentations on how teachers have the power to create a positive learning environment for their students. I call this power MOOMBA, which stands for My Only Obstacle Must Be Attitude. I share with other teachers how to create a positive learning environment that engages students. I talk about connecting with your passion, having the courage to envision what can be, and not be afraid of taking risks. In my presentations, I mention Cesar Millan, "You must believe it to see it!" is one of my most favorite messages. I share with my audience that they have to have a clear vision of what can be, and act as if it is a reality.

I use Cesar's words to keep me focused on how to make my vision a reality and I try my best to communicate it to others. Cesar has allowed me to keep things simple and center myself on my own inner power, my calm assertive self. Not only has it allowed me to be a better teacher, but it has provided me a message that I share whenever I can.

Stephen Lowy of Bangkok, Thailand

Cesar - Our inspiration, My wife, 38 was diagnosed with a rare cancer in January 2005. A large inoperable tumor was found between her heart and lung, though she had no symptoms and from the outside appeared perfectly fine. We took the news hard. We expected all kinds of difficulties. Doctors at the time told us she didn't have long.

Around that time, we started seeing the Dog Whisperer on TV. The first time we saw Cesar we were mesmerized by how easily he comforted canines and their owners. He was very gentle and caring and that touched us. We began to see that fear and being out of control would take us to a place of darkness. A place we didn't want to go to. We watched Cesar, got his book, and learned all his aphorisms. We enjoyed his "down-to-earth" teaching simplicity, and practiced his energy of "calmness and assertiveness." It was life affirming.

It didn't happen overnight but we learned to control our fears. We changed the diet, our exercise routines, and our goals. We meditated and learned to release our energies through exercise. That was directly from Cesar. It never dawned on us that the best way to release "your animal's" pent up energies/emotions is by exercise. So we threw ourselves into exercise. We added more discipline to our lives. I have a background in research and I used that to research everything I could to improve the quality of our lives. Via the Internet, I focused on what the body needs to have a healthy immune system and to slow aging and disease. Sure it was - IS - a daunting task. Before all this, I hadn't a clue of what cancer was… but I learned. And along the way, and by example, I was inspired by Cesar's hard work and dedication with his dogs, family and his life's mission. Affection. We thought we knew so much about it. There, too, Cesar gave us a helpful insight - "just feeling good and being there with positive energy." That's ok, that's enough. Being in the moment, we are relaxed with ourselves, contented, and sharing.

Four years on, we are our own pack leaders. Pack leaders of a pack of 2 - myself and my wife. Whether or not it is all of the alternative therapies we engage in, the positive thinking, watching Cesar's show, or none of it, my wife and I are living life. She is now 42 and remains symptom free. I'm 52 years old and 2 months ago I started training in muay thai of all things just for the challenge. Cesar said, the 'process is the reward'. And we couldn't agree more!