Alexandra Ortega keeps to the south of the country, and I think that is where she is most known. She has over a period worked with Cesar Millan, but the vast majority of the experience she has gained altogether without his help. However, she is most focused on leadership, just like Cesar Millan.
The biggest difference between Cesar Millan and Alexandra Ortega is how they express themselves. I have already told you that I think Millan's very brusque in his manner of expression; it can be for those who do not know what he's talking about, probably sometimes be difficult to understand what he means. Ortega is the exact opposite; her Facebook posts are lengthy and extremely talkative, and it takes time before she reaches the point. Same thing with her podcasts; she talks very long before she reaches the point.
but the way Ortega communicate does not detract from the usefulness of what she says. Furthermore, I am a few years older than she, so it is not at all unlikely that I have another way to use the language in social media than she does. 🙂
The basic idea in Alexandra Ortega's philosophy is that we as humans affect our dogs to a far greater extent than we might think. Everything we think, not thinking, know, not know, and so on, picking the dogs up and translate into their native language. It is this that determines whether we are perceived as credible and worth following, for a dog. In case the dog does not see us as worth following, it is then that we need to change ourselves – the dog.
I am also childishly fond of the idea of communicating with a dog, as dogs do among themselves, rather than constantly forcing the dog my own language. There we can talk about coercion!!!
I have never met Alexandra, and I do not have any insight into how her company looks, from which she receives her customers, but from what I understand, there will be a lot of people with problem dogs of various kinds – which tested the most when it comes to positive training methods, and nothing has worked.
Thus, it should reasonably be a demand for other methods.
Alexandra Ortega is the person, of all dog people I follow on social media, that I identify most with. Of course there are things I do not always agree, but generally her philosophy about dogs one I buy outright, no questions asked.
Alexandra is also, addition Gyllerboda Hundcenter, in Sweden, I would prefer to learn from. She has been part of the training which in any case are one or two I'd like to go. If I'm ever lucky enough to get together the money required, I will also do it because it will benefit the way I handle myself and relate me to the dogs, and indeed – in my way, “work” with dog (daghundar = flock). I want to move on in my dog's life, but it will actually be a lot of knowledge that is lacking. #self awareness
Alexandra has been much criticized for the way they work with dogs, which I find extremely strange. Critique based, I understand, most of all in the fact that she worked with Cesar Millan. Guilt by association are not necessarily neat all times, and in this case it will be purely grotesque. It may well be that the philosophy behind their way of working with dogs are similar, but where Cesar has been the US market and the rules are there to adapt to, Alexandra is the Swedish equivalent to relate to.
Just where is the adaptation to Swedish conditions.
I can not words to express how right I think Fredrik Steen when he says that the Swedish dog world is stuck too hard for this to train dog, and totally miss the advantages – and indeed the necessity of having a sensible leadership. Alexandra, and thankfully more with her, can introduce it to the Swedish dog owners. It should be welcomed with open arms.
And just as a extremely brief comment; the Dog Fair in Stockholm, I saw more dogs who led his people than vice versa.
Just sayin‘.
Alexandra Ortega in social media