Sibling Revelry with Kate Hudson and Oliver Hudson

Episode: What's Your Dog Trying to Tell You?
Guest: Cesar Millan ("The Dog Whisperer")
Release Date: January 5, 2026
Podcast: Sibling Revelry (iHeartPodcasts)

Episode Overview

In this episode, Kate and Oliver Hudson dive headfirst into the world of dogs, behavior, and what it means to truly “communicate” with our canine companions. Joined by legendary dog expert Cesar Millan, they swap personal pet stories, explore dog psychology, discuss leadership, training philosophies, and the profound ways dogs reflect—and sometimes challenge—their human families. The conversation blends humor, practical advice, and deep philosophy, making for a lively and insight-packed episode for every dog lover.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Growing Up Dog-Lovers: Host & Guest Intros

• Sibling Dog Families
  • Kate and Oliver reminisce about growing up in a house full of dogs, referencing their mother’s dog-filled movie (“Seems Like Old Times”) and comparing it to Cesar’s own upbringing.
  • Both hosts currently have multiple dogs: Oliver with four and Kate with two (“one insane one”—Donut, and Bronco).

Cesar’s Journey: From Sinaloa to “Dog Whisperer”

• Childhood and Roots ([06:28])
  • Cesar recounts growing up on a farm in Sinaloa, Mexico, "the narco center of the world," where most kids don't survive or turn to crime.

    "Most kids die very soon, they go into the wrong direction. ...My parents did such a great job with rules, boundaries, limitations." – Cesar Millan (06:51)

  • His early ambition: “Mom, do you think I can be the best dog trainer in the world?” inspired by Lassie and Rin Tin Tin.
  • Moving to America, he observed differences: U.S. dogs often lack natural freedom and develop behaviors like aggression or fear, while Mexican dogs generally follow humans and are off-leash.

Instincts, Packs, and Dog Psychology

• Pack Theory & Leadership ([09:33])

  • Cesar explains rehabilitation not just as a “trainer” but as pack leader, using packs to teach socialization.

    "The more you walk a dog, the more the dog goes back into his natural, simple, profound." – Cesar Millan (09:33)

  • Emphasizes confusion in dogs arises when not walked or treated as a dog (U.S. approach: “ears, eyes, nose” instead of “nose, eyes, ears”).

• Dog-Human Energy Dynamics ([14:06])

  • Dogs organize by position (front, middle, back of pack); breed comes after spirit and instinct.
  • Humans should lead with calm confidence and silence. Emotional excitement often creates undesirable behaviors (e.g., excited peeing when people come home).

    "So you...represent three very important energies: silence, calmness, confidence." – Cesar Millan (15:22)

• Changing Human Habits First ([16:03])

  • Cesar stresses that changing dog behavior begins with shifting human energy, philosophy, and actions.

Breed Behaviors & Misconceptions

• Breed is Not Destiny ([14:06]; [31:48])

  • Discusses how certain breeds are unfairly maligned by society (e.g., Dobermans, Rottweilers, pitbulls), but stresses that position and energy matter more than breed alone.

    "Every 10 years, society attacks a powerful breed. You see it? But it's not the breed." – Cesar Millan (31:54)

  • The most intelligent dogs are often street dogs, as they've “learned to survive on their own” ([28:30]).

• Personality Within Breeds

  • Not all dogs of the same breed will have the same abilities or temperaments (e.g., not every German Shepherd can be a police dog—only “front of the pack” types).

Training Tools & Techniques

• Crates ([53:56]) and Sleeping Arrangements

  • Crates are helpful for dogs that can’t be unsupervised, but never place a dog in a crate without exercise first. Never “trap” with food.

    "In order for a dog to see a positive experience with a crate...the mind needs to be in a resting state." – Cesar Millan (54:36)

  • Letting dogs sleep with owners is ok if the dog doesn’t dominate space (“never allow a dog to choose where to sleep if it creates dominance issues”).

• Collars, Leashes, and Modern Tools ([43:00], [49:53])

  • Tools (like leashes, collars) should support—not replace—good leadership.
  • Ultimate tool is the human’s energy. Technologies like Cesar’s own collar exist to remind a dog of “rules, boundaries, limitations” via sound, vibration, or physical correction (for extreme situations only).

    “If you never want to use tools, do everything right in puppyhood." (43:28)
    “You are the first tool.” (46:21)

• Controversial Tools (Shock Collars, Spike Collars) ([46:59] - [52:16])

  • Different trainers use various tools; Cesar highlights that improper energy or human confusion can do more harm than any collar.
  • Successful, humane training starts well before these tools are necessary.

Rehabilitating Difficult Dogs

• Hard Habits ([24:12])

  • The toughest cases combine fear, aggression, and anxiety—but even these are about “fight, flight, avoidance,” not malice.
  • Never failed to rehabilitate a dog, except those with genuine neurological problems.
  • Example: rehabilitating “Brunello”—a blind, deaf, aggressive dog—using silence, calm, and by slowing him down.

    "Silence is a vibration. ...You got to influence the spirit, ...the body, and then the mind." (25:30)

• Alpha and Leadership ([26:52])

  • True “alpha” behavior is calm, confident, responsible, honest leadership—not force or dominance.

    “It’s not Fidel Castro. ...In the animal world, they don’t follow unstable leaders.” (26:52)

Dog Adoption, Breeding, and Responsibility

• Breeding Ethics & Overpopulation ([34:47] - [37:10])

  • Good breeders maintain strong, healthy lines; “puppy mills” often spread anxiety and poor genetics.
  • Encourages adoption from shelters, especially given American dog overpopulation.

    “Instead of coming from logic, do it more spiritual. ...You’re going to keep someone alive.” (37:10)

• COVID & Dog Ownership Commitment ([56:39])

  • The pandemic emptied shelters, but post-pandemic many dogs were returned, revealing people’s lack of understanding about commitment and responsibility.

    “Once you adopt a dog, you don’t quit.” (57:16)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Human Energy & Dogs

  “Most of my clients don’t understand the power of silence, calmness, confidence... They’re not calm, at the moment you become excited, your body is not calm.” – Cesar Millan (15:23)

• On the Spirit-Animal Connection

  “You are spirit, you are instinct, you are species, animal, race, name... You trust the spirit, respect the instinct, love with the heart, create with the mind.” – Cesar Millan (18:55)

• On Training Tools

  “Before you use any tool—your energy, your philosophy, your actions, number one. ...You are the first tool.” – Cesar Millan (46:21)

• On Responsibility & Love

  “Once you adopt a dog, you don’t quit.” – Cesar Millan (57:16)

• Dog Wisdom for Life

  “Silence is really powerful because that’s what gives you patience. ...Calm is your breath. They’re going to trust your breath. Animals are connected to the breath. ...Silence, calmness, knowledge, love, joy.” – Cesar Millan (59:03 to 59:24)

• On Fame and Bites

  “The worst one was my divorce. I was bitten by Hollywood, baby. I got money, fame, and power...that’s the strongest bite.” – Cesar Millan (60:27)

• Dog Owner Confessions (Kate & Oliver):

  • Kate worries she’s neglected Donut, her bulldog, admitting:

    “I gotta go take donut for a walk. ...I’ve completely neglected Donut.” (57:24)

  • Oliver jokes about dogs dominating the relationship bed.

• Poignant Reflection

  "This is bigger than dogs...God, dog, human. The dog is here to remind the human about God and earth. ...God is the silence, is the patience, and dog is the calmness, is the connection." – Cesar Millan (59:51)

Noteworthy Segment Timestamps

• [06:28] – Cesar’s journey: growing up in Sinaloa, early dog dreams, and transplant to America
• [09:33] – Pack theory, rehab by walking, and the U.S./Mexico dog dynamic
• [14:06] – Explaining “pack positions” and why breed is third most important
• [15:23] – The importance of human calm energy and silence; cascading effects in the home
• [24:12] – The hardest behaviors to rehabilitate and discussion of aggression/fear
• [26:52] – True alpha leadership defined (not dominance-based)
• [34:47] – Breed genetics, ethical breeding, and rescue vs. purebred debate
• [43:00] – Modern training tools, puppyhood, and doing it right from the start
• [46:21] – “You are the first tool” philosophy; using/leaving tools responsibly
• [49:53] – Cesar’s collar invention and the 3 types of reminders (sound/vibration/corrective)
• [53:56] – Crate training and sleeping arrangements: do’s and don’ts
• [56:39] – The COVID dog adoption/return cycle and responsibility
• [59:03–59:24] – Closing dog wisdom: silence, calm, love, and joy

Tone & Style

True to Sibling Revelry’s relaxed, humorous vibe, conversations flow candidly, blending banter and deep dives. Cesar is calm and philosophical, with frequent analogies to nature, spirit, and human life. Kate and Oliver oscillate between curiosity, self-deprecating jokes, and real confession about dog parenting struggles.

Final Thoughts

Listeners walk away with actionable advice (walk your dogs, lead calmly, train during calm), deep philosophical insight (dogs as mirrors for our energy, routines and spirit), and a renewed sense of responsibility. Cesar’s holistic approach extends beyond commands and breeds—inviting us to see dogs as partners on a spiritual and emotional journey, and asking humans to look inward before expecting change from their pets.

“If everybody around the world practice that formula, ritual, symbol, ...all the dogs around the world are gonna be perfectly fine.”
— Cesar Millan (59:25)