Plot Synopsis

CESAR MILLAN: BETTER HUMAN BETTER DOG is a one-hour reality series that brings Cesar Millan back when pet owners need him the most, as the world has changed significantly. As humans face a world never seen before, they have turned to four-legged friends as a way to console, bringing harmony and peace to their homes. In fact, dog adoptions are hitting record highs over the past year during the pandemic, with some cities reporting a 90% rise in adoption rates. However, with great power comes great responsibility, and sometimes more pooches can cause more problems. Many rescue dogs can come from a troubled past resulting in unknown trust issues, which can be difficult for new owners. In BETTER HUMAN BETTER DOG, Cesar opens the gates to the famed Dog Psychology Center, his California ranch retreat for dogs. Here he transforms canines -- and families -- one case at a time, working to make the world a better place. With updated philosophies, new techniques and family support, Cesar tackles some of the most demanding cases of his career. Two episodes premiere each Friday from 9-11pm on National Geographic Channel with a simulcast on Nat Geo Wild:

"Fit For Service" (Friday, July 30, 2021 at 9/8c): Cesar welcomes a broken pack to the ranch and helps the pet parents overcome past trauma so they can move forward united. Getting a little help from DPC trainers, Cesar turns a dangerous pit bull into a well-balanced dog who can provide help in an emergency. The pet parents of a famous Yorkie seek help from Cesar to get his frantic behavior under control before they start a family.

"One Brick at a Time" (Friday, July 30, 2021 at 10/9c): Cesar comes to the aid of a 68-year-old recently retired woman, Judy, whose over-excited Australian kelpie, Shadow, has ruined her retirement and has developed a strange fixation with bricks. After several attempts to train and correct both the dog and Judy's behavior, Cesar is able to transform them both, making for one of the most rewarding transformations in Cesar's career.

"Canine Quarantine" (Friday, Aug. 6, 2021 at 9/8c): Cesar aids a family of first responders with three large and out-of-control dogs, including an aggressive pit bull. With help from his own pack, Cesar teaches the family new techniques to prevent dangerous behavior and get this pack back on track. First-time dog owners of an over-excited bernedoodle with separation anxiety look to Cesar for guidance to bring order to their home.

"Front of the Pack" (Friday, Aug. 6, 2021 at 10/9c): Cesar helps a military veteran and his pack get back in order when his German shepherd mix, who helped him through his PTSD, has developed an unhealthy bond with him. And later, a young woman looks to Cesar for help when her dachshund puppy's dangerous habit of eating trash off the ground has put her in a life-threatening situation.

"Pack Attack" (Friday, Aug. 13, 2021 at 9/8c): The Thompson pack is recovering from past trauma at the hands of an abusive ex-husband. Now, the women have suffered another tragedy: coonhound Nyla has become explosively aggressive, accidentally killing one family dog and viciously attacking another. Cesar needs to help the entire Thompson pack heal from past wounds and rehabilitate Nyla before the family is faced with a heartbreaking decision.

"Blind Faith" (Friday, Aug. 13, 2021 at 10/9c): Cesar sets out to help a young couple's cantankerous Chihuahua, whose recent blindness makes him increasingly hostile to be around. And later, a family makes a desperate plea to Cesar to help them rein in their fast-growing and overexcited Belgian Malinois before he becomes too tough to tame.

"Twin Trouble" (Friday, Aug. 20, 2021 at 9/8c): Cesar works with a Mexican breed close to his heart when he rehabilitates twin dogs whose over-excited behavior has put their owner at risk of eviction from her apartment building. Later, an actress turns to Cesar for help with an overprotective pint-sized pooch that's creating too much drama of her own.

"Dogs v. Cats" (Friday, Aug. 20, 2021 at 10/9c): Cesar helps a family of seven with their young Rottweiler, who's grown aggressive and territorial after a burglary at the family home. With help from his own pack, Cesar instructs the pet parents on techniques to exert leadership behavior and reestablish themselves atop the pack. Parents of a young pitsky with an overactive prey drive toward their cats look to Cesar for guidance to bring order and harmony into their home.

"Tail End of Trauma" (Friday, Aug. 27, 2021 at 9/8c): Cesar helps a fearful family, which is still holding on to the pain of losing their first dog in a tragic accident, deal with their two-year-old black lab's similarly aggressive personality. And later, a young 10-year-old girl looks to Cesar for help when her emotional support puppy is causing more chaos than comfort.

"Hijacked Pack" (Friday, Aug. 27, 2021 at 10/9c): Cesar sets out to help a young couple's sensitive Australian cattle dog, whose severe separation anxiety has held hostage the lives of his pet parents for nearly a year. And later, Cesar attempts to calm a blinding Lhasa apso, who lacks basic hygiene and has almost become too hostile for his exhausted owners to provide his needed eye care.


The 12-episode second season of CESAR MILLAN: BETTER HUMAN BETTER DOG premiered on Friday, July 22, 2022 at 9pm ET/PT on National Geographic Channel with back-to-back episodes. Season 2 brings all-new cases at Cesar's famed California ranch retreat for dogs, Dog Psychology Center, where canines come in with their troubles and leave on their best behavior. Watch as Cesar uses the latest research in animal psychology to work with not only pets but, more importantly, their owners to find respect and harmony between the two parties. Transformations include those like an aggressive Rhodesian Ridgeback who learns to trust his owner; a dog that bites and mounts anyone that comes close finally lets his "guard" down and lets his owner in; owners of a German Shepherd develop calming-confidence techniques to keep their dog from peeing inappropriately, and more. Season 2 episodes include:

"Best Friend Bodyguard" (Friday, July 22, 2022 at 9pm ET/PT): Cesar sets out to help a pair of packs. One is desperate to fix their fearful and aggressive Rhodesian Ridgeback named Simba, whose trust issues with his pet parent have created a fiercely overprotective hostility that threatens anyone who crosses his path. The other pack is being held hostage by an anxious and confused mini schnauzer named Otto.

"Guard of the Yard" (Friday, July 22, 2022 at 10pm ET/PT): Cesar rehabs Hendrix, a self-made guard dog that bites and mounts anyone and everyone that comes near because the family was afraid and isolated him. Cesar teaches Hendrix to let his guard down and be a respectful dog again while helping Genesis, the owner, to put aside her fear and rediscover the leader within.

"Frozen in Fear" (Friday, July 29, 2022 at 9pm ET/PT): Cesar is called in to help out two professional ballroom dancers who took on more than they could handle by adopting Zoe, a Chihuahua who is petrified of the world around her. Cesar uses traditional and nontraditional methods to transform her into a calmer, happier and more obedient dog that will be able to be with her pet parent at the dance studio.

"Bitten By Love" (Friday, July 29, 2022 at 10pm ET/PT): Cesar helps a desperate couple with a newborn baby whose Corgi has bitten his pet parent over 30 times. After removing the dog from their home, Cesar realizes that the mother's energy and past are working against them. And later, Cesar comes to the aid of two private dog park owners and their German spitz mix who's policing of the park has become a liability for the business.

"Ten Years to Life" (Friday, Aug. 5, 2022 at 9pm ET/PT): Cesar helps the Mayo family with their pit bull Molly, who's been confined to the backyard for 10 years after an incident at a dog park. Cesar teaches the pet parents how to take a leadership role, and Molly returns to her back-of-the-pack position. Cesar next shows Craig and Shannon Callahan how to use calm confidence to keep their German shepherd Jeffrey from peeing inappropriately.

"Dog Therapy" (Friday, Aug. 5, 2022 at 10pm ET/PT): Cesar sets out to help a pair of young, rambunctious dogs -- a chocolate Lab and a golden retriever -- and their overwhelmed pet parents, pushed to the brink of breakdown by the pandemic. Cesar devises a unique way for the pet parents to take control as pack leaders and gain the much-needed respect from the dogs that has been sorely lacking in the relationship.

"Moving Forward" (Friday, Aug. 12, 2022 at 9pm ET/PT): Cesar helps a grieving couple with their nervous Shar-Pei. The death of his pack leader left him feeling lost, which caused him to lash out in fear against his own pet parent. And later, a pit bull's quirky, backward behavior is a tripping hazard for her pet parent who lost his leg in a bad accident. Cesar teaches both families how to move forward in their own calm, confident way.

"Ticking Bomb" (Friday, Aug. 12, 2022 at 10pm ET/PT): Cesar is called out to a red zone case involving two powerful breeds who have begun fighting, hunting and killing small animals in their backyard. They have now turned their aggression onto each other causing chaos amongst the household and Cesar needing to get some air. Also, Cesar meets a retired couple whose retirement has been anything but pleasant as their terrier has shut their world down.

"Appetite for Destruction" (Friday, Aug. 19, 2022 at 9pm ET/PT): In Laguna Hills, a four-dog pack destroys everything it can. Pet parent Sherry must recognize her own anxiety in order to calm down the entire household. Then, in La Canada, the Lee family, including two young girls, is being pulled into traffic by their pack during walks. Mother Gina must learn to lead with confidence if her dogs and her children are going to be safe.

"Silent Biter" (Friday, Aug. 19, 2022 at 10pm ET/PT): Cesar helps a couple who is afraid for their young son because their poodle-chihuahua mix feels the need to protect his nervous mother. And later, a family of four adopted a husky to bring them together after a divorce, but his escape-artist ways are pulling them apart.

"Avocado Aggression" (Friday, August 26, 2022 at 9pm ET/PT): Cesar rehabs a Doberman who can't stop scanning for threats -- and finding them in his own home in the form of a packmate. It's a true emergency with violent fights erupting between the brothers while the couple's two young children play nearby. Later, Cesar intervenes when a Jindo-pit mix, a nervous wreck, threatens his owner's relocation plans.

"Unleash the Hulk" (Friday, Aug. 26, 2022 at 10pm ET/PT): Cesar sets out to help a young bulldog named Jaxx, who has been keeping his family prisoner in their own home. His pet parent, Priscilla, has been so controlled by her fears that Jaxx is now confused and aggressive. It is up to Cesar to help the two create a calming environment led by boundaries and clear direction.



Season 3 of CESAR MILLAN: BETTER HUMAN BETTER DOG debuted on Friday, January 6, 2023 at 9pm ET/PT on National Geographic Channel. In the season opener, "Jurassic Pack (Part 1)," Cesar helps a pet parent whose three dogs battle to the point of bloodshed. The story concludes one week later on January 13, and new episodes continue thereafter.



CESAR MILLAN: BETTER HUMAN BETTER DOG returned for its fourth season on Friday, April 12, 2024 at 9pm ET/PT on National Geographic Channel. In the season opener, "Doggy Matchmaking," Cesar matches a rescue dog with a family & inspires them to be leaders. New episodes debut Fridays at 9pm through June 28.



Season 5 of CESAR MILLAN: BETTER HUMAN BETTER DOG debuted on Friday, August 16, 2024 on National Geographic Channel with three new episodes from 8-11pm ET/PT. The 12-episode fifth season includes some of Cesar's quirkiest and most severe cases yet including a dog who is triggered by bags, a red-zone rehab for a nearly blind and deaf dog and an overexcited puppy whose parents lack leadership. This season also marks the renowned dog behavior expert's 20th anniversary on television, as his National Geographic series DOG WHISPERER WITH CESAR MILLAN debuted in 2004.
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On Friday, September 6, 2024 from 8-11pm ET/PT, National Geographic Channel debuted three consecutive new episodes to close out the fifth season of CESAR MILLAN: BETTER HUMAN BETTER DOG:

"Release the Beast" (8pm): Cesar helps a rottweiler on house arrest and a Pom Terrier to socialize.

"The Gorilla Within" (9pm): Cesar helps a back-of-the-pack biter and his pet parent shed their fear.

"When Panic Attacks" (10pm): Cesar rehabs an overprotective Great Dane mix.