an episode of the dog whisperer where caesar trains a dog to not be aggressive toward other animals?

The show puts a “do not try this at home” warning for a reason. You need professional help, look for a positive trainer who is knowledgeable about Counter Conditioning and Desensitization methods. Some will tell you to “punish” your dog- this most likely will exacerbate the problem. Positive Reinforcement does not “allow” your dog to get away with bad behavior it changes how your dog perceives what use to be a cause (in his mind) for aggression, and teaches them a different behavior.

I had a client who tried what they saw on the show, and nearly got bit, and made her behavior towards other dogs worse. It took awhile but with a head collar, the modification techniques mentioned above, and a lot of reinforcement she is much better, and they are much happier. Is she cured? No, you cannot “cure” problem behavior, but you can treat and modify it, if it is treatable. You definitely do not want to suppress the behavior, which is what punishment can do, since it can resurface in a more devastating manner.

I have included some sites that give information about canine aggression, and include part of one entry found at merckvetmanual.com I hope they are of help.

http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/140215.htm
Treatment of Behavioral Problems Associated with Canine Aggression:
The treatment of aggression can be complex and may best be performed by a specialist. The first step in treating any aggression is to obtain an accurate diagnosis. Then, any provocative circumstances must be avoided—repetition of aggression teaches the dog to be better at executing it and reinforces the association between context and behavior. Most behavior modification focuses on counterconditioning and desensitization using food treats or rewards. Owners must understand the difference between treats and bribes; the latter will guarantee treatment failure. The dog should be taught to defer to the owner for everything it wants. The goal is not to make the dog “submissive,” but rather to teach the dog to attend to the owner for cues as to the appropriateness of its behavior. Dogs defer to other dogs by sitting or lying down and waiting for cues that tell them when they can proceed with their next behavior. Sitting or lying down acts as a “stop” command and allows owners to regain control of the situation. These dogs must earn all of their attention—even maintenance attention (eg, feeding, walking). Head collars (head halters, eg, Gentle Leader® or Halti®) can be a great help in treating or preventing problem canine behaviors involving aggression and can render any aggressive dog safer. Almost without exception, physical punishment, including the use of prong collars and electric shock collars, alpha rolls, and dominance downs can make an already aggressive dog worse. Owners should be discouraged from using these techniques, especially in the absence of supervision. Antidepressants (eg, amitriptyline, clomipramine, fluoxetine) have been helpful in treating anxiety associated with the aggression and in facilitating behavior modification. Currently, all behavioral treatment with psychotropic agents is extra-label, requires informed consent, and should be performed only after a thorough physical examination and laboratory evaluation (CBC and serum biochemistry profile).

um.. yeah, in most cases of extreme animal aggression it would not be advisable to try and do it yourself.. regardless of watching the show.. He has many cases, but in the extreme cases he uses a PACK of dogs to help in training.. Get a professional to help..

If you type in The Dog Whisperer in your search and go to his website. You can order the complete series on dvd. There’s lots of info on his site too. There was just an episode on this week where these people’s German Shepherd wanted to kill their cat.
I would get some obedience classes too.