Spirit. Instinct. Love. Intellect.
Four ideas that summarize the philosophy he has lived by for decades.
I am spirit based.
I am instinct based.
I am love based.
I am intellect based.
A few days ago, Cesar had spent nearly three hours speaking with Dr. Andrew Huberman—a neuroscientist whose work focuses on understanding the human brain through science. Their conversation explored the relationship between instinct, emotion, intellect, and the deeper connection between humans, dogs, and nature.
What follows is a faithful adaptation of that conversation. These are Cesar's ideas, organized into an article exactly as he wanted them presented.
The Order Matters
I am spirit based.
I am instinct based.
I am love based.
I am intellect based.
Most people live in the opposite order.
They are intellect-based or emotion-based. They approach life mind first, feelings second, and wonder why they feel disconnected.
For me, life begins somewhere else.
My knowledge comes from God.
My knowledge comes from Mother Nature.
My knowledge comes from love.
My knowledge comes from me.
The mind comes last.
That order changes everything.
"I am spirit based. I am instinct based. I am love based. I am intellect based."
— Cesar Millan
You Were Born Knowing
Nature shows us this truth every single day.
Watch how a puppy enters the world.
A puppy is born with its nose already working.
About fifteen days later, the eyes begin to open.
Around twenty-one days later, the ears fully develop.
Nose.
Eyes.
Ears.
A puppy recognizes its mother through scent and energy long before it ever sees her or hears her.
Humans often do the exact opposite.
We greet dogs with loud voices.
We wave our hands.
We become excited.
Only afterward do we try to understand how the dog feels.
Then we wonder why so many dogs become anxious.
Nature already gave us the answer.
Spirit Comes First
You are born with spirit.
You are born with instinct.
Nobody has to teach you those things.
Spirit represents what cannot be seen.
Instinct is the wisdom nature placed inside you before your first breath.
Love and intelligence are different.
Someone teaches you what love means.
Someone teaches you to read, write, analyze, and think.
They are beautiful gifts.
But they are learned gifts.
Dogs are exactly the same.
The difference is that they never forgot what they were born with.
Humans often do.
Train the Mind. Connect the Spirit.
People tell me all the time:
"I want to train my dog."
"I want my dog to obey commands."
No.
You train the mind.
You connect the spirit.
You connect the instinct.
You connect the heart.
That is why I always say:
Trust. Respect. Love.
Trust the spirit.
Respect the instinct.
Love with the heart.
Create with the mind.
The relationship always comes before the command.
"You train the mind. You connect the spirit."
— Cesar Millan
Energy Is the First Language
Dogs do not begin by listening to words.
They begin by reading energy.
Silence creates patience.
Calmness creates trust.
Confidence comes from knowledge.
Love has incredible power—but only when offered at the right moment.
Love given at the wrong time rewards the wrong behavior.
Then comes joy.
Joy is the celebration at the end.
Your goal is not for your dog to listen to your commands.
Your goal is for your dog to understand your calmness, your confidence, and your intention before a single word is spoken.
That is the first language.
It always has been.
And remember this:
There is no knowledge behind instinct.
Instinct is simply reaction.
That means you can never blame the animal.
The dog is responding to the energy standing in front of him.
Your energy.
Love Is Not Direction
One lesson changes families forever.
In the animal world, affection is not leadership.
Love is not direction.
Love celebrates.
It does not steer.
Direction and protection must already exist before love can fully flourish.
First comes trust.
Then respect.
Then love.
If you love someone you don't trust—or someone who doesn't respect you—that relationship becomes unhealthy.
That is true for people.
That is also true for dogs.
Real love creates safety.
Real love creates peace.
"Trust the spirit. Respect the instinct. Love with the heart. Create with the mind."
— Cesar Millan
What Being a Pet Parent Really Means
Being a pet parent means providing direction, protection, and then love.
Exercise.
Discipline.
Affection.
Body.
Mind.
Heart.
Discipline is not punishment.
Discipline means structure.
Rules.
Boundaries.
Limitations.
Many dog lovers find affection easy.
But challenging a dog spiritually, instinctively, and intellectually—that requires creativity, consistency, and leadership.
That is where the relationship truly grows.
Three Daily Rituals That Transform the Relationship
1. The Greeting
When you first come home, avoid eye contact, touching, and talking until your dog becomes calm.
Most owners believe they're greeting a happy dog.
In reality, they're greeting excitement and anxiety.
When calm arrives, the mind opens.
And once the mind is open, learning becomes possible.
2. The Walk
Walk with your dog beside you or slightly behind you.
Walk with purpose.
Walk without distraction.
Put the phone away.
If you learn how to walk your dog properly, you eliminate most behavioral problems before they ever begin.
The walk is more than exercise.
It is a moment to reconnect—with nature, with your dog, and with something greater than yourself.
Perhaps it's no coincidence that "God" spelled backward is "dog."
3. The Feeding
Ask for calm before placing the bowl down.
Waiting creates patience.
Patience creates balance.
Practice these three simple rituals consistently for three weeks.
You'll begin to see your relationship transform.
Natural. Simple. Profound.
Animals don't understand money.
They don't understand fame.
They don't understand power.
They understand what is natural.
What is simple.
What is profound.
Natural is your instinct.
Simple is love.
Profound is your spirit.
When your instincts are healthy, you become a better father.
A better mother.
A better leader.
A better human being.
Even if no one ever taught you to read or write.
And when your spirit is healthy, you create freedom—for yourself and for those around you.
Remember What You Were Born With
Your dog reflects your energy.
Your philosophy.
Your actions.
Trust.
Respect.
Love.
These are never demanded.
They are earned.
Every day.
That is why I often say:
"I rehabilitate dogs by training people."
Learning how to live with a dog is ultimately learning how to live life itself.
A healthy relationship with your dog naturally strengthens your relationship with God, with nature, and with yourself.
We are the ones who separate them.
"Your dog isn't waiting for you to become smarter. He's waiting for you to remember what you were born with."
— Cesar Millan
Your dog isn't waiting for you to become smarter.
He isn't waiting for you to become more emotional.
He's waiting for you to remember what you already had from the very beginning.
Spirit.
Then instinct.
Then love.
Then intellect.
That's where profound connection begins.
That's where true leadership begins.
And that's where the deepest relationship between humans and dogs will always be found.
— Cesar Millan
Continue the Conversation
To hear Cesar explore these ideas in greater depth, listen to his conversation with Dr. Andrew Huberman on the Huberman Lab podcast.
Sometimes, the most profound truths don't come from learning something new.
They come from remembering what nature gave us from the very beginning.