Choosing the right dog is not only about finding a breed you like. Cesar Millan teaches that three things should come first: the dog’s energy, your lifestyle, and, if you are interested in a specific breed, the culture and purpose behind that breed.
Two dogs of the same breed can be very different because breed alone does not determine how a dog will fit into a household. Cesar looks at where the dog naturally falls within the pack, the dog’s energy level, and whether the human’s lifestyle provides the right environment for that dog.
Understanding those differences before bringing a dog home can help a pet parent choose a dog whose natural energy and abilities fit the life they actually live.
What to Consider Before Choosing a Dog
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Look at the dog’s natural position within the pack, not only the breed.
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Every pack position can include low, medium, or high energy.
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Match the dog’s energy level with your lifestyle and environment.
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Research what a breed was originally created to do.
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A dog’s natural abilities still need the right human environment and direction.
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Cesar places connection first, communication second, and relationship with the breed third.
Every Litter Has Different Types of Dogs
Cesar describes three natural positions within a litter or pack: back of the pack, middle of the pack, and front of the pack.
Breeders may describe similar differences with terms such as runt of the litter, pet quality, or pick of the litter. For Cesar, these positions represent different natural tendencies that can be observed very early in a puppy’s life.
He says these differences can sometimes be seen even before puppies have opened their eyes or ears, when they are relying primarily on their noses.
During feeding, for example, Cesar describes placing the mother in one area and watching which puppies reach her first. The puppy that gets there first may represent the front of the pack, another arrives second from the middle, and the more sensitive puppy arrives later from the back.
These differences matter because each position brings its own strengths and its own needs.
Back-of-the-Pack Dogs Are Highly Sensitive
Cesar describes back-of-the-pack dogs as the most sensitive members of the group.
That sensitivity is not automatically a weakness. According to Cesar, these dogs may notice changes around them before others do. He describes them as dogs that can detect weather changes or sense someone approaching from far away.
The challenge comes when that sensitivity is not properly nurtured and protected.
Cesar says back-of-the-pack dogs need direction and protection from their human. Without it, they may feel as though they have to take on a position they were not naturally meant to handle.
That can turn their sensitivity into insecurity.
He connects this lack of appropriate direction and protection with fear, anxiety, fear-based reactivity, and dogs that may become strongly attached to one person instead of comfortably relating to the whole family.
For a sensitive dog, the human’s role becomes especially important. The dog needs an environment where sensitivity can remain an ability rather than becoming a burden.
Middle-of-the-Pack Dogs Often Fit Family Life Well
Middle-of-the-pack dogs are the dogs Cesar describes as naturally happy-go-lucky.
This temperament can appear across different breeds. A German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, or Rottweiler can all be middle-of-the-pack dogs because this quality is not determined strictly by breed.
Cesar compares these dogs to the human resources department of the group because they naturally help everybody get along.
For that reason, he considers middle-of-the-pack dogs especially well suited for families, including first-time families and households with children.
They tend to have a playful disposition, but that does not mean they require no structure.
Without rules, boundaries, and limitations, Cesar says a naturally playful dog can become overly excited. That excitement can show up as pulling, jumping, barking, stealing things from the table, and constantly remaining in a highly stimulated state.
The issue is not that the dog has the wrong personality. The dog still needs the human to provide structure around that natural personality.
A happy-go-lucky dog can be a wonderful family companion, but the human still has to guide that energy.
Front-of-the-Pack Dogs Have a Different Kind of Confidence
Front-of-the-pack dogs are described very differently.
Cesar characterizes them as quiet, self-secure dogs that do not necessarily spend a lot of time barking. Instead, they may give a warning and then make a strong, decisive move when they act.
These are the dogs Cesar associates with demanding working environments and competitive activities.
He points to police work, agencies, obedience competition, and dog shows as examples of environments where front-of-the-pack dogs may be selected.
When police officers are choosing dogs for a particular job, Cesar says they commonly look for the front-of-the-pack dog. In his description, there is only one true front-of-the-pack dog within a litter.
This type of dog may be valuable in the right environment, but that does not automatically make it the best choice for every household.
The dog still has to fit the human’s lifestyle.
Pack Position Is Only Half of the Equation
Identifying whether a dog is from the back, middle, or front of the pack is not enough.
Cesar adds another important layer: energy level.
Within every pack position, he says there can be three levels of energy:
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Low
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Medium
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High
That means a back-of-the-pack dog can be low, medium, or high energy. The same applies to middle-of-the-pack and front-of-the-pack dogs.
This is why simply knowing a dog’s general temperament does not completely tell a pet parent what life with that dog will be like.
A middle-of-the-pack dog with high energy may require a very different lifestyle from a middle-of-the-pack dog with low energy.
Cesar recommends learning the dog’s energy level from the breeder or from the person helping with the adoption or acquisition.
The reason is practical: the dog’s energy should match the environment where the dog is expected to live.
Match the Dog to the Life You Actually Live
Cesar connects energy directly with lifestyle.
A person living in a city may have different needs from someone living on a farm, ranch, in the mountains, or in another outdoor environment.
For city life, Cesar says middle-of-the-pack and back-of-the-pack dogs can fit very well.
For someone living on a farm or spending much of life outdoors, a front-of-the-pack dog may be especially useful because these dogs can fit environments where their confidence and working ability have a purpose.
He also connects personality and social lifestyle with dog selection.
Someone who is more social and energetic may enjoy living with a middle-of-the-pack dog.
Someone who prefers fewer social interactions, spends time outdoors, and also wants a dog with a strong protective presence may be more drawn to a front-of-the-pack dog.
The important point is that choosing a dog should not be based only on appearance or popularity.
The dog should fit the human’s lifestyle.
Breed Does Not Tell the Whole Story
Cesar uses Border Collies as an example of why breed alone cannot tell you exactly what kind of dog you are getting.
Border Collies are widely recognized in his discussion as highly intelligent dogs, but Cesar points out that every Border Collie litter will still include different energy levels.
Some will be high energy. Others will be medium or low.
That means not every Border Collie is automatically suited for competition. Not every Border Collie will be equally suited for farm work. Not every Border Collie will be the front-of-the-pack dog.
For Cesar, this demonstrates why energy comes before assumptions about breed.
The breed gives the dog certain natural abilities, but the individual dog still has its own energy and pack position.
The human also has a role in nurturing those abilities.
Understand What the Breed Was Created to Do
If a pet parent does have a specific breed in mind, Cesar recommends researching why that breed was created in the first place.
He describes a breed as a dog that is born with a degree.
A Border Collie, for example, already carries the abilities associated with the work the breed was developed to perform. The human does not have to create those instincts from nothing.
The human’s responsibility is to give the dog an environment where those abilities can be practiced.
Cesar applies the same idea to breeds such as Labradors, Rottweilers, and Samoyeds. Each breed has a cultural background and a purpose connected with why humans developed it.
Understanding that background helps a pet parent understand what the dog may naturally be prepared to do.
Rather than choosing a breed only because of its appearance, Cesar’s approach encourages people to understand the job, history, and abilities behind the breed.
Energy Comes Before Breed
Cesar’s order is clear.
First understand energy.
Then understand dog psychology.
Then understand dog training and the culture of the breed.
This order matters because a breed name does not tell you everything you need to know about the dog standing in front of you.
A person may love a certain breed, but the individual dog’s natural energy can still determine whether the match works.
Cesar makes this distinction especially clear when he talks about Border Collies. Even within a breed known for certain qualities, the individual dogs are not identical.
A pet parent should therefore avoid assuming that every dog from one breed will automatically have the same temperament, energy, abilities, or lifestyle needs.
The dog is an individual first.
The Human Still Has to Nurture What the Dog Brings
Natural ability does not remove the human’s responsibility.
Cesar emphasizes that a dog may be born with certain qualities, but the human still needs to create the right environment for those qualities.
A sensitive dog needs direction and protection.
A playful, happy-go-lucky dog still needs rules, boundaries, and limitations.
A dog with working ability needs an environment where those abilities have an appropriate purpose.
The match works best when the human understands what the dog already brings and provides the conditions that allow those qualities to function well.
This is why choosing the right dog is not simply about asking, “Which breed do I want?”
A better question is, “What kind of energy can I properly guide, protect, and live with?”
Connection, Communication, and Relationship
Cesar brings the entire process back to three pillars:
Connection.
Communication.
Relationship.
He describes the order as connection to the energy, communication with the dog, and relationship with the breed.
The breed matters, but it comes after understanding the dog as a dog and recognizing the dog’s natural energy.
That sequence changes the way a person approaches dog selection.
Instead of falling in love with a breed first and trying to make every individual dog from that breed fit the household, the pet parent first looks at energy and lifestyle compatibility.
Then comes communication with the dog.
Then comes the relationship with the breed and everything that breed was created to do.
At Better Dog Supplements, this human-dog relationship remains the priority. Wellness support can support that relationship, but it does not replace the human’s responsibility to understand, guide, protect, and communicate with the dog.
Choosing the Dog That Fits Your Life
The right dog is not necessarily the most popular breed, the most impressive puppy in the litter, or the dog whose appearance catches someone’s attention first.
Cesar’s approach begins with energy.
Understand where the dog naturally fits within the pack. Understand whether the dog is low, medium, or high energy. Look honestly at your lifestyle and the environment you can provide. If you are choosing a specific breed, learn what that breed was created to do.
Then consider whether you can give that individual dog the direction, protection, structure, and environment it needs.
Breed can help explain what a dog may naturally know how to do, but energy determines how that individual dog moves through the world.
The strongest match begins when the human understands the dog in front of them before falling in love with the idea of a particular breed.
That is where connection starts, and Cesar places connection before everything else.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I consider before choosing a dog?
Cesar recommends considering three main things: the dog’s energy, your lifestyle, and the culture or original purpose behind the breed you are considering.
What are the three pack positions Cesar describes?
He describes dogs as naturally falling into back-of-the-pack, middle-of-the-pack, or front-of-the-pack positions. Each position has different tendencies and needs.
Are middle-of-the-pack dogs good for families?
Cesar describes middle-of-the-pack dogs as naturally happy-go-lucky and especially suitable for many families, including households with children. They still require rules, boundaries, and limitations so their playful energy does not become constant overexcitement.
Are all dogs from the same breed similar in energy?
No. Cesar says every litter can include low-, medium-, and high-energy dogs, regardless of breed. A Border Collie, for example, can be low, medium, or high energy.
Why does Cesar recommend learning a breed’s original purpose?
He believes a breed comes with natural abilities connected to what humans originally created that breed to do. Understanding that purpose helps pet parents create an environment where the dog can use those abilities.
What is the most important order for building a relationship with a dog?
Cesar teaches connection, communication, and relationship. He connects first with the dog’s energy, then communicates with the dog, and then develops the relationship with the breed and its natural abilities.