Cesar Millan has energy that never seems to quit. In the middle of a so-called vacation, the Dog Whisperer stopped by the NYC Pet Show to make an appearance and greet his many fans, who had started lining up early Saturday morning to meet him. He took a few minutes out of his busy day to chat with PEOPLEPets.com about life after Daddy, his beloved pit bull who died in February, and how he plans to spend his summer vacation.
Q: The last time we spoke to you, it was just after Daddy had passed. How is everyone doing?
A: After he passed, I went on a European tour, and we were out for 55 days. It was very successful, so I didn't have time to do the statue that I wanted to do [of Daddy]. I wanted to make sure to tell the person who was going to make it exactly how I wanted it. I already have the place where I want to create this little temple. Not little, but pretty big. But everywhere I go, everyone is always remembering Daddy.
Q: Someone here made a cake in the form of Daddy!
A: Isn't that amazing? I never seen a Latino making a cake. I have to try it, but I told him, "I can't eat my dog!"
Q: Do you have any plans to adopt a new dog?
A: You know, what I'm thinking is to create a worldwide pack. When I go to Afghanistan, rescue a dog from Afghanistan and shoot [for TV] the whole rescuing. That's the process right now, it's the international pack. To go to Greece, and all the places where dogs need rescuing. The thing is I love to create hope in places where you don't see hope. For us to learn from dogs that they will forgive us.
Q: Where else would the international pack come from?
A: India – there are a lot of dogs there. I want to go to China. I want to go to places where it's taboo, where dogs are not pets, dogs are food. Maybe I can change the state of mind of people. Maybe I can show the empathy and compassion dogs share in other parts of the world, then people will view it differently. The show is in 105 countries right now. I've been in America 16 years. America has welcomed me extremely well, they know Cesar is from America. I can trigger other Dog Whisperers around the world.
Q: So it's pretty universal at this point.
A: Dogs don't know what you do for a living and they don't know what you speak. I can talk to President Obama, Oprah, and the dogs don't know. That's the beauty. I don't have to speak Chinese to talk to a dog in China. I don't have to speak Russian to talk to a dog in Russia, you know? It's a universal language. Dogs don't focus on what political background are you, what religion are you, what race are you. They really focus on the universal side of you.
Q: Do you think dogs are getting better at adapting to the way we live?
A: I think humans are getting better at it. The key is not the dogs – they're really always ready to do what is best for you. They want to please. They want to be in the relationship. The more the human becomes aware of what he needs to do, how conscious he needs to be, the dog just mirrors your behavior.
Q: How have you adjusted to being such a big celebrity?
A: It's different because fame to me is more like movie stars. I'm just a guy who has a great connection with dogs, and people love what I do for dogs. It's a different kind of relationship.
Q: But you're definitely a big deal.
A: They don't see me that way, the dogs. Maybe the human sees me that way. I just keep myself the way I came to America: humble. I just have a good job. I can put a roof over my head, and I'm still very grateful. I don't think that I will ever lose that. What people are saying is, 'I love you. You saved my dog's life. I want to show you my dog.' ... They love that I saved a dog's life.
Q: You're so busy now. What do you do during your down time?
A: I'm a dad. I'm a 100 percent dad. That's what you do. [The job is] a sacrifice that you do to help the world. I hope my kids understand when I'm away, it's to help people.
Q: Are they thinking of following in your footsteps?
A: It's hard, but I do focus on telling them exactly what my grandfather and my dad told me. Never work against Mother Nature. Everybody has their own goal in life, and I'm going to nurture that. One of them wants to be a soccer player and that's Andre, the other one wants to be an artist. They have the willpower to do it.
Q: So is Andre excited about the World Cup?
A: He is. He wants to go to Africa. I'm thinking about it. I took 3 months of vacation. This is supposed to be a vacation! But being around dogs, to me, is a vacation.
Read more about Cesar Millan on PEOPLEPets.com:
5 Things You Didn't Know about Cesar Millan
Cesar Millan's Beloved Pit Bull Daddy Dies at 16
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