Cesar Millan's Failed Marriage and Engagement to His Long-Time Partner: Inside the Dog Whisperer's Private Life

Cesar Millan and his first wife, Ilusión opened up about overcoming intense marital problems and building an empire on his "Dog Whisperer" persona, in a revealing 2010 magazine profile. Months later they announced their separation after 16 years together. They have two sons, Andre and Calvin.

Since 2010, the "Dog Whisperer" Cesar Millan has been in a relationship with Jahira Dar. The TV star popped the question in 2016 on a mountaintop in Greece but has yet to announce the date for the wedding.

The lifelong canine lover he credits his first marriage for helping him understand human behavior, which helped him build a career.

Cesar Millan’s First Wife Ilusión Millan

When a 17-year-old Ilusión spotted Cesar on an ice rink, she knew he was the one. At the time, he was 23, and a friend warned him about the legal implications of dating a minor, so he broke it off. Once she turned the legal age of 18, the pair became an item.

Mrs. Millan was initially a preschool teacher but always understood business; her husband told Elle. She co-executive produced episodes from seasons two to nine of "Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan," and appeared on the show in its first season.

Per Elle, she developed "Mutt-i-grees," a curriculum for children, with Yale University. She was president and co-CEO of Cesar Millan Inc. A dog collar bearing her name, "The Illusion Collar," was available online until recently and had a 3.3-star rating on Amazon.

Relationship Struggles After the Wedding

The couple got engaged within months of getting together the second time when Ilusión fell pregnant with their first child. They welcomed Andre Millan in 1995. Their different upbringings caused marital conflict, and she said in an Elle profile that he was verbally abusive.

The turning point came when she almost died from an emergency surgery bladder surgery. Her husband only saw her days later and was uncaring during the visit. Ilusión decided to move out with their baby, saying she would only return if they could see a counselor.

After throwing his "little temper tantrum," he agreed, willing to try anything to get his family back. What the "Dog Whisperer" took from the sessions was that it was not about him anymore, "It was about the pack," he told Elle. The couple reconciled within six months.

Cesar Millan's Split From the Mother of His Two Sons

In 2010, the same year Elle published a profoundly revealing interview about their relationship, Ilusión filed for divorce, which was granted on April 21, 2012. In a statement to PEOPLE, they said they remained “caring friends" and are committed to co-parenting their two sons.

The dog trainer sprung the proposal on his girlfriend of six years on March 24, 2016.

According to a TMZ report in April 2012, she received a once-off lump sum of $400,000, $23,000 monthly in spousal support, and $10,000 in child support. The settlement included a hush clause on revealing details of their life together.

Cesar Millan Found Love Again

E! Online reports Cesar Millan met actress Jahira Dar two months after Ilusión filed for divorce in 2010. The "Dog Whisperer" told PEOPLE that she helped him rebuild after his marriage of 16 years fell apart:

“She is compassionate, gentle, instinctual, spiritual, intelligent, fun, strong, adventurous, and loving. She embodies the principles that I prize the most—honesty, integrity, and loyalty."

The dog trainer sprung the proposal on his girlfriend of six years on March 24, 2016, during the Greece leg of their European Tour, during a dinner on Mount Lycabettus, in Athens. He planned the elaborate proposal for months and was "proud of himself" for keeping the secret.

Besides acting, she has also worked as a stylist and wardrobe consultant. She was in her fiancé's National Geographic documentary, "Cesar Millan: The Real Story," whose high profile led to having worked with people like Oprah Winfrey when issues with their beloved pets cropped up.