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Summary: Helped us immensely
Review: My husband and I are new to "puppyhood" and wanted some help. I did some research and was swayed by the reviews of the New Skete Monks' book. I am very glad I purchased this book. It offered us insight into dog behavior, specifically in regards to living in a pack. We have had our Shepherd/Chow mix puppy for one month and she is wonderful. She's 10-12 weeks old (we're not sure) and can sit, lay and roll over on command. We just got her an eight week old playmate on 1-29-00 who is also a Shepherd mix of some kind. We are implementing the techniques we learned from The Art of Raising A Puppy with her as well. I was very nervous about the Chow in our first dog since I was attacked by my brother's 12 years ago. However, the info on the owner establishing yourself as pack leader was indispensable. I feel more confident in training our dogs and am less fearful of their aggressive behavior when it occurs. I am now going to purchase the New Skete Monks book on How to be Your Dog's Best Friend. Highly recommend this book.
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Summary: An excellent guide for new buyers, trainers, & breeders!
Review:
The breeder we bought our german shepherd puppy from recommended this book to us. I am amazed at the work the Monks of New Skete are doing for the german shepherd breed. My hope is that all breeders would use the New Skete method with their litters. If this were done, then maybe so-called "dangerous breeds" would lose their bad rap. Surely there would be less dogs in animal shelters and pet shops.
I can not stress enough the importance of early human socialization, and the Monks of New Skete seem to agree. If you are planning on breeding a litter, I urge you to pick up this book an heed the authors advice.
This book also stresses humane training methods, and the importance of positive reinforcement. Using this method has helped with my dominant GSD pup. Constant scolding will get you nowhere. A quick pop on the lead when bad and copious amounts of praise when good makes training a happy occasion for both dog and master.
I would recommend the three tape training set "Raising Your Dog With The Monks of New Skete" along with this book. The tapes show the New Skete method from the puppy birth, to training the adult dog, and brings the information together nicely.
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Summary: the one dog training book to own
Review: I've read over a dozen dog-training books and if you are going to own one dog-training book this is the one to get. The Art of Raising a Puppy is an incredibly comprehensive book that has everything you need to know about getting a puppy, raising it properly, and turning it into a well trained dog. If there's one negative to the book, it's that there's more information than the average dog owner can use. However, you can take as much or as little as you want from this book. The important thing is to read it. If you're going to purchase two dog-training books, I also recommend the Canine Good Citizen.
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Summary: An indispensible tool for every puppy owner
Review: I have quite a lot of experience with animals having worked around horses my whole life, as well as having a "collection" of household pets, and I considered myself to be competent in the field of dog ownership. One thing lacking in my background, however, was puppy ownership. I have a beautifully behaved adult dog I adopted from a pound, but decided a puppy was in order to carry on with my adult dog who is now quite advanced in age. Without this book, I really doubt that I would have known how to progress in training a puppy. The Monks of New Skete have a prose style that is a pleasure to read (I couldn't put it down), and their insights into dog behavior make so much sense once they are read, but never are "obvious." I plan on giving a copy of this book to each and every friend and family member who acquires a new puppy regardless of their experience. If you have a new puppy or especially if you are even considering getting a puppy, I urge you strongly to get this book and read it cover to cover -- you will not regret it!
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Summary: know your beast
Review: These gentlemen are right on the mark for dog training. We used their philosophy for raising our strong-willed huskie-border collie mix. She is the most wonderful dog imaginable and we owe it all to the Monks' method. Everyone compliments us on her behaviour and temperament.
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Summary: Love and guidance!
Review: Thank heavens there are dog books that do away with the "feed 'em a cookie" school of dog training- it does not work and our shelters have enough untamed, wild dogs in them! This book shows you how to love your pet and create a pet that can love you back. Cudoes to them!
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Summary: "Fixing" behavior at the root: Relationship
Review: I have read this book a few times and unfortunately, unlike some of the books in my collection, it doesn't get any better the more I read it!The entire book is actually quite good, aside from some outdated advice and training techniques. But the Monks do not address perhaps the most important issue: a trust-built, communication-forged relationship with your dog! They also advocate what I call "doggy breakdowns" with some of their techniques such as the alpha-roll, the head shake, and other very physical methods. As one reviewer mentioned, these may work on the kind of dogs they have, but as an owner of terriers for more than 10 years I will tell you that terriers can get very spiteful. This is completely understandable when you realize you must earn your dog's trust and respect in order to have it! Also, these methods can literally break (emotionally and mentally) a soft, immature, formerly abused, or mentally "slow" dog. I have seen it happen. It is not pretty. Benevolent leadership. Communication. Rewards. I don't feel any of those things are covered in this book, or at least not to the extent they should be. Do not rely too heavily on this book. There are WAY too many better guides to "being your dog's best friend" to just read this one. I highly recommend that anyone interested in raising a puppy the right way first learn the art of thinking like and communicating with dogs. The basis of any "training," formal or otherwise, is this: A relationship based on MUTUAL understanding, trust, and respect, between a benevolent leader and his/her companion.
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Summary: Great insight and understanding of raising a puppy
Review: This book is a great help to all puppy owners, new and veteran alike. The monks knowledge of the pack dynamic and the puppy's maturation into adulthood are amazing, to say the least. This books helps guide a puppy owner from day one to adulthood. Basic training and care information any dog owner should know. Even for those who may not agree with all the monks training methods, this book is still a great resource. If you are more of the new age mind of dog training, this book still is a nice companion to a new style training book. I would suggest getting one of each (The power of positive dog training is ok...) and see which methods best suit your and your dog's personalities. No 1 method will suit everyone. But no one should be without this book.
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Summary: non-fearful dog
Review: THis is a great way to train you dog to listen with out hurting or hitting it.
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Summary: There are better books out there
Review: This book was very positive and progressive when it was first published in the late 70s, but we have better books that don't include the old, outdated stuff. Job Michael Evans died too early, but he most likely would have continued to evolve as a dog trainer. Current trainers have gotten away from things like the "alpha roll" and other methods based on fear and force. I'd recommend "Positive Puppy Training Works!" by Joel Walton, or any of the puppy training books by Ian Dunbar or Gwen Bailey. I'm a professional dog trainer running a large training school located in a shelter. Correct puppy training and socialization keeps pets in their homes, and helps them become excellent companions.
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