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Summary: Wonderful
Review: The Monks of New Skete have earned their good name through many years of conscientious experience with their breeding and training programs.On top of that they produced very informative and practicable books. I was very disappointed to read some reviewers harshly critising the Monks methods of disicipline in favour of more so called enlightened methods.If they had been training dogs professionally for over 30 years as I have, they would realise that the so-called modern methods of today are in fact old methods. The reason why these methods never endured? Because at the end of the day these methods do not produce a dog that is reliable under stressful circumstances.(Call a dog back when it is chasing a cat into heavy traffic, etc) The so-called modern methods are not used by Police, Prison & military dog units - the phylosophy of the Monks methods are. If the new enlightened phylosophy was so good, why wouldn't the professional trainers of real working dogs being using it?
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Summary: The Art of Raising A Puppy
Review: The Monks have a very thoughtful thoughtful yet matter-a-fact approach to the many different aspects of breeding, purchasing, adopting, training and caring for a puppy. I especially liked how they emphasized the fact that there are different personalities within a litter, and selecting one should be done carefully. Especially with a dog like a German Shepherd. I recently purchased a German Shepherd and this book helped me to understand her better. I would recommend it to anyone considering a puppy. Especially to someone wanting a shepherd.
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Summary: Best book I've found on puppy rearing
Review: I found this book when my husband and I were considering what kind of puppy we wanted to get. It did one thing no other puppy book that I had found did, it ran down the basic personalities of a litter of pups - and what kind of people/families the monks thought they would be compatible with. Most of the books I've seen that discuss puppy personalities are far more general if they discuss personality testing at all. The monks saved us a lot of heartache as my husband and I realized that we had been looking for subtly different things in a dog, and needed to get our own thinking together first before we inflicted some poor puppy with the need to be 2 different things to us. The book provides wonderful information on puppy rearing, what to look for in a breeder, what to look for in socialization, almost anything you could think of. Highly recommended.
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Summary: Communion with DOG...
Review: There are scads of books on how to raise puppies out there, and most of them range from fairly informative to extremely useful. This one is not only useful, but a step beyond the others. It takes on the total relationship between puppy and trainer, delving into the nature of the dog-human bonding experience. Further, this book presents a spiritual perspective on that experience without succumbing to flippancy or cutesiness. Even if you don't plan to obtain a puppy soon, you will enjoy the way this book creates a sense of wonder over the sometimes trying, often rewarding relationship that humans forge with their canine friends. The first chapter alone is quite inspirational, explaining the miraculous event of a German Shepherd giving birth. Little details are carefully pointed out in such a way that they all contribute to a growing sense of reverance for dogs and their place in the grand scheme of nature. Yet the book is loaded with sound, workable, and tested advice that every dog owner should appreciate. If you have a friend who likes non-commercialized, non-sectarian spiritual philosophy... and likes dogs ... and is thinking of getting a puppy -- this IS the PERFECT gift! Should be on the bookshelf of every dog-lover.
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Summary: Food for Faith in "Dog"
Review: The pages of this book are impregnated with far more than "How-To" wisdom for erstwhile canine guardians. They are infused with a special brand of modern Orthodox spirituality, one that focuses on the "divinization" of everyday existence. At issue is the ennobling and divine appreciation of our fellow creatures. The monks provide a secularly packaged vision that is exquisitely articulated without pushing any particular creed or theology. As such, it amounts to a delicious re-enchantment of the modern world, starting with surprising magic that comes of an honest relationship with a dog. At a time when evidence of the failing of human relationships lies all around, the monks teach "learning what it means to be human, by learning what it means to be dog." This book comes at a great time for me, personally. I am getting two Alaskan Malamute puppies in 3 weeks. My lifestyle is not exceptionally well suited to the task. But neither is it well suited to my own personal health! Put bluntly, I need a change! Too busy -- too career oriented, etc., etc. This book encourages me greatly to achieve what I am aiming for in getting these puppies. To CHANGE my lifestyle, and give myself over more to "soul-making" and less to upward social mobility. I must also add that, for those with more pragmatic aims, the book is in fact chock-full of excellent puppy-raising "How-To!"
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Summary: excellent start for new owners
Review: this was one of the first books that i read when i started looking for my first dog. it has a lot of great information on puppy development & how to start socializing a new dog (which was my favorite part of the book), which were very helpful. the chapters in this book on canine-human bonds are well written & show you what is possible with your dog. i ended up getting a sheltie, so i haven't used very many of the training techniques in this book or their "how to be your dog's best friend" book. shelties are very quiet & a lot more submissive than german shepards, so i picked out only a few sections to use (like the chapter on canine massage, which is great-- my dog absolutely loves being massaged before we brush him). i'd have to say that you should use your judgement with this book- while the sections on punishment & gaining dominance might be good for some dogs, they're unnecessary for everyone.
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Summary: Canine - Human Bond
Review: I had just purchased a new GSD puppy (who is of New Skete bloodlines) and thought this book would provide a solid foundation for understanding canines - something that is particularily needed with this breed. I found this book to provide just that as well as an excellent basis for understanding the canine-human bond which is necessary for successfully training any dog. What I found to be most helpful was the discussions on socialization and pack order (how we humans fit in.) While they do not completely follow the positive reinforcement method of training, they do provide a realistic balance between corrections and positive reinforcement, something easier for most dog owners yet humane to the pups. While they give some instructions on training - it is at a "puppy" level and provides only a foundation for adult work.
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Summary: A Must Have for a Puppy Owner
Review: A great book! The Monks of New Skete use a practical and kind method of dog training that seems to work every time. The canine psychology in this book can help any dog owner understand his pet better.
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Summary: We Ended Up Adopting A Different Dog!
Review: We showed up to pick out our mutt puppy and were prepared to take the female. However, we had this book in hand and the monks had a bunch of personality tests to administer to a prospective puppy. We performed the tests on the female and her brother. Her brother upstaged her at every turn so we adopted him. He has turned out to be a fabulous dog,incredibly smart and affectionate. The book also has training methods, some of which we used effectively. The "sterner" methods used by the Monks we were just too wimpy to use on our dog. The monks are all in favor of the training cage though. We had never used a dog cage before but now think it is wonderful for training a pup. The monks' toilet training for pups was less effective than a method we learned in another OOP book. We stuck with the other book's method of using vinegar and tabasco sauce on the dog. Notice the monks breed German Shepherd dogs. We just applied their material to a mutt and it worked fine. We were going to get another purebred dog but our vet advised us we would do better with a mutt medically and he was right. He was seeing too many medical problems with all types of purebred dogs.
Rating:
Summary: If you love dogs - please get this one!
Review: The best thing that you can do for your pup -- it's all about positive reinforcement. This book is easy to read, get's to the point and is very informative. If you want to have a healthy loving relationship with your pooch -- read this and then pass it onto a friend with a dog. Even if your dog is older - it's never to late to learn. The Monks of New Skete have the best formula for success!
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