Product Description

The monks of New Skete, authors of the classic guide How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend, now apply their highly successful training methods to the crucial first months of a puppy's life. 50 photographs.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1007 in Books
• Published on: 1991-03-20
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 274 pages

Amazon.com Review
The monks of New Skete have been breeding and training dogs at their New York monastery for more than 20 years. Their philosophy of raising dogs accentuates the essential human-canine bond, whereby owners must learn to understand a dog's instincts, needs, and behavior. Understanding a dog, the monks say, is the key to successfully training him. They first published this philosophy in their 1978 classic guide How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend. Now the monks concentrate on the first three months of a puppy's life in The Art of Raising a Puppy.

The book observes a litter of monastery puppies from birth to 12 weeks. Tender photographs and dialogue reflect these precious first few weeks of life. Even at this time, the human-canine link is vital; the monks stress the importance of gentle touch to help forge this connection. Basic puppy training techniques are explored and executed, all of which puppy owners should find easy to implement. Virtually all types of dog problems and dog training are examined in the book, always in compassionate and easily comprehensible language. The monks also look well beyond surface training techniques to analyze the roots of dogs' problems and explain how training can help. Owners are taught how to gently assert dominance over their dog, which will make for a long-lasting and fulfilling relationship. Beautiful black-and-white photographs of monastery puppies will pull at every heartstring.

From Publishers Weekly
The monks of New Skete in Cambridge, New York, dog trainers and breeders of German shepherds, here expand on their classic How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend . The excellent instruction begins with an in-depth examination of the puppies of one litter from birth through their eventual placements with new owners-- following their social and physical development, their needs, and clues to their emerging personalities. Proposing that the best way to forge a healthy dog-to-owner bond is to prevent problems before they occur, the authors soundly emphasize that a puppy begins its training "the day it arrives home." They teach readers how to choose an appropriate breed and a promising puppy, and how to assume the position of "pack" leader from the start. Sensitive and unimpeachably humane, this handbook places equal stress on the time-consuming responsibilities of dog ownership and on its ultimate rewards. Photos.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
The monks, who have bred and trained dogs and counseled owners for 20 years, believe that most puppies, if treated "carefully and intelligently," will grow into happy, adult companions. In their guide to raising puppies, they discuss growth phases, critical periods, and feral instincts. Emphasis is on preventing problems before they arise. The monks show how to recognize various temperaments, and how to care for and train the puppies properly. Libraries that already have Carol Benjamin's Mother Knows Best (Howell, 1989) or Charlotte Schwartz's The Howell Book of Puppy Raising (Howell, 1987) could forgo this. However, the popularity of the monks' first book, How To Be Your Dog's Best Friend (LJ 9/15/78), may create a demand for their second.
-Helen Sondrol, Lincoln Univ. Lib., Pa.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Customer Reviews

Somewhat helpful
I really loved this book until we got our puppy. However it swiftly became apparent that the dog had never read the manual. I still got something out of it, but its hardly the guidebook to puppyhood I wanted.

not the best training guide.
I have read tons of other training guides, and while I found this book a good read, it was not exactly helpful in terms of training. It focused more on their monastery, stories about dogs they trained, and the birthing process of a German Shepherd. Mind you, I'm big GSD lover so I enjoyed this book, but I wish I had purchased another book for more tips on training.
Some of the tips offered are great and work well, but there should have been more. But do keep in mind the book's title! "The ART of Raising a Puppy," not "HOW to Raise a Puppy." So it's understandable that there are numerous stories and other bits of info. But if you're looking for a real how-to guide with a lot of tips, I would look elsewhere.

Excellent Guide!
I brought home an 8 week old shih tzu and used the recommendation to tether him in my room and provide a blanket for him to sleep on. After only 3 nights he was sleeping all night long and when he needs to go out in the morning he barks once. It is amazing how well this worked. I have read numerous puppy books and this one far exceeds any of the books. The focus is on understanding your new best friend and applying the proper techniques to raising a happy and obedient pet.