The Art of Raising a Puppy by Monks of New Skete

From the Publisher

The Monks of New Skete THE ART OF RAISING A PUPPY The authors of the classic guide How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend now tell you everything you need to know about the crucial first months of your puppy's life. From the decision to adopt a pup through the practical steps of choosing the right breed, preparing your home, caring for your new charge, and practicing basic obedience exercises, the Monks of New Skete offer clear, compassionate guidelines for raising a puppy. Renowned for breeding German shepherds, the Monks train their own beautiful dogs, and dogs of any breed, according to a unique program based on understanding canine behavior and enhancing the bond between dog and owner. This communion begins in puppyhood and is based on deep respect and affection. Improper care, poor training, or a lack of attention during the early months can lead to problem behaviors that become increasingly difficult to alter as your dog matures. By learning to gently assert your dominance from the start, you'll build a lasting and loving relationship with your pup. This complete guide, illustrated with more than eighty black-and-white photographs, explains the stages of puppy development, how to communicate with your pup, how to begin a complete training program, and how to deal with common problems like chewing, jumping up, and paper-training. The kind of fulfillment a solid relationship with your pup can bring is demonstrated in the stories of three dogs who have assumed special places in their owners lives. The Art of Raising a Puppy is an essential source of wisdom, information, and inspiration for anyone who loves and cares for a puppy. As a community, the Monks of New Skete have beenbreeding, raising, and training dogs for more than twenty years. New Skete Monastery is located in Cambridge, New York.

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. (Mar.)

Library Journal

Developed from the outstanding 1991 book of the same title, this program presents information that continues to be extremely enlightened and valuable. In addition to offering advice on puppy selection, housebreaking, basic care, and training, the tape gives innovative suggestions for handling a variety of problems. The fundamental approach is based on helping owners understand a puppy's physical and emotional makeup and how dogs experience relationships. The monks' techniques are based on extensive experience in anticipating behavioral problems and resolving them by establishing successful communication between people and their dogs. Clearly conveyed by reader Michael Wager, the guidance is practical, thorough, easily understood, and logically presented. A small booklet on puppy aptitude testing is intended to help people understand which dogs will best suit their lifestyles and circumstances and includes some excellent material not on the tape. If using this program were required prior to puppy acquisition or breeding, the problem of unwanted dogs in shelters or on the streets would likely eventually disappear. Highly recommended for all public, school, and veterinary collections.--Carolyn Alexander, Brigadoon Lib., Salinas, CA

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.

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