Divine Canine: The Monks' Way to a Happy, Obedient Dog | 
 enlarge | Author: The Monks Of New Skete
Publisher: Hyperion
Category: Book
List Price: $16.95
Buy New: $9.56
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Avg. Customer Rating:  8 reviews
Sales Rank: 10332
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 256
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.5
Dimensions (in): 8.7 x 7.2 x 0.8
ISBN: 1401309259
Dewey Decimal Number: 636.70887
EAN: 9781401309251
ASIN: 1401309259
Publication Date: September 18, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand new book. Over 3.5 million customers served. Order now. Selling books online since 1995. Order with confidence. Code: B20080515211443T
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Product Description
Bring out the divine in your canine!Obedient, devoted, and happy -- that's what we all want our dogs to be. Let Brother Christopher and the Monks of New Skete show you how to get there through the stories of sixteen unruly dogs who came to them with more than a few lessons to learn. In this engaging and informative companion book to the hit Animal Planet series, the Monks of New Skete, renowned masters in the art of raising and training dogs, demonstrate tried and true techniques for influencing animal behavior, showing how a caring attitude and honest communication can turn any dog into a divine canine.Featuring: The Monks' Way: inspiring insights into the special New Skete training methods Tips on tackling problems: dominance, aggression, separation anxiety, and more "What if" guides when things don't go as planned Glossary of key training techniques Step-by-step photos and full-color illustrations of dogs in training at the New Skete monastery A must-have for anyone who loves dogs, Divine Canine offers unique and entertaining lessons that resonate far beyond the food dish and water bowl
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Great Training for Dogs and their Humans May 9, 2008
I was having sushi with a good friend and we were discussing pets and the difference between dogs and cats. Being a cat lover from the time I can remember I was not too interested in hearing about dogs, who I perceived as basically big dirty dumb animals. My friend had a different take; she said, "cats are nature's serial killers, but dogs were put here to teach us how to love."
When my husband and I moved to the Caribbean I brought three cats over with me. One night a local stray dog, a "potcake" as we say, came to visit. "Don't feed it!", I yelled, "or it will keep coming back!" Well, he did feed her and she did come back and now we have no cats but are the proud owner of a 65 pound potcake named Smiley (the best dog in the world). Hmmm....
She came housebroken and relatively social, but liked to run off, was overprotective, and did not play well with other dogs. Luckily I found a great dog trainer and groomer, and Smiley entered doggie day care with training and socialization. Our trainer, as it turned out, used the principles taught by The Monks of New Skete. An Eastern Orthodox order based in Cambridge, New York, the monks train dogs as part of their "monastic witness. For example, since we live on land that is steep and rocky, it is totally unsuitable for farming. This reality led us to begin breeding German Shepherd Dogs early on, and boarding and training dogs of all breeds." The Monks also train dogs and their owners to lead happier, more productive lives together.
Their latest book, Divine Canine: The Monks' Way to a Happy, Obedient Dog, is a clear and easy-to-understand guide to training "difficult" dogs using the examples of actual clients. This is a beautiful book with color photos of the dogs, owners, and Brother Christopher. We see the dogs misbehaving and behaving with clear explanations of how they walked the path. The book is grounded in the monks sense that relationships with dogs help deepen our relationships with God. "God speaks to us through our dogs -- indeed through all life -- and woe to us if we're deaf to that voice."
Divine Canine is organized around the five basic obedience commands: Sit, Stay, Heel, Down, and Come. Each dog story focuses on how teaching the dog these basic commands leads ultimately to a calmer, happier dog and therefore calmer, happier humans. So we watch as Tessie the mini bull terrier with obedience issues learns that she is not the "alpha" of the family and must listen, as Hugo the bulldog learns to not jump up, and as Boomer the rottweiler mix learns that aggression will not be tolerated and is not necessary. But what we also learn is what we as humans must give to the dog -human relationship; what our companion dogs should expect from us.
While all of the Monks' dog books are wonderful, I especially enjoyed The Monks' Way to a Happy, Obedient Dog because of the personal stories. We see the good, bad, and the ugly when it comes to the dogs and their owners and learn about ourselves as much as about our pets.
The best dog gone training books. April 7, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I raise puppies for a guide dog school and I also teach other raisers how to train their dogs. I always suggest any books by the Monks of New Skete. They teach love and consistency, exactly what a puppy needs.
Another wonderful book from the New Skete monks! March 11, 2008
4 out of 7 found this review helpful
This is the 3rd book I have purchased from the books authored by the monks of New Skete,and I continue to be amazed at their incredible insight into the world of training dogs.
Having read the first 2 books,, I felt it time to re -read them due to the fact that I am obtaining a new labrador puppy.
Unlike many of the other how to train books this book offers more details on training dogs which will help me key in more to the personality of my dog, and the relationship I hope to be building with him ~ and that is ultimately,,,,,to help him to achieve what he was born to achieve.
There are many authors and trainers that give little credence to the visual part of training ,and do not have much to offer about the fact that dogs do indeed have different personalities.
I am also of the school of thought that I do not want to offer treats to train, but rather train my dog and offer praise from ME,,,(his owner)~ I think that bonding the relationship a lot better without food even tho the trainer I have worked with before is very food oriented.
I need to train my dog to come when called,, an example would be to STOP him from a potentially bad situation( we live on a counrty road) and I may not happen to have a treat in my pocket at that time! Praise can be easily given instead.
I used to enjoy watching " The Dog Whisperer",,,and ,,,not to say that his techniques are all wrong, but I feel there is a HUGE difference in the training techniques AND relationship techniques that occour during training ( or re training ) of a dog.
I prefer the New Skete method ~ it worked very well on my last labrador so I can say that their method is good without doubt.
( and, we had a great dog/owner relationship~ with lots of visual contact!)
This book offers examples of dogs that are older , have problems, and need to be re-trained~
Each has a unique personality or something they must get past, so for me,,,,,seeing the fact that they try hard to re- think ways of working with those dogs is a huge help. There may be a time I may have to do this myself.
The last section of this beautifully photographed book ,has a nice section on basic dog training,, but I would advise any owner to get their other books as well, as there is a lot more involved in those books( that go into lots of detail) which can really help the owner and dog achieve goals they have set before them.
I will be taking my dog in for obedience classes as soon as I can,, and I plan to continue as long as it takes to get the Canine Good Citizen certification.
My lab will grow to be about 80 lbs or so , therefore all the more reason to be well schooled in obedience as we have small children over to our home all the time. (In other words, I probably will want my dog on a down stay for a bit of time unil all the excitement is over~ and THEN let puppy mingle with the toddlers while I watch)
That said, I believe all dogs, large or small, should be obedience trained irregardless of their size.
I look forward to more books authored by these remarkable trainers and while other big name trainers ( re-trainers actually) have made it big on the TV circuit, these monks do what they do for the sheer love of the animal. This is evident throughtout the entire book.
This is a lovely book, and I plan to buy one of their hardcover books to place on my coffee table next.
The Divine Canine February 15, 2008
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
Brother Christopher and the Monks of New Skete pay homage to the dogs who are thought by their owners to be disobedient, stubborn, or unruly. Perhaps it is the slower pace the brothers enjoy in their rustic, secluded setting. Where they not only listen to the voice of God, but they listen to the needs of the many dogs who come under their care.
Using only a firm hand and voice or hand commands, Brother Christopher begins an intensive four week training course with the newest arrivals to New Skete. With apprehensive owners needing to be comforted as they release their companions into the brother's care there is quite a bit of chaos on the arrival day, for this normally quiet setting.
The training method is simple. Understand the pack dynamics. Treat every dog with the respect and love and start building a relationship towards understanding and communication. With vibrant photographs of not only the visiting dogs, but also of the breeding dogs of New Skete (German Shepherds). Divine Canine walks you step by step through the process of their proven training by presenting each dog in a case-by-case matter.
Exercise is important, basic obedience a must and respect for these creatures are essential in order to channel the highly energetic and sometimes spoiled dogs that arrive for training. Interspersed between the training sessions are references and more gorgeous photographs of the German Shepherds the Brothers raise. The sale of the puppies helps to fund the Brothers way of life and their charitable causes.
Brother Christopher writes: "We are sometimes asked what sets us apart as trainers and breeders and why we do it in the first place. The answer may sound simple, but it is the very essence of all we are about. We look for the divine in all God's creatures. We are here, we believe, to find and foster this awareness in all of us."
Thank God for the Brothers of New Skete and the inspiration behind putting this wonderful book together.
their website http://www.newsketemonks.com/
Enlightening January 9, 2008
2 out of 4 found this review helpful
A good book for understanding your dog even if he is perfect. Learn loving discipline that is geared to the nature of our beloved pets. Easy to understand and a joy to read for any dog lover.
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