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 enlarge | Author: The Monks Of New Skete
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Category: Book
List Price: $25.99
Buy Used: $6.50
You Save: $19.49 (75%)
New (24) Used (33) Collectible (1) from $6.50
Avg. Customer Rating:  152 reviews
Sales Rank: 5876
Media: Hardcover
Edition: Rev Upd
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 256
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.4
Dimensions (in): 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.3
ISBN: 0316610003
Dewey Decimal Number: 636.70887
EAN: 9780316610001
ASIN: 0316610003
Publication Date: September 2002
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Standard used condition ie... could have dj tear, bump, or corner crease.This is a new book that received the above wear during its delivery. Has remainder mark.
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| Customer Reviews:
 Great insights into the dog mind December 31, 2005
21 out of 24 found this review helpful
How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend by the Monks of New Skete was a book that one of the dog park people recommended to us. Thanks to the wife's aunt, we got a copy of it for Christmas, and dove right in. After getting through a few chapters, my first thought was "This is the book we should have read before getting Nala".
The Monks of New Skete have apparently been breeding German Shepherd Dogs for quite some time now and also run a boarding/training program for other dogs, so they have a good amount of experience with breeding, raising and training dogs and dog psychology/sociology. Much of this collected wisdom (along with plenty of anectodes) is encapsulated very nicely in this book. The book offers a lot of good training tips and insights into the canine mind, which is something I think all dog owners would benefit from to help understand their dogs better. Apart from the training advice and techniques given in the book, I think the most valuable thing this book has to offer are the monks' insights into the canine mind, and how dogs think and behave. A lot of topics are covered in the book, so at 321 pages some of the coverage is necessarily a little cursory. A sizable reading list at the back provides pointers to other books that cover specific topics in more detail though.
For dog owners, this is one that's definitely worth adding to the bookshelf.
BTW, pay no attention to the bad or 1 star reviews at Amazon.com. All of those people seem to have gotten the wrong idea that the monks are trying to get across about disciplining your dog. They give the false impression that the monks advocate beating your dog into submission, which is totally way off base and suggests these people just didn't get what the monks are trying to say about discipline. While a couple of physical punishment methods are provided, the monks qualify their use by saying:
- "physical discipline or correction is never an arbitrary training technique to be applied to each and every dog for all offenses"
- "In considering their use, you should follow the rule of always using the least amount of force necessary to change the behavior. Don't go overboard. Build on your corrections, making them progressively tougher until your dog responds appropriately. Above all, watch your dog: his response will tell you whether the correction is too soft or too stern."
- "physical discipline should be reserved for the heinous canine crimes mentioned earlier, not meted out for every episode of bad behavior"
The reviewers that give the book a poor review seem to have missed all this. The chapter on discipline ends with a section on making up with your dog afterwards, which is a very important thing to do.
Excellent ... but it needs updating December 30, 2005
14 out of 20 found this review helpful
I wouldn't recommend this book alone to the novice dog owner but it is a good start. I think a lot of the criticism here is in the same trendy misbelief that you should never hit a child. Sometimes you must for their own good -- like if a dog is trying to swallow tacks or a child is reaching for a pan of boiling water. If they won't listen to "No!" you cannot allow them to learn from a potentially life altering mistake. A single hit will show them to pay attention and listen to you. The monks are not saying abuse your dog; they're saying teach the dog to listen to and trust you as they would their alpha (which you are). I have had to grab one of my dogs by the scruff of his neck to get him out of the street once. A single time. From that point forward he listens when I call him. This keeps him near me and safe whenever we go out. That one moment of surprise when he learned I could pick him up like a mother dog caused a yelp but he has listened ever since. This is a dog who pouts when I cut his favorite game short and sometimes smacks me awake so I can pet him in the morning (or middle of the night). He doesn't fear me in any way, he just knows to come when I call.
As many readers have suggested, more recent books promote a much healthier way of training. The Dog Whisperer, Don't Shoot the Dog, and many others promote positive reinforcement instead of punishment. If I remember correctly they do mention punishment when absolutely necessary.
How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend teaches not only how to effectively train but how to select or be a responsible breeder. This book helped me convince my husband that we were in no way prepared to breed our ill-tempered, devil spawn of a cocker spaniel with her aloof, sometimes agressive mate.
 If you enjoy hitting.... December 29, 2005
6 out of 31 found this review helpful
If you enjoy hitting and dominating your beloved best friend, then you need to read this book. I only got to about page ten and all I had to read was how you should hit your dog, and the hand that feeds him should be the hand that hits....I was very disappointed...I suggest the Dog Whisperer...he is ALL about non violent training and living with your best friend. Not even one violent outburst needed. I have a very stubborn, adopted at 8 months, many issues here, 150 pound Rottie. He has an attitude of, I can't even think of a good comparison...but, the methods of the Dog Whisperer, and yoga has turned this dog around. He went from breaking 8 windows in my house to sitting calmly beside me while doing yoga. I swear to God! It was very easy too! If you want a copy of this Monk's book let me know...oh wait...I forgot that I threw it right away. I am glad that I bought the cheapest,used one I could find, and it wasn't even worth that much!
Best puppy/dog book EVER ! October 10, 2005
4 out of 8 found this review helpful
I bought the first edition back in '86 and raised an English Springer to the age of 13.
A great dog. Will get a westie next month, so I bought the up dated version. Everything you need to know about raising and training your pup is in this book.
Also I suggest their Puppy training book To go along with your Dogs Best Friend.
How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend: The Classic Training Manual for Dog Owners (Revised & Updated Edition) September 18, 2005
0 out of 9 found this review helpful
Everything was just as described. I would definitely order from them again.
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