The Art of Raising a Puppy

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.


Canine - Human Bond   August 4, 2000
Lisa Marie (Woodbury, MN United States)
10 out of 11 found this review helpful

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.


A Must Have for a Puppy Owner   August 2, 2000
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

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.


We Ended Up Adopting A Different Dog!   May 29, 2000
carol irvin (chesterland, OH United States)
8 out of 10 found this review helpful

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.


If you love dogs - please get this one!   May 12, 2000
9 out of 9 found this review helpful

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!