Customer Reviews

Divine Canine: The Monks' Way to a Happy, Obedient Dog

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When we first got Bridget the Scottish Terrier 16 months ago, the advice on how to train her began flowing within minutes of her arrival. And as advice that relates to the rearing of the young almost always is, the counsel we received was highly questionable and contradictory.

"We're using the RCMP method," advised an old friend with a puppy the same age and a copy of an aged dog-training manual used by the Mounties. "Grab the muzzle and hold it shut if they bite."

"Have you heard of 'How to be your Dog's Best Friend' by these famous monks in New York state?' asked a brand new dog walking acquaintance. "They are really against paper training."

From monks to Mounties, the choices were mind-boggling. And even if the Mounties were looking all around less credible, thanks to their problematic handling of humans, the monks' line about being your dog's best friend didn't really appeal to me either. As a parent, I've never wanted to be a human child's best friend let alone a dog's. It all sounded just a little too new agey for me.

In the end I threw my hat in with the adorable Dog Whisperer Cesar Millan and his holy trilogy of exercise, discipline, affection.

Alas, Cesar, who has apparently since remedied the problem with his latest book, didn't provide much in the way of concrete advice to go along with all the inspiration, which is how I came to find myself just over a year later with a dog who still won't come when I call and who retains her penchant for biting people's feet in an effort to get them to play.

What with the Mounties in the headlines again, this time for tazering people, and the monks putting out a new book -- Divine Canine, which also has a companion TV show -- the moment seemed right to give the brothers of New Skete a try.

Well, I am indeed very glad I did. Divine Canine is one of those books that fill you with the power of possibility, the dog book equivalent of listening to the theme from Rocky or Chariots of Fire. "Yes, yes, yes," I say to myself as I read, "I can do that." I can do what Brother Christopher, the trainer featured throughout the book, does because, unlike Cesar Millan, he is telling me exactly how to do it. In fact, Brother Christopher even has photos. I am truly, divinely inspired.

In fact, I am so inspired I put Brother Christopher's techniques to use almost immediately. Next time we are at the park and Bridget starts biting another dog walker's feet, instead of ineffectually pulling her away and screaming, "No foot," I calmly take her aside and look into her eyes as I say "No foot" in a firm, non-screaming way. Progress has already been made thanks to the Monks' emphasis on the importance of eye contact.

Now, maybe this is un-Monk-like to admit, but I am inspired not only by my own dreams of a delightfully obedient dog but also by the schadenfreudeliciously horrible behaviour of some of the other dogs featured in Divine Canine. These dogs, all adults, are way, way worse behaved than my Bridget. In fact, one of them, Chico, is so bad, he even causes the ever patient Brother Christopher to question himself and his dog training techniques.

In the end, however, both trainer and dog rally for a happy ending. Chico learns the five commands the monks feel all dogs must master: heel, sit, down, stay and come. And thanks to the <span style="font-style: italic;">Divine Canine</span>'s recipe of inspiration, concrete tips, and perspiration, I swear that Bridget is going to follow in his footsteps and learn them too. (Stay tuned for further developments which will be covered here)

In the mean time, the Scottish Terrier and Dog News highly recommends this attractive book to anyone whose adult dog hasn't yet mastered the five basic commands. We'll most definitely be passing a copy along to the friend who used the Mounties' method. Turns out his dog could still use a few tips.

Of the zillions of dog training books available, none convey more that decipline alone doesn't do it, you have to respect as well as love the animal. ' How to raise a puppy' and 'how to be your dogs best friend' by the monks are great training books, 'Divine Canine' focuses on the problems we (the owners) have created (with the best intentions, no doubt) and helps us to focus again on the basics. Like sit, stay..... I am sure that everyone has a few friends and neighbors that could use this book.

Understand that this book is a collection of stories about behavior problem dogs that were brought to the monks for assistance.
It is good reading, but should not be purchased as a training manual. It has nuggets of great information in dealing with particular problems.

divine canine is the third of 3 books written by the monks of new skete and should be read first if at all. if you follow the fantastic advise given in their first two books you should have a very well behaved and happy companion. when this is the case reading divine canine can get a little frustrating. all you read is stories of people who have let their dog run the house and thats just not a dogs place. PLEASE READ THE ART OF RAISING A PUPPY AND HOW TO BE YOUR DOGS BEST FRIEND. the art of raising a puppy will also give you great insight on how to choose a puppy.

I have four dogs and have had multiple dogs all my life. This is has been the most helpful book for me in training my dogs ranging from Weimareiner to Bull Terriers. It was recommended to me by two professional dog trainers and now I see why.

Case Studies Provided by Breed & Temperament: This book is well designed in that the authors provide case studies of different breeds and temperaments of dogs. All the dogs in the case studies are older and most have behavioral problems. Some of the breed outlined are: Bull Terrier, English Bull Dog, King Charles Spaniel, and Labrador Mix. If you have a bull dog or terrier, this book provides extensive examples how to deal with these independent and more stubborn breeds such as using more treats to motivate and giving them more play time before training to keep their interest.

Details Photographs Show the Commands: The training programs show detailed step-by-step photographs of how to perform the commands. Each case study is broken down in sections that make the process easy to follow. The photos show in detail how to teach a dog to "Stay" and "Heel" which are two commands that I did not thoroughly understand how to train until I read this book.

Specific Behavior Issues Addressed: There is also a section to address specific behavior problems as well. What I love best about this book is it discusses how the basic training program can be tailored to dogs depending on their behavior and temperament. The authors give thorough and specific examples of how to deal with temperaments such as dominant, apathetic, stubborn and high energy to behaviors such as unresponsiveness to commands, jumping up on guests and aggression to name a few.

Best Tips I Got from This Book: One of the best tips I got from the book, was to keep a young unresponsive dog (my Mini Bull Terrier) on the leash in the house, until she was fully responsive to all verbal commands. It has worked as now she is off the leash in the house and not nipping at my children which was her most offensive behavior before I started this program. The suggestion of using a 30 foot long lead to train for the "Come" and "Retrieve" commands has been extremely valuable to me. Beginning the training in an area that does not have distractions for the dog was also been a great tip.

I highly recommend this for people who want to obtain a better relationship with their canine companions and to gain control of their household again from an unruly adult dog.

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.

This is an excellent read for the novice to dog training. Although the experienced trainer might be slightly less impressed, my guess is that most will find it a truly enjoyable set of accounts. Because it is written in a case study format, you are allowed a window into the lives and issues of individual dogs and their owners. Although not as philosophical as, or a substitute for "How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend", it includes a synopsis for basic training at the end. Initially, it looked more like a eye candy than a substantive account of the Monks at work, given the preponderance of color photos, but it turned out to be a fine text filled with nuggets of the Monk's wisdom.

Do you love dogs? Do you have a dog that controls you? Even a little.

The Monks of New Skete have a special rapport with dogs of all breeds, sizes and disciplines (or lack of same).

This book lists examples of each problem, and how to solve that problem with love and patience.

Each lesson is accompanied by step by step instructions and numerous photographs; and such great pictures. After reading this book there's no doubt in my mind that the Monks understand the thoughts, and motives of the dogs they work with.

If you have a dog, or if you're considering getting one, you need this book.

Review by Wanda C. Keesey (author of Lost In The Mist, release date May, 2008)

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/

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.