Customer Reviews

How to Raise a Jewish Dog

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In the words of a famous rabbi, we all should strive to be the people that our dogs think we are. And this will help you to train your dog to know how good you are and train you as well.

The authors of "Yiddish with Dick and Jane" have written a more insightful book which can be used to raise dogs, as well as families; for are our dogs not our children? It seems as if there is a rabbinical seminary started in Boca (BCTS: Boca Raton Theological Seminary, serving neo Revisionist Progressive Reform Trans. synagogues), but they figured out that in addition to Tanakh, they were very good at training canines (Barbara's cousin's roommate's sister's boyfriend's therapist turned the authors onto the seminary's success with their dog, Sam).

So..., nu, and how do they train them? And "Why is a Jewish dog different from all other dogs?" In the spirit of Jonathan Segal Chicken, they train dogs the Jewish way. These rabbis teach us that we should tell our dogs how it hurts us when they do the wrong thing, and how we should compare them to other dogs who behave properly in order to guilt them into the proper behavior. Jewish dogs do NOT need dog whisperers. No. With a Jewish dog, loudness and over the top unconditional (sort of conditional) love and doggie treats and scrambled eggs are allowed. Jewish dogs don't get scolded, they get guilted. Most dogs are trained to follow commands and be good dogs. Jewish dogs are trained to be perfect so as not to disappoint those who love them. They are trained to fear lunatics, and be paranoid of those who are not part of the family. Jewish dogs should possess an exaggerated sense of its own wonderfulness.

In addition to tables and so much training information, there are great pictures of dogs and their owners(?), masters(?), Jewish parents(?). There is a listing of pure breeds, mixed and cross breeds and their abilities to be Jewish dogs. Did you know that a German Shepherd-Springer Spaniel mix is a Jerry Springer? Or a St Bernard-Alaskan Malamute mix is a literate Bernard Malamute? (and there so many more).

The authors discuss the inner monologues of owners, conventionally trained dogs and the Jewish trained dog. You will learn so much from these sections and learn to empathize with dogs and others. You will learn that you must be trained just as much as your dog must be trained. You will learn the importance of unconditional love, but also conditional-unconditional love. Remember that a Jewish dog already knows what it is supposed to be trained. You should act accordingly: you should be tentative, with an implied "but" when you say "Good boy/Good girl." And you should say "so, sit" or "nu, sit" instead of just "sit." Remember, some Jewish dogs will try to assimilate and act like other dogs. They are like German Jews, not Russian Jews. It is a natural evolution.

There is so much more in this book. It will keep you entertained and enlightened for weeks, perhaps years. And why not? You will die laughing. (And actually, your dog should know that if it dies, you would die as well.) It includes chapters on diet and exercise, obedience, traveling (traveling by jet is a killer section), aging, and emotional health in addition to just physical health.

"How to Raise a Jewish Dog" is the funniest book I have ever read. The authors state in the beginning that you don't have to be Jewish to raise your dog Jewish. You also don't have to own a dog, but it will enhance your enjoyment to have one, have had one or want one. It also helps to understand a modicum (schmodicum) amount of Yiddish. But that is also unnecessary. There were times when I was laughing so hard I had to stop reading because I couldn't see the print on the page. If humor is the best medicine, and I truly believe it is, this book should go a long way toward curing just about any ailment.

For those of us who are sick to death with Cesar Millan and his self-serving Whispers, this book is the permanent antidote. Do nor be put off by the faith-related title. We are Italo-Irish Catholics as is our Bichon Frise, Woof. We too know about guilt. We also lived most of our lives in NYC. It helps but is not necessary. This book is an absolute riot to read with pauses at every page to murmur "How true, How true!!" The cover alone is worth the price as are most of the photos. Whether you read it for sheer entertainment or the deep practical advice that pours from its pages, you will not be disappointed. BTW, this might be a perfect bridge to Islamic readers who may see Judaism in a whole new light. It couldn't hurt.

I laughed and laughed as I read this. My wonderful husband is a lovely Jewish man and we have fabulous Jewish friends who all have dogs. They also share amusing stories of being brought up in their Jewish families that bear a striking resemblance to the training techniques of how to go about raising a Jewish dog. One of our Jewish friends sent us this book. I had my doubts when I saw the title - figured it would be cute for a page or two and then get old. That was certainly not the case. I was unable to put it down until I finished it, and just ordered four copies to share with our friends. A delightful book!!!!!

HOW TO RAISE A JEWISH DOG by Ellis Weiner and Barbara Davilman
January 21, 2008

This book was way too funny! HOW TO RAISE A JEWISH DOG is a manual that teaches us all how to raise our dogs Jewish. In Chapter 1, the age-old question is brought up:

"Why is a Jewish Dog different from all other dogs? A Jewish dog has three important traits that an ordinary dog doesn't have: an exaggerated sense of his own wonderfulness, an exaggerated sense of his own shortcomings, and an extremely close relationship with his master."

This is a good indication of what the book is like, and for those who can't see the humor in this, then maybe this isn't the book for you. Filled with photographs and charts, it's a how-to for those who want to raise their dogs Jewish. I also discovered after reading this book that I'm definitely a Jewish woman -wanna be. Very scary, how much my behavior matched those depicted in the book. (My own conversations with Alice our cat, as I go on and on asking her, "Why you do this to me? Why? What did I do to you to make you behave this way?" is a clear-cut example of my Jewishness).

I'm definitely recommending this book to those who can appreciate the humor. It certainly made my day.

How to Raise a Jewish Dog is absolutely hysterical! My husband and I have laughed all the way through it. We work with rescue dogs and have an entire section in our library filled with serious training and behavior books. It's so great to see someone skillfully poke fun at, and go way beyond, the detailed extremes we sometimes go to in caring for and training our beloved dogs. To the experienced dog person, this book is what P.D.Q. Bach is to the serious musician. The tables are wonderful, and the pictures and their captions are just brilliant. There were a few times I was laughing so hard I was crying. I absolutely love this book!

Tamie Adams

If you are a dog person and understand the Jewish culture this book is too funny!!! Forget all the other dog training books. Train your dog using the same methods any good Jewish Mothers uses to raise her children. Soon you will be telling total strangers what a "mensch" your dog is.

With "How to Raise A Jewish Dog", the Rabbis of Boca Raton have given us a gem of a book. From front cover to last page, this is a delightful read. Throw out the rolled-up newspaper. Forget all those dry and dusty techniques. This is relationship building at its best. There are tables and pictures to guide us on our way to a dog/human relationship that is to die for! As proof of the validity of this program, we are provided before and after pictures of some of man's best friends who have completed the program and have been "enlightened." The results are amazing! So pour yourself a glass of Mogan David and enjoy!

Be careful reading "How to Raise a Jewish Dog" in public - this effort is chock-a-block of burst-out-loud funny passages on just about every page. In less skilled hands, the joke would get repetitive or stale after the first 20 or 30 pages. But writers Barbara Davilman & Ellis Weiner - ably assisted by a deadpan Rhodesian Ridgeback - keep piling on the funny stuff. It's thoroughly enjoyable to the very end. I found myself reading my favorite parts out loud tonight to my wife at dinner.

I want to make special mention of the great photos - Susan Burnstine's snapshots in conjunction with the authors' hilarious captions are a wonderful touch. A favorite: Jax, the Ridgeback, stares at his people food, with a cajoling 'Rabbi Monica' (Davilman) nearby. The caption: "Not eating may be a sign that the dog is sick - or, alternatively, that he thought he ordered the French toast. It is up to the owner to figure out which. [Tip: one simple test is to make some French toast. If he still doesn't eat, rush him to the vet.]"

Brilliant stuff.

This book made me laugh on almost every page. And it reminded me of several of my friends and the way they raise their dogs. Unlike the way I raise my dogs, who are the most brilliant, obedient, well-behaved companions you would ever want to sit next to in a Paris cafe -- although, to be honest, they could often use a breath mint.