The Art of Raising a Puppy Author: | Language: English | ISBN:
B00005LDG7 | Format: EPUB
The Art of Raising a Puppy Description
Here is everything you need to know about the crucial first months of your puppy's life. From the decision to adopt a pup through the practicalities of every phase of caring for your puppy, the Monks of New Skete offer clear, sympathetic, and intelligent guidelines. This complete guide is a source of wisdom and inspiration for anyone genuinely committed to building a loving and lasting relationship with their dog.
You'll learn:
- how to choose a puppy
- how to handle your puppy's first night at home
- successful house-training
- the value of a consistent schedule
- general care of your puppy
- leash training and preliminary obedience work
- visual and vocal communication with your pup
- basic obedience training
- ways to cope with common puppy problems
More important, you'll discover a unique approach to puppy training based on a deep respect and understanding of canine behavior.
The Monks of New Skete have been breeding, raising, and training German shepherds for more than 25 years, and their extraordinary grasp of every facet of puppy behavior has gained them worldwide attention. New Skete Monastery is located in Cambridge, New York.
- Audible Audio Edition
- Listening Length: 4 hours and 11 minutes
- Program Type: Audiobook
- Version: Abridged
- Publisher: HighBridge Company
- Audible.com Release Date: May 8, 2001
- Language: English
- ASIN: B00005LDG7
When someone walks in to the dog training center I work at and says I'm reading this great book by the Monks of New Skete, I pause and then find some tactful way to say, remember, if something seems like it might not be right for you and your dog, it isn't right for you and your dog. Then an instructor who also is very involved in "black-spotted dog" rescue will walk by and say "Whatever you do, promise me you'll never do an alpha roll. You wouldn't believe how many dogs I see because of the alpha roll."
The alpha roll is a technique espoused by the Monks, although I hear the main author of these books no longer recommonds the roll. It is to teach the dog that you are dominant. Basically you roll the dog over and hold it on its back until it quits struggling. Problem is instead of learning that you are dominant, many dogs learn that you are scary. And a fearful dog can grow up to become an aggressive dog. If you want to read a harrowing tale about what the alpha roll can do to a dog, pick up Patricia McConnell's The Other End of the Leash.
Some of this book is helpful. I particularly like the interview with Maurice Sendak (whose dogs have clearly unlearned some of the Monks' training.) The food/potty training schedule is very helpful. That's what people rave about when they come into the center. Up to about chapter 11, I don't see anything majorly wrong with the book. The chapters on early development and socialization provide a lot of useful information. If the "Who should have a dog" chapter persuades one person that they aren't ready to provide the environment needed for the type of dog they are thinking about, I have to applaud it.
But, their main methods of training don't feel right to me. Enough said already about the alpha roll. No food?
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