The Art of Raising a Puppy

The book observes a litter of monastery puppies from birth to 12 weeks. Tender photographs and dialogue reflect these precious first few weeks of life. Even at this time, the human-canine link is vital; the monks stress the importance of gentle touch to help forge this connection. Basic puppy training techniques are explored and executed, all of which puppy owners should find easy to implement. Virtually all types of dog problems and dog training are examined in the book, always in compassionate and easily comprehensible language. The monks also look well beyond surface training techniques to analyze the roots of dogs' problems and explain how training can help. Owners are taught how to gently assert dominance over their dog, which will make for a long-lasting and fulfilling relationship. Beautiful black-and-white photographs of monastery puppies will pull at every heartstring.

Product Description
The monks of New Skete, authors of the classic guide How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend, now apply their highly successful training methods to the crucial first months of a puppy's life. 50 photographs.

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? I understand their point that you want the dog to work for you, not a bribe. But I have seen several dogs I.Q go up significantly when the reward is changed from kibble to cheese. Treats go an awful long way towards getting your dog to focus on you, and getting your dog to figure out what you want it to do. We teach sit by putting a piece of food by the dog's nose and moving it up. They catch on pretty quick! Once they've figured it out, then we start backing off on the "bribes."

And no food, just corrections and verbal praise, might work on German Shepherds but forget it on Basset Hounds. And I wouldn't expect it to work well with labs, chessies, basenjis, many spaniels etc etc. As for corrections, doing things such as holding a dogs forefeet up when they jump on you until they squirm is unnecessary. And that makes me cringe when I think about the still-growing hips of a young dog. Most dogs eventually get it if they get no attention when they jump but lots of attention when all four feet are on the ground. It takes patience to train this way, but withdrawing attention works wonders if a dog has learned that your attention is good (that is, attention doesn't mean an alpha roll).

I could go on, but oh well. I'll say it again, if something doesn't feel right for you and your dog, it isn't right. You have to be the judge. And as for "The Art of Raising a Puppy" take the good out of it and erase the bad from your brain cells. If you are in need of a basic Puppy Primer, everyone I asked when I was getting my first puppy said to get "How to Raise a Puppy you can Live With" and I agree. "How to Raise a Puppy You can Live With" is one of the best places you could start.


Still too harsh on punishment/correction   November 29, 1999
74 out of 92 found this review helpful

As another reviewer noted, there's a lot of good information here -- but the correction-based methods are out of date. Puppy raising these days, except in a few die-hard trainer circles, is postive, reward-based and uses punishment only in extreme circumstances. The emphasis is on catching the dog doing something right, not catching it doing something wrong. Both methods may work, but one is a lot more pleasant for both dog and owner. Don't make training your dog any harder than it needs to be! Relax and enjoy your puppy.

If you can read this book and take away the useful information without buying into the old "scruff shake" and "alpha roll" theories, go for it. If you'd rather stick to truly positive training (or find out why it works better than punishment), check out Culture Clash by Jean Donaldson or any publication by Karen Pryor or Ian Dunbar.

Keep in mind one of the principal authors behind the original New Skete books changed his views, years after the books were published, and until he died he told dog owners where he went wrong with the punishment-based training. The rest of the Monks still stand by the old harsh methods.

Enjoy your puppy, and remember: Catch them doing something RIGHT!


Sensitivity Plus   April 10, 2000
Mrs Kate Nicholls (Perth, Western Australia)
73 out of 77 found this review helpful

In July 1997 I wrote the following review for this book in our breed club magazine. It is probably worth repeating it. My thoughts have not changed.

Some books are more special to me than others. On my shelves I have many books on dog behaviour, obedience, psychology etc. but there is one that stands head and shoulders above the rest when it comes right down to the nitty gritty of raising puppies, and that is the most sensitive of books, "The Art of Raising a Puppy".

Back in 1978 The Monks of New Skete published a book entitled "How to be Your Dog's Best Friend" and told how the Monks obtained their first German shepherd in 1966 and how "Training dogs grew organically out of our experiences with our own dogs". Their careful breeding and training of their German shepherds and the training of visiting dogs became the means of financing the running of their community. "The Art of Raising a Puppy, published in 1991 is a quantum leap forward in sensitivity; I loved it from the moment I read the first few pages and was gently lead through Anka's gentle birthing of her puppies. It matters not a jot that these are all German Shepherds; we can easily relate everything to our Rhodesian Ridgebacks. The affinity these monks have developed with their dogs almost sends a shiver down one's spine. As I read on I felt myself agreeing wholeheartedly with what they were saying...and wishing that I could have been the one to say it! They have managed to convey all the minutiae of canine behaviour that only constant and vigilant observation teaches and then convey it to the reader. I could not find a single area of puppy upbringing that was not covered; from the initial decision to purchase a puppy, finding a breeder, aptitude testing, general care, basic training for puppies, lessons from the pack, discipline and common puppy problems, and much, much more: a veritable wealth of knowledge all in one book. For instance there is a chapter entitled "Reading your Dog" (one of my favourite hobbies) with subtitles, Canine Communication, Vocal Communication, Visual Communication, Olfactory Communication, Pack Dymanics and Training the the Pack. And throughout the book there are excellent photos, some of which give you a puppy's eye view of the world, also their adaptions of the classic illustrations of canine facial expressions and body language. This magic book will certainly enlighten those who misread the messages that out canine friends give. In "How To Be Your Dog's Best Friend" they speak of "inseeing" and its importance in your relationship with your dog ..."Inseeing is standing inside your dog's psyche, putting yourself at her centre, where she is a unique, individual creature, and understanding her from that perspective", and they again reintroduce this concept in "The Art of Raising a Puppy" The closing chapter reminds us that "When you take the time and energy necessary to raise a puppy correctly, wonderful things happen. The dog becomes a friend.