How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend

A Training Manual for Dog owners

By: The Monks of New Skete

Narrated by: Michael Wager

The Monks of New Skete are known for their unique approach to raising and training dogs. Their philosophy is that "understanding is the key to communication, compassion, and communion" with your dog.

In How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend, the monks build upon the basic puppy training covered in their book The Art of Raising a Puppy to tell you everything you need to know to care for your dog. From how to select a dog to fit your lifestyle, how to read a pedigree, how and when to train, how to properly use praise and discipline, and how to feed and care for dogs, the monks offer clear guidelines to improving communication with your canine.

Filled with the wisdom, compassion, and caring that the brothers are known for, How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend helps you better understand your dog, which can lead to a deepened bond with your pet.

©1978 The Monks of New Skete. Used by permission of Little, Brown & Company (P)1999 HighBridge Company

Critic reviews

"Without devolving into New Age psychobabble, the monks make philosophical and spiritual observations that no dog lover could resist, and which just might make a convert of the uninitiated." ( Publishers Weekly)

Good info

I’ve trained a number of dogs and this was a good perspective and informative. A “should” read for any dog owner.

Excellent listen

This is my second monks of new skete book and I’m on to my third. I love listening to these and I find it’s helping build my relationship with my puppy. Even as an experienced dog owner there’s a lot to learn from these monks

Pagan/Secular

The book had some helpful tips for discipline and how things should typically go for you and your dog, however, they claim to be Christian and the book felt much more pagan than such. There is absolutely no aspect of discipline here, it’s all punishment. Let me rephrase that, discipline and punishment are painful, but the former is with the good of the creature in mind and includes restoration right after, whereas the latter is cold-hearted and reserved for enemies. I expected better from Christian monks.

GSD DDR

Good advice from experts on Dog training. Big help with training for my GSD DDR.

great book

good book with some instruction on raising a dog and basic obedience. they promote a very rounded way of treating and interacting with dogs. I'm starting "the art of raising a puppy" by the monks of new skete right now. and have already ordered hard copies all around solid listen.