How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend The Classic Manual for Dog Owners

How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend, an informal, friendly guide by The Monks of New Skete, is really two books in one: a step-by-step training manual and a philosophical discussion of the spiritual benefits of owning a dog. The Monks, who support their community in upstate New York by breeding and training German shepherds, reveal a profound devotion to all breeds in this detailed guide to every imaginable aspect of dog ownership. They cover it all: naming the puppy, training with eye contact and jingling keys, establishing the best sleeping arrangements, even dealing with pet loneliness. Owners are advised to think of themselves as the dog's alpha figure, to train with praise instead of punishment, and to beware of becoming the dog's maid or doorman. Throughout, the authors reflect on the deep spiritual connection possible between humans and dogs. Generations of dogs have been trained with the bestselling 1978 edition of this book. With this update, the Monks are bound to gain many new fans--happy humans and obedient canines alike. With modesty and generosity, the Monks offer an extensive list of other helpful books about dogs, as well as a useful appendix of American Kennel Club titles and terms. --Judy Fireman

The Monks of New Skete have lived as a community in Cambridge, New York, for more than thirty years. They support themselves by breeding, raising, and training dogs at their monastery. Their two books on dog training, How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend and The Art of Raising a Puppy, have together sold nearly one million hardcover copies. Their award-winning video training series, Raising Your Dog with the Monks of New Skete, comprises three one-hour videotapes and is available in a boxed set. (Call 888-77-SKETE.) The Monks of New Skete are also the authors of In the Spirit of Happiness: Spiritual Wisdom for Living