The Monks of New Skete, longtime breeders of German shepherds and renowned dog trainers of all breeds, have codeveloped a new training technique. In this book, the monks and Marc Goldberg, who pioneered the approach, offer a leap into the future using a game-changing tool: the remote electronic collar. The Art of Training Your Dog presents their compassionate and efficient system for the first time, with background and advice on choosing the right collar.

Using a light touch--one that many humans can't even feel--at just the right moment, helps to focus a dog's attention. The authors help you create effortless teaching moments that tie into your dog's natural pack instincts and help strengthen the bond with your dog.

In as little as just 6 weeks, most pups will master skills like great leash manners; obey commands such as sit, down, stay, and place; stop troublesome behaviors; and play safely off-leash with consistent recall.

The classic bestseller that established the Monks of New Skete as America's most trusted authorities on dog training, canine behavior, and the animal/human bond, updated to include the latest developments in canine health.
In their two now-classic bestsellers, How to be Your Dog's Best Friend and The Art of Raising a Puppy, the Monks draw on their experience as long-time breeders of German shepherds and as trainers of dogs of all breeds to provide--brilliantly distilled--the indispensable information and advice that every dog owner needs.

This new edition of The Art of Raising a Puppy features new photographs throughout, along with updated chapters on play, crating, adopting dogs from shelters and rescue organizations, raising dogs in an urban environment, and the latest developments in canine health and canine behavioral theory.

For more than a quarter century, How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend has been the standard against which all other dog-training books have been measured. This expanded edition preserves the best features of the original classic while bringing the book fully up-to-date. The result: the ultimate training manual for a new generation of dog owners--and, of course, for their canine best friends.

The Monks of New Skete have achieved international renown as breeders of German shepherds and as outstanding trainers of dogs of all breeds. Their unique approach to canine training, developed and refined over four decades, is based on the philosophy that understanding is the key to communication, compassion, and communion with your dog.

How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend covers virtually every aspect of living with and caring for your dog, including:

• Selecting a dog (what breed? male? female? puppy or older dog?) to fit your lifestyle
• Where to get--and where not to get--a dog
• Reading a pedigree
• Training your dog or puppy--when, where, and how
• The proper use of praise and discipline
• Feeding, grooming, and ensuring your dog's physical fitness
• Recognizing and correcting canine behavioral problems
• The particular challenges of raising a dog where you live - in the city, country, or suburb
• The proper techniques for complete care of your pet at every stage of his or her life

In its scope, its clarity, and its authority, How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend remains unrivaled as a basic training guide for dog owners. Like no other book, this guide can help you understand and appreciate your dog's nature as well as his or her distinct personality--and in so doing, it can significantly enrich the life you share with your dog.

The Monks of New Skete, long-time breeders of German shepherds and renowned trainers of all breeds and mixes, have codeveloped a successful new training technique. They and Marc Goldberg, who pioneered the approach, offer you and your canine companion a way forward using a game-changing tool: the invisible leash or electronic collar. Now in paperback, The Art of Training Your Dog presents their compassionate, efficient system along with helpful advice on choosing the best collar. At the right moment, using a light touch--that many humans can't even feel--strategically refocuses your dog's attention. This method helps you create effortless teaching moments that tie into your dog's pack instincts and help strengthen your bond with your dog. In as little as six weeks, your pup can master good leash manners; obey basic commands, such as sit, down, and stay; stop problematic behaviors; and play safely off leash with consistent recall.

Dogs live to play! It's hardwired into their DNA. And when approached with intention, play provides the perfect opportunity to support behavioral development, obedience, and develop strong bonds between pup and owner that will last a lifetime.

The Joy of Playing with Your Dog guides you through a program of structured play with activities that lead to both better dog-to-dog and dog-to-human relationships. The games, tricks, and socialization techniques are designed specifically for puppies, adult, and even senior dogs.

Discover the pleasure of science-based learning as you play our version of Hide and Seek and Red Light Green Light with your dog! Fetch taps into a dog's prey drive, so he'll use it in a healthy manner and Speak helps to manage excessive barking. Games like Ping Pong Recall teach your dog to come when called even with distractions. Hyper dogs become calmer with games that teach them how to develop an off switch. Teaching tricks like Roll Over and activities that include simple agility training at home will strengthen your bond with your dog. The critical section on socialization--an important skill that's missing from most dog behavior programs-- teaches you how to successfully introduce and adopt dogs, as well as navigate dog parks.

With over 200 cheerful, full-color photos, you'll have all the inspiration and tools you need to cultivate good behavior with games and enrich the precious shared life between you and your dog.

America's foremost authorities on dog care and training distill decades of experience in a comprehensive foundational guide for dog owners.

No matter what training method or techniques you use with your dog, the training is unlikely to be optimally successful unless it is predicated on an understanding of the dog's true nature. Dogs need food, water, exercise and play, rest, veterinary care -- the basics. But since dogs naturally want to be led, they also need focused and compassionate guidance.

Through abundant stories and case studies, the authors reveal how canine nature manifests itself in various behaviors, some potentially disruptive to domestic accord, and show how in addressing these behaviors you can strengthen the bond with your dog as well as keep the peace. The promise of this book is that, especially in an ever-accelerating world filled with digital distractions, you can learn from your dog's example how to live in the moment, thereby enriching your life immeasurably.

The bestselling authors of How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend show how their strong connections with dogs and the natural world stem from the principles of monastic life.

The elements of a monk's life -- self-discipline, solitude, prayer, acts of love and forgiveness -- are pathways that anyone can follow to achieve true happiness and spiritual fulfillment.