The Art of Raising a Puppy

This is the revised twentieth-anniversary edition of a nonfiction guide by the Monks of New Skete, a monastic community in upper New York State that has bred German shepherd dogs and operated a training program open to all breeds for over forty years. Drawing on their experience as breeders, trainers, and contemplatives, the monks present a comprehensive approach to raising a puppy that integrates scientific knowledge of canine development with practical guidance on training, socialization, and care. Their central argument is that the key to a healthy, lasting relationship with a dog lies in getting off to a good start in puppyhood, and that any responsible owner can acquire this skill through a willingness to invest time, energy, and genuine openness to learning.

The book opens with the birth of a litter of German shepherd puppies born to a monastery dog named Anka. The attending monk assists through a long night of labor as Anka delivers six puppies, one of which is stillborn despite repeated resuscitation attempts. The five surviving pups, named Sunny, Kairos, Oka, Yola, and Kipper, become the central case study through which the book explores the stages of early canine development.

The monks present their scientific framework by drawing on the landmark seventeen-year study by John L. Fuller and John Paul Scott, Genetics and the Social Behavior of the Dog, which identified four developmental stages: the neonatal period (birth to approximately thirteen days), the transitional period (thirteen to twenty days), the socialization period (approximately three to twelve weeks), and the juvenile period (twelve weeks to sexual maturity). The monks argue that the first sixteen weeks are the most significant in shaping adult behavior, and that negligence during this time can produce lasting damage.

During the neonatal period, puppies cannot see or hear and rely entirely on their mother, spending about 90 percent of their time sleeping. The monks advocate introducing gentle handling and mild stress during this phase, citing the U.S. military's "Bio Sensor" program from the 1970s, which demonstrated that puppies exposed to early neurological stimulation develop greater resilience and problem-solving ability. During the transitional period, the puppies' eyes and ears open, they take their first steps, and teeth begin to emerge. The monks introduce exercises such as briefly holding pups in midair and rolling them onto their backs, along with weekly grooming sessions to accustom the litter to human touch.

The socialization period, spanning approximately three to twelve weeks, receives the book's most extensive treatment. The monks define socialization as both the puppy's positive adjustment to the world and the deliberate actions taken to foster it, emphasizing that experiences during this window produce permanent effects. They cite research by Clarence Pfaffenberger at Guide Dogs for the Blind showing that properly socialized puppies placed in homes at twelve weeks achieved a 90 percent success rate as working dogs. The monks distinguish two phases: during the first (roughly four to six weeks), puppies learn social roles through play with their mother and littermates, developing bite inhibition and the basics of dominance and submission. Removing a puppy from the litter before six weeks risks lasting behavioral problems. During the second phase (five to twelve weeks), socialization shifts toward human beings through systematic handling, exposure to varied environments and sounds, and interaction with diverse people.

At seven weeks, the monks administer the Volhard Puppy Aptitude Test, a standardized evaluation measuring temperament and obedience potential. The results, combined with behavioral observations, guide placement: Sunny, the most dominant puppy, goes to an experienced handler, while Yola, the most submissive, is placed with a retired couple. The remaining puppies are matched to families suited to their temperaments, and all depart by the ninth week. The monks note that a natural fear and avoidance period occurs between eight and ten weeks, during which puppies may appear tentative, and they advise continuing socialization carefully while avoiding traumatic experiences.

The book then shifts to the prospective owner's perspective. The monks challenge readers to examine their readiness for a dog, countering romanticized expectations with practical realities. They advise against purchasing from pet shops, detailing the deplorable conditions at puppy mills and describing "five-week puppy syndrome," a pattern of excessive biting and behavioral disturbance in puppies separated from their mother and littermates too early. They present reputable breeders and responsible animal shelters as viable sources and recommend matching the owner's lifestyle to breed characteristics.

Extensive chapters cover the puppy's first days at home, house-training, and early obedience. The monks advocate crate-training, explaining that canines are den animals whose instinct to keep sleeping areas clean makes a properly sized crate both humane and effective. They provide a detailed daily schedule and stress that corrections for accidents must occur only if the puppy is caught in the act, as punishments after the fact cause confusion and fear.

The monks define training as education, deriving the concept from the Latin educare, which means to draw out what is already present as a possibility. They frame training as an ongoing process encompassing the owner's whole life with the dog, not merely formal sessions, and present detailed instruction in five basic obedience commands: sit, stay, come, heel, and down. The core methodology centers on the rhythm of praise and correction: Properly timed praise reinforces correct behavior instantly, while a quick leash correction redirects attention without anger. The monks stress voice modulation, advising higher tones for praise and lower tones for corrections. They also present exercises for establishing the owner as pack leader through physical handling and introduce the concept of "inseeing," the practice of getting inside the dog's psyche and understanding the animal as a unique individual.

A journal-style interlude follows Brother Christopher as he raises a German shepherd puppy named Zoe from nine to twenty-eight weeks, documenting the daily realities of crate-training, mealtime discipline, obedience regression, and the gradual deepening of trust. Chapters on common puppy problems offer techniques for mouthing, chewing, jumping, possessiveness, and submissive urination, consistently distinguishing natural puppy behavior from serious behavioral disorders. Additional chapters cover nutrition, grooming, and exercise, recommending premium dry food, daily brushing appropriate to coat type, and vigorous daily activity suited to the puppy's breed and age.

The book's final narrative section presents three stories illustrating the transformative potential of the human-dog bond. Barry Schieber, an author and animal welfare advocate recovering from cancer surgery, adopts a Bernese mountain dog named Moritz who becomes a certified therapy dog making weekly hospital visits and inspiring a series of books. The illustrator and author Maurice Sendak reflects on his German shepherd Runge, adopted from New Skete, describing how the dog served as a mirror that challenged him to develop greater emotional control and fueled his creative work. Julia Gates, who works with the monastery's breeding program, takes over care of a German shepherd named Dux and nurses him through emergency surgery for a twisted spleen. After recovery, Dux helps Julia's shy son Nate gain confidence through a school reading program in which children read aloud to the nonjudgmental animal.

The epilogue frames the human-dog relationship within a broader vision. The monks recount a seventh-century story of a monk guided through the wilderness by the dog of an abba, or monastic elder, interpreting it as an allegory for the self-awareness that emerges when humans truly attend to animals. They argue that dogs root us in the natural world, drawing us out of ourselves and unlocking a deeper part of our humanity. An appendix traces the history of puppy evaluation from 1920s Switzerland through the development of the Volhard Puppy Aptitude Test, reproducing the full test with scoring criteria and interpretive guidelines.