It’s been a dog-centric week for me. I wasn’t joking about the new puppy. The Isaacs household has gone from zero dogs to two young dogs in under two weeks. Our home is much happier with dogs in it. It’s also a lot muddier. And a bit more hectic.
My reading the last couple of weeks has also been dog-centric. I’m re-reading two of my favorite dog training books: The Art of Raising a Puppy and How to Be Your Dog’s Best Friend. Both were written by the Monks of New Skete.
New Skete is an Orthodox Christian monastery in upstate New York. The Monks there have been breeding and training dogs for 40 years.Their books are about more than just basic training, though. They books focus on understanding and living with dogs. They’re equal parts training, philosophy, and natural history.
A couple of years ago our family visited New Skete. A family vacation took us within driving distance on a Sunday morning. The church was resplendent. The service was reverent. The grounds were beautiful. Unlucky for us, our unplanned visit was the same day they all left on retreat. Someday I’d like to go back to see more. And maybe get a peek at their dogs.