Post by Brooke on Mar 22, 2004 16:32:36 GMT -5
Mar. 20, 2004. 01:00 AM
Monks find raising dogs a source of spiritual uplift
Known for their training methods Books have sold
in the millions
KATHLEEN DOOLEY
SPECIAL TO THE STAR
ALBANY, N.Y.—Balancing the demands of spiritual discipline and the worldly chores necessary to support their community, the monks of New Skete in Cambridge, N.Y., have a credo: "Everything done well is a form of prayer."
One of the things they do well also serves as a way to support themselves: They breed German shepherds and train other dogs. Their manuals, How To Be Your Dog's Best Friend and The Art Of Raising A Puppy, have sold more than a million copies.
The Orthodox Christian monks' newest book, I & Dog, published in November, illustrates how the animals can be a source for meditation. One of the book's topics is dogs and sticks.
"Is there another object typically so close at hand as to become an effortless source of delight for your dog?" the book asks. "A simple toss of the stick turns an ordinary walk into a game whose strategy is to keep both of you fully engaged."
The spiritual bond between dog and master is a major topic.
"Dogs relish creative moments you devise that say your relationship is not automatic," the monks say in the book. "Any healthy relationship involves the unexpected, the surprise that a break in routine can engender like a hike in the woods, a massage or something special added to dinner."
A photograph of a happy sheep dog is accompanied by the words, "By the very nature of their need, dogs mirror us back to ourselves."
These quotations, says Brother Christopher, a dog trainer for 25 years, can be used for meditation by anyone.
The monks have long observed the spiritual bond as owners drop off their dogs for obedience training. "Many would have a tear in their eye and look at the dog lovingly," Christopher says.
When training ends two weeks later, owner and dog express joy on being reunited, he says. Owners look at their dogs with wonder, amazed at what has been accomplished.
The monks of New Skete gather twice daily for services, lifting their voices in chants. Though prayer is the focal point of their lives, they must work to maintain the monastery. Dog breeding, training and the books are their livelihood. Their work has become so well known and the demand for puppies so high, there is a three-year waiting list.
The monks' relationship with dogs began 30 years ago with a German shepherd named Kyr (the Greek word for bishop). He was raised and cared for by Brother Thomas and became the monastery mascot.
"He was everyone's dog. He helped everyone not take themselves too seriously," Christopher says.
When Kyr died, the monks felt such a loss they replaced him with two females. After a time, a breeding program began, with everyone in the monastery sharing in care and training.
Soon visitors to the monastery asked Brother Thomas to work with their dogs, too. How To Be Your Dog's Best Friend was written in 1978.
"We never expected it to be more than a modest book on dog training," Christopher says.
The monks offer basic American Kennel Club obedience training for dogs 6 months to 7 years old.
"I like the way they train, because they look at the whole dog, what makes the dog run, not just obedience," says Cathy Wagoner of Classic Dog Training in Clifton Park, N.Y., who incorporates the monks' training methods in her work. Many of the dogs pictured in the book are from her school.
The Art Of Raising A Puppy, written in 1991, is a step-by-step explanation of the first six months of a dog's life. It also alludes to the spiritual dimension between dog and owner, Christopher says.
I & Dog is based on the work of Martin Buber, a Jewish philosopher who penned a classic in the philosophy of religion, I And Thou. Buber presented God as the Eternal Thou, whom we can meet in all relationships and not only in solitude. Followers familiar with Buber may smile at this allusion in the book, but the inspiration is real, Christopher says. "We could do worse than learn from dogs, about ourselves, about our spirituality, about God."
Albany Times Union
Monks find raising dogs a source of spiritual uplift
Known for their training methods Books have sold
in the millions
KATHLEEN DOOLEY
SPECIAL TO THE STAR
ALBANY, N.Y.—Balancing the demands of spiritual discipline and the worldly chores necessary to support their community, the monks of New Skete in Cambridge, N.Y., have a credo: "Everything done well is a form of prayer."
One of the things they do well also serves as a way to support themselves: They breed German shepherds and train other dogs. Their manuals, How To Be Your Dog's Best Friend and The Art Of Raising A Puppy, have sold more than a million copies.
The Orthodox Christian monks' newest book, I & Dog, published in November, illustrates how the animals can be a source for meditation. One of the book's topics is dogs and sticks.
"Is there another object typically so close at hand as to become an effortless source of delight for your dog?" the book asks. "A simple toss of the stick turns an ordinary walk into a game whose strategy is to keep both of you fully engaged."
The spiritual bond between dog and master is a major topic.
"Dogs relish creative moments you devise that say your relationship is not automatic," the monks say in the book. "Any healthy relationship involves the unexpected, the surprise that a break in routine can engender like a hike in the woods, a massage or something special added to dinner."
A photograph of a happy sheep dog is accompanied by the words, "By the very nature of their need, dogs mirror us back to ourselves."
These quotations, says Brother Christopher, a dog trainer for 25 years, can be used for meditation by anyone.
The monks have long observed the spiritual bond as owners drop off their dogs for obedience training. "Many would have a tear in their eye and look at the dog lovingly," Christopher says.
When training ends two weeks later, owner and dog express joy on being reunited, he says. Owners look at their dogs with wonder, amazed at what has been accomplished.
The monks of New Skete gather twice daily for services, lifting their voices in chants. Though prayer is the focal point of their lives, they must work to maintain the monastery. Dog breeding, training and the books are their livelihood. Their work has become so well known and the demand for puppies so high, there is a three-year waiting list.
The monks' relationship with dogs began 30 years ago with a German shepherd named Kyr (the Greek word for bishop). He was raised and cared for by Brother Thomas and became the monastery mascot.
"He was everyone's dog. He helped everyone not take themselves too seriously," Christopher says.
When Kyr died, the monks felt such a loss they replaced him with two females. After a time, a breeding program began, with everyone in the monastery sharing in care and training.
Soon visitors to the monastery asked Brother Thomas to work with their dogs, too. How To Be Your Dog's Best Friend was written in 1978.
"We never expected it to be more than a modest book on dog training," Christopher says.
The monks offer basic American Kennel Club obedience training for dogs 6 months to 7 years old.
"I like the way they train, because they look at the whole dog, what makes the dog run, not just obedience," says Cathy Wagoner of Classic Dog Training in Clifton Park, N.Y., who incorporates the monks' training methods in her work. Many of the dogs pictured in the book are from her school.
The Art Of Raising A Puppy, written in 1991, is a step-by-step explanation of the first six months of a dog's life. It also alludes to the spiritual dimension between dog and owner, Christopher says.
I & Dog is based on the work of Martin Buber, a Jewish philosopher who penned a classic in the philosophy of religion, I And Thou. Buber presented God as the Eternal Thou, whom we can meet in all relationships and not only in solitude. Followers familiar with Buber may smile at this allusion in the book, but the inspiration is real, Christopher says. "We could do worse than learn from dogs, about ourselves, about our spirituality, about God."
Albany Times Union