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The Monks
of New Skete |
| Everyone has some one they look up to. I have always had a group of people I that have looked up to - the Monks of New Skete. God and dogs! Does anyone really need anything else? |
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There is, high atop Two Top Mountain in Cambridge, New York, a
wonderful place. Remote enough to provide privacy and solitude and
yet close enough to allow an openness to the world at large, New
Skete is a monastic community seeking spiritual understanding and
enlightenment in a way that embraces the world rather than
retreating from it. The fervent belief that God exists in everything
and in every moment allows the Monks of New Skete a view of everyday
life that is both simple and profound - everything provides an
opportunity for learning and for truth.
It was Brother Thomas Dobush who first integrated this view of life (and everything in it!) with the training of dogs. He advocated an intuitive method of training wherein the trainer "listened" to the animal and "read" the dog's reaction. He "learned" from the dogs and the dogs "learned" from him. It is this, above all else, that makes the Monks of New Skete the unique and skillful dog trainers that they have become. It is this that has allowed their training program to be successful for over three decades.
Perhaps even more famous than their training methods are the German Shepherds of New Skete. It all started with Kyr, a seeing eye program wash out. Because he was to live in the monastery, he had to be taught to maintain order and quiet. Brother Thomas saw to that and Kyr was totally integrated into daily life. Kyr's death, and the emptiness he left behind, fueled the fire to breed a litter of their own. Jessie and Bekki join the Monastery in 1968. There are now nine bitches and three stud dogs that live on the 500 acre New Skete property. Most are of European working stock and specifically chosen for health, temperament and adherence to the standard. Each Monk has a dog that is under his care and accompanies him throughout the day. Most work, play and sleep with their caretaker Puppies are whelped in the whelping kennel with its indoor play areas and outdoor runs. Socialization begins early - by the Monks and Nuns and also neighborhood children. They are taught, from an early age, to accept handling and human interaction. This provides a strong foundation for training and all that is to follow. The Monks of New Skete are truly exceptional people and, even further, exceptional dog people. From my point of view, I don't know which is higher praise ... but I do expect that one has a lot to do with the other!
By Nature Pet Foods |
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by nature by nature pet food |
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Bonnie's Day at
New Skete |
| by nature pet food by nature |
| On January 4,
2007, Angie Meadows, an Oklahoma Cruelty Investigator, made a gruesome
discovery. Sixteen dogs, in various stages of disease and neglect,
were being housed on a property in a near-by county. The following
day, nine dogs were removed by Meadows and one had died in the
night. It would have been hard to imagine that one of these dogs, an
Airedale and Great Pyrenees mix who was missing all her teeth from
gnawing on the wires of the small pen which she shared with several
other large dogs and weighing in at a mere 37 pounds would go on to
be the By Nature Demo Dog. It would even have been harder to imagine
that she would ever be able to meet the famous Monks of New Skete.
But this is exactly what has happened to Bonnie.
After several weeks of rehabilitation at the Oklahoma Animal Welfare Association (where she gained 30 pounds!), and surgery to correct all the damage to her teeth, Bonnie was flown to New Jersey to be the "spokesdog" for By Nature Pet Foods and a road warrior with her human companion, Gloria, the Dog Food Demo Girl. It was fate and fortune that Gloria was invited to a meeting between By Nature and the New Skete Monks. And because Bonnie now goes where ever Gloria goes ... Bonnie's day began at 2AM. While she had been groomed the day prior, she got a full brush and fluff after taking her morning walk. The drive was long - six hours - but she handled it like she had been doing it all her life and there were frequent stops. To say that she was the darling of the rest areas would not be overstating her impact - everyone wanted to say "hello" to the big white dog. She, of course, loved the attention.
Bonnie arrived at New Skete at 10:00. The weather was almost as beautiful as the mountains and woods and the snow that remained on the ground. It was ... perfect! The topic of Bonnie and her unfortunate start was discussed during the "business" part of the day. It was then that Brother Christopher offered something that could only be termed as "miraculous" - that Bonnie be trained by the Monks of New Skete! The shaggy white dog who had almost lost her life at the hands of abuse and neglect to be trained by the Monks of New Skete? It was again ... perfect! Bonnie met Brother Christopher in front of the Bell Tower (nineteen bells!). In her usual way, she took everything in stride and , of course, did everything an untrained dog will do - breaking her sits, fidgeting and jumping up on Brother Christopher with muddy paws. Yes, she needs him! And, thankfully, he saw beyond the mud on his jacket and saw her kind spirit and gentle heart. |
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Some Great News! Bonnie's training by Brother Christopher of New Skete was completed in April. It went so well that she will be featured in the Monk's new book "Divine Canine." This book details Bonnie's training and the training of the dogs that appeared on the Monk's Animal Planet TV show of the same name. "Divine Canine," along with the Monks of New Skete's "How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend," "The Art of Raising a Puppy," and "Dog and I" can be purchased at fine booksellers everywhere. They are all wonderfully insightful reading material for any true dog lover!
Monks of New Skete by nature pet foods by nature pet foods |
