Bringing a new puppy home, like my experience with Pali, is an adventure filled with both boundless joy and unexpected challenges. From chasing pigeons to growling at her food bowl, the world is new and overwhelming for a young pup. She even yelps at the sound of a ukulele and cowers when my boyfriend plays the recorder! My adorable, yet somewhat chaotic, Pali highlighted a clear need for structured guidance. While numerous resources exist for dog training—books, websites, and YouTube videos—my mission quickly became to uncover the most impactful tools. Beyond helpful organizations like the American Kennel Club and the ASPCA for general health and behavior, two specific resources proved invaluable in potty training and teaching essential commands, fundamentally shaping the Art Of Raising A Puppy Schedule: The Art of Raising a Puppy by the Monks of New Skete and Brandon McMillan’s MasterClass on Dog Training.
This journey, though demanding, also brought immense love and an unexpected depth of connection, reminding me of the significant yearly dog expenses and the profound commitment involved in welcoming a new companion into your life.
The Monks of New Skete: A Holistic Approach to Puppy Raising
The Art of Raising a Puppy by the Monks of New Skete quickly became a cornerstone of my puppy-raising strategy. Their practical wisdom is profound; within just three days, Pali began to understand where to relieve herself, with only occasional accidents. But beyond the immediate results, the book offers a deeper, metaphorical wisdom that resonates far beyond simple training techniques. The monks, known for their dedication and craftsmanship in various fields, bring a spiritual dimension to dog rearing. They emphasize that in our busy lives, we often take the journey of life for granted, becoming insensitive to its basic wonders. Bringing a puppy into your home, they suggest, is an opportunity to reconnect with nature, live in the moment, and be in awe of life’s unfolding.
This perspective transformed my exhaustion into a profound sense of love and purpose. Guiding a creature new to the world, I realized, also guides oneself. The book isn’t merely a dog training manual; it’s a metaphor for how our relationships with animals can teach us patience, kindness, compassion, joy, discipline, and acute observation. For the Monks of New Skete, puppy training is a spiritual practice, less about imposing one’s will and more about attentive observation—listening to a dog’s needs and following where those signs lead. Understanding this relationship dynamic is crucial for establishing an effective art of raising a puppy schedule.
Understanding Puppy Development: The Crucial First 16 Weeks
The Monks of New Skete powerfully illustrate that “all beings live in the seclusion of their own minds.” We can only truly understand our dogs through the subtle signs they give us—their body language, cries, and gazes. Therefore, training a dog becomes a dual process: observing another being intensely and mastering oneself through patience. It’s about becoming a good leader, understanding that a puppy’s primary drive is to please itself, not just its owner. The art lies in compromise: “How can I give my puppy what she wants and needs so that I can also get what she wants and needs?” This reciprocal relationship is foundational to effective training and developing a meaningful bond.
Crucially, the book warns against anthropomorphizing dogs. They are distinct, wholly other creatures, and The Art of Raising a Puppy encourages reflection on the mystery and awe of the animal world. Despite its philosophical depth, this book is intensely practical. Pali, for example, is now mostly potty trained, she sits, knows “down,” drops things, and largely listens.
The monks highlight the immense responsibility of puppy ownership, especially during the first 16 weeks of a puppy’s life, which are critical for its formation into an adult dog. A puppy “filled with the capacity for life and companionship one week can easily become an incontinent, destructive, and hyperactive annoyance the next” if not properly guided. This insight drove me to seek answers, reading as if Pali’s life depended on it—because, in a very real sense, it does.
Before reading, I would often wake Pali during what appeared to be “epileptic seizures” in her sleep. I learned this is “activated sleep,” vital for a puppy’s neuromuscular system development, bringing peace of mind to us both. My puppy, in turn, corrects me, reflecting my anxiety or joy, teaching me to be observant, honor the process, and practice patience.
A serene St. Francis figure, rendered in a watercolor style, depicting the saint with animals around him.
Essential Training Commands for a Well-Adjusted Puppy
Supplementing the Monks’ wisdom, Brandon McMillan’s MasterClass on Dog Training offers invaluable practical guidance. McMillan focuses on the most essential commands every dog needs for safety and a well-adjusted life: sit, stay, down, no, off, come, and heel. His class also provides crucial advice on stopping barking and preventing door dashing, a potentially life-saving command that protects your puppy from running into danger. He presents complex material simply, offering foolproof strategies that lead to rapid learning.
Within a couple of weeks, Pali, though only four months old, had learned all these commands except “heel” and had even started leash work. While MasterClass can be an investment, the comprehensive nature of McMillan’s strategies makes it worthwhile, offering the equivalent of multiple in-person training classes for a comparable price. Integrating these commands into your art of raising a puppy schedule ensures consistent progress and strengthens the bond between you and your dog.
Crafting Your Puppy’s Daily Schedule: A Foundation for Success
The core of successfully raising a puppy lies in establishing a consistent daily schedule. This structure provides security and predictability, which are vital for a young dog’s development and for making progress on training goals. An effective art of raising a puppy schedule should meticulously plan out potty breaks, feeding times, play sessions, naps, and dedicated training periods.
Consistency is paramount. Puppies thrive on routine, helping them understand what to expect and when. For instance, frequent potty breaks—every 1-2 hours for very young puppies, especially after waking, eating, or playing—are non-negotiable for successful house-training. Incorporating regular, short training sessions (5-10 minutes) throughout the day, rather than one long session, is more effective for a puppy’s attention span. These structured times, coupled with ample opportunities for supervised play and quiet nap times, prevent overstimulation and foster healthy development. This meticulous planning also helps manage average cost per year to own a dog by potentially reducing behavioral issues that can lead to expensive interventions.
Observing your puppy’s individual cues and adjusting the schedule accordingly is also crucial. A sudden whine might mean they need to go out, even if it’s not a scheduled potty time. The ability to adapt while maintaining a general framework is the true art of schedule-making.
Beyond Commands: The Deeper Relationship
While practical commands are essential, the journey of raising a puppy is ultimately about building a profound relationship. It teaches us to be patient, especially when facing setbacks, and to approach every interaction with kindness and compassion. The unspoken communication with Pali—her reflections of my anxiety or joy—has been a constant reminder to be present and to cultivate my own emotional well-being. This symbiotic relationship goes beyond basic obedience; it’s about mutual understanding and respect, which can impact everything from training to managing annual dog costs by fostering a well-behaved companion.
The Monks of New Skete rightly state that “too often we take this journey for granted, carelessly letting it pass unacknowledged.” Raising a puppy is a continuous learning process, a chance to refine our own virtues while nurturing a new life. It’s a journey I hope to continue, always seeking new insights and resources to deepen this incredible bond.
Raising a puppy is a journey of growth, both for the dog and the human. By embracing the structured guidance of resources like The Art of Raising a Puppy and Brandon McMillan’s MasterClass, and meticulously crafting an effective art of raising a puppy schedule, you lay the groundwork for a well-adjusted, happy, and loving companion. It’s a commitment that pays dividends in joy and companionship, a journey of learning, patience, and unwavering love. If you’re considering expanding your pet family, understanding the average cost of annual vet visit for dog is a crucial first step.
References:
- The Art of Raising a Puppy by the Monks of New Skete.
- Brandon McMillan’s MasterClass on Dog Training.
