The Monks of New Skete - Page 1

Well I'm headed on a road trip to the Monks monestary.  It's a bright sunny day here in Northern New England and the trip thru Western New Hampshire  and Brattleboro and Bennington VT. on to Cambridge NY is just fantastic.     So packing up Gunner my 18 week old GSD pup and were ready to roll.   This is something I have always wanted to do and today is the perfect day for it.   I have both their books and their DVD and think a lot of what they have to say is worthwhile.     Hey maybe we'll run into a couple of their dog's and Gunner can play with them he love to play.

I know the Monks breeding program was never the best and has fallen way off since the founder of the program has died and their pup's are way overpriced but hey it's a fun day and were out for an adventure so we'll see what we can see. But have seen pictures of the monestary and it will be fun to see the real thing and maybe get to talk to a couple of the Monks    Yes I'm going to bring along my Orijen for Gunners lunch this is where kibble comes in real handy.

Hope everyone enjoy's their day.  Were off on our adventure.

Have fun!

I've asked this question of several people, and no one's been able to answer it. What sort of bloodlines do the monks raise? Do they show their dogs at all, or compete with them in any way?

I have "How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend', and yeah, there's some good stuff in there. I especially like the chapter where the father of a small boy has asked one of the monks "What is the purpose of a good breeding program?" Just then, his toddler yanks the tail of the big male GSD the monk is showing them. The dog whips around, then, upon seeling the little tot, he licks his face.

The monk points to the dog and the child, and says, "THAT's the purpose of a good breeding program!"

Sounds like a fun road trip!

Typically, the public does not get to interact with any of their dogs, you don't even get to go near their kennels.  Their dogs are socialized with the New Skete community members which include some "civilians".

They do not compete or show their dogs, only train them to their way of life.  A female I got from them 12 years ago was a mix of german working and show although not sure what kind of show....(guessing American lines). Her sire's side had Kirschental, Fernheim, Grafental, etc.....

I do know that they are bringing in some new blood now but I don't any details on the lines.  They still won't title/show but they are trying to get back to the breeding that was done years ago. 

Have a great time and you can come back to us with all the inside information that everyone wants to know  How exciting....we will await your comments and pictures and reports on what you learn from this fun trip   Here in Texas it is still raining and wetter than the marshlands.....we wont complain.....nere we hit a dry spell as the first day of summer has come upon us.....

Maybe you'll be on TV! They recently started a show on Animal Planet called Divine Canine.

Well just got back from a pretty long day at The Monks of New Skete Monestary.  The trip was longer than i expected but well worth it.  Drove thru rain and sun rain and sun you know how New England weather is but when we got to the Monestary it was bright and sunny. Made a couple of play and pee stops for Gunner of course everbody loved him at the rest stops what a nice lab puppy yea right a lab never looked so good Gunner is an all black GSD puppy.

One note here if you ever want to visit the Monestary there is a small local map on their web site that is critical to finding the Monestary glad we printed it out.   It is real isolated and at the end of a long up hill dirt road on top of a mountain.  Was surprised to see the nun's conveant quite a way's from the Monestary

Well the place is really really nice clean you could eat off the grounds.  They have a small gift shop there but you can order the same stuff thru their web site.     One thing that surprised my was I thought it was a lot bigger than it really is pretty small and compact.      They also have a cemetary on the grounds with wooden crosses on it.   In the DVD they said they were working on a rock garden well it's finished and it's spectactular with a little pool of water in the center of it and gold fish swiming in it and all this real exotic rock work around it and these hand carved beautiful benches around it.  they really did a nice job with it.   The chapel looks just like the pictures of it on the web site I dont feel comfortable in a church as I'm always afarid the roof is going to fall on my head. So that part of the vist was rather quick.

Didn't see any of the dogs or the kennels but did hear the dogs barking.  Seen several Nun's and Monks all very nice very humble humble ordaniary people.   Did get to talk to a couple of the Monks one was actually in the DVD the one that was weighing the dogs and bringing them back and forth to the kennel and said of one of the pups he was going to Texas.         He was a very very nice person.  He did tell me their breeding program was getting on track to try and meet the demand for their puppies   He said they could not believe the demand for their puppies but they were commited to giving a well adjusted and sociazed pup to each and every buyer.   It's really hard to have a conversation with these Monks they are very humble and very reserved people but very nice     They thanked me for coming and went about their business.     We stayed about an hour or so and actually took a hike on one of their walking trails where some of the DVD was shot.

Wouldn't you know it as we were going down the mountain it started raining as I looked in the distance I seen a rainbow.   A fitting ending to the day.          I would suggest that anyone that has been thinking about making the trip go ahead and do it but just remeber it is very isolated and these are very private people.      Wouldn't you know it Gunner has to go to the bathroom so got to go.

I met a dog from New Skete once while working at a dog boarding kennel... a fairly small (70 pound)long coated male the owners got for a little cheaper because of the hair. He's a beautiful dog and very friendly and social. He was GREAT with other dogs, very friendly to people, even very tolerant of having big mats combed from his fur and nails trimmed. His favorite thing to do was to find a big stick while out walking and pick it up and prance around with it in his mouth. He was always very playful and fun to be around, loved to play in the plastic pool and play with water from the hose, and fetch a deflated soccer ball. He came across as a perfect dog, his owners were very pleased with him. Even though his topline was a little more "curly " than I prefer, he's a dog I would take in a heartbeat.

Larrydee,

Where do you live?  I'm in NH as well. 

A few years back I sold a West German import to one of the monks.  He is conformation lines.

Sue-Ann