Book Review: Bless the Dogs by the Monks of New Skete, photography by Vincent Remini

Disclosure / Disclaimer: I received this book, free of charge, from Center Street Publication, for review purposes on this blog. No other compensation, monetary or in kind, has been received or implied for this post. Nor was I told how to post about it

Ready for some cuteness?

Brace yourself!

Told you!

Synopsis:

This treasure of a book from bestselling authors The Monks of New Skete, features meditations from their book I & Dog, along with new meditations and stunning new photography. It's a delightful celebration in words and pictures of the special relationship we have with our dogs.

With beautiful 4-color photography and meditations from the Monks, the message is simple, subtle, and sublime--resonating on every page, in every contemplative passage, and every soul-filling image.

Enjoy every moment, page by page, and appreciate anew the marvelous, mysterious, heeling and hope-filled partnership between dogs and humans as it shines in BLESS THE DOG.

The lessons are delivered with a gentle touch; "Dogs make us believe we can actually be as they see us." But they also do not hesitate to show just how important the possibility is: "Listen carefully to your life and you'll find that good companionship with a dog touches the broader issues of our relationship with all creation and the Creator."

Review:

If I could buy one dog, money no option, I would buy one of the puppies from New Skete. PERIOD. Seriously, look at these dogs: And the way they are trained? Amazing! Go back and look at those faces on the cover of the book, right. I've been entranced with them since I saw a picture of their 'playroom', that featured kids Little Tikes climbers, about 9 years ago! Who could say no to those adorable faces?

This is a gorgeous book- if you know someone who is enamored of the Animal Planet Cute Puppies show, or dogs in general, they will LOVE this book! Miss Grace devoured it as soon as it came in! The photos cover all types of breeds, puppies and adults, with a center section of the New Skete shepherds (if you can get through those couple of pages without smiling at the absolute cuteness, you have a heart of coal!). The commentary is wonderful and you may need some kleenex if you read it the whole way through!

"Often our feelings about dogs arise out of deeply embedded memories from childhood, when dogs assumed a multiplicty of roles: playmate, guardian, comic, feared warrior down the street"

This book would be perfect for the dog lover this holiday season!

About the Authors: 

As a community, the Monks of New Skete have been breeding, raising, and training dogs for more than 40 years. The Monks were recently inducted into the International Association of Canine Professionals Hall of Fame. New Skete Monastery is located in Cambridge, New York. Check out their website for ways to support the order!

About the Photographer:

New York area photographer- http://vincentremini.com/