In thinking how my own view of training and living with dogs has expanded into something broader, something more akin to an art, I realize how fortunate I’ve been to live in a contemplative setting, one that’s continually questioning me. In the monastery, nothing’s static. There’s a continual impulse to strive for excellence, to experiment and to search for what is better…in all aspects of my life. That’s what spirituality is about. I’ve been fortunate to be able to learn from my experiences and to work on making whatever necessary changes reality suggests.

Brother Christopher, in the Monks of New Skete and Marc Goldberg, Let Dogs Be Dogs: Understanding Canine Nature and Mastering the Art of Living with Your Dog