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Jack: K9 Warrior
Being around Lieutenant Dakota Dixon (DX to his friends) means being on your toes or you might just find something unpleasant in your combat boots! Something in his Native American psyche gives him a special connection with dogs: their shared spirit gains him a new handle – dog whisperer.
Keith Barnes has been owned by Collies his whole life. His idea of a storybook home life takes a major detour as his Collie, Jack; turned therapy dog, becomes DX’s new training partner as he struggles through rehab.
Before his platoon was ambushed, DX was on track to realize his vision of training a revolutionary breed of intelligent K9 warriors, but now he faces a medical discharge. Jack and DX’s destinies become one, as Keith encourages his new friend to test his theories on Jack. Pairing this Marine with a mischievous Collie is just trouble waiting to happen!
Impressed with Jack’s new abilities, the leader of an elite unit gives DX a second chance. Realizing DX’s future depends on Jack’s skills, Keith makes the difficult decision to loan the Collie for a dangerous mission. The team must recover a stolen laser weapon from an abandoned castle in the mountains of Romania to rescue the country from an impending coup. Combining instincts and training, Jack saves one of the agents from a wolf, takes out a sniper, and relays information vital to the success of the mission.
Surrounded by double agents and espionage, DX doesn’t know who he can trust. JACK K9 WARRIOR is a suspenseful revival of the classic Collie stories of old and an uplifting tale of friendship and sacrifice.
Keith Barnes has been owned by Collies his whole life. His idea of a storybook home life takes a major detour as his Collie, Jack; turned therapy dog, becomes DX’s new training partner as he struggles through rehab.
Before his platoon was ambushed, DX was on track to realize his vision of training a revolutionary breed of intelligent K9 warriors, but now he faces a medical discharge. Jack and DX’s destinies become one, as Keith encourages his new friend to test his theories on Jack. Pairing this Marine with a mischievous Collie is just trouble waiting to happen!
Impressed with Jack’s new abilities, the leader of an elite unit gives DX a second chance. Realizing DX’s future depends on Jack’s skills, Keith makes the difficult decision to loan the Collie for a dangerous mission. The team must recover a stolen laser weapon from an abandoned castle in the mountains of Romania to rescue the country from an impending coup. Combining instincts and training, Jack saves one of the agents from a wolf, takes out a sniper, and relays information vital to the success of the mission.
Surrounded by double agents and espionage, DX doesn’t know who he can trust. JACK K9 WARRIOR is a suspenseful revival of the classic Collie stories of old and an uplifting tale of friendship and sacrifice.
354 pages, Paperback
First published November 14, 2013
3 people want to read
About the author
Kevin L. Brett
7 books1 followerKevin Brett has been owned by and loved Collies all his life. As a young child, his family had a humongous mahogany Collie named Macintosh. Later, in his teen years, his family had a sable and white Collie, named Piney Branch Lindsay Lad. His current Collie is a tri-color, named Captain Jack Sparrow. Kevin works with numerous Collie, Sheltie and dog rescues around the country helping them raise funds to further their rescue efforts. Numerous copies of Jack’s story have been sold by these rescues to help raise money to save these animals in need.
He is a certified enterprise architect who has led numerous DoD projects and a former member of the Space Shuttle/Spacelab Team. Kevin is also a certified martial arts instructor with twenty years of martial arts training and teaching experience. He has authored several martial arts books. Kevin is also an experienced outdoors-man and survival practitioner and a life-long Jazz Saxophonist!
He and his wife Lana were two of the five co-founders of the United Karate Institute of Self-Defense, Incorporated in Alexandria, Virginia. He has taught martial arts, self-defense combat classes to local law enforcement, military and federal agents, focusing on realistic and practical application of techniques, strategies and training methods.
He lives in Stafford, VA with his wife, three children and their mischievous Collie, Captain Jack Sparrow who is just “trouble with a tail.”
He is a certified enterprise architect who has led numerous DoD projects and a former member of the Space Shuttle/Spacelab Team. Kevin is also a certified martial arts instructor with twenty years of martial arts training and teaching experience. He has authored several martial arts books. Kevin is also an experienced outdoors-man and survival practitioner and a life-long Jazz Saxophonist!
He and his wife Lana were two of the five co-founders of the United Karate Institute of Self-Defense, Incorporated in Alexandria, Virginia. He has taught martial arts, self-defense combat classes to local law enforcement, military and federal agents, focusing on realistic and practical application of techniques, strategies and training methods.
He lives in Stafford, VA with his wife, three children and their mischievous Collie, Captain Jack Sparrow who is just “trouble with a tail.”
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
March 7, 2014
Review of “Jack K9 Warrior” by Kevin Brett
This is an exciting action adventure story featuring Dakota Dixon (DX), a part Lakota Sioux Ex-Marine Lieutenant and Jack, the intelligent Tricolor Collie who he trains. Wounded in Afghanistan, during an ambush which also killed Eddie, his best friend, and Zoe, his beloved German Shepherd Dog, DX has to be discharged from the Marines, and while still in physical therapy he meets and befriends Jack, and his family, the Barnes, who are visiting wounded military personnel with Jack as an unofficial therapy dog. Both DX and Keith Barnes are dedicated martial artists, Keith is karate instructor, and DX is a Brown Belt in the Marine Martial Arts Program. DX is also a dog trainer with interesting ideas on the use of military dogs. He thinks that an exceptionally intelligent and adaptable dog can be trained in all the main military tasks, such as search and rescue, courier work, guarding and attack work, scouting work, rather than relying on different dogs trained in only one task. This makes sense, and is similar to the theory behind the “Schutzhund” program devised for German Shepherds in the early 20th century. Schutzhund tests a dog’s tracking, obedience and protection skills, and is now open to other breeds as well as GSDs.
DX believes that Jack is a smart and versatile enough be trained in even more multiple roles, and complex tasks. Keith was looking for a trainer for Jack, to develop and use his brain, as well as just being the family dog; so they come to an arrangement. Keith will train, drill and spar with DX, to help his recovery and to develop his martial arts up to Black Belt standard, and DX will train Jack, employing his own methods and theories. DX had already been accepted to train as a K9 Military Dog trainer, before his injuries forced his military retirement.
The training in both areas goes well, and Keith, DX and Jack become great friends. The book does not focus on the details of Jack’s training. The writer prefers to show Jack’s intelligence and new skills in action in the longest section of the book, which is the account of the special operation he and DX are drafted into. This is the attempt to recover stolen advanced weapons and components which are being held in a castle in Romania, by terrorist or mercenary group. The action is fast paced, exciting and well described. You are drawn into the details and drama of the military operation, and there are plenty of twists and surprises in the story. I reviewed Susan Wilson’s book, “A Man of his Own” about three months ago, and this book shares some similar themes to “Jack K9 Warrior”. The hero of Wilson’s book is Pax who is loaned to the army in WW2 in the “Dog’s For Defence” scheme, and Jack is also a sort of unofficial Dog for Defence, loaned for a specific operation. The other similarity is the interest in the relationship between the owners and trainers of the dogs. In Wilson’s book this relationship is much more difficult because Pax’s owner is permanently disabled and suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Though I enjoyed Susan Wilson’s book, I pointed out that one of its weaker points was the brief and non-specific handling of the military action sequences. In “Jack K9 Warrior” the reader is given full measure. I shall not give anything away of the outcome, except to say that when Wes, Keith Barnes son, is told of Jack’s loan to an under-cover military operation, he is delighted that Jack is going to serve as a Canine James Bond. Jack certainly lives up to his billing.
One of the other strengths of the book are the descriptions of Jack as the Barnes family dog, and the instinctive herding and guarding drives Jack shows when he with the children. As someone who has owned and trained Collies, Shelties (Shetland Sheepdogs) and other Shepherd dogs, there were many familiar scenes. One thing which interests me is why Tricolor Collies and Shelties are often the smartest among their breed? The first Sheltie I worked with when I was 13 years old, was a tricolor obedience Champion. For those not so familiar with these dogs, “tricolor” Collies and Shelties are mainly black but with splashes of white and tan, usually around the chest or legs. Apart from their brains, they are also handsome, as the images in Kevin’s book demonstrate.
Because of the contemporary setting, Kevin Brett has no problem with getting into the language and humor of Marines and other military personnel. I think the reader is intended to find some of DX’s jokes and ad libs, excruciating. Erika Roberts, a law enforcement officer in the operation, certainly does. She does however develop a relationship with DX, despite his bad jokes. In the case of Susan Wilson’s, “A Man of His Own” the language and humor are more problematic. The setting is just over seventy years ago; and 1940's wartime and postwar America was a very different place. People spoke differently, using very different slang and jargon from that in use today. It was a pleasure to read two books, with such a different perspective on the interface between military engagement, dogs and their trainers and owners.
I greatly enjoyed reading, “Jack K9 Warrior”. It seems made to be the basis of an action movie script or even a TV series. It is certainly about time that “Lassie” was updated to a contemporary setting, and to utilize our greater understanding of dogs and their versatility.
The reviewer, Stewart McFarlane, is a martial artist, dog trainer and animal rescue volunteer, and retired academic, who specialized in Buddhism and Chinese Religion and Thought.
His stories of dogs and other animals he has known, can be found in his book,
OF MICE & ZEN. ANIMAL ENCOUNTERS IN THE LIFE OF A WANDERING BUDDHIST
Free samples on Goodreads, Amazon, or on his website
www.taichi-exercises.com
Of Mice and Zen. Animal Encounters in the Life of a Wandering Buddhist
This is an exciting action adventure story featuring Dakota Dixon (DX), a part Lakota Sioux Ex-Marine Lieutenant and Jack, the intelligent Tricolor Collie who he trains. Wounded in Afghanistan, during an ambush which also killed Eddie, his best friend, and Zoe, his beloved German Shepherd Dog, DX has to be discharged from the Marines, and while still in physical therapy he meets and befriends Jack, and his family, the Barnes, who are visiting wounded military personnel with Jack as an unofficial therapy dog. Both DX and Keith Barnes are dedicated martial artists, Keith is karate instructor, and DX is a Brown Belt in the Marine Martial Arts Program. DX is also a dog trainer with interesting ideas on the use of military dogs. He thinks that an exceptionally intelligent and adaptable dog can be trained in all the main military tasks, such as search and rescue, courier work, guarding and attack work, scouting work, rather than relying on different dogs trained in only one task. This makes sense, and is similar to the theory behind the “Schutzhund” program devised for German Shepherds in the early 20th century. Schutzhund tests a dog’s tracking, obedience and protection skills, and is now open to other breeds as well as GSDs.
DX believes that Jack is a smart and versatile enough be trained in even more multiple roles, and complex tasks. Keith was looking for a trainer for Jack, to develop and use his brain, as well as just being the family dog; so they come to an arrangement. Keith will train, drill and spar with DX, to help his recovery and to develop his martial arts up to Black Belt standard, and DX will train Jack, employing his own methods and theories. DX had already been accepted to train as a K9 Military Dog trainer, before his injuries forced his military retirement.
The training in both areas goes well, and Keith, DX and Jack become great friends. The book does not focus on the details of Jack’s training. The writer prefers to show Jack’s intelligence and new skills in action in the longest section of the book, which is the account of the special operation he and DX are drafted into. This is the attempt to recover stolen advanced weapons and components which are being held in a castle in Romania, by terrorist or mercenary group. The action is fast paced, exciting and well described. You are drawn into the details and drama of the military operation, and there are plenty of twists and surprises in the story. I reviewed Susan Wilson’s book, “A Man of his Own” about three months ago, and this book shares some similar themes to “Jack K9 Warrior”. The hero of Wilson’s book is Pax who is loaned to the army in WW2 in the “Dog’s For Defence” scheme, and Jack is also a sort of unofficial Dog for Defence, loaned for a specific operation. The other similarity is the interest in the relationship between the owners and trainers of the dogs. In Wilson’s book this relationship is much more difficult because Pax’s owner is permanently disabled and suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Though I enjoyed Susan Wilson’s book, I pointed out that one of its weaker points was the brief and non-specific handling of the military action sequences. In “Jack K9 Warrior” the reader is given full measure. I shall not give anything away of the outcome, except to say that when Wes, Keith Barnes son, is told of Jack’s loan to an under-cover military operation, he is delighted that Jack is going to serve as a Canine James Bond. Jack certainly lives up to his billing.
One of the other strengths of the book are the descriptions of Jack as the Barnes family dog, and the instinctive herding and guarding drives Jack shows when he with the children. As someone who has owned and trained Collies, Shelties (Shetland Sheepdogs) and other Shepherd dogs, there were many familiar scenes. One thing which interests me is why Tricolor Collies and Shelties are often the smartest among their breed? The first Sheltie I worked with when I was 13 years old, was a tricolor obedience Champion. For those not so familiar with these dogs, “tricolor” Collies and Shelties are mainly black but with splashes of white and tan, usually around the chest or legs. Apart from their brains, they are also handsome, as the images in Kevin’s book demonstrate.
Because of the contemporary setting, Kevin Brett has no problem with getting into the language and humor of Marines and other military personnel. I think the reader is intended to find some of DX’s jokes and ad libs, excruciating. Erika Roberts, a law enforcement officer in the operation, certainly does. She does however develop a relationship with DX, despite his bad jokes. In the case of Susan Wilson’s, “A Man of His Own” the language and humor are more problematic. The setting is just over seventy years ago; and 1940's wartime and postwar America was a very different place. People spoke differently, using very different slang and jargon from that in use today. It was a pleasure to read two books, with such a different perspective on the interface between military engagement, dogs and their trainers and owners.
I greatly enjoyed reading, “Jack K9 Warrior”. It seems made to be the basis of an action movie script or even a TV series. It is certainly about time that “Lassie” was updated to a contemporary setting, and to utilize our greater understanding of dogs and their versatility.
The reviewer, Stewart McFarlane, is a martial artist, dog trainer and animal rescue volunteer, and retired academic, who specialized in Buddhism and Chinese Religion and Thought.
His stories of dogs and other animals he has known, can be found in his book,
OF MICE & ZEN. ANIMAL ENCOUNTERS IN THE LIFE OF A WANDERING BUDDHIST
Free samples on Goodreads, Amazon, or on his website
www.taichi-exercises.com
Of Mice and Zen. Animal Encounters in the Life of a Wandering Buddhist
Displaying 1 of 1 review