Stella: Ranch Patrol: Dogs with a Purpose

by W Bruce Cameron

Ranch Patrol is a new Dogs with a Purpose adventure from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Dog's Purpose, W. Bruce Cameron!

Some dogs were born to lend a helping hand (or paw!)

Stella, a corgi puppy, is one of them. With her natural herding instincts, Mateo thinks she'll be the perfect new addition to his family's ranch!

But Mateo's family isn't convinced. They wanted a big, tough guardian dog, not this tiny creature! She can't possibly help run the ranch. Can Stella and Mateo rise to the challenge and prove them wrong?

Ranch Patrol is another fun, heartwarming Dogs with a Purpose adventure that will introduce young readers to the hard work of herding dogs.

More Tales from Bruce Cameron!

FROM
THE PUPPY TALES
Ellie's Story / Bailey's Story / Molly's Story / Max's Story / Lily's Story / Shelby's Story / Toby's Story / Bella's Story / Cooper's Story / Lacey's Story / Piper's Story

THE LILY TO THE RESCUE
Lily to the Rescue / Lily to the Two Little Piggies / Lily to the The Not-So-Stinky Skunk / Lily to the Dog Dog Goose / Lily to the Lost Little Leopard / Lily to the The Misfit Donkey / Lily to the Foxes in a Fix / Lily to the The Three Bears

THE DOGS WITH A PURPOSE
Water Rescue / Fire Station Five / Ranch Patrol

FROM
THE DOG'S PURPOSE
A Dog's Purpose / A Dog's Journey / A Dog's Promise

THE DOG'S WAY HOME
A Dog's Way Home / A Dog's Courage

OTHER TITLES FROM
My Three Dogs
Love, Diary of a Good Dog
A Dog's Perfect Christmas
The Dogs of Christmas
The Dog Master
Emory's Gift

THE RUDDY MCCAN
The Midnight Plan of the Repo Man / Repo Madness / The Midnight Dog of the Repo Man

At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

272 pages, Hardcover

Published August 26, 2025

Reviews

[Carey Handley · Rating 5 out of 5]

One thing that W. Bruce Cameron excels at is getting into the minds of humans and dogs, not necessarily in that order. He’s so good at it that when I’ve finished reading any of his dog-related books, I have deep conversations with my own dog and imagine what she’s saying in response.

I was fortunate to receive an advance copy of “Stella, Ranch Patrol” in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to the publisher for providing the advanced copy.

My daughter and I have loved reading Cameron’s “Dog’s With a Purpose” series as well as his “Puppy Tales” series. All the books are filled with heart, humor, and great stories. They are books we both enjoy and they are even better when she reads them to me.

What I love about Cameron’s “Dogs With a Purpose” series is they are both entertaining and educational. The middle grade readers have something to teach, whether it’s a life lesson or insight into the jobs dogs do in real life.

“Stella, Ranch Patrol”, is the latest in the “Dogs With a Purpose” series from W. Bruce Cameron. We meet Stella when she’s a happy puppy who, quite by accident, has come to live with a boy named Mateo and his family on a ranch. Stella is a Corgi who believes that even though she’s just a puppy now, she’s destined to grow up to have long legs and a purpose.

Mateo’s family lives on their working ranch and we meet the canine members of the family who are all working dogs. While it takes time for Stella to blend with the other dogs, they learn to respect her after her keen sense alerts Mateo to a potentially dangerous situation, saving both the animals and her boy.

Mateo works hard at training Stella to fulfill her purpose at the ranch and in his heart. The backstories of a distant relative who lands at the ranch unexpectedly and the patriarch working through a decision that could affect each family member along with the fate of the ranch itself adds suspense to the loving story of the bond formed between Mateo and Stella. Cameron weaves each facet masterfully and the book is beautifully written to explore both relationships between family members, the animals among them, and what happens behind the scenes at a working ranch. This books has been well-researched so the reader learns the intricacies of ranch life through the story of Stella and Mateo.

W. Bruce Cameron is at his best when he’s telling stories from a dog’s point of view. Anyone who loves their companion animal wishes they could understand what they are thinking. With Stella as the narrator of her own tale, we watch her decide her purpose as the story evolves. Is she a guardian dog, a herding dog, or just destined to be alongside her boy as a loving pet?

“Stella, Ranch Patrol” has the adventure, turmoil, and plenty of focus on a dog that we’ve come to expect from W. Bruce Cameron’s books. Stella shows the reader that regardless of size or experience, sometimes we can all do things we may not expect but grow to love and excel at nonetheless.

[Mary Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I've said before, Bruce Cameron doesn't write great literature, but I always enjoy his books, and I love his pups and dogs. Stella is no exception; she's a totally adorable corgi, a small dog who dreams of growing as big and tall as the livestock guarding dogs who are her chums. It's a charming diversion on a late summer's day.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s National Dog Day and what better way to spend it than to read W. Bruce Cameron’s newest book: Stella: Ranch Patrol:Dogs with a Purpose. I could really relate to the character, Mateo, because he was a talkative kid who also liked to ask a lot of ask questions. It really made me feel for the character. Another thing I loved about the book is how he believed in his little corgi, Stella, and knew that even though she was small, she could do big things! I want to also thank the publisher for this advanced readers copy and exchange for my honest review.

[Jill Enders · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Stella! But more than that, I appreciate this book so much as an educational tool. I own a ranch and LGDs (livestock guardian dogs) come with the territory. I don’t usually consider corgis in that category, though for Stella, the pup waiting for her legs to grow as tall as the other LGDs; her herding instinct and big personality more than make up for her size. (I think that big personality is a corgi thing). LGDs like ranchers are a different breed. This book rang true in capturing that vibe. But like all the books by W. Bruce Cameron, the wit, warmth and intrigue of storytelling makes it entertaining as well as educational. Told from the point of view of a puppy, Stella is a charming story. We learn about the farm, the men who run it and the animals who inhabit it, right along with her. But of course her boy Matteo is the hero in her eyes. There are teaching tools in the back making this new book in the Dogs with a Purpose series perfect for the classroom, homeschool group, or 4 h book club. It’s great for kids or for just a weary ol’ farm marm like me who loves a good story and gentle escape. I’m very thankful the publishers sent me an advanced readers’ copy and I’m happily recommending Stella!

[Carolyn Valcik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

W. Bruce Cameron has written another winner.
Although Stella Ranch Patrol is written for a young audience, I'd say 8-15 year-olds , I absolutely loved this delightful story about Stella, a corgi, who, meant as a pet for young Mateo, accidentally ends up as a herding dog on a working sheep ranch.

As told from Stella's point of view, the tale softens some of the hard edges that occur between the father, who seems to have been in a foul mood since his wife died, and his sons.

Younger readers will understand the conflicts in the story between the father and his sons, but through Stella's eyes and understanding.

Mateo, 13, lives with his dad and older brothers and often feels left out because everyone in the family needs to pull his weight, and he's not allowed to go to school.

Mateo begins training Stella to be a herding dog for the sheep.
When Mateo's cousin Julian, 16, moves in with the family, Mateo finally feels he has a friend, but does he?

You will have to read the book to find out how this family pulls together when they need to, and how Stella does her job to help save the ranch.

A delightful story for all ages.

[Mindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m an adult. Stella: Ranch Patrol is the latest in the Dogs with a Purpose series written for middle-grade readers, aged 8–12, grades 3–7. And while I’m not the intended audience for this series, I continue to read them because I enjoy them so much.

The book supports Common Core Writing Standards, and includes questions for younger readers as well as discussion questions for adults to engage with kids. If you have a middle-grade reader who loves dogs, I encourage you to buy a copy of this book.

But like I said, I’m not a kid and my own children are adults. So why do I read these books? First, I love the way W Bruce Cameron gets into the mind of a dog so realistically. They say reading teaches empathy and I can attest that I not only view dogs differently now, but all animals. Even my cats have benefited from all the Cameron books I’ve read over the years. I also appreciate the characters, settings and plots of his works.

In this novel, Stella is a Corgi puppy who ends up with a teen boy who lives on a struggling ranch in Washington with his dad and three brothers, as well as LGDs (I learned that means Livestock Guardian Dogs), sheep, goats, and other livestock. I grew up in the Midwestern suburbs so it was fun learning about living on a ranch and all that entails.

My thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Diamondback Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love border collies so much, that I was very excited for this book to come out. I like horses, so that could be another reason I was eager to read this book.

Stella, raised on a farm that bred border collies destined for herding animals, mistakenly attended an L.G.D. sale and was adopted by a teen boy named Mateo Soltelo. However, his brother Bart disapproved of the decision due to Stella’s monkey-like behavior. Despite being a border collie, Mateo’s father disapproved of Stella’s age and her inability to herd sheep. After Mateo showed Stella around the ranch, he and his family planned on selling the ranch or relocating with Aunt Elken in Texas. Mateo, Bart, and Finn brainstormed various ways to save the farm. Stella attempted to spend the night with her new canine companions, Louise, Nix, Baron, and Scoop, but her fear of potential harm as a puppy held her back. Mateo taught Stella her herding skills and introduced her to a lamb named Mabel. While Stella tried to befriend Mabel, her border collie instincts led her to almost get kicked over by the lamb, as border collies were originally bred to herd cattle, not sheep. As Stella and Mateo continued their training, Bart interrupted their efforts by having fun riding his new ATV, which disrupted the sheep and cattle. During dinner, the boys discussed the negative impact of modern technology on the environment and animals. They also acknowledged Stella’s aging and her eventual transformation into a large border collie, fulfilling her breed’s purpose. Mateo expressed his desire for a peer group and realized that attending school in person was superior to homeschooling. Duece visited the ranch for a while, and they practiced herding sheep together. Additionally, the ranch anticipated the arrival of new Dongola Horses in a few months. Mateo and his family embarked on camping trips and enjoyed swimming in a lake with their dogs, except for Stella, who was still progressing at her own pace towards becoming a mature guardian dog. Mateo and the dogs went camping again but this time Stella and Baron found other wild animals including wolves. Mateo’s dad had to travel to Houston for a funeral so the boys were left in charge. Bart received a toy drone on the mail and thought it would be useful for herding sheep with than using Stella, the very innocent border collie. The recent shipment of Dongola Horses has arrived and Stella was very eager to make friends with them. Mateo and Finn went out tractor driving and they got amazing news that Julia was coming to live with them. When Julia arrived, she was already feeling homesick, so Stella tried her best to make her feel welcome. After Julia moved in, Stella started to feel lonely at night, but then a horse named Eddie kept her company. Then there was a sudden grass fire that the teens had to put out. They used all the firefighting techniques they knew to do so. Stella noticed that the sheep and the horses escaped their pens and wrecked havoc all over the house. Eddie the horse was having so much fun playing with the light switch and Stella, Bart, and Finn had a barbecue in their backyard. Stella was feeling lonely again, so she decided to venture out into the woods only for Baron to find her and take her back to the ranch. Mateo and Julia went out hiking and they found a lot of knapweeds on the trail. After Uncle Warner punished the teenagers, Mateo and Julia started arguing about their futures and wishing they could change each other’s minds. Blackie the horse died from Fainting Horse Syndrome and Stella wanted to tell Mateo and Julia about it, but they didn’t. Julia was in her senior year of high school but Mateo has gotten so used to homeschooling. Stella’s mouth started hurting, but Mateo was going to take her to the vet once he got back from Oregon. Stella went to the vet and found out that the cause of her pain was a wisdom tooth coming out. Stella was so happy to see her siblings Noodles, Wiggles, and Rory again, only to find out they became a little obese and extra hairy. Stella was sent to live with Ezra for a few days similar to how Deuce lived with Stella and the guardian dogs. Stella went into a dark forest trying to get home, but she almost got attacked by wolves. Julia declared that Warner was going to sell the horses next, but they'd much rather keep working to raise money and keep the ranch. A flood was coming and Julia broke her ankle on the Raging River rocks. The teens worked together to get the horses across the river, but Stella couldn’t do it because she was afraid of swimming. Mateo helped Stella get to the other side but then after that the wolves were coming. So Stella, the horses, and the LGD pack (consisting of Nix, Louise, Scoop, and Baron), all worked together to scare the wolf pack away. Mateo and the horses had to walk home with the guardian dog pack after Bart took Julia to the hospital. Warner finally made the decision to keep the family ranch and Julia has gotten used to the country life, but she wasn’t going to join the Marines anymore. And Stella and her family lived happily ever after.

I have really enjoyed this book. Because it's about a border collie, It reminisced me of another book about the breed, "El Increíble Mundo de Llanca" which is children's book from Chile about a border collie and her adventures, which is why Chileans love border collies so much. This book would be perfect for fans of border collies and horses.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stella is the latest in Bruce Cameron‘s series of dog books, anthos one lives up to its predecessors! Right from the beginning, you get to know how feisty and driven Stella is. She’s a little dog who thinks she is destined to be a big dog…and she is! (If only in mind and spirit.)
The story is lovely. I especially loved watching the bond form between Stella and her young owner, Matteo! The backdrop of the ranch they live on having a questionable destiny provides a perfect setting to let Stella grow into the dog she needs to be.

If you love dogs, you’ll love Stella!

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Stella is a corgi who is born at a facility run by Danitta, Erra, and Memphis where larger Livestock Guardian Dogs are also being bred. She's somewhat interested in what the bigger dogs do, but ends up being adopted by Mateo. His family owns a sheep ranch that is struggling, run by his much older brothers Bart and Finn. Mateo's mother passed away when he was young, and he is being homeschooled, although no one seems to check on his progress. The father, Werner, is against having a frivolous small dog who won't be of any "use" on the ranch, but is too distracted by the poor state of the business to put up much of an objection. Times are tough financially, and the father wants to sell the ranch and maybe move to Texas to live with his sister. When she is killed in a car crash, her son comes to live with Mateo's family. Julian goes right to work on the ranch, coming up with great ideas like having some of the animals graze on a neighbor's troublesome knapweed in exchange for money. When it comes to light that Mateo is failing all of his courses, Julian comes to his aid. He not only offers to tutor Mateo, but points out that no one is paying attention to his cousin or listening to his opinions at all. Stella learns to herd, and enjoys it; she's also a bit alarmed that her littermates have gotten to be soft and overweight. When bad weather and wolves conspire to make conditions difficult, will Stella be able to prove her worth and save the day?
Strengths: I'm definitely a dog person, and love to see stories of working canines, even though my Shih Tzu, Leo, spends his days just keeping members of my household safe from squirrels and providing emotional support by way of demanding belly rubs! It was fun to see Corgi representation, especially since they are a herding breed, even though they are smaller than Great Pyranees and often serve as lap dogs. Life can't be easy on a sheep ranch, and the challenges that Mateo's family faces to keep their operation running are very realistic. My favorite part of this was Mateo's homeschooling... or lack thereof. I've seen many students who come back to public school after being left on their own to work through computerized courses, so even though it seems somewhat unlikely that no one was supervising Mateo's school work, it actually is something that happens! This will circulate well on the basis of the cover alone, and there are many readers at my school who have worked through all of Cameron's titles.
Weaknesses: This was much sadder than the other two books about service dogs, Zeus and Ripley. My readers who like dog books want more action and adventure and fewer problems. While this is written from Stella's perspective, it felt like the story often veered away from things she would have really known or understood.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who like Cameron's work or are captivate by the relationship between tweens and their dogs in books like Hautman's Answers to Dog or Hoyle's Just Gus.
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[Mark Stevens · Rating 5 out of 5]

W. Bruce Cameron is the "King of Pup Fiction," and that's not up for debate. And it's also not a typo – PUP Fiction. I've been a follower of Cameron's since his No. 1 best-seller "A Dog's Purpose" was released, and I've eagerly read all of his major novels since. I had not, however, followed his series of books in his "Dogs With a Purpose" series for young readers. I'm 56 years old, so I thought I was not the intended audience for the series. That may be the case, in the sense that the series is for young readers (teens, perhaps?) But, having said that, "Stella: Ranch Patrol" was - for this non-young reader - an absolute delight. Cameron's pitch-perfect dog-focused, dog-narrated story is every bit as engaging and page-turning as his major novels, many of which have been made into major motion pictures. "Stella" is the third book in the "Dogs With a Purpose" series that follows dogs with jobs. The first two dealt with a water-rescue dog and a fire station pooch. "Stella" follows a corgi who comes to work as a sheep herder at a ranch in Washington state. My only real understanding of corgis was that Queen Elizabeth II had many through her life and reign, so I was totally surprised to learn that corgis are actually bred as herding dogs! So I may not be a young reader, but I learned something just by reading this book. (You can teach an old dog new tricks, after all. Or, at least, an old(er) reader!) The book follows Stella and her person, a young teen named Mateo, as he and his cousin, Julian, deal with life on the ranch -- and the family's ups and downs. Stella guides the story, and Cameron's tale is, as always, delighful, entertaining, often suspenseful, and with a great mix of humor. I love how he knows how to bring the "humanness" of dogs to life. This was a wonderful read, and I'm going to now look up the other two books in the series: "Zeus" and "Ripley." If you love Cameron's books, don't miss this book. I wish I had known this series 0f books work both for young readers and the not-so-young readers. Trust me, you'll fall in love with Stella. She's adorable, feisty and loyal! There's a line in the book that I'll use as my conclusion: "It is pretty much understood by all creatures that there's simply nothing more interesting than a puppy." Yep. And Stella (and this book) proves that perfectly. "Stella" is a very good read.

[June Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been looking forward to this one ever since I saw Cameron post that it would feature a corgi. Although my own fur girl is only a corgi mix, she definitely exhibited the herding tendency that any working ranch dog probably needs, so I was definitely curious to read Stella's story. It didn't disappoint.

While I won't share the plot here, I will say it was a heartwarming mix of both canine and human emotion and love. While Stella is certainly the star, the human family she must fit into is complicated and dare I say it, well, seems genuinely human. They're hard working, face difficulty, disagree, but ultimately want the best for everyone. Stella finds her place, exhibiting the courage I've seen in my own dog as it faced down a dog four times its size that came at us while walking, and showed that you don't have to be big to be brave and strong. In the process, her human family finds unity and while they may not always be on the same page, they show genuine love for one another and the ranch life that Mateo has.

Bottom line, I can see this one being a hit with not just corgi fans but fans of dogs period. Mateo's family may be complicated, disagree, and occasionally seem ready to give up on their dreams, but hold together. Thanks #Tor - #Forge for introducing me to Stella, Mateo, and the rest a bit early. I thoroughly enjoyed the read, especially with my own sometimes brave, other times couch potato corgi mix at my side as I read. It cares the message that even the least likely of us can rise to the challenge when push comes to shove and, oh, boy, what a challenge Stella faces to help/survive.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been a fan of W. Bruce Cameron's ever since I first read A Dog's Purpose and have spent many an hour in a deep-dive into his world of books presented from the dog's point of view. Thanks to Tor Publishing Group who provided me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

In Stella: Ranch Patrol, we meet Stella as a Corgi puppy who finds herself in the world of livestock guardian dogs (or LGDs for short). This book is the latest in Cameron's "Dogs with a Purpose" series and it showcases Stella's life on a working sheep ranch with her adoptive boy, Mateo, and his family and the animals that reside there...as well as some who don't. Stella truly believes that she will one day grow to the size of the long-legged LGDs and certainly does not let her size deter her from becoming a working dog herself.

Mateo spends a lot of time training Stella and working to showcase her abilities to prove to his oftentimes distracted father and brothers that she is fit to be a fully-functioning member of the protective group of dogs needed to operate a sheep ranch. Mateo and Stella rise to the occasion in stellar fashion while also traversing familial relationships as well as day-to-day life in a very realistic portrayal of life on a ranch.

This book is targeted for middle-school age children and, while I have looked middle school in a very long ago rearview mirror, I thoroughly enjoyed it. So much so, that I read it from cover to cover in one day. Cameron's ability to write as if he is truly in the mind of animals is such a treat. I believe this book will be enjoyed by readers of all ages.

[Peggy Frezon · Rating 5 out of 5]

There’s one BIG reason why this book will truly resonate with young readers. You might think it’s because author W. Bruce Cameron has written yet another engaging and insightful kids book about dogs. Or, because of the adorable cover with the cutest corgi running through a green field. Or, because animal lovers will learn about Dogs with a Purpose, in this case ranch patrol and livestock guardian dogs. All this is true, but the BIG reason young readers will love this book is because of its theme that kids—and little dogs—can make a difference. Most kids feel small in size or in usefulness at one point or another. They will emphasize with Stella and Mateo, and feel empowered when both dog and boy find they really can help others in wonderful ways. This book is a winner in every way! Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of the book. This in no way influenced my opinion, and this is my honest review.
Peggy Frezon

[Susan West · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful heartwarming story of Stella, a plucky little Corgi puppy who wants to be a Livestock Guardian Dog. The only thing he wants more is to please his boy, Mateo. Told from Stellas perspective this story is exciting, funny and teaches an important lesson: That you can be anything you want to be if you try hard enough. In her adventures with Mateo Stella learns that she has an important purpose on the sheep farm that may not be exactly what she thought it was. Stella the Corgi manages to help teach the characters some lessons about love and loss as well. Another gem of a tale from the author of A Dog's Purpose who has the dogs' point of view as well as their personality-and their hearts down to a tea!

[Doug Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Move over all you big dogs, there’s a new sheriff in town—and she’s about a foot tall with ears that could pick up satellite radio. Stella: Ranch Patrol introduces us to Stella, a Corgi with the heart of a lion and the legs of… well, a Corgi. She may not tower over any of the other animals on the farm, but she’s convinced she was born to be a livestock guardian dog, and watching her determination is equal parts hilarious and inspiring. W. Bruce Cameron has once again written a story that proves size doesn’t matter when it comes to courage—and if saving the family ranch takes grit, loyalty, and a healthy dose of Corgi stubbornness, Stella’s got it covered.

[Lisa K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been a huge fan of W. Bruce Cameron's books since reading A Dog's Purpose. Stella is my new favorite! The book captured my interest from the first page. The sweet Corgi is an unlikely choice for a ranch dog, but she doesn't let that stop her from making a difference in her family's life. Although the publisher provided me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review, I've already bought several copies to give as gifts.

[Sherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

C. Bruce Cameron is one of those rare authors who can write a heartwarming and humorous book for adults and then pen an equally magical book for younger readers. I fell in love with Stella and her boy, and readers of all ages will too.

[Katy Lovejoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like this little snippet more than I like the actual dogs purpose novels