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Werewolf: The True Story of an Extraordinary Police Dog
The True Story of an Extraordinary Police Dog is the raw, first-hand account of the life of a police K9 named “Brag” and his cop partner. When they first meet, Brag shows no interest in human attachment and his handler is wary of caring too much for a dog whose life he must risk every night. But as the dangerous manhunts push both to their mental and physical limits, the two develop an unbreakable bond that blurs the line between human and canine.
Anyone who has ever loved a dog will embrace this heartfelt story of courage and loyalty!
Anyone who has ever loved a dog will embrace this heartfelt story of courage and loyalty!
- GenresNonfictionDogsAnimals
392 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 27, 2021
445 people are currently reading
339 people want to read
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July 18, 2024
David Alton Hedges was a SWAT officer in the Santa Barbara Police Department (SBPD) before he became a K-9 handler with a 100-pound German Shepherd partner named Brag (aka Werewolf).
Author David Alton Hedges
In this book Hedges writes about his work with Brag, a brave, smart, loyal police canine who did his job diligently and with enthusiasm. I marveled and smiled as I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Michael Puttonen, and I shed a few tears as well.
Brag wasn't always destined to be a police dog. As a puppy, Brag lived with a family, whom he dearly loved. A tragic death resulted in Brag being given to the SBPD, where he became a police canine. Brag was paired with Officer David Hedges, and a long and grueling period of training followed. Hedges describes the training in detail, and the procedures are interesting to read about. K-9 dogs are expected to train with their handlers to build agility, stamina, strength, and obedience.
Brag with his handler, Officer David Hedges of the SBPD (right), and Officer Tyler Larson
The K-9 trainer, Ted, looked like a surfer, but was sturdy enough to withstand the simulated attacks of police dogs as they learned the ropes. Commands for police dogs are given in German, for instance, 'packen' (bite). After an extended period of training, Hedges and Brag became a formidable duo who worked well together.
Police dog training session
Police dog being taught to attack
At first, Officer Hedges was determined to view Brag simply as a partner, not a dog he felt affection for. Of course that didn't last, and Hedges soon came to love Brag and vice versa. When Hedges was injured during a police action, and Brag was driven home by another officer, Brag was beside himself about leaving his partner behind. Brag didn't relax until he saw Hedges return safe and sound (more or less).
During their shifts, Hedges and Brag were called out all the time, for things like tracking, evidence recovery, and felony apprehension. Hedges and Brag were assigned a dedicated K-9 vehicle, kitted out for their needs, with a cage in the back, and Brag's name on both sides.
Example of a K-9 Vehicle
K-9 teams deal with fights, stabbings, shootings, burglaries, robberies, rapes, drunks, domestics, suicides, and more. During call-outs, Brag was completely fearless, and always eager to get 'the bad guy'.
Hedges relates tale after tale of Brag's exploits, where Brag might grab a perp by the leg and drag him out, screaming in fear and pain. Brag's 'apprehensions' were especially dangerous if the perp had a gun or knife, and Hedges was often on tenterhooks, worrying that Brag would be injured.
Hedges writes, “The longer I work with Brag, the less I see him the way I used to see a dog. He doesn’t feel like a dog at all, more like some creature that possesses entirely unique behaviors and motivations; a werewolf, I suppose. I trust him, some of the time. When I release him to do his job and I’ve done my job to try to limit the possible outcomes (biting another police officer, biting an innocent civilian, biting anyone he’s not supposed to bite, whether they are innocent or not), I’m confident he won’t fail.”
Gango, a Santa Barbara police dog
In addition to writing about police work, Hedges includes anecdotes about his home life, with his wife Rachel and son Striker - both of whom loved Brag as well. Eventually, when Brag had to retire from police work (I'll admit I cried), the pooch became 'Uncle Brag' to puppies bred by Rachel.
Werewolf is an inspiring book about a wonderful dog.
Hedges is a good writer (he's written other books and screenplays as well) and Michael Puttonen is an excellent narrator for the audiobook (I could feel tears in his voice at the sad parts). I think all dog lovers would enjoy Werewolf.
Thanks to Netgalley, David Alton Hedges, and Post Hypnotic Press Audiobooks for a copy of the book.
You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com
February 24, 2024
Brag, K9 Hero.
I will forever remember Brag the incredible K9 police dog and his human partner. Unable to review this now or maybe never. Sometimes there are no words.
I will forever remember Brag the incredible K9 police dog and his human partner. Unable to review this now or maybe never. Sometimes there are no words.
January 11, 2025
I knew as soon as I came across this book that I would definitely read it. I also knew that while I would probably really enjoy it (I love stories about amazing working dogs), I also knew that it was going to break my heart and leave me a crying mess. I was not wrong. The ending did me in.
K9 officer Brag acquired his nickname “Werewolf” during K9 training. Suffice it to say, it suited his presence and demeaner. From the get-go, Brag and his partner, officer David Hodge, didn’t like or trust each other and struggled mercilessly during training. It wasn’t until they were out on the streets, for a while, that they forged their bond, one that would last a lifetime, for both of them.
David and Brag patrolled and protected the streets of Santa Barbara, CA that most of the millions of tourists (that visit every year) never see. They take down the gang bangers, thieves, killers, and every other kind of scum bag that made the mistake of committing crimes in Santa Barbara. I loved all of the stories of David’s and Brag’s, take-downs, exploits and accomplishments. I was also kind of shocked by the statistic of the mortality of police dogs: 110 US police dogs died in the line of duty over a 10yr period. That 110 was spread out over about 10 different causes of death.
I listened to the audiobook and it felt like I was sitting with David while he reminisced of his time with Brag. As with all non-fiction books I read, I rate it simply on the info provided and the manner in which it was provided. This was definitely a 5star read. I want to thank NetGalley and Post Hypnotic Press Audiobooks for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #PostHypnoticPressAudiobooks #Werewolf
K9 officer Brag acquired his nickname “Werewolf” during K9 training. Suffice it to say, it suited his presence and demeaner. From the get-go, Brag and his partner, officer David Hodge, didn’t like or trust each other and struggled mercilessly during training. It wasn’t until they were out on the streets, for a while, that they forged their bond, one that would last a lifetime, for both of them.
David and Brag patrolled and protected the streets of Santa Barbara, CA that most of the millions of tourists (that visit every year) never see. They take down the gang bangers, thieves, killers, and every other kind of scum bag that made the mistake of committing crimes in Santa Barbara. I loved all of the stories of David’s and Brag’s, take-downs, exploits and accomplishments. I was also kind of shocked by the statistic of the mortality of police dogs: 110 US police dogs died in the line of duty over a 10yr period. That 110 was spread out over about 10 different causes of death.
I listened to the audiobook and it felt like I was sitting with David while he reminisced of his time with Brag. As with all non-fiction books I read, I rate it simply on the info provided and the manner in which it was provided. This was definitely a 5star read. I want to thank NetGalley and Post Hypnotic Press Audiobooks for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #PostHypnoticPressAudiobooks #Werewolf
December 14, 2021
In “Werewolf” by David Alton Hedges, we meet a Santa Barbara Police Officer burnt-out by his years on the force. He knows he needs a change, something to inspire the kind of drive he felt when he pursued a career in law enforcement. He applies for a K-9 handler position, but was not chosen. He was contemplating a career change when fate stepped in to a pair a tragedy with a need.
When a widow with two children under the age of three offered their German Shepherd puppy to the SBPD, David got the job that would forever change his life. Though the training was rigorous, mainly due to Brag’s extraordinary strength and intelligence, the team passed the course and hit the streets, going on calls when the danger to officers was too great to take a risk.
This candid look inside a police officer’s career with his K-9 warrior kept me riveted throughout the book. While the danger they faced was intense and unpredictable, the relationship between the werewolf and his handler evolved as David continued to understand his magnificent partner’s strengths and intelligence. Their story is told with complete candor, and it reads like the best crime novels. There’s so much action, tension and risk, and also many victories that are so harrowing, I found myself laughing with relief at the duo’s heroics.
There’s a powerful love story underneath their challenges and victories, one that had me reaching for the tissue box on many occasions. This is a story of heroes, of doing the right thing, no matter the personal cost. I tear up just thinking of the beautiful arc of the true story. It is truly an outstanding and memorable tale.
When a widow with two children under the age of three offered their German Shepherd puppy to the SBPD, David got the job that would forever change his life. Though the training was rigorous, mainly due to Brag’s extraordinary strength and intelligence, the team passed the course and hit the streets, going on calls when the danger to officers was too great to take a risk.
This candid look inside a police officer’s career with his K-9 warrior kept me riveted throughout the book. While the danger they faced was intense and unpredictable, the relationship between the werewolf and his handler evolved as David continued to understand his magnificent partner’s strengths and intelligence. Their story is told with complete candor, and it reads like the best crime novels. There’s so much action, tension and risk, and also many victories that are so harrowing, I found myself laughing with relief at the duo’s heroics.
There’s a powerful love story underneath their challenges and victories, one that had me reaching for the tissue box on many occasions. This is a story of heroes, of doing the right thing, no matter the personal cost. I tear up just thinking of the beautiful arc of the true story. It is truly an outstanding and memorable tale.
October 14, 2023
I spent a lot of time deciding if this book is good enough to go into my shelf for favorite dog books. I already have at least one book about a police dog, and that was about a dog in England, and it has the advantage of being in a different world to me. Werewolf does fit the criteria though, with a great dog, lots of quotes I want to share, (well over 20 post-it notes), I loved reading it, and is a book I wouldn’t mind reading again. I finally just thought it is my shelf for favorites and I can put what I want in it and it’s a darn good book so put it in my shelf for favorite dog books.
The author, David Hedges starts the book as an officer in SWAT team in the City of Santa Barbara California. My family and I have been to that city, and it is a beautiful place and we have never seen any dark side to it. But David has-
‘But all of that is mostly invisible to me, an enchanting landscape painted on a see-through curtain in front of a stage where scenes of unspeakable horror play out. I can go for weeks without even seeing the beach, kept busy by emergency calls: fights, stabbings, shootings, burglaries, robberies, rapes, drunks, domestics, suicides. I spend more time in run-down housing projects and trailer parks than I do admiring sunsets. But they don’t pay me to enjoy the view.’
After a brutal mass murder scene, he decides –
‘I make a resolution. I’m going to put in for that K-9 spot and I’m going to get a police dog and we’re going to make things better. Somehow.’
About the same time when David is making that decision, a puppy goes to a nice family in Santa Barbara:
‘The bold, black masked pup goes to a surgeon in Santa Barbara with two young daughters. The surgeon’s wife, Jill, takes one look at the pup’s confident gait and names him “Brag.” He’s a handsome fellow with over-sized paws and a serious disposition. The official name for his coloring is sable, which means he has as much black on him as he does brown. Brag grows deeply attached to his new family, never straying far from the little girls and always with one eye on Jill, whom he adores.
Before Brag is a year old, Jill’s husband – an amateur pilot – hops in his plain and flies to Bakersfield for business. On his way home later that night, with two friends seated behind him, he miscalculates his position and flies into a mountain north of Santa Barbara. The plan disintegrates on impact. No one survives. ‘
Broken-hearted Jill decides to give up the dog. And as for the dog:
‘Brag’s world has changed; he is no longer certain where he belongs, or who he belongs with. He withdraws, no doubt worried sick about Jill and the two little girls. But there’s no explaining things to him, and so he waits.’
David after getting through some internal political crap comes to get assigned to Brag. Then through the book David goes through successions of learning new things relating to dogs. This next passage relates to something he learned when he first starts working with the dog:
‘In a police K-9 team, the human is always the weak link. We are forgetful and our enthusiasm waxes and wanes. Dogs love to work and they forget nothing.’
Brag has a very large head and is intimidating. Another office makes a comment:
‘That is not a dog,” Chad says, “that is a werewolf.”
The nickname sticks.
The book does share some about Brag’s training. They use the prong collar for training. Not sure for the type of work the dogs do, and the aggressive nature of the dogs, if purely positive training would work. His trainer gives him advice:
“All these little corrections don’t work. You’re just pissing him off. One good, clear correction is better than a hundred tiny ones.”
David continues to learn things about himself and the dog through the book. For example:
‘He is tough as galvanized nails, this dog. I suddenly realize that’s the problem: he’s tougher than I am. All those years on patrol, on SWAT, sweating in that tactical gear, all of it nowhere near the level of discomfort this animal can and will endure to do what he wants to do. Brag isn’t the one who needs to toughen up, it’s me.’
‘The longer I work with Brag, the less I see him the way I used to see a dog. He doesn’t feel like a dog at all, more like some creature that possesses entirely unique behaviors and motivations; a werewolf. I suppose. I trust him, some of the time. When I release him to do his job and I’ve done my job to try to limit the possible outcomes (biting another police officer, biting an innocent civilian, biting anyone he’s not supposed to bite, whether they are innocent or not). I’m confident he won’t fail.’
Brag stops his first criminal just from barking from inside the car, making the suspect pee his pants.-
‘It’s Brag’s first official apprehension and he never got out of the car.’
I love how David refers to his thought process when considering where a suspect would go:
‘I’ve always loved the chase. It’s a weird competition where you can’t see your opponent but you know he’s working against you. The instant a call of a crime goes out over the police radio, I activate something I call the Extrapolometer. This is a device that does not exist, except in my head. It extrapolates where the suspect is going. All the info is fed into it: crime, suspect description, time of day, neighborhood, weather, where the other cops are and if they’re going in with lights and sirens. No sound makes a wanted person run faster than the wail of an approaching police siren.’
A big part of what they do is try to find suspects that have run away from the scene. So, we are told things like suspects usually take right turns unless they are on the left side of the street. They will usually run downhill instead of up. And usually, they will run to a place they know, or eventually try to find a place to hide and maybe wait the police out.
In another part, David talks about pointing.
‘When I arrive in the block I’m confronted with a scenario that is not uncommon to police work, especially during the day when there’s a lot of humanity moving around; there are people on the sidewalk, pointing. The suspect has fled on foot. I follow the pointing fingers, turning onto another block in time to see another resident in their front yard who has divined the urgency of my driving that I’m looking for the man who just ran past them. So they point.’
At one part we are given statistics to know how dangerous it is for dogs doing police work:
‘In the ten-year period of 2004 to 2014, at least 101 police K-9’s died in the line of duty. Two were killed by other animals, two were killed by assault, two were drowned, one died of exposure to toxins, seven died in falls, six in auto accidents, five died due to duty-related illnesses or injury, fourteen were struck and killed by vehicles, sixteen died from heat exhaustion, three were stabbed to death, six were killed by intentional vehicular assaults, three died in training accidents, and thirty-four were killed by gunfire.’
The cops and robbers, well cops, cop dogs, and robbers are exciting stuff and you love it when Brag gets his man. Most of the time fear of the police dog is enough, so people give up, but when it’s not…
‘As I start up the steep hillside, I hear a man screaming. It’s Reck, shrieking in the darkness somewhere. Brag has him.
“GOOD BOY!” I shout, scrambling up the dusty trail on all fours. But there’s no need to go any farther because Brag is bringing Reck to me.
They appear in a surreal cloud of flash-light-beam illuminating dust. Brag is dragging the man by his lower leg, thrashing his head like a shark, digging his paws into the dusty earth. ‘
Another example is-
‘Brag disarmed the armed suspect without receiving so much as a scratch. The man was lying in wait, hoping to stab one of us. He wasn’t expecting a werewolf.’
Brag is sad to have an impressive bark. You can imagine when David says ‘Come out or I will send in the dog” is said along with the barking-
“I make the announcement and Brag translates it into dog. His bark is so loud people are emerging from other apartments to make sure we’re not talking to them.’
There are a lot of moments when I laughed out loud over parts in the book. At one point Brag can’t find the suspect but bites the suspect’s pillow.
‘There’s something else I have to face, that I’ve been denying for a long time: Brag has a sense of humor. He is the fearsome Werewolf, the hater of people on skateboards, people wearing hoodies, people who make eye contact, people who approach his K-9 car, people who walk funny, people who holler at him, and anyone else who is more than twelve years old and doesn’t wear a police uniform. But despite all his deadly seriousness he bit that pillow because he thought it would be funny. And it was.’
Another funny part starts with-
‘For some reason, law enforcement means interacting with a lot of naked people. Clothing is the first layer of civilized behavior that is stripped away when a person experiences a psychological crisis. When you are dispatched to a call of a naked man acting irrationally, it is rarely going to end quietly.’
As if the danger from criminals isn’t enough, at one point they are getting trapped by a brush fire. Anyone who has heard the news of them in California knows how dangerous they can be.-
‘I slow to a crawl. If I can’t outrun the fire, I’ll have to let Brag go. He can outrun it. But I don’t know a command to tell him to leave me. We don’t train for that, and I’m not sure he would be willing to leave me behind. I look back through the cage at him.
“Get ready to run Brag,” I tell him.’
Eventually brag does have to retire, and David has to say those words-
‘“Fifty-five, K9-1 station EOW.”
End of Watch, I put the mic down.
“K9-1 station,” the dispatcher replies. “Thank you, Brag.”’
A dog worthy of living forever in the pages of a great book, but in real life dogs we know they don’t live forever. For those who don’t want to need Kleenex at the end of a dog book, you could skip the last chapter, but for most of us, we know it’s coming so we just try to appreciate the good all the way to the end.
I highly recommend the book and am adding it to my shelf of dogs-favorite-books. I am not sure if it is better than other police dog books out there, like another favorite of mine - Fabulous Finn: The Brave Police Dog Who Came Back from the Brink by Dave Wardell, (hey, another Dave!), but fortunately it is not a competition and I say just read all the great books you can out there like this one.
The author, David Hedges starts the book as an officer in SWAT team in the City of Santa Barbara California. My family and I have been to that city, and it is a beautiful place and we have never seen any dark side to it. But David has-
‘But all of that is mostly invisible to me, an enchanting landscape painted on a see-through curtain in front of a stage where scenes of unspeakable horror play out. I can go for weeks without even seeing the beach, kept busy by emergency calls: fights, stabbings, shootings, burglaries, robberies, rapes, drunks, domestics, suicides. I spend more time in run-down housing projects and trailer parks than I do admiring sunsets. But they don’t pay me to enjoy the view.’
After a brutal mass murder scene, he decides –
‘I make a resolution. I’m going to put in for that K-9 spot and I’m going to get a police dog and we’re going to make things better. Somehow.’
About the same time when David is making that decision, a puppy goes to a nice family in Santa Barbara:
‘The bold, black masked pup goes to a surgeon in Santa Barbara with two young daughters. The surgeon’s wife, Jill, takes one look at the pup’s confident gait and names him “Brag.” He’s a handsome fellow with over-sized paws and a serious disposition. The official name for his coloring is sable, which means he has as much black on him as he does brown. Brag grows deeply attached to his new family, never straying far from the little girls and always with one eye on Jill, whom he adores.
Before Brag is a year old, Jill’s husband – an amateur pilot – hops in his plain and flies to Bakersfield for business. On his way home later that night, with two friends seated behind him, he miscalculates his position and flies into a mountain north of Santa Barbara. The plan disintegrates on impact. No one survives. ‘
Broken-hearted Jill decides to give up the dog. And as for the dog:
‘Brag’s world has changed; he is no longer certain where he belongs, or who he belongs with. He withdraws, no doubt worried sick about Jill and the two little girls. But there’s no explaining things to him, and so he waits.’
David after getting through some internal political crap comes to get assigned to Brag. Then through the book David goes through successions of learning new things relating to dogs. This next passage relates to something he learned when he first starts working with the dog:
‘In a police K-9 team, the human is always the weak link. We are forgetful and our enthusiasm waxes and wanes. Dogs love to work and they forget nothing.’
Brag has a very large head and is intimidating. Another office makes a comment:
‘That is not a dog,” Chad says, “that is a werewolf.”
The nickname sticks.
The book does share some about Brag’s training. They use the prong collar for training. Not sure for the type of work the dogs do, and the aggressive nature of the dogs, if purely positive training would work. His trainer gives him advice:
“All these little corrections don’t work. You’re just pissing him off. One good, clear correction is better than a hundred tiny ones.”
David continues to learn things about himself and the dog through the book. For example:
‘He is tough as galvanized nails, this dog. I suddenly realize that’s the problem: he’s tougher than I am. All those years on patrol, on SWAT, sweating in that tactical gear, all of it nowhere near the level of discomfort this animal can and will endure to do what he wants to do. Brag isn’t the one who needs to toughen up, it’s me.’
‘The longer I work with Brag, the less I see him the way I used to see a dog. He doesn’t feel like a dog at all, more like some creature that possesses entirely unique behaviors and motivations; a werewolf. I suppose. I trust him, some of the time. When I release him to do his job and I’ve done my job to try to limit the possible outcomes (biting another police officer, biting an innocent civilian, biting anyone he’s not supposed to bite, whether they are innocent or not). I’m confident he won’t fail.’
Brag stops his first criminal just from barking from inside the car, making the suspect pee his pants.-
‘It’s Brag’s first official apprehension and he never got out of the car.’
I love how David refers to his thought process when considering where a suspect would go:
‘I’ve always loved the chase. It’s a weird competition where you can’t see your opponent but you know he’s working against you. The instant a call of a crime goes out over the police radio, I activate something I call the Extrapolometer. This is a device that does not exist, except in my head. It extrapolates where the suspect is going. All the info is fed into it: crime, suspect description, time of day, neighborhood, weather, where the other cops are and if they’re going in with lights and sirens. No sound makes a wanted person run faster than the wail of an approaching police siren.’
A big part of what they do is try to find suspects that have run away from the scene. So, we are told things like suspects usually take right turns unless they are on the left side of the street. They will usually run downhill instead of up. And usually, they will run to a place they know, or eventually try to find a place to hide and maybe wait the police out.
In another part, David talks about pointing.
‘When I arrive in the block I’m confronted with a scenario that is not uncommon to police work, especially during the day when there’s a lot of humanity moving around; there are people on the sidewalk, pointing. The suspect has fled on foot. I follow the pointing fingers, turning onto another block in time to see another resident in their front yard who has divined the urgency of my driving that I’m looking for the man who just ran past them. So they point.’
At one part we are given statistics to know how dangerous it is for dogs doing police work:
‘In the ten-year period of 2004 to 2014, at least 101 police K-9’s died in the line of duty. Two were killed by other animals, two were killed by assault, two were drowned, one died of exposure to toxins, seven died in falls, six in auto accidents, five died due to duty-related illnesses or injury, fourteen were struck and killed by vehicles, sixteen died from heat exhaustion, three were stabbed to death, six were killed by intentional vehicular assaults, three died in training accidents, and thirty-four were killed by gunfire.’
The cops and robbers, well cops, cop dogs, and robbers are exciting stuff and you love it when Brag gets his man. Most of the time fear of the police dog is enough, so people give up, but when it’s not…
‘As I start up the steep hillside, I hear a man screaming. It’s Reck, shrieking in the darkness somewhere. Brag has him.
“GOOD BOY!” I shout, scrambling up the dusty trail on all fours. But there’s no need to go any farther because Brag is bringing Reck to me.
They appear in a surreal cloud of flash-light-beam illuminating dust. Brag is dragging the man by his lower leg, thrashing his head like a shark, digging his paws into the dusty earth. ‘
Another example is-
‘Brag disarmed the armed suspect without receiving so much as a scratch. The man was lying in wait, hoping to stab one of us. He wasn’t expecting a werewolf.’
Brag is sad to have an impressive bark. You can imagine when David says ‘Come out or I will send in the dog” is said along with the barking-
“I make the announcement and Brag translates it into dog. His bark is so loud people are emerging from other apartments to make sure we’re not talking to them.’
There are a lot of moments when I laughed out loud over parts in the book. At one point Brag can’t find the suspect but bites the suspect’s pillow.
‘There’s something else I have to face, that I’ve been denying for a long time: Brag has a sense of humor. He is the fearsome Werewolf, the hater of people on skateboards, people wearing hoodies, people who make eye contact, people who approach his K-9 car, people who walk funny, people who holler at him, and anyone else who is more than twelve years old and doesn’t wear a police uniform. But despite all his deadly seriousness he bit that pillow because he thought it would be funny. And it was.’
Another funny part starts with-
‘For some reason, law enforcement means interacting with a lot of naked people. Clothing is the first layer of civilized behavior that is stripped away when a person experiences a psychological crisis. When you are dispatched to a call of a naked man acting irrationally, it is rarely going to end quietly.’
As if the danger from criminals isn’t enough, at one point they are getting trapped by a brush fire. Anyone who has heard the news of them in California knows how dangerous they can be.-
‘I slow to a crawl. If I can’t outrun the fire, I’ll have to let Brag go. He can outrun it. But I don’t know a command to tell him to leave me. We don’t train for that, and I’m not sure he would be willing to leave me behind. I look back through the cage at him.
“Get ready to run Brag,” I tell him.’
Eventually brag does have to retire, and David has to say those words-
‘“Fifty-five, K9-1 station EOW.”
End of Watch, I put the mic down.
“K9-1 station,” the dispatcher replies. “Thank you, Brag.”’
A dog worthy of living forever in the pages of a great book, but in real life dogs we know they don’t live forever. For those who don’t want to need Kleenex at the end of a dog book, you could skip the last chapter, but for most of us, we know it’s coming so we just try to appreciate the good all the way to the end.
I highly recommend the book and am adding it to my shelf of dogs-favorite-books. I am not sure if it is better than other police dog books out there, like another favorite of mine - Fabulous Finn: The Brave Police Dog Who Came Back from the Brink by Dave Wardell, (hey, another Dave!), but fortunately it is not a competition and I say just read all the great books you can out there like this one.
July 8, 2024
Narrated by Michael Puttonen
Presented by Post Hypnotic Press Audiobooks
I think I would have liked this more with a different narrator, but it was an okay listen for a freebie.
This is the true story of Police dog, Brag, and his handler. The author starts with the beginning of their relationship, and how things were rocky at first, but eventually the two developed a close working partnership, which did of course graduate to friendship.
The relationship between dog and handler was sweet, though it was hard for me to imagine such a fierce, cold dog. Brag is tough, arrogant, and clinical in his work. It was quite fascinating listening to the different anecdotes about how a dog fits in with police work, but it was hard to get to like this dog in the beginning.
That said, there's a lot more to being part of a K9 unit than I suspected, and I did get a quiet joy out of knowing these dogs are out there biting bad guys.
There was a great balance of police work and details of the relationship between the two. I found the author's behaviour questionable at times, but the pair seemed to suit each other quite well. The structure of the story was clever and followed a logical progression.
The narration really didn't work for me. He seemed to inject feeling and emotion that didn't match the words, and I found myself thinking about how I would have read it different. I was frustrated with how it kept pulling me out of the story. It's also a bit of a weird complaint, but with this being an autobiography I found it frustrating that the voice didn't really match the person I envisioned. Basically, the story sounded much more hardcore than the guy telling the story. Sorry!
Overall, though, it was an interesting listen. It's not the kind of book I would normally pick up for myself, so I'm glad it was a 'listen now', otherwise I probably wouldn't have bothered.
With thanks to NetGalley for an audio ARC
Presented by Post Hypnotic Press Audiobooks
I think I would have liked this more with a different narrator, but it was an okay listen for a freebie.
This is the true story of Police dog, Brag, and his handler. The author starts with the beginning of their relationship, and how things were rocky at first, but eventually the two developed a close working partnership, which did of course graduate to friendship.
The relationship between dog and handler was sweet, though it was hard for me to imagine such a fierce, cold dog. Brag is tough, arrogant, and clinical in his work. It was quite fascinating listening to the different anecdotes about how a dog fits in with police work, but it was hard to get to like this dog in the beginning.
That said, there's a lot more to being part of a K9 unit than I suspected, and I did get a quiet joy out of knowing these dogs are out there biting bad guys.
There was a great balance of police work and details of the relationship between the two. I found the author's behaviour questionable at times, but the pair seemed to suit each other quite well. The structure of the story was clever and followed a logical progression.
The narration really didn't work for me. He seemed to inject feeling and emotion that didn't match the words, and I found myself thinking about how I would have read it different. I was frustrated with how it kept pulling me out of the story. It's also a bit of a weird complaint, but with this being an autobiography I found it frustrating that the voice didn't really match the person I envisioned. Basically, the story sounded much more hardcore than the guy telling the story. Sorry!
Overall, though, it was an interesting listen. It's not the kind of book I would normally pick up for myself, so I'm glad it was a 'listen now', otherwise I probably wouldn't have bothered.
With thanks to NetGalley for an audio ARC
August 24, 2024
This high quality true life story of the extraordinary police dog and hus human handler had me in tears. It waa so full of emotion. I enjoyed listening to their story and the various adventures. It was just the right length and totally engaging. I recommend this to all dog lovers and anyobe who likes an escape.
I really felt for the handler. This is a highly recommended 5 star listen that will leave you feeling you have been privileged to know the life of an extraordinary dog.
Thank you netgallery and publisher and author and narrator.
I really felt for the handler. This is a highly recommended 5 star listen that will leave you feeling you have been privileged to know the life of an extraordinary dog.
Thank you netgallery and publisher and author and narrator.
Read
July 25, 2024Well, an impossible review (no rating because audio). One of the hardest books I've ever read. I don't watch movies with dogs and I can't cope with any dogs being hurt, sad, injured or passing in books. Fiction or not.
The first thing to say is, if you're like me, maybe consider if you can cope with this or if you should avoid it. I let the outcome of my netgalley request decide for me.
You will be heartbroken at times.
All that aside, this was a remarkable story about an even more remarkable, clever, GOOD BOY (iykyk), Brag AKA werewolf. An absolute hero. Whilst I found it hard to read, it was an incredible story and part of me is glad I got to learn about Brag and the amazing work he did.
The relationships between canines and their humans are alwayssss so beautiful and it really shines through in this story. One of my favourite moments was when Brag's owner recognised that Brag really did love him.
Thanks to all police and K9 officers for their service.
Thanks so much to the author, publisher and netgalley for my audioARC in exchange for my honest review.
The first thing to say is, if you're like me, maybe consider if you can cope with this or if you should avoid it. I let the outcome of my netgalley request decide for me.
You will be heartbroken at times.
All that aside, this was a remarkable story about an even more remarkable, clever, GOOD BOY (iykyk), Brag AKA werewolf. An absolute hero. Whilst I found it hard to read, it was an incredible story and part of me is glad I got to learn about Brag and the amazing work he did.
The relationships between canines and their humans are alwayssss so beautiful and it really shines through in this story. One of my favourite moments was when Brag's owner recognised that Brag really did love him.
Thanks to all police and K9 officers for their service.
Thanks so much to the author, publisher and netgalley for my audioARC in exchange for my honest review.
April 24, 2022
Dog, the purest form of Love and Loyalty
I cried, I laughed, and cried again. If you are a dog person, (or not) This true story captures the heart, intelligence, and unique personality of a brave soul. To say thank you for your service doesn’t even begin to cover it. I always trust the instinct of my dogs before I do people. They never lie, they always wish to please and they love with out judgment. To the man lucky enough to be Brags friend. You were blessed. A must read. I highly recommend this story.
I cried, I laughed, and cried again. If you are a dog person, (or not) This true story captures the heart, intelligence, and unique personality of a brave soul. To say thank you for your service doesn’t even begin to cover it. I always trust the instinct of my dogs before I do people. They never lie, they always wish to please and they love with out judgment. To the man lucky enough to be Brags friend. You were blessed. A must read. I highly recommend this story.
May 5, 2022
This was one of the BEST books I have read in years!! The story kept me spellbound. One thing I would recommend, buy yourself a dozen boxes of Kleenex, as you will cry through the last two chapters!!
October 14, 2021
Awesome 👏🏼 👏🏼👏🏼
Thanks to you and Brag for your service. Enjoyed reading about your exploits and how y’all became such great partners. Hated the end but any dog lover knows all about eol. I’m still crying…
Thanks to you and Brag for your service. Enjoyed reading about your exploits and how y’all became such great partners. Hated the end but any dog lover knows all about eol. I’m still crying…
April 11, 2022
Brags story has shown a light on the hard work and dedication that takes place between a K9 and his partner. Especially the bond between the officer and his dog. I couldn't put it down I finished reading at 3 am.
April 14, 2022
the very best
Great book about a great dog. The author tells this extraordinary story without sentimentality, yet drew tears from me several times. Recommended highly.
Excuse me, I need to go hug my dog.
Great book about a great dog. The author tells this extraordinary story without sentimentality, yet drew tears from me several times. Recommended highly.
Excuse me, I need to go hug my dog.
July 16, 2024
What an incredible story between a handler and his canine. This book was so raw, emotional and so compelling. I could not stop listening.
I laughed and I cried throughout.
My husband is a fairly new K9 handler and hearing Brag’s stories provides me with so much appreciation and pride for our dog.
This story is a must read for all animal lovers and those who love day to day police procedure. What an incredible read. Highly recommend.
I’ll be squeezing my husband’s K9 extra tight when they come home.
I laughed and I cried throughout.
My husband is a fairly new K9 handler and hearing Brag’s stories provides me with so much appreciation and pride for our dog.
This story is a must read for all animal lovers and those who love day to day police procedure. What an incredible read. Highly recommend.
I’ll be squeezing my husband’s K9 extra tight when they come home.
July 9, 2024
The true story of a relationship between a canine handler and his first partner. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC/audiobook. I think they should consider changing the name of this book as I passed it by several times, thinking ugh, I don't want to invest in a paranormal story. I would have never even chosen it unless I had run out of books and was desperate.
August 16, 2024
This is a story for all dog lovers and any K9 handler. It is a story where a handler is told the secret of using a K9 and finally learns to use it. Brag started out to be a beloved family dog but when death hits the house Brag was lovingly given a new purpose in life, to be a police K9 and a great one at that. This book also touches on other the K9's in the unit. But as handler and K9 become a team the handler struggles over what he would do if he ever had to send Brag into a potentially dangerous situation, after all they are partners now, with the greatest of bonds.
This audiobook was provided by Netgalley for review
This audiobook was provided by Netgalley for review
April 22, 2022
Wonderful!
A truly remarkable story of an extraordinary dog. It had to be told and has been in a talented, humorous and beautiful way. I am honored to have met Brag through it.
We need to remember and appreciate the sacrifice these K9 officers. Their dedication and infinite love.
Thank you!
A truly remarkable story of an extraordinary dog. It had to be told and has been in a talented, humorous and beautiful way. I am honored to have met Brag through it.
We need to remember and appreciate the sacrifice these K9 officers. Their dedication and infinite love.
Thank you!
April 28, 2022
Great read
Well written and edited, something you don't find very often. Maybe because I was in law enforcement I really appreciated the narrative and honesty of Officer Hedges. Having a King Shepherd in my life who protected me also adds to my appreciation of this GREAT story. Excellent read.
Well written and edited, something you don't find very often. Maybe because I was in law enforcement I really appreciated the narrative and honesty of Officer Hedges. Having a King Shepherd in my life who protected me also adds to my appreciation of this GREAT story. Excellent read.
February 16, 2022
Absolutely amazing story. If you love dogs doing their jobs, this is for you. Will read again.
May 9, 2022
I cried at the end
Recommended to do lovers everywhere. The God given Love And connection The people can have With dogs Makes this life Even more worth Living it
Recommended to do lovers everywhere. The God given Love And connection The people can have With dogs Makes this life Even more worth Living it
August 13, 2024
"Werewolf: The True Story of an Extraordinary Police Dog" by David Alton Hedges is a fantastic book!
David Alton Hedges is a policeman. A German Shepherd Dog named Brag becomes his police dog. The other police call Brag, the Werewolf.
I found the canine training for police dogs really interesting. It is so different from other kinds of dog training. Then, the incidents of police hunts and chases with the dog are really interesting and exciting.
David and Brag become an excellent canine unit team!! I really grew to like and cheer on Brag. He was such a good dog! He worked so hard to catch the bad guys!!
I was really moved by this entire book. The end had me in tears, empathizing with David.
The narrator, Michael Puttonen, did a great job with this book!
If you like dogs, you will like this book! I highly recommend this book!
Thank you to Netgalley, Post Hypnotic Press Audiobooks, and author,, David Alton Hedges for providing this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
David Alton Hedges is a policeman. A German Shepherd Dog named Brag becomes his police dog. The other police call Brag, the Werewolf.
I found the canine training for police dogs really interesting. It is so different from other kinds of dog training. Then, the incidents of police hunts and chases with the dog are really interesting and exciting.
David and Brag become an excellent canine unit team!! I really grew to like and cheer on Brag. He was such a good dog! He worked so hard to catch the bad guys!!
I was really moved by this entire book. The end had me in tears, empathizing with David.
The narrator, Michael Puttonen, did a great job with this book!
If you like dogs, you will like this book! I highly recommend this book!
Thank you to Netgalley, Post Hypnotic Press Audiobooks, and author,, David Alton Hedges for providing this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
April 1, 2024
A best friend!
I loved this story and was with these two partners in all that they did. I have loved all of my dogs since my very first one as a little kid to my current one licking my tears as I read about Brag. This is a must read if you love dogs. Thank you Mr. Hedges for sharing your story.
I loved this story and was with these two partners in all that they did. I have loved all of my dogs since my very first one as a little kid to my current one licking my tears as I read about Brag. This is a must read if you love dogs. Thank you Mr. Hedges for sharing your story.
July 30, 2024
I loved listening to this book. Full of heartwarming stories, and fascinating to see a glimpse into the life of a police dog and his partner.
The narration was really well done, and so natural. I could have listened to this for double the length of time! It was an overall lovely book.
A big thank you to NetGalley for the privilege to read and review this book.
The narration was really well done, and so natural. I could have listened to this for double the length of time! It was an overall lovely book.
A big thank you to NetGalley for the privilege to read and review this book.
July 19, 2024
*****I received this audiobook free from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
I am a huge dog lover. I also love true police officer stories. This was the best of both worlds! I loved ready all about the building of the relationship through police work between dog and man. A must read.
I am a huge dog lover. I also love true police officer stories. This was the best of both worlds! I loved ready all about the building of the relationship through police work between dog and man. A must read.
March 22, 2022
Best book Ever!
As a police.mans' daughter, I love a story that tells the truth about how police officers actually are. Hard to find these days. Plus I love dogs passionately.
I am done crying now, but I share the same joy in memories of my own dogs. Thanks for sharing your wonderful story. K
As a police.mans' daughter, I love a story that tells the truth about how police officers actually are. Hard to find these days. Plus I love dogs passionately.
I am done crying now, but I share the same joy in memories of my own dogs. Thanks for sharing your wonderful story. K
March 22, 2022
Beautiful
One of the most honest and beautiful books I have ever read. Thank you so much for sharing the story of your brave and wonderful partner, but for both of your service.
One of the most honest and beautiful books I have ever read. Thank you so much for sharing the story of your brave and wonderful partner, but for both of your service.
February 15, 2022
Great story of a police dog
This great story of a police dog and his handler resonates with the connection that reflects the allowance of the total power, skill and drive to be skillfully unleashed. Brag as his training progressed became such an important and skilled member of this police force. Wonderful story.
This great story of a police dog and his handler resonates with the connection that reflects the allowance of the total power, skill and drive to be skillfully unleashed. Brag as his training progressed became such an important and skilled member of this police force. Wonderful story.
August 11, 2023
I read this book almost a year ago. I don't usually write reviews, so this will be short and sweet, but I had to come back and say that this is the best book I've ever read. To this day, I still talk about it to others. I'm actually thinking of buying hard copies to give as Christmas gifts to other avid readers that I know. I'd rate it ten stars if I could.
December 6, 2024
Werewolf: The True Story of an Extraordinary Police Dog
By David Alton Hedges | Narrated by Michael Puttonen
⭐️⭐️⭐️
I finished listening to this audiobook a few days ago and needed some time to reflect before writing this review. Initially, I might have rated it one or two stars, but after stepping back and processing my thoughts, I’ve settled on three stars. While there were aspects of the book I truly enjoyed, there were also significant issues that were hard to overlook.
Let’s start with the negative. Mild spoiler ahead—this pertains to the afterword and not the story itself. In the afterword, the author—a white police officer—claims that in his 25-year career, he never witnessed racism among officers toward suspects and that he himself had experienced racism from suspects. This is an ignorant and problematic statement. Racism is a systemic issue, and while individuals may face prejudice, racism involves systemic power dynamics that white people do not experience in the same way. Denying the existence of racism in law enforcement either reflects denial or dishonesty. This statement left a bad taste in my mouth, tarnishing an otherwise compelling story. The afterword felt unnecessary and detracted from the book’s core focus: the incredible bond between the author and his canine partner.
Now, onto the mostly positives. The book tells the story of Bragg, a canine officer nicknamed “Werewolf,” through the eyes of his handler. The author recounts their adventures, training sessions, and cases with vivid detail. He also shares the emotional journey of learning to bond with Bragg after vowing never to get attached to another dog following the loss of his “soul dog.” As any dog lover knows, forming a purely professional relationship with a dog is nearly impossible, and the author’s eventual love and admiration for Bragg are heartwarming.
The anecdotes about Bragg’s work were gripping and thought-provoking. They touched on ethical dilemmas, such as the risks involved in using canine officers. Are we right to value human safety above a dog’s life when the dog doesn’t fully understand the danger? The author suggests Bragg was aware of his role and responsibilities, and while I’m not a scientist, I’ve seen firsthand the intelligence and emotional understanding dogs can possess.
However, another layer of complexity lies in how the police are perceived by the public. For many, including myself, interactions with law enforcement can be deeply unsettling, if not outright terrifying. My distrust stems from a personal experience when I was in an abusive relationship as a young adult. Despite the police being called multiple times, I had been conditioned to stay silent and protect my abuser. On one occasion, the officers decided to “teach me a lesson” for not pressing charges against my husband. I was arrested, fingerprinted, and detained, even though no crime had been committed. The charges were later dropped, but the trauma of that experience has stayed with me. This context shaped my perspective while listening to the book, particularly when the author recounted scenarios where suspects were told they would be treated fairly if they complied. For some, fear and distrust of the police may prevent them from believing those assurances, regardless of their validity. Stating that suspects “asked/begged” to be bitten in this context is more than a little unsettling.
One standout story involved Bragg failing a test due to a judge’s error, only to pass with flying colors during a retake. Another moving moment came when Bragg underwent surgery—a tense and emotional chapter that left me deeply invested in his story. By the end of the book, I felt a genuine fondness for Bragg and his incredible journey.
While the story itself was strong, the narration fell flat for me. Michael Puttonen’s monotone delivery lacked the emotion needed to bring such an action-packed, heartfelt story to life. A more dynamic narrator could have elevated the audiobook significantly.
In conclusion, despite its flaws, Werewolf is an engaging memoir that I’d recommend to readers who enjoy stories about dogs, police work, or the unique bond between humans and animals.
Thank you to #PostHypnoticPress and #NetGalley for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.
By David Alton Hedges | Narrated by Michael Puttonen
⭐️⭐️⭐️
I finished listening to this audiobook a few days ago and needed some time to reflect before writing this review. Initially, I might have rated it one or two stars, but after stepping back and processing my thoughts, I’ve settled on three stars. While there were aspects of the book I truly enjoyed, there were also significant issues that were hard to overlook.
Let’s start with the negative. Mild spoiler ahead—this pertains to the afterword and not the story itself. In the afterword, the author—a white police officer—claims that in his 25-year career, he never witnessed racism among officers toward suspects and that he himself had experienced racism from suspects. This is an ignorant and problematic statement. Racism is a systemic issue, and while individuals may face prejudice, racism involves systemic power dynamics that white people do not experience in the same way. Denying the existence of racism in law enforcement either reflects denial or dishonesty. This statement left a bad taste in my mouth, tarnishing an otherwise compelling story. The afterword felt unnecessary and detracted from the book’s core focus: the incredible bond between the author and his canine partner.
Now, onto the mostly positives. The book tells the story of Bragg, a canine officer nicknamed “Werewolf,” through the eyes of his handler. The author recounts their adventures, training sessions, and cases with vivid detail. He also shares the emotional journey of learning to bond with Bragg after vowing never to get attached to another dog following the loss of his “soul dog.” As any dog lover knows, forming a purely professional relationship with a dog is nearly impossible, and the author’s eventual love and admiration for Bragg are heartwarming.
The anecdotes about Bragg’s work were gripping and thought-provoking. They touched on ethical dilemmas, such as the risks involved in using canine officers. Are we right to value human safety above a dog’s life when the dog doesn’t fully understand the danger? The author suggests Bragg was aware of his role and responsibilities, and while I’m not a scientist, I’ve seen firsthand the intelligence and emotional understanding dogs can possess.
However, another layer of complexity lies in how the police are perceived by the public. For many, including myself, interactions with law enforcement can be deeply unsettling, if not outright terrifying. My distrust stems from a personal experience when I was in an abusive relationship as a young adult. Despite the police being called multiple times, I had been conditioned to stay silent and protect my abuser. On one occasion, the officers decided to “teach me a lesson” for not pressing charges against my husband. I was arrested, fingerprinted, and detained, even though no crime had been committed. The charges were later dropped, but the trauma of that experience has stayed with me. This context shaped my perspective while listening to the book, particularly when the author recounted scenarios where suspects were told they would be treated fairly if they complied. For some, fear and distrust of the police may prevent them from believing those assurances, regardless of their validity. Stating that suspects “asked/begged” to be bitten in this context is more than a little unsettling.
One standout story involved Bragg failing a test due to a judge’s error, only to pass with flying colors during a retake. Another moving moment came when Bragg underwent surgery—a tense and emotional chapter that left me deeply invested in his story. By the end of the book, I felt a genuine fondness for Bragg and his incredible journey.
While the story itself was strong, the narration fell flat for me. Michael Puttonen’s monotone delivery lacked the emotion needed to bring such an action-packed, heartfelt story to life. A more dynamic narrator could have elevated the audiobook significantly.
In conclusion, despite its flaws, Werewolf is an engaging memoir that I’d recommend to readers who enjoy stories about dogs, police work, or the unique bond between humans and animals.
Thank you to #PostHypnoticPress and #NetGalley for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.
July 26, 2024
So, I read the reviews (at least some of them, and, there are a ton)...and I knew that it was going to be heartbreaking, but I STILL was not prepared for my total breakdown after reading this book.
Brag was a German Shepherd dog that was lovingly adopted into a family and was later given up, when his master (Dad) died in a plane crash (This is clearly stated in the description, so I'm really not giving anything away here...) and the Mom, with small children, was not able to care for him the way he needed and deserved...
So, he was given up and given to a Police K9 Unit...where he met his handler/partner.
In the beginning, he was clearly heartbroken after losing his entire family and not understanding why...so, his partner decided that he was NOT going to get close to him. Not going to give him love. Not going to make him a part of HIS family. This was just his K9. His partner. Nothing more...
Well, for any of you reading this who have a heart...and/or have a dog...you know how that ended up, right???
Brag was difficult at first, and made it clear that this was NOT where he wanted to be...and that he was not going to be taking orders from anyone.
BUT, after some training...and some time, he grew to be a total LEGEND in the field of K9's.
From reading this book, it seems like he made everyone who ever had contact with him (at least on the Police side of it...and the family side...) have a soft spot for him.
Multiple times we are told he was smiling! What an achievement that is for a dog!!
This totally warms my heart, as we have a rescue Dachshund, who was abused before we got him, and is STILL afraid of everything and everyone...years later.
BUT, every time I come through the door at night...well, he gives me a big SMILE! And it totally hits me...in the heart...every time!
And, the way he took on the bad guys...with no fear...
And the way his partner was afraid at times to let him go...even though he swore he would NOT get attached to this dog (after losing one when he was young...and having a really hard time getting over it...)
Well, I was praying in my own mind that no harm would come to him. I can't even imagine having to be faced with this reality every single day....as part of my job.
So, over time, of course they became close...and best friends.
And, there was a bond with so many of the officers...and branches of police... a beautiful thing!
Really a heartwarming story in so many ways (at least when I wasn't' having a heart attack and/or biting my nails...holding my breath....etc...)
Inevitably, we know that dogs life spans are much shorter than humans, and so, there are some soul crushing moments in here...where I was completely and totally SOBBING...but, that's a dog's life.
If you haven't read this one, please consider picking it up!
It just recently was released as an audiobook and I thank #NetGalley, #Audible and #PostHypnoticPressAudiobooks for an ARC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review...and here it is. Thanks so much for the opportunity to read it! It was truly remarkable!!
#Werewolf:TheTrueStoryOfAnExtraordinaryPoliceDog by #DavidAltonHedges and narrated by #MichaelPuttonen
4 1/2 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 for me, rounded up to 5!
Because, who doesn't love a story about a dog...and one that's truly a hero?? !!!!
Feel free to like, follow and friend me on: Goodreads,
IG @ #BookReviews_with_emsr or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine.
Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends!! 📚⭐️
Brag was a German Shepherd dog that was lovingly adopted into a family and was later given up, when his master (Dad) died in a plane crash (This is clearly stated in the description, so I'm really not giving anything away here...) and the Mom, with small children, was not able to care for him the way he needed and deserved...
So, he was given up and given to a Police K9 Unit...where he met his handler/partner.
In the beginning, he was clearly heartbroken after losing his entire family and not understanding why...so, his partner decided that he was NOT going to get close to him. Not going to give him love. Not going to make him a part of HIS family. This was just his K9. His partner. Nothing more...
Well, for any of you reading this who have a heart...and/or have a dog...you know how that ended up, right???
Brag was difficult at first, and made it clear that this was NOT where he wanted to be...and that he was not going to be taking orders from anyone.
BUT, after some training...and some time, he grew to be a total LEGEND in the field of K9's.
From reading this book, it seems like he made everyone who ever had contact with him (at least on the Police side of it...and the family side...) have a soft spot for him.
Multiple times we are told he was smiling! What an achievement that is for a dog!!
This totally warms my heart, as we have a rescue Dachshund, who was abused before we got him, and is STILL afraid of everything and everyone...years later.
BUT, every time I come through the door at night...well, he gives me a big SMILE! And it totally hits me...in the heart...every time!
And, the way he took on the bad guys...with no fear...
And the way his partner was afraid at times to let him go...even though he swore he would NOT get attached to this dog (after losing one when he was young...and having a really hard time getting over it...)
Well, I was praying in my own mind that no harm would come to him. I can't even imagine having to be faced with this reality every single day....as part of my job.
So, over time, of course they became close...and best friends.
And, there was a bond with so many of the officers...and branches of police... a beautiful thing!
Really a heartwarming story in so many ways (at least when I wasn't' having a heart attack and/or biting my nails...holding my breath....etc...)
Inevitably, we know that dogs life spans are much shorter than humans, and so, there are some soul crushing moments in here...where I was completely and totally SOBBING...but, that's a dog's life.
If you haven't read this one, please consider picking it up!
It just recently was released as an audiobook and I thank #NetGalley, #Audible and #PostHypnoticPressAudiobooks for an ARC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review...and here it is. Thanks so much for the opportunity to read it! It was truly remarkable!!
#Werewolf:TheTrueStoryOfAnExtraordinaryPoliceDog by #DavidAltonHedges and narrated by #MichaelPuttonen
4 1/2 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 for me, rounded up to 5!
Because, who doesn't love a story about a dog...and one that's truly a hero?? !!!!
Feel free to like, follow and friend me on: Goodreads,
IG @ #BookReviews_with_emsr or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine.
Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends!! 📚⭐️
Displaying 1 - 30 of 172 reviews