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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!
- GenresDogsAnimalsNonfiction
392 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 9, 2021
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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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
March 15, 2024
I came across this book by accident. As an animal lover and owner of dogs my entire life I was excited to get this book which I quickly finished in 3 days. I read it every chance I got but I quickly told my wife that I hope this doesn’t have a sad ending. I will not give away any spoilers. I wish I could give this book more than 5 stars as it was written brilliantly. Me personally as one who has supported the police and respect what they do this book opened a whole new perspective on what K-9 unit does. There is written an excellent description of the process of how a dog becomes and maintains the honor to be called a Police officer, and how they must qualify and continue to qualify year after year. Reading this book I have come to respect and Love Brag who wore the badge of police officer and David his handler who bore sole responsibility for Brag. To be able to separate his human self and desire for protecting Brag to knowing Brag was in fact part of the police force and he had a job to do and that was put himself between suspects and the officers who were looking to put them in custody. I was astonished at reading just how indescribable the power of a dogs sense really is how or at least how unreal Brags sense of smell and understanding what he was being asked to do really was, his determination and willingness to “catch the bad guy” putting his health and life at great risk to protect us from people who wish to do us harm.
I am left wondering why being a K9 officer is essentially considered bad for a police officers career and why the department’s don’t want anyone too specialized in any one area so the career is only as long as a service dogs life is. I’m also left wondering how does a police dog know what scent to pick up especially on some of the example where Brag actually detected a suspect scent while in the back of the police car on the way to the scene? Maybe nobody knows for sure which only makes how police dogs trail suspects all that more impressive. I have a much great respect for all K9 officers and their handlers as I do all police officers. I know from reading this book I don’t ever want to hear the words come out or the dog is coming in and you’ll regret it. For those who stood their ground you got what you demanded and those who gave up well clearly that was at least one good decision you have made that day. I want to say Thank you to Brag and David for your service to keep the people in this world who want to live in peace as safe as you can and keep us from harm. What an incredible story. Brag you are a legend and a hero.
I am left wondering why being a K9 officer is essentially considered bad for a police officers career and why the department’s don’t want anyone too specialized in any one area so the career is only as long as a service dogs life is. I’m also left wondering how does a police dog know what scent to pick up especially on some of the example where Brag actually detected a suspect scent while in the back of the police car on the way to the scene? Maybe nobody knows for sure which only makes how police dogs trail suspects all that more impressive. I have a much great respect for all K9 officers and their handlers as I do all police officers. I know from reading this book I don’t ever want to hear the words come out or the dog is coming in and you’ll regret it. For those who stood their ground you got what you demanded and those who gave up well clearly that was at least one good decision you have made that day. I want to say Thank you to Brag and David for your service to keep the people in this world who want to live in peace as safe as you can and keep us from harm. What an incredible story. Brag you are a legend and a hero.
November 13, 2022
For all who live with their dog(s) and for all who wonder what that's about.
Even though, the author writes in a narrative style, I got lost in the story, which I love when that happens.
My memory was jogged. Forgotten memories of all the dogs I've ever loved were rekindled and enjoyed again. Healing tears rolled down and soothed present circumstances.
Brag joined my pack of memories. I am deeply gratified to have read his story and to have beheld the grandeur and legacy of a life well lived.
Some have dogs or a dog and some of us live with our dog(s). They are core members of our family. We do life with them. They share every memory, every vacation, every celebration, every joy, every milestone...as well as, every hardship, every set back, every struggle and disappoinment...they share every - day.
We know what every tone and intonation of their bark, whistle and whine means. We converse back and forth as intimate friends audibly and with our body language, feelings and emotions.
Living with your dog like this, they know things about us before we are conscious of it. Like we're getting sick, we are more tired than we realize, we're more upset emotionally, etc, etc How? They begin to take care of us, nurture, cuddle, touch, stay close, and their stare turns to a warm gaze of empathy, love and compassion that heals, takes the edge off and we get in touch with what's going on.
As expressed on every page of this book, we need our dog(s) as much as they need us. Dogs long for and repeatedly invite us into a symbiotic relationship that makes life much more delightful to live for them since this is their instinct and for us because of their unconditional love, mercy, forgiveness, and compassion.
Our beloved companion dog can help us discover "the sacredness of every moment."
For me, David Alton Hedges did an exceptional job capturing these aspects of our friendship with dogs we do life with.
Ending this review with precious memories streaming through my head and once again healing tears soaking my face. Perfect.
Even though, the author writes in a narrative style, I got lost in the story, which I love when that happens.
My memory was jogged. Forgotten memories of all the dogs I've ever loved were rekindled and enjoyed again. Healing tears rolled down and soothed present circumstances.
Brag joined my pack of memories. I am deeply gratified to have read his story and to have beheld the grandeur and legacy of a life well lived.
Some have dogs or a dog and some of us live with our dog(s). They are core members of our family. We do life with them. They share every memory, every vacation, every celebration, every joy, every milestone...as well as, every hardship, every set back, every struggle and disappoinment...they share every - day.
We know what every tone and intonation of their bark, whistle and whine means. We converse back and forth as intimate friends audibly and with our body language, feelings and emotions.
Living with your dog like this, they know things about us before we are conscious of it. Like we're getting sick, we are more tired than we realize, we're more upset emotionally, etc, etc How? They begin to take care of us, nurture, cuddle, touch, stay close, and their stare turns to a warm gaze of empathy, love and compassion that heals, takes the edge off and we get in touch with what's going on.
As expressed on every page of this book, we need our dog(s) as much as they need us. Dogs long for and repeatedly invite us into a symbiotic relationship that makes life much more delightful to live for them since this is their instinct and for us because of their unconditional love, mercy, forgiveness, and compassion.
Our beloved companion dog can help us discover "the sacredness of every moment."
For me, David Alton Hedges did an exceptional job capturing these aspects of our friendship with dogs we do life with.
Ending this review with precious memories streaming through my head and once again healing tears soaking my face. Perfect.
February 4, 2024
Insightful, Inspiring, Heartwarming
This is a non-fiction book about the life of a police dog (named Brag) and his handler (David Hedges) What’s key to the soul of this book is that Brag’s handler is also the author of this book.
With most books about a dog, it’s a given that there will be an emotional bonding between the dog and its human companion. So I was initially both surprised and disappointed to read that Brag was apparently born somewhat autistic, and so did not seem to have the same affectionate bond with his handler that many of the other police dogs did with their handler. I thought: That’s not the kind of story I wanted to read. But ultimately, I think Brag and officer Hedges just took longer to achieve that bond; and as a result, perhaps they achieved a deeper and better understanding of each other.
The book isn’t all dog/human bonding. Police dog training is serious work, and police dogs (and their handlers) have a dangerous job to do. The author did a very good job writing about both the physical and emotional stresses associated with this work.
Dogs don’t live as long as humans, so of course the final couple chapters cover Brag’s final days. Those pages have the expected emotional highs and lows, so it was tough to read (though you are glad you did).
Bottom Line: The book actually gives you a sense of what Brag was thinking due to the closeness handler David Hedges developed with Brag.
Note: The dog is named Brag. Some people gave Brag the nickname Werewolf, but that nickname is not used too often in this book. But titling this book “Werewolf” instead of “Brag” meant that the title caught my attention (whereas a book titled “Brag” would not have). That seemed a little dishonest, but the book was so good I shouldn’t complain.
This is a non-fiction book about the life of a police dog (named Brag) and his handler (David Hedges) What’s key to the soul of this book is that Brag’s handler is also the author of this book.
With most books about a dog, it’s a given that there will be an emotional bonding between the dog and its human companion. So I was initially both surprised and disappointed to read that Brag was apparently born somewhat autistic, and so did not seem to have the same affectionate bond with his handler that many of the other police dogs did with their handler. I thought: That’s not the kind of story I wanted to read. But ultimately, I think Brag and officer Hedges just took longer to achieve that bond; and as a result, perhaps they achieved a deeper and better understanding of each other.
The book isn’t all dog/human bonding. Police dog training is serious work, and police dogs (and their handlers) have a dangerous job to do. The author did a very good job writing about both the physical and emotional stresses associated with this work.
Dogs don’t live as long as humans, so of course the final couple chapters cover Brag’s final days. Those pages have the expected emotional highs and lows, so it was tough to read (though you are glad you did).
Bottom Line: The book actually gives you a sense of what Brag was thinking due to the closeness handler David Hedges developed with Brag.
Note: The dog is named Brag. Some people gave Brag the nickname Werewolf, but that nickname is not used too often in this book. But titling this book “Werewolf” instead of “Brag” meant that the title caught my attention (whereas a book titled “Brag” would not have). That seemed a little dishonest, but the book was so good I shouldn’t complain.
January 10, 2024
The author did an excellent job telling the story of Brag, a phenomenal K9 at the Santa Barbara Police Department, and how their lives intertwined for 11 years through tough situations and humorous incidents. I especially appreciated the author's honesty. He wasn't a perfect cop, even a little rough around the edges, but was a man of overall integrity in public and private life. He brought up tough stories, including gang wars, drug hauls, racial concerns, and arrests. The book answered a lot of questions about training K9 police dogs, the everyday stresses of being a first responder on the front lines, and when he knew it was time to retire Brag.
Some military books seem to be more about the elite forces than the dog himself, but I appreciated how this book keeps the focus on an extraordinary police dog who changed an ordinary cop's life. The author did a great job anticipating the reader's curiosity about K9 training and field work and explained different types of intense situations throughout the book. It was really neat to see how the author changed over the years for the better as he learned to see people and surroundings through the eyes of Brag. It's obvious how much he respected this dog, and by the end of the book, the reader can't help being a little more appreciative of policemen who are truly honorable and doing their job well.
NOTE: Very little swearing for a military book, though there is one f-word and some cussing. One mention of brutal rape situation; some evolutionary content. YA and up.
Some military books seem to be more about the elite forces than the dog himself, but I appreciated how this book keeps the focus on an extraordinary police dog who changed an ordinary cop's life. The author did a great job anticipating the reader's curiosity about K9 training and field work and explained different types of intense situations throughout the book. It was really neat to see how the author changed over the years for the better as he learned to see people and surroundings through the eyes of Brag. It's obvious how much he respected this dog, and by the end of the book, the reader can't help being a little more appreciative of policemen who are truly honorable and doing their job well.
NOTE: Very little swearing for a military book, though there is one f-word and some cussing. One mention of brutal rape situation; some evolutionary content. YA and up.
February 15, 2024
As a writer of K9 police novels, I've read a number of police memoirs in the course of my research. Edward Conlon's "Blue Blood" was the best of these I'd encountered... until now.
"Werewolf" is an emotional, heartfelt memoir of a man and his dog, a cop and his partner. It's a story of how a burned-out police veteran rediscovers the fire that originally led him to become a cop, through the enthusiasm and drive of Brag, a remarkable German Shepherd.
This book is told through a series of anecdotes of Patrol life in the Santa Barbara PD. Hedges writes with grace and clarity, making for a very readable and engaging narrative. Certain moments hit very powerful emotional notes. When he reminds himself that Brag is, technically, police equipment and can and should be risked in place of the lives of human officers, he thinks of a dog he once owned and lost and says, "I will never love this dog. And he will never love me."
It's a lie, the sort of obvious lie we tell ourselves in a futile effort to protect ourselves from our own emotions and connections. Hedges' love for his dog comes through on every page.
The last couple of chapters made me cry so hard that my own Golden retriever tried to climb into my lap to comfort me.
A marvelous and powerful book.
"Werewolf" is an emotional, heartfelt memoir of a man and his dog, a cop and his partner. It's a story of how a burned-out police veteran rediscovers the fire that originally led him to become a cop, through the enthusiasm and drive of Brag, a remarkable German Shepherd.
This book is told through a series of anecdotes of Patrol life in the Santa Barbara PD. Hedges writes with grace and clarity, making for a very readable and engaging narrative. Certain moments hit very powerful emotional notes. When he reminds himself that Brag is, technically, police equipment and can and should be risked in place of the lives of human officers, he thinks of a dog he once owned and lost and says, "I will never love this dog. And he will never love me."
It's a lie, the sort of obvious lie we tell ourselves in a futile effort to protect ourselves from our own emotions and connections. Hedges' love for his dog comes through on every page.
The last couple of chapters made me cry so hard that my own Golden retriever tried to climb into my lap to comfort me.
A marvelous and powerful book.
September 11, 2022
An Amazing Story About An Extraordinary Police Officer
When I started this book, I had decided ahead of time that it was just a story about a dog trained to be a K-9 Police Dog. At 10 pages in, I realized it was so much more. I could not put the book down. I laughed, I cried, I devoured the book. To understand the bond between human and animal, one must live it. I don't pretend to compare Brag and David's story to mine by any stretch, but I am a handicapped Vet with PTSD and I have a service animal who is my strength and calm in my constant storms. So I understand the bond. This story, without even trying, grabs you by the throat and runs with you so you live each page with Brag, right up to the last page. It was an amazing story, made all the more amazing by the truth that was Brag. A K-9 Police Dog that was one of the most dedicated and astounding police officers that ever lived, and a very special dog. I would recommend this book to ANYONE who has a love of animals, and an understanding of the selfless dedication of our law enforcement officers in blue. Well done. And well done Brag.
When I started this book, I had decided ahead of time that it was just a story about a dog trained to be a K-9 Police Dog. At 10 pages in, I realized it was so much more. I could not put the book down. I laughed, I cried, I devoured the book. To understand the bond between human and animal, one must live it. I don't pretend to compare Brag and David's story to mine by any stretch, but I am a handicapped Vet with PTSD and I have a service animal who is my strength and calm in my constant storms. So I understand the bond. This story, without even trying, grabs you by the throat and runs with you so you live each page with Brag, right up to the last page. It was an amazing story, made all the more amazing by the truth that was Brag. A K-9 Police Dog that was one of the most dedicated and astounding police officers that ever lived, and a very special dog. I would recommend this book to ANYONE who has a love of animals, and an understanding of the selfless dedication of our law enforcement officers in blue. Well done. And well done Brag.
September 27, 2022
Brag As with the police dog in this book, he gives his all, 100% to "ge isMORE THAN EXTRAORDINARY!
I rarely leave reviews anymore, but Werewolf deffinately required a review... I for one respect police and all they do, even though in today's times there is so much controversy focused on them! But we DO NEED THEM (it shows where they have all but eliminated them, and we need more Canine units! Most people don't think about dogs being intelligent, but I have had the honour of sharing my life with five dogs prior to my present E.S.A. and dogs have MUCH MORE INTELLIGENCE than we give them credit for! This book shows the importance OF a CANINE POLICE OFFICER! Very well written and the author gives you a good insight on how these teams are beneficial, writing about his own experience with his canine "PARTNER" I couldn't put it down, excellently written! I would give more than 5 stars if they were available!
I rarely leave reviews anymore, but Werewolf deffinately required a review... I for one respect police and all they do, even though in today's times there is so much controversy focused on them! But we DO NEED THEM (it shows where they have all but eliminated them, and we need more Canine units! Most people don't think about dogs being intelligent, but I have had the honour of sharing my life with five dogs prior to my present E.S.A. and dogs have MUCH MORE INTELLIGENCE than we give them credit for! This book shows the importance OF a CANINE POLICE OFFICER! Very well written and the author gives you a good insight on how these teams are beneficial, writing about his own experience with his canine "PARTNER" I couldn't put it down, excellently written! I would give more than 5 stars if they were available!
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October 21, 2022Heartfelt
I couldn't stop reading because I just had to know what was coming next. I also felt a kinship because I had several German Shepherds as well as Pit Bulls, Rottweiler and Doberman. I know what its like to have to make the heart wrenching decision to put a family member down, even if that family member has four legs and barks. Thank you for sharing yours and Brag's story. I'm sure you'll see each other again on that Rainbow Bridge. I'm pretty sure that Brag's is still watching over you and your family.
I also wanted to mention that I know about the different spectrums of Autism. Two of my nephews are Autistic. The oldest is high functioning but the youngest is developingly challenged.
Thank you again for telling this story because it really was heartfelt. As I was reading, I could actually "see, feel and hear" everything, as if I was actually there. I was smiling and crying at the same time when I finally finished reading this.
I couldn't stop reading because I just had to know what was coming next. I also felt a kinship because I had several German Shepherds as well as Pit Bulls, Rottweiler and Doberman. I know what its like to have to make the heart wrenching decision to put a family member down, even if that family member has four legs and barks. Thank you for sharing yours and Brag's story. I'm sure you'll see each other again on that Rainbow Bridge. I'm pretty sure that Brag's is still watching over you and your family.
I also wanted to mention that I know about the different spectrums of Autism. Two of my nephews are Autistic. The oldest is high functioning but the youngest is developingly challenged.
Thank you again for telling this story because it really was heartfelt. As I was reading, I could actually "see, feel and hear" everything, as if I was actually there. I was smiling and crying at the same time when I finally finished reading this.
June 11, 2023
This book was excellent— it is the true story of a disgruntled california Swat team officer and a Rescued German shepherd who are unhappily partnered together in a new canine unit. Both anxious and unhappy with the initial pairing, they eventually save each others lives and careers. It’s a wonderful story of enlightenment by the police officer, who struggles to like his canine partner in the beginning. He ultimately finds respect and understanding for and from his canine partner and a new awareness that, though dogs can’t speak our language, they are truly man’s best friend. they generously use their highly sentient skills to protect and serve their people by risking their lives every day to keep them safe. Great read!! You’ll laugh and cry but it’s a reminder of the important and dangerous work we ask of our law enforcement officers (human and canine) and that they deserve our appreciation.
August 3, 2023
Softly and Tenderly
Rarely does a story hit as hard as this one did me. I could and hear everything written in this one. This is one of those I'll always remember and try to share with others They'll rather wait for the movie.(HINT -HINT). I read entire book in one . The book seemed to have the power to feel so many emotions . I'm a homebound senior(female); I'M now perusing how be a better person by Gray's lessons . I feel as something is out there for me so I can again do my part to save the planet and the people on it. I felt that way for 23years as a wastewater treatment plant operator and lab tech. It had to be hard to write this book. The author definitely gave me a piece of himself. Believe me, everybody should read this book. They won't be sorry they did. I also very rarely leave a review anywhere, so this should tell you something. I could rave on, just READ THE BOOK.😂🤗😇
Rarely does a story hit as hard as this one did me. I could and hear everything written in this one. This is one of those I'll always remember and try to share with others They'll rather wait for the movie.(HINT -HINT). I read entire book in one . The book seemed to have the power to feel so many emotions . I'm a homebound senior(female); I'M now perusing how be a better person by Gray's lessons . I feel as something is out there for me so I can again do my part to save the planet and the people on it. I felt that way for 23years as a wastewater treatment plant operator and lab tech. It had to be hard to write this book. The author definitely gave me a piece of himself. Believe me, everybody should read this book. They won't be sorry they did. I also very rarely leave a review anywhere, so this should tell you something. I could rave on, just READ THE BOOK.😂🤗😇
February 20, 2024
"A dog’s greatest gift to us is love that does not diminish. We rarely deserve it. Brag also taught me that the thoughts of dogs, and indeed all animals, are complicated and profound. Humans need not look for animal intelligence, we need to stop overlooking it. I catch glimpses of it every day, in the politeness of honeybees that appear as I add fresh water to the backyard fountain, in a horse’s dark examining eye, and when the crows present their babies to me every spring, letting the youngsters hop as close as curiosity dares. These creatures' lives are hardly different from ours: they struggle to survive, care for their offspring, and pass on their collective wisdom.
Humankind must re-learn to accept responsibility for every living thing around us. It may determine our own survival. Our canine companions are ambassadors who remind us - in the kindest way - not to rule the animal kingdom but to keep it. ~ Excerpt.
*Highly recommend
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
Humankind must re-learn to accept responsibility for every living thing around us. It may determine our own survival. Our canine companions are ambassadors who remind us - in the kindest way - not to rule the animal kingdom but to keep it. ~ Excerpt.
*Highly recommend
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
September 29, 2022
Best Werewolf story I've ever read
All I can say is what an amazing journey you had and the bond you shared. Dogs are pure loyalty, courage strength and love. They want only the simplest things out of life and get the greatest joy from them. This book gives a glimpse into the ultimate dog. This book is simply a must read for dog lovers. Since it tells the story of the best of a K9. The intelligence of the GSD when experienced is like no other. You will not regret reading this book. This story puts not only police work into perspective but it gives the dog's perspective. A K9 team is truly the ultimate police partnership. RIP Officer Brag and thank you both for your service.
All I can say is what an amazing journey you had and the bond you shared. Dogs are pure loyalty, courage strength and love. They want only the simplest things out of life and get the greatest joy from them. This book gives a glimpse into the ultimate dog. This book is simply a must read for dog lovers. Since it tells the story of the best of a K9. The intelligence of the GSD when experienced is like no other. You will not regret reading this book. This story puts not only police work into perspective but it gives the dog's perspective. A K9 team is truly the ultimate police partnership. RIP Officer Brag and thank you both for your service.
November 16, 2022
Amazing
This book not only let's you see what a K9 dog does and how heroic they are, it also shows you what the handler and all other Police Officers do out on duty that we never realize. Every single day is a scary one. Every single call, and traffic stop are filled with danger, and the danger of just being a police officer that some people just hate and want to hurt. This was an amazing book. I'm thrilled with it and am going to buy it in book format for my grandchildren, and also one for the school library. Thank you David for all the years of service you put in as a Police Officer, and thank you Brag for your will to always fight so hard to catch criminals but also to keep Police Officers safe. Your all amazing and I'm so thankful we have you!
This book not only let's you see what a K9 dog does and how heroic they are, it also shows you what the handler and all other Police Officers do out on duty that we never realize. Every single day is a scary one. Every single call, and traffic stop are filled with danger, and the danger of just being a police officer that some people just hate and want to hurt. This was an amazing book. I'm thrilled with it and am going to buy it in book format for my grandchildren, and also one for the school library. Thank you David for all the years of service you put in as a Police Officer, and thank you Brag for your will to always fight so hard to catch criminals but also to keep Police Officers safe. Your all amazing and I'm so thankful we have you!
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