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). 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.

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.

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.

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.”

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.

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.

Thank you NetGalley and Post Hypnotic Press for the audio arc.

If you are crazy about dogs, you will love this book about Brag, a police dog and his handler. I enjoy books about working dogs, whether they are police, search and rescue, or military. I’m always so impressed by their talents and capabilities, not to mention their drive. There is wonderful writing behind this audiobook and lots of heartwarming moments.

This was an excellent story about a police canine unit - I loved reading about this intense working dog and his handler. Although I know a lot about dogs, I don't know much about police dogs, and I learned a lot. The personality and intensity of Brag was well described, as was the difficulty of the work done by the duo.

I liked the audio - it was clear and I felt like it added to the story.

Apart from the narration this story is 5 stars all the way. I feel like the voice of the narrator didn't match the story. As a dog lover I had to listen though. Brag lives for his work and is one tough dog as is his handler.

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.

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

Werewolf: The True Story of an Extraordinary Police Dog
By David Alton Hedges, narrated by Michael Puttonen

It is rare that I will pick up a book that features animals because I can't handle things not going well for them. But I wanted to hear this book about an incredible police dog and his work with his partner. Michael Puttonen narrated the story and his narration fit the story so well. And we cried at the end. But know that Brag had a full life, the dog lived for his work, and I'm very glad to have listened to this book and learned about Brag and his partner, David Hedges.

I enjoyed reading about their training, their work, their bond. David started his partnership thinking that Brag didn't like him but as he learned things Brag already knew, David learned to understand Brag and better interpret him. What a team and even though my animal family members have never had this kind of job, this book had me so thankful for the animals in my life.

Thank you to Post Hypnotic Press Audiobooks and NetGalley for this ARC.

"WEREWOLF: The True Story of an Extraordinary Police Dog" by David Alton Hedges is a captivating and deeply moving account of the unbreakable bond between a police K9 named Brag and his handler. From their initial meeting, where Brag is indifferent and his handler is cautious, to their shared experiences on dangerous manhunts, this book chronicles their journey of mutual trust and loyalty.

Hedges offers a raw, firsthand look at the challenges and triumphs faced by this remarkable duo, pushing their mental and physical limits in the line of duty. The transformation of their relationship, from wary acquaintances to inseparable partners, is a testament to the extraordinary connection that can form between humans and dogs.

This heartfelt story of courage and loyalty is a must-read for anyone who has ever loved a dog. It beautifully captures the essence of the human-canine bond, making it an inspiring and unforgettable tale. Highly recommended for its emotional depth, thrilling narrative, and the profound message about the power of trust and companionship.
wearelover9999@gmail.com