Cooper: The Making of a Service Dog
by Clyde Hoch
Available from amazon.com
Cooper: The Making of a Service
Dog is a
delightful story of a Vietnam Veteran with post traumatic stress disorder who
decides to get a service dog. He purchases a very young puppy. He chooses a
Doberman because he likes the sleek looks and muscular style. He finds a school
that will train him and his puppy at the same time. He and Cooper attend school
one day a week for a year until Cooper is certified as a service dog. Read of
the training that starts as soon as the puppy comes home and continues to this day.
Cooper and Clyde learn to become a working team. They both attend meetings and
while Cooper has a service dog vest on he knows he is to behave. When the vest
comes off Cooper is fee to act like any other dog. When the vest comes off in meetings,
he runs the room greeting everyone. Cooper rides in the back seat while
driving. When Clyde gets road rage Cooper puts his head on Clyde's shoulder.
When Clyde get angry at home Cooper comes to him and licks his arm. No matter
how angry, one has to smile.
Book Review
Reviewed By Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite
July 20, 2019
Cooper: The Making of a Service Dog is a nonfiction memoir written by Clyde Hoch. Hoch was a tank commander in
Vietnam in the late sixties, a time when that conflict was at its peak. He was hospitalized
when the tank he was riding in hit a landmine. Having his superiors blame him
for the incident made it even more upsetting. He came home from Vietnam feeling
angry about the incident and the shoddy reception he and other Vietnam vets
were receiving and had problems reintegrating into society. He couldn't find a
job and had trouble dealing with crowds and loud noises. When he did find work,
interpersonal relations on the job were challenging. Hoch had trouble accepting
himself. "l thought I was one of the most screwed-up people ever."
His first reaction on reading about PTSD was that he could
"grow up and get over it." Then, as he learned more about the
symptoms shared by many vets, he began to accept the situation and the idea of
a service dog. Hoch wanted the experience of training his service dog himself.
When he began seriously considering it, he decided to go with his long-held
admiration for Doberman Pinschers, and he found a breeder close enough to deal
with. He also located Tails of Valor, an organization that works with shelter
puppies and was willing to work with him and his new pup.
Cooper is a well-written and informative look at the process
of training a service dog. Hoch's work with his best friend, Cooper, starts
from the time he brings that puppy into his life and it's marvelous to see how
well the two of them become a committed and enduring team. The photographs he
includes in his memoir are outstanding, and watching as Cooper grows from a
six-week-old pup into a strong and muscular two-year-old is a marvelous
experience. I loved learning about the work that goes into training a service
dog and found this account moving and powerful. Cooper is most highly
recommended.
WEBSITE http://clydehoch.com
Read Clyde's childhood story about Spike, a cherished Clydesdale...
More Books by Clyde Hoch:
Tracks Memoirs of a Vietnam Veteran This is Clyde’s military experience as a tank commander in Vietnam.
A Tribute to Tankers has a short description on a type of tank and follows with stories of people who served in that type of tank in combat, starting with WWI and ends with Iraq.
B. A. R. Man Browning Automatic Rifle Man is the story of a young man who does some amazing things in the Korean War until he is wounded and captured by the Chinese. He is forced to march 200 miles with no medical attention. He is held as a POW for two and a half years.
A Man Down is the story of four young men who gave their lives for their country. This book won a bronze medal from Readers Favorite.
Albion is Clyde’s first work of fiction. It has eight chapters. Each chapter is a different story and different period in time.
God Help Me! Cause No One Else Will is Clyde’s sixth book. It is about post-traumatic stress disorder and veteran's suicides and how to prevent them.prevent them.
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