Hi, furends! I read a book about a dog with a really big dream.
Obviously, I can relate.
Cowboy’s Big Dream, written by Haylee Schweibel, is based on the true story of Cowboy, a puppy who trained with Smoky Mountain Service Dogs to become a service dog for a veteran.
And I learned something important: becoming a service dog takes a LOT more work than becoming a children’s book author.
Cowboy’s journey began with his foster family, where he spent 15 months learning the things a future service dog needs to know. He learned what he should—and shouldn’t—do, how to focus even when distractions were around, and how to retrieve certain items.
But Cowboy wasn’t working all the time. He also got plenty of love and time to play and just be a regular dog. I was glad to see that part. Personally, I think naps, toys, treats, and general dog nonsense are important parts of a well-rounded education.
After his time with his foster family, Cowboy went off to “college,” where he learned even more advanced skills. When he was 2½ years old, he was paired with a retired Marine. Together, they passed their test, and Cowboy became a certified service dog for a veteran.
His big dream had come true.
What Mom and I Liked
Mom says one of her favorite things about Cowboy’s Big Dream was learning just how much time, training, patience, and love go into preparing a service dog for such an important job.
I liked Cowboy.
The book also includes information about Smoky Mountain Service Dogs and a page about Service Dog Etiquette. Mom especially liked that part because it explains some things everyone should know about how to behave around a working service dog.
Apparently, you’re not supposed to distract one just because he’s handsome.
As an exceptionally handsome dog myself, I can appreciate how difficult that must be for the humans.
Why This Book Is Special to ShueZoo
Mom discovered Cowboy’s Big Dream while she was learning about Smoky Mountain Service Dogs and deciding on a nonprofit organization for ShueZoo to support.
That’s how we learned more about the work SMSD does—and why a little piece of that work eventually found its way into one of my dreams.
If you’ve read The Most Popular Pup in More Sig Dreams, you might have noticed a specific book that Mom was reading in that poem. Yep. Cowboy’s Big Dream.
So it seemed only right that the very first book I pulled off Sig’s Bookshelf should be this.
Cowboy dreamed of growing up to help a veteran.
He worked for more than two years to get there.
And he did it.
That’s a pretty pawsome big dream.
Good boy, Cowboy. 🐾
Cowboy’s Big Dream is written by Haylee Schweibel and was published in 2022. The book is available through Amazon and Barnes & Noble.