Police Dog Jake

Police Dog Jake comprises a series of illustrated children's books at present 3 books of 8 stories per book long. It is aimed at the  7 to 11+ age group.  In 2003 it was signed up for five years by the Metropolitan Police. They were to publish it and obtain sponsorship. It would then be used in schools but in 2008,after a regime change,  they decided that theycould no longer continue the project! They did however promise continued support if required.
The stories take him from birth through to life as a working police dog. The stories can be continued indefinitely.
The illustrator of the attached picture was Pat Kelsall. Pat is a respected illustrator who has exhibited in, amongst other venues, the Royal Academy.
I have included the index and Chapter One.

Jake is copyrighted with the Registration Number 254110

Police Dog Jake

Stories by Paul Hurley
An initial series of three read alone books of stories for children from Seven to Eleven
Art work at the discretion of the illustrator.
Index.
Book One Total Story Words 8.588
Story 1. Jake the new puppy. Words 1122
Story 2. Do dogs come from eggs? Words 1250
Story 3. Jake the friendly children. Words 959
Story 4. Jake the baby police dog. Words 1083
Story 5. Jake the lucky puppy. Words 1006
Story 6. Jake meets his partner. Words 1006
Story 7. Jake becomes a hero – again! Words 1104
Story 8. Jake trains to be a police dog. Words 1058
Book Two Total story words 9.205
S
tory 1. Jake finds out where he is to live. Words 1156
Story 2. Jake and the naughty dogs. Words 1149
Story 3. Jake and the baby badger. Words 1113
Story 4. Jake passes out of Police Dog School. Words 1115
Story 5. Jake's first day on duty. Words 1117
Story 6. Jake and the factory burglars. Words 1125
Story 7. Jake visits his family. Words 1285
Story 8. Jake and the lost girl. Words 1145
Book Three Total story words 8.642
Story 1
. Jake goes back to training school. Words 1044
Story 2. Jake and the car thieves. Words 1074
Story 3. Naughty children and a nasty dog! Words 1140
Story 4. Jake and the sheep stealers. Words 1141
Story 5. Jake and the snowy day. Words 992
Story 6. Jake and the bank robbers. Words 1153
Story 7. Jake with silly children and a clever boy. Words 1061
Story 8. Jake and the football match Words 1037
Book One. Story One
Jake the New Puppy
The rain hammered down onto the corrugated iron roof of the large black hay barn. A powerful bolt of lightening bathed the barn and the farmyard in a sudden eerie blue glow. Seconds later there was an ear splitting crack of thunder.
The noise, the lightening and the heavy rain drops combined to frighten the farm animals. But one animal didn’t have time to be frightened. The Alsatian dog in the barn was giving birth to puppies!
The following day the storm had given way to bright sunshine. For the first time the three new puppies were lifted gently from the basket.
“They’re lovely, I like this one; I’m going to call him Jake.”
The puppy that was to be called Jake could hear the voice but didn’t know what was being said. He just felt that he was safe.
Another voice spoke, this time not as near to him but much gruffer. “Don’t squeeze him too much Jessica, Jake is very young. Soon you will be able to run and play with him, but now be gentle. What about the other two anyway, what are you going to call them?”
“Ok Dad we’ll call the other two Milo for the boy and Molly for the girl, Milo and Molly, what about that William?”
Jake heard the boy answer. “Those names start with ‘M’ but Jake doesn’t, Milo, Molly and Jake? “
Jake felt himself being stroked, “no, that’s because he’s special, you can tell. Anyway, Milo, Molly and Make would sound silly!” She hugged him to her, laughing. “Come and see, William. He’s going to be my dog, can he Dad; can Jake be my dog forever?”
Jake liked the smell of Jessica and the boy called William. As he felt the boy putting his face close to his, he licked it.
“See,” said Jessica, “See, he is the cleverest puppy in the world.”
The day came when Jake felt strong enough to climb from the basket; he dropped out, rolled over and stood up. It was the first time that he had used his legs and he was quite wobbly. The hens in the barn ran flapping to get out of his way as he stumbled wildly towards the barn door. Falling over and over as he ran, head over heels getting covered in hen’s feathers and the dust from the floor. When he reached the door he slipped over again rolling out into the daylight like a little ball of fluff – a very dusty ball of fluff! Suddenly he was drenched and at first frightened as heavy rain drops landed on him.
It was summer and the rain was warm. He licked himself and tasted the wetness on his fur. It was nice. He also tasted the dust and feathers that had stuck to him - that was not quite so nice! All of a sudden his mum’s teeth closed around the back of his neck as she gently picked him up and carried him back into the barn.
“You naughty dog,” she said gruffly.
Jake was very wet and he had the urge to shake himself. When he did, water, dust and wet feathers flew all over his brother and sister and a play fight started.
A few days later Jake started to explore, he led the other two puppies towards the big doors at the end of the barn.
“Come on,” he shouted, there was no rain now to wet him, the sun shone down brightly. Looking out he saw the farmyard with buildings around it.
Jake yapped at the old dog that was lying under a hay cart. Raising its head wearily it looked at him, then went back to sleep.
Carefully, looking all around him Jake led the two small puppies out into the big yard.
“I’ve been out here before” he said bravely to Molly and Milo. But he soon stopped feeling brave.
From around the corner lots of enormous black and white animals came walking towards them. A man was leading the animals but Jake felt sure that he hadn’t seen them. The old dog under the cart was black and white like these big animals, but, these were not dogs! They were massive. Most were black and white like the dog. They were plodding slowly straight towards the three little puppies in the middle of the yard!
He looked into the barn, his mum and dad were asleep in the hay. The yard seemed huge to Jake and he realized that he was in charge; the other two were following him.
Jake didn’t know what to do. They would surely be trampled he thought as he looked up fearfully.
“What are we going to do Jake?” whimpered Milo as the huge feet got closer and closer making a loud thudding noise as they walked on the rough cobbles.
Jake looked at the two puppies. They were cowering down yelping with fear as the large animals drew nearer and nearer. There was nothing for it, he could frighten the hens when he barked at them, so why not these big animals?
As the first of the animals drew near, Jake stood between it and the two puppies. He started to bark as loud as he could. The big animal stopped and looked down at him. Jake looked up trying to be far less frightened than he really was and barked again, a little weaker this time. The huge shiny black nose of the first animal came towards him. It was wet with hot breath blowing from the wide nostrils. Jake backed off as the nose got closer but barked as he’d never barked before.
All of the other animals had stopped and Jake saw that the old dog was running towards them. When he reached them he pushed each in turn back towards the barn with Jake turning to have a last few barks at the big animal. His mother and father came running out of the barn. One picked up Milo and the other picked up Molly. The old dog continued to chase Jake after them and soon they were all safely inside the barn as the huge cows lumbered past to be milked. With a final bark, the old dog went back to his place under the cart.
“That’s enough excitement for today;” said Jake’s father. “You nearly got trodden on by the cows.”
“It was lucky that Shep, the old sheepdog was there or goodness knows what would have happened!” said his mother. Afterwards they all snuggled down together.
It has been an exciting day, thought Jake as he snuggled into the warm fur. I like the old sheep dog Shep, and these big cow things are frightened of me!
Words 1,122
© Paul Hurley