Spring Special! Click the link below to get your Special Edition Nubs Book! 

http://dogtrainingwarehouse.com/categories/Nubs%3A-Special-Edition-Autographed-Book/

In the fall of 2007 Marine Major Brian Dennis made an unlikely friend in the desert of western Iraq.  Normally an F/A-18 fighter pilot, Brian was doing his out-of-cockpit tour as the team leader of an eleven-man Border Transition Team.  Their mission was to conduct counter-insurgency operations along the Syrian and Jordanian borders with Iraq while training the new Iraqi Border Security personnel.

For seven months, Brian and his team patrolled the border area in their three Humvees.  Along the way they befriended many of the nomadic dog packs who called the desert of Al Anbar home.  The team became attached to a very unique and curious dog that lived near some ruins on the Syrian border named “Nubs.”  Brian named him Nubs because he didn’t have any ears- just two tiny nubs where his ears should have been.  The team later learned that some Iraqis had cut his ears off as a puppy.  Although only about 30 lbs, he was the Alpha of a pack of fifteen dogs.  The team’s base camp was almost 80 miles to the south of Nubs’ pack.  They only made it up to this area of operations about every two to three weeks. 

The team bonded with Nubs and vice versa.  But on a trip to the area in mid-December things looked grim.  Nubs had been stabbed with a large screwdriver by one of the local Iraqis.  When the team found him he was gaunt and in very bad shape.  The wound was infected and Nubs was in so much pain he couldn’t even lay down.  The team’s medic treated the wound and gave him some antibiotics to help as the temperature dropped below 17 degrees Fahrenheit that evening.  They spent three days in the area conducting operations and nursing Nubs back to health.  Some operational issues developed to the south and the team had to pick up and move.  It was hard for them to leave Nubs behind but they had a mission to accomplish and the mission had to come first.

Three long weeks went by before the team could head back to the area where Nubs and his pack lived.  As they were driving north Brian wondered if his little buddy would still be alive when he got to the ruins.  The team was elated when they pulled up to find Nubs not only alive, but doing much better.  His wound was healing and he was barely limping now.  Once again the team conducted local operations and spent time with their adopted pal.  As the team packed up to return to the southern area of operations, they had to once again say goodbye to Nubs and his pack.  As the Humvees disappeared to the south, Nubs gave chase; but soon they were gone.

Two days later, the team was at the base camp nearly 80 miles south of the ruins were Nubs and his pack lived.  As they were cleaning the vehicles and team gear, a dirty, beat up dog wandered slowly into the camp.  The team was shocked to see that the dog’s ears were missing.  It was Nubs!  He had decided to walk in the direction the vehicles had disappeared to find his friends – and he kept walking and walking - nearly 80 miles until he’d found them.  The reunion was awesome as he jumped up to greet everyone on the team.  Brian and the team were in absolute disbelief.

Nubs was now staying at the base camp with Brian’s team but there was one problem: dogs aren’t allowed on any U.S. Combat Operating Posts in Iraq.  The team was told to get rid of the dog- or else.  The decision was easy: we’ve got to figure out a way to get Nubs to America!  It took a lot of work and money but Nubs was sent back to the U.S. via Jordan, Chicago, and San Diego.  Brian’s friends received Nubs at San Diego Airport and took care of him until he could return.  For three months, Brian’s friends Eric and Chrissy cared for Nubs as he had to learn to live as a dog in suburban America.  Dog trainer Graham Bloem heard of the story on the news and wanted to help.  After helping several other Iraqi dogs integrate into life in America, he wanted to make sure Nubs’ transition to becoming an American mutt would be a success.  Graham spent countless hours with Nubs; the two became fast friends.

Upon Brian’s return to the U.S. in March of 2008, he was reunited with Nubs.  The media was there to cover it and the two had an incredible reunion at Camp Pendleton, California.    Subsequently Brian and Nubs were invited to appear on the Ellen DeGeneres Show, the Today Show, and the Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien.  With the help of authors Mary Nethery and Kirby Larson, he wrote a children’s book titled Nubs: The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine & a Miracle which became a New York Times Best Seller.

Today Brian is back flying F/A-18s again in Miramar, California.  Nubs and his previous pound rescue, Bogey, go hiking with him every weekend in the hills of San Diego.

Dogs of War – Dogs Life Magazine

Looking back at a great article by Kyra Kirkwood in “Dogs Life Magazine”. Kyra has been so kind to include Graham in two articles, one for Dog Fancy Magazine in 2006 and this piece about dogs rescued from war zones. Graham had the pleasure of training a total of 9 dogs that have been rescued from Iraq and two of the 9 are now famous pups. Nubs, owned by Major Brian Dennis and Lava who is owned by Lt. Col. Jay Kopelman. If you look up either Brian or Jay you will find their books. “A Mutt a Marine and a Miracle” by Major Brian Dennis and “From Baghdad with Love” by Lt. Col. Kopelman. Graham was honored to be mentioned in both books and it was a great experience for him to be able to train both Nubs and Lava! Enjoy the article! 

Dogs of War

Soldiers find companionship and comfort with canine friends

By Kyra Kirkwood
Summer 2008

Friendships formed by soldiers in war zones are often lifelong and titanium strong. Soldier/canine friendships built in times of war are no different. Dogs can give soldiers a bit of home in a far-off land or a moment of love during a ruthless mission—and the abandoned or feral dogs find solace in the company of caring people. Leaving their loyal companions behind is too much for soldiers to bear, so often, they do all they can to bring home the dogs they have come to love. Unfortunately, the military prohibits personnel from caring for, or transporting any domestic or wild animals on military bases. Sometimes, superior officers look the other way because they see the need for a moral boost. In other cases, they have zero tolerance for local dogs and order them to be euthanized. “Many of these soldiers live in fear of getting caught with these animals,” says Terri Crisp, program manager of Operation Baghdad Pups, an organization that operates under the umbrella of the SPCA International, which helps soldiers with the complicated logistics and financial burden of getting a war orphan out of Iraq or Afghanistan and onto American soil. Operation Baghdad Pups formed in September 2007, in the wake of an email plea from U.S. Army Sgt. Edward Watson, who asked for help to get an orphaned dog named Charlie out of Iraq—which they did on Valentine’s Day 2008. Perhaps the most well-known rescue case is of Lava, the dog made famous in the best-selling book, “From Baghdad, With Love,” by retired Lt. Col. Jay Kopelman. When his fellow Marines were unable to keep the dog, Kopelman initiated a multi-tiered rescue effort in 2005, and Lava now lives with him in San Diego. Although their story may be the most famed, it is just one of several war dog tales that are touching hearts everywhere.

BRIAN DENNIS & NUBS

Every week when Marine Maj. Brian Dennis and his unit, the Border Transition Team, arrived to patrol Iraqi borders near Syria, he knew he’d be greeted by one of the locals: a 2-year-old German Shepherd/Border Collie mix. They affectionately named the dog Nubs because his ears had been cut off (Dennis believes by an someone trying to make the dog “a better, meaner watchdog”). He ran with a common pack of dogs throughout the forts and ruins along the border, but Dennis saw something special in Nubs. “I developed a friendship with him right away,” said Dennis, an F-18 fighter pilot stationed at Marine Corp Air Station Miramar, near San Diego. Despite Nubs’ past abuse, he acted friendly to the soldiers, keeping them company while on patrol or entertaining them with his antics. At the end of their patrols, the Marines would return to their base 70 miles south with Nubs chasing their Humvees into the desert. When it came time for each patrol, Nubs would be waiting for them. This routine went on for three months, from September to December 2007. 
Everything changed when upon arrival to patrol one icy day in late December, Dennis found Nubs in horrific shape. He learned through conversation with local people that the dog was stabbed with a screwdriver, leaving a gaping, infected hole in his chest. Nubs was suffering, cold and near death.He treated Nubs’ wound with supplies from his own first-aid kid, and tried to keep the dog warm during the 18-degree night. On patrol, Dennis used his downtime to pet Nubs and give him encouragement, but feared that the dog was nearing the end. “I thought we were hanging out for the last time,” said Dennis. “I was worried Nubs wouldn’t be alive when I woke up. It was important for us to try and save him. We developed a bond with him by that point.”But the next day, Nubs was alive. Dennis left, and he encouraged his canine friend to stay strong, knowing in his heart it would be a miracle if he ever saw Nubs again. Ten days later, Dennis returned to patrol from his base, and there was Nubs, looking almost healed. “Maybe us showing up that day gave him a reason to live,” Dennis said. Dennis didn’t have to wait until his next patrol to check on his friend, because two days after returning to base, Dennis suddenly saw Nubs standing before him. The dog had tracked Dennis down through more than 70 miles of uninhabitable deserts owned by packs of territorial, feral dogs. “Everyone asks me how, and I have no idea,” Dennis said. “He looked like he’d been through a war zone. He sees me and goes crazy, jumping on me, wagging his tail. He’s all bit up and dirty, and so happy.” Word of Nubs’ adventure spread around camp, and suddenly, the 100 or so Marines wanted to see the legendary dog. Before long, Nubs became the unofficial base mascot. “He really lifted everyone’s spirits,” Dennis said. But word got to the higher-ups that a dog was on base, and Dennis was ordered to get rid of the dog by “any means necessary.” There was no way Dennis would abandon or kill Nubs, so he looked into shipping him home to America. 
Through online research, asking questions, making connections and spending nearly $4,000 of his own money, Dennis ensured Nubs’ safe passage. Friends back home rallied, raising money and securing a foster family to care for Nubs temporarily until Dennis arrived a few weeks later. On February 22, 2008, Nubs landed safely on American soil to stay with the foster family, and Dennis arrived in the wee hours of the morning on March 21. At first, Nubs seemed to not quite recognize the Marine after weeks apart, but within seconds of sniffing, Nubs jumped on Dennis, licking his face and whimpering—proving that he did remember his saving grace. 
Upon his U.S. arrival, Nubs began training with Graham Bloem, owner and head trainer at West Coast K9 in Encinitas, California, where he continues to be helped with issues such as aggression, fear and obedience. Nubs gets along well with Dennis’ 8-year-old Lab/Chow rescue, Bogey, and is doing well in training. “I think he’s really unique,” Bloem said. “He seems to enjoy the training. He’s showing a lot of his instincts.”Not a day goes by that Dennis doesn’t sense the bond he formed with Nubs in Iraq. “I feel like we have some common ground,” he said. “We slept in the same dirt, ran around the same ruins, dealt with the same Iraqis. Having him around makes me feel better. A dog can definitely be a huge part of healing and moving on.” 

When shopping at DogTrainingWarehouse.com you aren't just buying dog products from anyone, you are shopping at a trusted company that is owned and operated by a renowned Dog Trainer and a Marine Fighter Pilot that didn't just rescue a dog...he helped him get from Iraq to the United States and truly saved his life. After you have enjoyed this touching article please spend some time shopping around our site and spoil your furry k9 with some new things!