Sweetie is the "greatest Great Dane ever," but when a series of misunderstandings lands him with his third and final owner, he vows to never use his bite or bark again. The plan backfires when a pack of coyotes start bullying him and his smaller dog pals, Red and Poky, and Sweetie can't defend them. Red explains the differences between sneaky fear and normal fear, and at first, Sweetie attempts to befriend the coyotes. Eventually, however, Sweetie and pals resort to the coyotes' level of violence; an ending where the dogs outsmart the coyotes instead of beating them up would have been preferred. And although the fast pacing, short chapters, and goofy personalities of the dogs will keep readers interested, one fight scene in particular where Sweetie "screamed with pain" may be too graphic for the intended audience. However, these could be good starting points for discussions on bullying and violence. Recommended with thoughtfulness in regards to individual readers for grades 2-5. ( )

Watchdog and The Coyotes is about a Great Dane named Sweetie. Sweetie has 2 friends, Poky (a Beagle) and Red (an Irish Setter). Sweetie had 2 previous owners and is now on his third. His 2 previous owners misinterpreted his attempts to protect their homes. As a result, Sweetie has become very paranoid, worrying that if he makes a mistake his owner will send him to the pound. Poky and Red try to comfort Sweetie. Then the coyotes arrive and harrass the 3 friends. The coyotes sleep in their dog houses, physically threaten them, and steal their food. Sweetie then decides to be the leader of the 3 in their fight against the coyotes. Sweetie then trains Poky amd Red to prepare them. This ultimately leads to their victory over the coyotes.

I really enjoyed reading Watchdog and The Coyotes. The story is so funny and exciting that I couldn't stop reading it. The illustrations in the book add a visual representation of the text which makes the book easier to understand. The personalities of the 3 dogs are well represented in their actions and dialogue. The main theme of the book is the weak (Sweetie, Poky, and Red) defeating the powerful (the coyotes). Based on my review, I give the book 5 out of 5 stars. ( )