Before John Broad ever joined the Essex police as an officer, his dream was to become a dog handler. After a long wait, he received his partner, a German shepherd named Beau, in 1987. In A Dog by Any Other Name, he shares his story of working with police dogs and the special role animals can play in ones life. A compilation of short chapters and stories about his relationship with four police dogs and those of his colleagues, he narrates tales of funny and unexpected happenings when working with the canines. Broad discusses training and working with dogs and the joys and challenges of the job. In A Dog by Any Other Name, he tells of his respect for the working dogs, be they herders, guide dogs for blind people, search/rescue dogs, or police dogs. He shares advice: Handle a dog, own a dog, and take a dog to your heart. Treasure the good times and laughter. Dogs fill your life, and maybe they are smiling too. All they want to do is please you and be a part of the family.