Blog

Action, drama, and mystery — the Orphan X series has it all. I got sucked into the series with the very first book, and my husband is now hooked on the series, too. The first book, Orphan X, introduces you to retired off-the-books intelligence asset Evan Smoak. Evan has reinvented himself, using his skills and resources to help those in perilous situations. He starts the series all alone, a man almost incapable of making connections, yet through the series people tend to connect to him. And, in book 5, Into the Fire, enters a Rhodesian Ridgeback named Dog to the series. That pretty much sealed up my love for this series. Book 8, The Last Orphan, is being released on February 14, 2023 (yay!).

Now, I had to wonder — a Rhodesian Ridgeback, that’s a pretty specific dog breed, with pretty specific traits — how did he end up in the book? Turns out the best-selling author Gregg Hurwitz has a love for the breed, being that they are part of his family. DOGSTER got the chance to chat with Gregg about his latest release and his pups.

DOGSTER: Tell us a little about your dogs …

Gregg: We just lost our big boy, Cairo. He was a 125-pound Rhodesian Ridgeback, the biggest we’d ever seen. Incredibly gentle animal. You could lie on him like a mattress and take a nap. For the last year, he was tri-pawed, having lost a front leg to cancer. Very stoic, never complained. He is missed every day. 

Zuma, our middle pup, was from a litter named after my Orphan X thriller series. He’s very mischievous and smart. Loves cuddling. If I’m working and he wants my attention, he will climb into my lap. I work on a rolling chair and have a standing desk with wheels; I was on a Zoom conference once and he got his front paws on my shoulders and I grabbed the desk and the whole enterprise — author, dog, chair, desk — rolled across the room and hit the wall. He’s about 110 pounds, also black mask, and devastatingly handsome. 

Nala, our baby pup, is ridiculous. She sleeps on her back with her paws sticking up and her head shoved across my neck and face. At 70 pounds, she’s what we call our “miniature Ridgeback.” Absurdly loving. 

DOGSTER: In the very first book, Orphan X, when Evan’s neighbor Mia asked him what made him happy, he said, “Rhodesian Ridgebacks.” In what ways is your main character Evan’s likes or dislikes influenced by yours? 

Gregg: Evan is a tougher, more taciturn version of me. He has a deep connection to Ridgebacks. After getting yanked out of a foster home at the age of 12 to be trained to be an off-the-books assassin for the DoD, he was raised in the farmhouse of his handler, a former CIA station agent named Jack Johns. Jack had a Ridgie named Strider, and Evan became very close with that dog.

Evan is a quiet, solo operator, essentially designed to be an expendable weapon. He has a hard time with personal relationships; I’ve noted a few times that he doesn’t understand the strange language of intimacy. But he found a strong connection to Strider (and eventually to Dog the dog) because dogs represent unconditional love with zero judgment. A favorite dog joke? If you lock your spouse and your dog in the trunk of your car for 24 hours and then open it, which one is happy to see you?

DOGSTER: I was excited to see Dog appear in Into the Fire. Why introduce him with a dog-fighting ring? 

Gregg: Because I needed a good excuse for Evan to kill a whole bunch of people we would immediately forgive him for killing. And folks who run dog-fighting rings fit the bill. And also, Dog is a wounded warrior much like Evan. Evan was the smallest kid in his foster home and had to build himself up to what he is today: Orphan X. Dog the dog was a bait pup, injured and small, when Evan rescues him. They’re very much alike.

DOGSTER: Will Dog be making an appearance in The Last Orphan? What else can we expect from this latest Orphan X novel?

Gregg: Dog is part of the core team now, so he will certainly be making an appearance. The latest Orphan X novel finds Evan Smoak facing his most dangerous mission yet. While it’s a continuation of the series, it’s also a great jumping-in point for new readers. Dog will be happy to greet anyone.

DOGSTER: You portray Dog as very sweet, even though this is a breed that was bred to hunt and be a protector. What has your experience of Rhodesian Ridgebacks been and do you feel that writing about one in your series makes Dog a sort of ambassador to people who don’t know anything about Rhodesian Ridgebacks? 

Gregg: They are the perfect animal. They are very sweet and loving. They’re beautiful and dignified, always posing as if waiting for someone to come along and paint their oil portrait. They’re very playful and love wrestling. They are serious chowhounds. And if someone is threatening to their owners, they are a dozen kinds of badass.

Cairo had a bark that would wobble the walls of the house. He used to sit in my lap when I was sitting in an armchair, and he was so big that all four of his paws were still on the floor. 

I hope I’ve conveyed that with Dog the dog and that more readers decide to have Ridgebacks in their homes. They are an unimprovable breed. 

DOGSTER: Do your dogs keep you company when writing? 

Gregg: They are underfoot when I type or snoozing in my office. I love having them around. Except when they wrestle, it’s like Jurassic Park in my office. Folks unfamiliar with the breed think they are trying to kill each other. 

 DOGSTER: Do your dogs make appearances with you, like for book signings? 

Gregg: I wish. They’re too big.

DOGSTER: Where can readers go to see more about you, your dogs and Dog? 

Gregg: Readers can connect with me on Facebook @gregghurwitzreaders, Twitter @GreggHurwitz and Instagram @gregghurwitzbooks and also sign up for my newsletters at www.gregghurwitz.net. And I post lots of dog pics. 

Check out the Orphan X series here:

Orphan X (2016)

The Nowhere Man (2017)

Hellbent (2018)

Out of the Dark (2019)

Into the Fire (2020)

Prodigal Son (2021)

Dark Horse (2022)

The Last Orphan (2023)

The Spanish Water Dog was developed on the Iberian Peninsula (which covers Spain and Portugal) to hunt, help farmers, herd and assist fisherman. Although his name makes him sound like he’d belong in the Sporting Group (and indeed he does like both water and sports), the American Kennel Club placed him in the herding group because of his strong herding history and instincts. The breed was fully recognized by the AKC in 2015. The dog was ranked 145^th in popularity in 2021 by the AKC.

How much does the Spanish Water Dog weigh?

Male Spanish Water Dogs weigh 40 to 49 pounds. Females weigh 31 to 40 pounds.

How long does the Spanish Water live?

They live for about 12 to 14 years. Health concerns are hip dysplasia, retinal atrophy and hypothyroidism.

What is the Spanish Water Dog’s activity level?

The SWD is not a couch potato by any stretch. A high-energy breed, the SWD has the capacity for lengthy, strenuous exercise. He makes a great companion for families who camp, run, hike, and enjoy water and shore activities. What equipment will you need? Plenty of retrieving toys.

Does the Spanish Water Dog like water?

Water and the SWD are a match. After all, the SWD in part was developed to help fishermen: The dogs would leap off piers and boats to retrieve overboard tackle, lines and stunned fish. Today he’s an enthusiastic swimmer and water retriever. His webbed toes facilitate his swimming, as does his body structure and coat. SWDs are usually strong swimmers, and playing fetch in the water is a great way to help them expend energy. Some SWD dogs have the capacity to dive to recover items down in the water.

The Spanish Water Dog and dog sports

Most SWDs delight in jumping into water, which leads to the Dock Diving sport option. In Dock Diving, dogs run the length of a dock and leap out into the water to retrieve a prized toy, in competition for height or distance.

Spanish Water Dogs are eager participants in non-water sports as well, including agility, obedience, flyball and herding.  Many also revel in the sport of tracking, in which owners set a scent track for a dog to follow.

Does the Spanish Water Dog get along with others?

The SWD is a controlling herding breed, which means he may chase anyone (animal or human) he thinks is running amuck. The breed may try to control children’s yard play by chasing and circling, as he would do with disorderly stock. Children won’t likely appreciate this attention (perhaps the livestock don’t either, but them’s the breaks!), so SWD owners will want to curb this behavior early in puppyhood.

Training the Spanish Water Dog

While the Spanish Water Dog is intelligent, quick to learn, and willing to obey, he does have an independent side, and he’s got bossiness in his genes. When training a herding dog, owners do well to keep the dog’s natural herding instincts in mind. The breed was expected, with minimal training and human direction, to manage goats, sheep, cattle and pigs. The SWD puppy’s instinct to chase, boss, or nip to control, is more easily redirected if owners understand it as inborn working behavior, not willfulness, and certainly not aggression.

The Spanish Water Dog and strangers

Often suspicious of strangers, SWDs bond closely with family. Their protective instincts make them self-appointed guardians to their people and property. Although ideally not timid or shy, the SWD is yet naturally wary of strangers. Pups need to be socialized extensively, to learn to discern friend from foe, and to accept strangers into the home.

Spanish Water Dog’s coat and grooming

The SWD’s coloring may be solid (in shades of black, brown, beige or white) or parti-color where the second color is white. He is single coated and curly — a low-shedding breed. So what’s the story behind the distinctively curly coat? The coat was an adaptation to the weather of the breed’s native country of Spain. The coat adapted to the variation of humidity and drought. The curly coat may form cords when long.

When SWDs are competing in the show ring, show coats aren’t brushed or combed. Non-show dogs can be clipped as often as owners prefer, with some owners choosing to let it grow for many months. Traditionally the Spanish Water Dog was sheared one time per year (with the sheep), the same length all over the body.

The SWD’s beautiful curls need some specific attention. But surprisingly, no brushing or blowing needed. When washing and drying the curls, owners shouldn’t rub or scrub the dog’s hair. Instead, shampoo should be squeezed, not rubbed, through the hair. Curls can be dried by blotting the moisture out of the coat, again focusing on avoiding rubbing.

Is the Spanish Water Dog hypoallergenic?

Although the SWD is a single coated breed that sheds less than most breeds, he isn’t (nor is there such a thing as) a “hypoallergenic” dog breed. Even with his low-shedding coat, allergic individuals may react to his hair, his dander and his saliva.

The SWD does shed notably less than many dogs, which can be a blessing for families wanting their homes as hair-free as possible.

A working history of the Spanish Water Dog

The medium sized ancestors of the SWD have been working with gusto in the Spanish countryside for some 800 years. Developed as an all-around farm dog with resilient herding instincts, the SWD gathered sheep, goat or cattle. He also assisted fishermen, retrieved water fowl and protected the homestead.

The breed’s exact early origins are contested by experts. What is agreed upon is that the breed was developed in Spain centuries ago for all his jobs, including hunting, water work, herding, home guarding and, of course, companionship.

In the central and southern regions of Spain, the dogs primarily drove herds of sheep, cows, pigs and goats to seasonal pastures. They also helped hunt fowl and small game. In the northern coastal regions, Spanish Water Dogs retrieved fish and tackle from boats and swimming lines. The northern dogs probably also hunted, especially during the off-season. Spanish Water Dogs primarily were owned by less-wealthy folk, who certainly couldn’t afford dogs specialized in only one task.

Early SWDs may also have worked in Spanish mines to defend mule transports, guard against thieves, and keep rats at bay in the mines. The dogs’ woolly coat helped protect them in the hot and humid mines.

In more modern times, Spanish Water Dogs are no longer needed for much of their early work.  While SWDs can be found still herding in the southern regions of Spain, the breed has willingly taken on new jobs, such as search and rescue, cadaver search, bomb detection and drug detection. 

Spain only has two AKC breeds that begin with the country’s name: the Spanish Water Dog and the Spanish Mastiff.  Historians surmise that the two breeds may have worked together on the annual migration of animals to and from seasonal pastures. The SWD herded and controlled the animals; the Spanish Mastiff (some 140 to 200 pounds) was a formidable livestock guardian.

Anyone who has ever seen a dog suffering from anaphylaxis, or even just watched a social media video or looked at a photo, won’t soon forget it. Dogs experiencing an anaphylactic reaction to something like an insect bite or bee sting can have dramatic facial swelling in addition to other symptoms like difficulty breathing, itchy skin and hives.

A dog with his face or lips blown up to extreme proportions might look funny, but anaphylaxis in dogs is very serious, requiring emergency treatment from your veterinarian. Read on to find out everything you need to know about anaphylaxis in dogs.

What is anaphylaxis in dogs?

Anaphylaxis is a rapid onset, abnormally severe allergic reaction to an allergen or foreign protein. Almost anything can cause anaphylaxis, but it’s commonly caused by bee stings and insect bites. “Any substance the body recognizes as foreign could incite a reaction, and often the offending agent is never found,” says Dr. Lisa Osier, of VCA Animal Hospital in Virginia. “Dogs that have a severe food allergy may react to a protein in the food. Other causes could include medications and vaccinations.”

What are the signs or symptoms of anaphylaxis in dogs?

Dr. Osier says signs of anaphylaxis in dogs may include:

• swelling of the face
• hives
• red or itchy skin
• drooling
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• trouble breathing
• tongue might look blue

Once a reaction is fully underway, the signs can be obvious and dramatic, with lots of swelling and hives, and potentially vomiting and diarrhea. However, early signs of anaphylaxis can be subtle.

“You might see a dog yawning a lot or pawing at its face, a sign that it’s itchy,” says Dr. Keith Harper, of Hayward Veterinary Hospital in California. You might also see red skin or hives — raised bumps on the body. It’s easier to see hives or red skin on dogs with short, light-colored hair. These signs can be harder to notice on dark-colored dogs or those with thick, fluffy coats.

How fast will you see anaphylaxis in dogs?

Often, owners don’t know what caused the reaction; they just notice the symptoms after the fact. However, if you think your dog was stung by a bee or bitten by an insect, watch closely for any early signs of a reaction. Dr. Harper says people usually see signs that their dogs isn’t quite right within 30 to 45 minutes, possibly even faster.

How is anaphylaxis more serious than an allergic reaction?

A dog experiencing a basic allergic reaction might show similar signs, such as hives, redness and itchiness, but the symptoms are usually much less severe and localized to one area of skin, according to Dr. Osier. An anaphylactic reaction affects the entire body, and is life-threatening if the dog’s breathing is restricted. 

Anaphylaxis can be even more dangerous for dogs with compromised airways, such as brachycephalic breeds like Boxers, Bulldogs, French Bulldogs, Pugs, Shar-Pei and Shih Tzu. “All of those breeds already have very short noses, very thin noses and long pieces of tissue that go into the back of their throats, so if they experience any problems being able to breathe it’s serious,” Dr. Harper says.

What is anaphylactic shock in dogs?

Anaphylactic shock is a very serious complication of anaphylaxis. The blood vessels dilate (get bigger), making it harder for blood to get to vital organs, Dr. Osier explains. The blood is then unable to supply nutrients and oxygen to the cells in the body, causing them to die and resulting in organ failure.

Is anaphylaxis in dogs common?

Dr. Osier says that anaphylaxis is not uncommon to see in the veterinary emergency setting. Because almost anything can cause it in dogs, its incidence is unpredictable.

“Susceptibility to having an anaphylactic reaction is thought to be hereditary,” she says. “If a pet’s parents or littermates have had a reaction, they are more likely to have a reaction.”

That said, any dog can have a reaction to any substance, including insect bites and stings, vaccines, medication, food or almost anything.

How is anaphylaxis in dogs treated?

If you think your dog is experiencing anaphylaxis, remove the offending substance if you know what it is (if you see a bee stinger, take it out), then seek immediate veterinary emergency medical attention.

Once your dog arrives to the animal hospital, the veterinary team does a thorough assessment, takes your dog’s temperature, and checks the heart rate and respiratory rate. If a stinger or other offending object is still present, the veterinarian removes it.

Treatment usually consists of placing an IV catheter and administering fluids, as well as giving corticosteroids and antihistamines. In severe cases where a large amount of swelling is compromising the dog’s airway, the veterinarian might insert a breathing tube to help the dog breathe until the swelling goes down.

Your vet will keep your dog in the hospital for monitoring until the symptoms of anaphylaxis go away and your dog is stable and comfortable. This could be a few hours or longer, depending on the severity of the reaction.

What is the prognosis of anaphylaxis in dogs?

Though most cases of anaphylaxis respond well and quickly to treatment, Dr. Osier says that the prognosis is guarded, because an anaphylactic reaction can be fatal. The faster you can get your dog to the veterinarian, the better his chances of surviving and recovering quickly.

Are there EpiPens for dogs?

EpiPen is the brand-name for a device that auto-injects epinephrine, a medication that treats the symptoms of an allergic reaction. In human medicine, a doctor may prescribe an EpiPen for someone who has a severe allergy.

Veterinarians can prescribe EpiPens for dogs, too. Although anaphylaxis is less common in pets than in humans, some dogs that have serious anaphylactic reactions might benefit from having an EpiPen at home. If your vet thinks it’s a good idea to keep an EpiPen on hand for use for your dog, she can write a prescription for you and teach you when to use it and how to use the device properly.

Never use a human-prescribed EpiPen on your dog without speaking to your veterinarian. The dosage might not be correct for your dog, and you might not know how and when to use it properly.

What if my dog is having a mild allergic reaction?

If your dog seems to be having a minor allergic reaction to something — itchy or red skin, bumps or hives on the skin — but isn’t experiencing swelling or difficulty breathing, remove the offending substance (if you know what it is). If your dog got something on his skin that seems to be making him itchy, you can give him a bath to remove it.

Give your veterinarian a call to see if she thinks you should come in or stay home, and monitor your dog. If the reaction progresses, bring your dog into the vet right away, especially if you notice any swelling, difficulty breathing, vomiting or diarrhea.

Anaphylaxis is less common in dogs than it is in humans, but it can happen to any dog at any time. Often, the pet owner might not know what brought on the anaphylaxis, but notices the dog is having a reaction all of a sudden. No matter what caused it, get urgent veterinary care for your dog if you suspect an anaphylactic reaction. Anaphylaxis in dogs can progress rapidly and, if left untreated, it can be fatal.