Honors:
•  International Reading Association 2006 Children’s Book Award Notable Book
• Wyoming Center for the Book pick to represent the state at the 2005 National Book Festival
• 2006 Wyoming Ag Book For Kids
• 2007 Read Across Wyoming pick
• 2007 (Texas) Mockingbird Award nominee
• 2008 Monarch Award: Illinois' K-3 Children's Choice Award Master List
• 2008 Garden State (New Jersey) Book Award nominee
• Houghton Mifflin is preparing an adaptation of Brave Dogs for a special Grade 3 reading program,
due for release in 2009.

Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews:
“Along with a set of beguiling, intimate color photos of puppies and parent dogs, lambs and adult sheep lying down together, touching noses and comfortably mingling on a wintry prairie, Wyoming rancher/journalist Urbigkit describes in terse captions how guard dogs are "socialized" with their ovine charges from birth. That is, she writes, virtually the only training they receive or need to develop a sense of mutual dependency.
Closing with a list of common breeds of American guard dogs and a bit of historical background, this will not only replace George Ancona's out-of-print "Sheep Dog" (1985) in libraries, it will rivet young dog lovers in general. And it makes a great lead in to the likes of James Herriot's "Only One Woof" (1985), illus by Peter Barrett or, for older readers, Jon Kat's "Dogs of Bedlam Farm" (2004).”

School Library Journal:
“A charming photo-essay on guardian dogs. Accompanied by clear, full-color photos, the simple, informative text describes the raising of these sheepdogs and their natural proclivity for guarding "their" flocks. From placing fleece in the newborn puppies' beds, the canines are socialized with the sheep--and vice versa--until full bonding is achieved. Urbigkit's narrative and photos are perfectly matched. … This is a gentle introduction to a valuable, useful crew of working dogs, providing protection for ranch stock in an environmentally sound manner.”

Booklist:
“Through a relaxed narrative and pictures taken in a dramatic Wyoming setting, Urbigkit's photo-essay introduces children to guardian dogs—a category of working dog that is less well known than Seeing Eye dogs and herders. As Urbigkit explains, ranchers accustom future guardians to spending time around sheep by lining the puppies' beds with fleece; the rest, from warning away coyotes to playing babysitter at lambing time, is second nature. The book's 10-by-11 inch dimensions accommodate generously sized photos, allowing children to easily distinguish the white dogs from the sheep they closely resemble. [Kids will] come away impressed by the ‘unique closeness’ that can develop between two species and will want to return again and again to the heart-tugging images of shaggy puppies nuzzling their charges.”

Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books June 2005:
“Dogs that herd livestock have gotten a fair amount of press, but their counterparts who guard and live among their charges maintain a lower profile. Urbigkit describes the work and the socialization process of the guardian dogs, who are raised with their herd as pups and who essentially view the sheep as their pack (and vice versa, since, as the book notes, ewes will cheerfully discipline unruly puppies), in simple yet affectionate language that's suitable for reading aloud as well as reading alone. The narrative skips around somewhat, never quite settling on a central canine subject and getting a bit more excited about puppydom than the mature dogs on actual duty, and it's only in a final author's note (which also details the most popular breeds of guardian dog) that we learn the interesting history of guardian dogs' introduction into the U.S. A pack of clear photographs depict the guardian dogs and their charges on the wide Wyoming range; the images testify to the predominance of earthtones in landscape and subjects, but sheep and dogs are appealingly posed against the big sky, white snow, and tawny grasses. Dogs with jobs remain an alluring topic, and this could partner effectively with titles about rescue dogs and assistance dogs, provide an interesting slant on ranch life and practices, or just offer a good excuse for looking at some cute puppy pictures.”

Horn Book May/June 2005:
“With quiet impact, the reader is ushered into the world of guardian dogs. For hundreds of years essential to shepherds in the rural areas of central Europe and Asia, guardian dogs are a fairly recent introduction to the United States, where they are fast gaining in importance and need as native predators encroach on domestic livestock. Urbigkit explains how puppies are first introduced to sheep by smell--they sleep in beds lined with fleece. When they are a little older, they are introduced to actual lambs and, when ready, to older sheep. Because these dogs have such strong maternal/paternal instincts, this socialization does not take long. Through hundreds of years of breeding, guardian dogs have developed the essential characteristics of loyalty, independence, and hardiness they need to protect their herd. Urbigkit seamlessly weaves a multitude of information into the story she is telling. Her photographs are clear, focused, and appealing, reflecting and enhancing the text. They capably demonstrate each aspect of the pups' growth, introduction to sheep, and final graduation to working guardian dog. An appended author's note (unfortunately without photographs) describes six of the better-known guardian breeds and discusses how the Endangered Species Act necessitated their import. Well-told and engagingly photographed, this book is sure to be a hit with all dog lovers.”

Books for Growing Minds (Somerville, NJ) March 2005:
“Simple text and expressive photographs demonstrate how guardian dogs-in breeds imported from Europe-are raised with sheep and instinctively know that there job is to protect the herd from predatory animals among the Rocky Mountains.”

Christian Library Journal, 9/05:
“Chock full of excellent information, Brave Dogs, Gentle Dogs uses capacious colored photos and informative, interesting narrative to present the history, breeding, and training of the large sheep guardian dogs of the American Rocky Mountains. Set in the author's home state, Wyoming, this book introduces the dogs and their puppies, and the people and sheep who train them. Facets of a dog's job include total identification with its particular herd, protecting, and lamb-sitting. A closing chapter lists the main breeds of guardian dogs, all large, lovable, and professional. Reporter, rancher, and accomplished photographer, Cat Urbigkit works with the dogs she describes in Brave Dog, Gentle Dog. The engaging photographs tell the story with verve and empathy-what a winning combination- dogs and sheep, puppies and lambs. Urbrigkit's narrative is simple, informing, straight to the point, and engrossing. Listed for grades K-2, readers through fourth grade would benefit from the important information.
All schools and libraries will benefit from Brave Dogs, Gentle Dogs. It is suitable for both independent and group reading. Consider it for a gift, not only for children but also for invalids and nursing home residents.”

Children's Literature - Cherie Ilg Haas
“Large, color photos of guard dogs tenderly watching over sheep fill the pages of this book. These images accurately tell the story of guard dogs as they grow into their roles of affectionately watching over herds of sheep in the Rocky Mountains. The sentences are brief and to the point, allowing the photos to prevail. Although the text is simple, it effectively describes the amazing relationship between these animals, including how the puppies are introduced to the sheep and then allowed to let their instincts take over from there.”

Lansing Library Youth News & Reviews Blog: “This delightful book, which happens to be about two of my favorite things in the world, dogs and sheep is also one of the Monarch Children's Choice Book Award nominations for this year. The book tells the tale of these special dogs. Unlike so many other working breed dogs, their job is not to herd or move livestock, but solely to guard. These guardian dogs are known as Great Pyrenees. They are bred to protect livestock from predators such as wolves and bears. The bond between these dogs and their sheep begins from the time they are born. When new puppies are born, sheep wool is used in their bedding area to get them used to the smell of the sheep. I hope as you open the cover of this book you will be as delighted and enlightened as I. This book is a gentle reminder of why I love non-fiction books.”