John R. Erickson

After his many years as a typical bachelor cowboy, Slim Chance is convinced against his will that he needs to build his own herd of cattle and invest in the future. So, he takes the plunge, takes out a loan, and takes his newly-bought heifers to a pasture on Viola's father's ranch. But, just about the time his new herd is calved-out and his investment is beginning to look promising, the dry and windy weather conditions put the entire county on High Alert for fire-danger. Hank is sure that he and Slim can defend the ranch against anything that comes their way, that is, until they come face-to-face with a wild fire unlike any grass fire they've seen before. Will Slim be able to get the cattle to safety in time? And, more importantly, what about Slim himself? You won't want to miss this hair-raising and heart-warming tale of cowboy-bravery, true heroism, and the blessings of friends and community

It's scrap day on the ranch - a glorious day for Hank, his sidekick, Drover, and Pete the Barncat. But when two very unusual-looking creatures fly overhead, the glorious day takes a sudden turn for the worse. Suddenly the scraps have vanished and the Head of Ranch Security finds himself dealing with an invasion by a couple of ancient dinosaur birds There's never a dull moment when Hank the Cowdog is around...

Someone has been getting into the feed in the feed shed, and Slim has put out a trap for the offending party. As Head of Ranch Security, Hank knows it's his job to check the trap and help Slim nail the culprit. Unfortunately, the trap is a bit trickier than Hank expected, and when he finds himself face-to-face with none other than his old buddy Eddy the Rac, Hank's in a rather compromising position. Can Eddy help Hank out, or does the cunning coon have only his own best interests in mind?

It's winter in the Texas Panhandle, and the ranch is covered in snow and ice. Hank decides to follow Pete the Barncat's advice and bravely escorts Sally May's car up the hill. Before Hank realizes what's happening, Sally May's car skids into a snowdrift--and she is angrier than ever And who does she blame but Hank Is this just another stroke of bad luck for poor old Hank--or is it a malicious plot laid by his arch nemesis, Pete?

This time, things start to heat up when a strange flapping noise leads to a midnight investigation of the ranch. Before he knows it, Hank finds himself caught up with his old friend Eddy the Rac and face-to-face with one of a dog's greatest enemies: the dreaded
 laundry monster. Could it mean the end for everyone's favorite Head of Ranch Security or is it just Eddy up to his old tricks?

The ranch is in the grip of a heat wave, and to make matters worse, there's a raging rottweiler on the loose. It's up to Hank the Cowdog, Head of Ranch Security, to teach the visiting pooch some manners. It's rumored that Bruiser is all talk and no action, but when he attacks a defenseless fawn, Hank's not sure what to think. Has Hank got what it takes to take care of this crazy canine? Or are his dog days numbered?

When the ranch falls on hard times, Slim the cowboy decides to hit the road in search of a new job and inadvertently takes Hank and Drover with him.

When Sally May and Loper head off to visit the relatives--leaving Slim in charge of Little Alfred--Hank knows that trouble is sure to come knocking. But not even the Head of Ranch Security could have predicted what would happen next. First, Slim is struck down
 with the measles. Then a blizzard hits the ranch, trapping them in the house with no heat or electricity. Somehow, Hank's got to find a way to get them out of this mess...

Someone has been raiding Sally May's garbage barrels Hank knows the crime is the work of a notorious gang of raccoons, but in a tragic case of mistaken identity, the Head of Ranch Security is himself forced to take the heat. Even more trouble lies ahead. Rip
 and Snort, the good-for-nothing coyote brothers, are planning to pull an even bigger job.

A routine fishing trip turns into a first-class crisis when a fishhook finds its way into Hank's stomach. Is there hope for Hank, or is it curtains for everyone's favorite cowdog?

The head of Ranch Security is again called to duty--this time to arrest the marauding trespassers who are threatening to stampede the cattle. Join Hank as he tracks down enemy agent Mysterious Esther, gets a surprise visit from pretty Miss Viola, attempts a daring escape from the relentless Vampire Vacuum Sweeper, almost single-handedly reprimands town dog Buster and his gang of thugs and sustains the ranch through another dangerous night.

Hank and Drover are excited when a quick nap in the back of Slim's pickup turns into a trip to town. But the excitement turns to drama when they find themselves at the livestock show and Drover decides to take off to visit his mother. Can Hank track down his faithful sidekick before Slim heads back to the ranch? Or is he off on a wild goose chase?

For twenty-five years, readers have enjoyed watching Drover - Hank's trusty sidekick - try to finagle himself out of every dangerous situation that arises on the ranch. But what
 happened before Drover came to the ranch? Well, it's all here - from his early days as runt of the litter through his fruitless search for a job to his ultimate position as Hank's right-paw man.

Everyone knows that a dog's gotta chew what a dog's gotta chew. But when Hank's doggie urges have him chomping on plastic (including Little Alfred's toy truck) Hank knows he's got to get things under control. Then Beulah, the long-eared lady dog of his dreams, shows up at the ranch and Hank is thrilled. At last, he thinks, she's finally given up her infatuation with Plato the Bird Dog. But, it turns out that Plato is missing, and Beulah wants Hank to help find him. Can he put his doggie dreams aside and do the right thing?

This is no ordinary, run-of-the-mill ranch intrigue. No sir, this is a real, honest-to-goodness archaeological adventure When an old friend of Slim's starts an archaeological dig near the ranch, it doesn't take long before little Alfred gets caught up in the excitement, and it isn't long before Hank follows. Once there, Hank finds himself face-to-face with the most ancient of bones a huge bison bone that Hank just knows has been aged to delicious perfection. Hank should be protecting the bone, but can he keep his doggie instincts at bay and uphold his position, or will the most ancient of bones get the best of him?

Hank gets the ride of his life when Slim's pickup truck breaks down and they end up with a brand-new model on loan while the old one gets fixed. But a ranch dog like Hank isn't used to power windows and door locks, and he manages to get himself in a whole heap of trouble with just one push of a button Will Hank be able to find a way out of this mess?

There's never a dull moment on the ranch when Hank the Cowdog is around. In this adventure, Hank learns about a tool thief on the loose who uses a monkey to help him do his dirty work. And before long, Hank finds himself face-to-face with the pilfering primate Can Hank help to stop the criminals in their tracks, or will the crooks get away to continue their monkey business?

When Young Alfred brings home a bunch of adorable baby chicks to raise, he expects Hank, as the Head of Ranch Security, to help keep them safe. But as far as Hank's concerned, the chicks don't only look cute, they look delicious. Can he put aside his doggie instincts for the sake of a job well done? Or will his overactive appetite get the best of him?

When Hank hears a rumor that the sky is going to fall from the ranch's resident rooster, he is naturally a bit skeptical. But when a report from Pete the Barncat and a strange dream seem to support the theory, Hank knows that he'd better take the threat seriously
 and that he must do whatever it takes to prevent the sky from falling on his beloved ranch. Even if it means getting into trouble with Sally May (again)....

It's bad enough when Hank accidentally gets trapped in a cattle trailer and ends up stranded in town. Then he gets picked up by the local dog catcher and locked in a cage. But just when it looks like things couldn't get any worse, Hank meets up with Dogpound
 Ralph and the two dogs break free and strike out on the adventure of a lifetime. Suddenly, life just couldn't be any better. Or could it?