Top Dog

October 1, 2014
In this follow-up to Soldier Dogs: The Untold Story of America's Canine Heroes (2012), Goodavage gives the Marines and their canine companions equal billing. The story begins with Marine dog handlers spending months learning about "off-leash dog handling," a specialty of the Israeli military. The dogs would be employed to detect the IEDs being used against American soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. "The combination of a trained dog handler's ability to spot potential danger areas on the ground and the dog's prowess at sniffing explosives would prove to be formidable defense against these homemade bombs," writes the author. The Marines and their dogs would be embedded with infantry, and due to the danger of their mission, the demands on man and dog were huge. Most important was the establishment of a trusting bond between them; any misstep or miscommunication by either could lead to a deadly explosion. The heroes of the story are Lucca, a German shepherd and Belgian Malinois mix who had been born in the Netherlands, and his two handlers. Petting, grooming, feeding, play "and just hanging out" comprised the routine in the months during which handlers and dogs developed a durable bond. An extended training period was necessary since the animals would be "follow[ing] their noses far more independently than leashed dogs." Lucca's first trainer and handler was Marine Staff Sgt. Chris Willingham. When his two re-enlistments were completed, Lucca was reassigned to Cpl. Juan "Rod" Rodriguez. After a grievous injury that left him with only three legs, Lucca was released from military service but found a loving home with his first handler. "Over her career," writes the author in this straightforward account, "she had protected untold numbers of soldiers and marines on four hundred missions with no injuries other than her own." Lucca was awarded two Purple Hearts for her bravery in action. A sentimental tale of man and dog and their heroism under fire.

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June 15, 2014

Goodavage's New York Times best-selling Soldier Dogs captured the zeitgeist; news stories abound on the work canines do in the military, and various animal charities help soldiers reunite with the dogs they have handled. Here Goodavage focuses on one hero dog, Lucca, who carried out an extraordinary 400-mission career in Afghanistan and Iraq as a specialized search dog. If only Lucca herself could talk.

Copyright 2014 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from October 15, 2014

Goodavage, a former reporter with USA Today, continues to tell the story of military working dogs that she began in 2012's Soldier Dogs: the Untold Story of America's Canine Heroes. This time, readers follow one particular canine, German shepherd-Belgian Malinois mix Lucca and her handlers as they "walk point," discovering IEDs and caches of weapons in Afghanistan. Lucca is a specialized search dog (SSD), trained to work off leash at distances from her handler, directed by hand signals or a microphone concealed in her vest. The author explains the lengthy, arduous training in conditions simulating the harsh environments the dogs will experience. She then describes the dangerous missions that the teams undertook and their triumphs and tragedies. The result is an eye-opening account of the job these intelligent dogs and their courageous handlers do. VERDICT Readers familiar with Goodavage's previous book or Mike Ritland's 2013 Trident K-9 Warriors, who are interested in learning about the specialized training military dogs receive, or who want more proof of the intensity of the human-animal bond, will want to read this riveting title that is filled with excitement and heartbreak. [See Prepub Alert, 6/2/14.]--Florence Scarinci, Nassau Community Coll. Lib., Garden City, NY

Copyright 2014 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 15, 2014

Goodavage, a former reporter with USA Today, continues to tell the story of military working dogs that she began in 2012's Soldier Dogs: the Untold Story of America's Canine Heroes. This time, readers follow one particular canine, German shepherd-Belgian Malinois mix Lucca and her handlers as they "walk point," discovering IEDs and caches of weapons in Afghanistan. Lucca is a specialized search dog (SSD), trained to work off leash at distances from her handler, directed by hand signals or a microphone concealed in her vest. The author explains the lengthy, arduous training in conditions simulating the harsh environments the dogs will experience. She then describes the dangerous missions that the teams undertook and their triumphs and tragedies. The result is an eye-opening account of the job these intelligent dogs and their courageous handlers do. VERDICT Readers familiar with Goodavage's previous book or Mike Ritland's 2013 Trident K-9 Warriors, who are interested in learning about the specialized training military dogs receive, or who want more proof of the intensity of the human-animal bond, will want to read this riveting title that is filled with excitement and heartbreak. [See Prepub Alert, 6/2/14.]--Florence Scarinci, Nassau Community Coll. Lib., Garden City, NY

Copyright 2014 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.