The Dogs of War: The Courage, Love, and Loyalty of Military Working Dogs

An excellently written, thoroughly researched (with footnotes!) nonfiction book on "MWDs" (military working dogs). Illustrated with many color photographs of military dogs in action and at play, and containing a bibliography and appendices listing nationwide war dog memorials and organizations that place retired MWDs with new adoptive owners. I was somewhat familiar with this topic, as I love to read about dogs and I own Marilyn Sequin's Dogs of war And Stories of Other Beasts of Battle in the Civil War, but I learned a lot of new information from this book, which covers the past and present of military dogs. I loved the writing style, clear and crisp and yet warm with affection and respect for this unique working partnership. It opens show more with an exciting dog's eye view description of the helicopter raid on Osama Bin Laden's compound, as we accompany Cairo, the dog on the Navy SEAL team, giving you a real feel for the action. There are chapters on the training of dogs as well as the training of their handlers; what kinds of equipment are needed for putting dogs in the field (they wear "Doggles" to protect their eyes, or infrared cameras to show their handlers what they see when they scout ahead, and even can have an earbud in their ears so that the handler can issue commands from a distance without giving away their position!). The book talks about military veterinarians, and what breeds and temperaments of dog are sought after for this work. Sections on Hall of Fame dogs of past conflicts did make me sniffle a little bit, as these dogs courageously protect their handlers, often giving their lives to save countless servicemen and women's lives. It was all fascinating and uplifting to read about; there were many quotes from dog trainers and handlers about the loyalty they see in their dogs and how close their bonds grow. Great book for middle school and up. show less

Females can serve in the military—provided they are spayed. Of course, Lisa Rogak is addressing the U.S. military eligibility of canines and not humans. This thought is one of many insights and descriptions the author has presented in this well-documented exposé on MWDs.

And, don’t be looking for a Christopher Walken-type Hollywood warrior searching for weapons of mass destruction. This book reveals the history, selection, training, and maintenance of military working dogs (“MWDs”)—the nearly 3,000 canines drafted by the Pentagon. Interspersed are sidebar vignettes of certain canine lives, deaths, and contributions or sacrifices, as well as several pages of color photos of dogs and their handlers.

Rogak’s text is supported show more by 17 pages of footnotes and eight pages of further resources. Some of her material seems to be repetitive and that is perhaps because she has used so many different sources that she wants to include as authority in her writing. Nevertheless, her style is breezy and her points are poignant in discussing the vital role that canines provide in human defense, either in military combat zones or in civilian security postings.

One disturbing notion that Rogak addresses is that of a returning veteran suffering from PTSD that is summarily euthanized. Human soldiers aren’t treated that way and we don’t eat dogs as a delicacy as some cultures might. The counter-argument she presents is to explain about certain avenues of rehabilitation and adoption of the canine combat veteran. According to the author, adoptions have accelerated since the public discovered that a MWD—a Belgian Malinois called Cairo—was part of the Seal team that assaulted Osama bin Laden’s Pakistanian compound.

This book is well worth reading in order to gain basic information on this compelling but neglected topic. There is one simple point that seems muted: If GIs are issued dog tags, what do MWDs get? show less

If you are picking this up expecting a book full of personal stories about military working dogs and the unique relationship that exists between them and their handlers, you may be disappointed as this book is written more along the lines of a history of the military working dog from how they came about to their current purpose in today’s military.

It is immediately apparent when reading this book that the Author has done their research as they cover, in fine detail, the selection process for a puppy to become a Military Working Dog (MWD) right through to their retirement and transition, hopefully to a civilian life. With so much research and detail this is a book that could easily have turned into something resembling a research show more paper, but the Author manages to avoid this pitfall turning the book into an informative memoir through the telling of the stories of different dogs and the roles they play as a MWD. Each chapter of the boo k is given over to a particular dog and their handler, and this leads to a greater understanding of the bonds created between the two, and the heartbreak felt when one or the other is lost.

Interspersed with some wonderful photographs that show these dogs in action, this is a book that will surely capture the reader and pull them in from the very first page. It is emotional, funny, and above all informative and will give many readers a greater insight into the life of a MWD, and why they are held in such high esteem not only by their handlers, but by the Service Members they work alongside. I could write a lot more about this book in my review, but to do so would involve quoting portions of the book to illustrate what a great read it is, and I would rather the reader find that out for themselves.

I would highly recommend this book to dog lovers and those interested in the military.

Originally reviewed on: http://catesbooknuthut.com/2014/05/09/review-the-dogs-of-war-lisa-rogak/



This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. show less

If you are picking this up expecting a book full of personal stories about military working dogs and the unique relationship that exists between them and their handlers, you may be disappointed as this book is written more along the lines of a history of the military working dog from how they came about to their current purpose in today’s military.

It is immediately apparent when reading this book that the Author has done their research as they cover, in fine detail, the selection process for a puppy to become a Military Working Dog (MWD) right through to their retirement and transition, hopefully to a civilian life. With so much research and detail this is a book that could easily have turned into something resembling a research show more paper, but the Author manages to avoid this pitfall turning the book into an informative memoir through the telling of the stories of different dogs and the roles they play as a MWD. Each chapter of the boo k is given over to a particular dog and their handler, and this leads to a greater understanding of the bonds created between the two, and the heartbreak felt when one or the other is lost.

Interspersed with some wonderful photographs that show these dogs in action, this is a book that will surely capture the reader and pull them in from the very first page. It is emotional, funny, and above all informative and will give many readers a greater insight into the life of a MWD, and why they are held in such high esteem not only by their handlers, but by the Service Members they work alongside. I could write a lot more about this book in my review, but to do so would involve quoting portions of the book to illustrate what a great read it is, and I would rather the reader find that out for themselves.

I would highly recommend this book to dog lovers and those interested in the military.

Originally reviewed on: http://catesbooknuthut.com/2014/05/09/review-the-dogs-of-war-lisa-rogak/



This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. show less

This is a fascinating account of the important role that military dogs play in our country's defense. Their impact is dramatic when the thousands of lives they save by bomb-sniffing are considered, and the author illustrates that impact in many ways. The anecdotes are engaging, and often read like short stories; the factoids about cost, medical care, and equipment are often surprising; and the emotional impact of the relationship between handlers and dogs is moving. Two sections of color photographs makle for enjoyable browsing. The tone of this book is conversational, informal yet smart, and will appeal to a range of ages and interests.

If you are a dog lover this is a great book for you. Dogs of Wars goes into the history and inner workings of military working dogs, sometimes known as MWDs. The book details the history of K9 units going back to WWI through today. There are interesting facts about how dogs have contributed to keeping their military units safe as well as what it takes to train a working dog.

The book also interspeces profiles of notable dogs and handlers. These profiles clearly show the bonds, value, and loyalty dogs have in the military.

This was a fast read. It is suitable for older elementary school students, middle school on upwards. The book may also interest boys who are reluctant readers; this may appeal to them if they enjoy animals, especially dogs.

Wow! I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. I was nervous because though I absolutely love dogs, I am not a big fan of War. Yet I really did enjoy reading this book and learning more about military working dogs. The pictures they include are great and really add to personality of the book. Though I will warn you that the parts about dogs and Vietnam was terribly sad. I hated seeing how Vietnam not only was about ignoring the human being's well being but also that of the dogs they worked with. I'm so glad that many of these Vietnam Vets have worked so hard to make current military dog's lives so much better. I recommend this book wholeheartedly!