Soldier Dogs

A leading dog-blogger offers a tour of military working dogs' extraordinary training, heroic
accomplishments, and the lasting impacts they have on those who work with them.

People all over the world have been riveted by the story of Cairo, the Belgian Malinois
who was a part of the Navy SEAL team that led the raid on Osama bin Laden's compound.
A dog's natural intelligence, physical abilities, and pure loyalty contribute more to
our military efforts than ever before. You don't have to be a dog lover to be fascinated
by the idea that a dog-the cousin of that furry guy begging for scraps under your
table-could be one of the heroes who helped execute the most vital and high-tech
military mission of the new millennium.

Now Maria Goodavage, editor and featured writer for one of the world's most
widely read dog blogs, tells heartwarming stories of modern soldier dogs and the
amazing bonds that develop between them and their handlers. Beyond tales of training,
operations, retirement, and adoption into the families of fallen soldiers, Goodavage
talks to leading dog-cognition experts about why dogs like nothing more than to be on
a mission with a handler they trust, no matter how deadly the IEDs they are sniffing,
nor how far they must parachute or rappel from aircraft into enemy territory.

"Military working dogs live for love and praise from their handlers," says Ron
Aiello, president of the United States War Dogs Association and a former marine scout
dog handler. "The work is all a big game, and then they get that pet, that praise. They
would do anything for their handler." This is an unprecedented window into the world
of these adventurous, loving warriors.

Questions? Comments? E-mail us at duttonpublicity@us.penguingroup.com