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

3.9 of 5 stars 3.90 · rating details · 164 ratings · 47 reviews

Military working dogs gained widespread attention after Cairo participated in the SEAL Team 6 mission that led to Osama bin Laden’s death. Before that, few civilians realized that dogs served in combat, let alone that they could parachute from thirty thousand feet up.

The Dogs of War reveals the amazing range of jobs that our four-legged soldiers now perform, examines the d...more

Paperback, 272 pages

Published October 25th 2011 by St. Martin's Griffin

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Apr 18, 2012 Jason014 rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: any one who likes dogs and war

Recommended to Jason014 by: no one

Shelves: 3rd-trimester

The Dogs of War

This book is AWESOME. With the different jobs of war dogs this book fits together. A reason I liked this book was.First of all, I like how it shows what some dogs did in the wars. I also like how the book tells what war the dogs were in and what the dogs did in the book. Second, I like that the book was non fiction. I like that there were things that told only about one specific dog. In this book it told about what some dogs did, who their handler was. People probably think tha...more

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Sep 22, 2011 Naomi rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book is about two things that I love! One, the US Military and two, dogs, in particular, military dogs! This book did a phenomenal job at "looking at the lives of military dogs and "putting a human face on them" Also, I thought it gave a fascinating picture of what goes into the acquisition/training of military dogs.

There was one part of the book that really bothered me and has stood out the whole time and that was a statement being made by the military that it is a crime to abuse a milita...more

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Jul 20, 2012 Christopher Rex rated it 1 of 5 stars

Ugh. How do you take what could be an exciting and emotional book and turn it into an Oprah-esque heap of crap? Ask Lisa Rogak. This book blows.

Well, it's not horrible in the sense that it would be a great book to give to HS english or history student to show how to write. That is to say, Rogak's writing is very competent HS-level writing. But, very little more.

First and foremost, all Rogak seemingly did was interview or email every Dog Handler in the military should could find and compile their...more Ugh. How do you take what could be an exciting and emotional book and turn it into an Oprah-esque heap of crap? Ask Lisa Rogak. This book blows.

Well, it's not horrible in the sense that it would be a great book to give to HS english or history student to show how to write. That is to say, Rogak's writing is very competent HS-level writing. But, very little more.

First and foremost, all Rogak seemingly did was interview or email every Dog Handler in the military should could find and compile their answers into subject sub-headings. She has taken her interviewees words as "all she needs to know" and gone w/ that to write her book. The reality is she never looks in-depth at anything really to do w/ the training of these dogs, the effects of military life and/or the dark-side of military animals. She touches on some of these subjects, but it is always based solely on an interview w/ a handler or a direct quote from the appropriate Military Handbook (some of these passages are almost full pages of dry-bureaucratic field manual excerpts).

Everything is air-brushed over here. There is no meat-on-the-bone at all. OK, dogs suffer PTSD too. Got it. But, just 2 or 3 quotes from handlers saying basically "they suffer PTSD too" does not make for good reading. There is also no examination of the moral issue that arises with these animals - from use as devices of psychological torture (Abu Ghraib) to outright crowd control & violence (Nazi Germany and many, many others). You teach a dog to do exactly what you tell it, then that it is what one gets - with this power comes great responsibility and that is often abused and needs to be examined in the book. Rogak doesn't even look at the definition of "torture" and how animals can (and do) fit in w/ that according to Human Rights Watch, the UN & others. Pretty lame oversight by Rogak.

In the end, I realized why the book sucked. Rogak also wrote two books about the Obamas - both based exclusively on interviews and or spoken-responses. This has become Rogak's M.O. - interview, organize, write. Now, again, this is a great START for MS/HS students to develop their writing skills, but needs to go way beyond this in both the research and writing elements if it is worthy of publication.

Read "One Dog at a Time" for a much better book. This one is pretty BLAH.(less)

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Dec 30, 2011 Tim Knier rated it 4 of 5 stars

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,...more

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Oct 26, 2011 Paul Pessolano rated it 4 of 5 stars

“The Dogs of War” by Lisa Rogak, published by Thomas Dunne Books.

Category – Dogs/Military History

This is a wonderful book that can be enjoyed by both dog lovers and those that are interested in the military.

There has been an upsurge of interest in military dogs since Seal Team Six brought down Osama bin Laden with the help of the military dog, Cairo.

Lisa Rogak gives a history of dogs that participated in wars beginning with the Egyptians in 4000 B.C., the Middle Ages, and every war since then....more “The Dogs of War” by Lisa Rogak, published by Thomas Dunne Books.

Category – Dogs/Military History

This is a wonderful book that can be enjoyed by both dog lovers and those that are interested in the military.

There has been an upsurge of interest in military dogs since Seal Team Six brought down Osama bin Laden with the help of the military dog, Cairo.

Lisa Rogak gives a history of dogs that participated in wars beginning with the Egyptians in 4000 B.C., the Middle Ages, and every war since then. The roles these dogs played have varied throughout history, but have become very specialized since World War One.

Today’s war dogs perform in the areas of patrol, explosive detection, drug detection, and hunting and bringing down enemy combatants. The book not only describes what kind of dog is necessary for this work and what attributes it must have, it also outlines what attributes must be present in the dog handler.

The dogs are so valued that they are given rank just as their human handlers are, in fact the dog will have a higher rank ensuring that the handler treats the dog with the utmost respect.

The author intersperses her story with actual accounts of dogs that have seen military action. These stories tell of the love and devotion that exists between dog and handler and the courage that both have shown under fire.

A “Dog of War”, once he is unable to perform his duty is given every opportunity to return to civilian life. He or she goes through a reorientation period to see if he is suitable to be put into a family. This program is so successful that presently the wait for one of these dogs is over a year and a half. If one is lucky enough to get one, one must be willing to take full responsibility for the dog. Remember, these dogs, especially those who were trained for patrol and hunting, were trained to be aggressive. Unfortunately, some of these dogs do not pass muster and hopefully can be adopted by police departments or used in training, if not they must be euthanized.

The reader will love the story of these dogs as they go from puppy, to training, to their specific jobs, and their reentry into society.

(less)

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Oct 07, 2011 Meg - A Bookish Affair rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, animals, non-fiction

We've relied on animals a lot to help us in our military endeavors. We've especially relied on dogs a lot. They can smell things we can't smell, they can hear things that we can't hear, they act as protectors and as helpers. They're pretty amazing. This book focuses mostly on military dog usage in the 20th and 21st century.

The book is organized by stories about some of the more well known military dogs (including Cairo, the Belgian Malinois) who was part of the team that went into to capture an...more

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Sep 21, 2012 Christina rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: animals, early-readers, nonfiction, read-in-2012

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 C ...more

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Sep 02, 2011 James rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Dogs of War by Lisa Rogak @lisarogak

Thanks netGalley and Macmillan for the opportunity to read and review this book prior to its lease date

Great book about perhaps the lesser known and certainly less appreciated soldier, the military dog. Kogak provides us a myriad of personal insights into the lives of the dogs and their trainers. These incredible dogs have been serving alongside our service members for decades. Our soldiers rely upon them heavily to seek out dangers we as humans couldn’t p...more

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Oct 31, 2011 Megr rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: non-fiction

Even before finishing the book, I already knew it was one of my favorites. I have laughed out loud, teared up and learned things I would probably never have known. Extremely well researched and presented. Any one on the fence about treatment of dogs in the military, this one statement (in the introduction) should allay their concerns: "...the primary reason why the dogs are not only awarded a rank... just like enlisted soldiers, but that rank is always one level higher than the handler's. After...more

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Nov 22, 2011 Jackie Kristensen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads-giveaways

I really enjoyed this book. I'm a dog lover and always have been. I've had dogs all my life and I understand to some extent the relationship these soldiers have with their dogs. I am so attached to my dog. I couldn't imagine my life without him. I also have a huge place in my heart for soldiers as well. My dad served in Vietnam and my boyfriend served in Iraq. This book took two pieces of my life that I love dearly and told the story of how they came together to better our military. I'm amazed a...more

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Nov 05, 2012 Brittany rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: anthrozoology

SEAL Team Six's mission to kill Osama bin Laden has sparked a number of books. This is one of at least two I've read that used that mission as a jumping-off point to talk about working dogs in the military, the other being Soldier Dogs by Maria Goodavage.

Rogak seems to be a respected writer (at least she's written biographies on two big names, President Obama and Stephen King), and she's competent at what she does. The subject matter of her book means that it is never dull, always interesting,...more

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Dec 20, 2011 Tasha rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: dogs, modern-military

Actually, I'm giving this a 3.5. I was expecting more personal stories about dogs of war and their handlers, the unique relationship that exists between them. Instead, it was more of a discussion on the history and evolution of the use of war dogs in our military with some dog/handler cases sprinkled throughout. So, definitely not off topic but I was hoping for more gritty details on the dogs/handlers themselves, not as much information (although interesting). I learned a good deal about these d...more

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Nov 27, 2011 Marion rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads, non-fiction, animals

I received "The Dogs of War" by Lisa Rogak as a Goodreads Giveaway and couldn't be happier with my win. The novel is a fantastic read for anyone interested in expanding their knowledge of the way the military utilizes dogs in war or simply to become better acquainted with the profession. Much like myself, I never truly knew the extent to which these dogs were used and how vital a role they play overseas. Many people probably became more aware of the military's use of dogs after hearing how one h...more I received "The Dogs of War" by Lisa Rogak as a Goodreads Giveaway and couldn't be happier with my win. The novel is a fantastic read for anyone interested in expanding their knowledge of the way the military utilizes dogs in war or simply to become better acquainted with the profession. Much like myself, I never truly knew the extent to which these dogs were used and how vital a role they play overseas. Many people probably became more aware of the military's use of dogs after hearing how one helped in the capturing of Osama Bin Laden, and "The Dogs of War" will nicely help people further understand the dog's roles and just how necessary they have become.

Rogak has clearly done her research because she goes into such fine detail over every aspect of these dogs lives from the time they are chosen to participate in the program to when they retire, that one can't help but feel very well informed after reading the book. The book doesn't read like a research paper whatsoever, but as a sort of informative memoir that describes the dogs jobs through the telling of different dogs' stories. Each chapter, or section, mentions a certain Military War Dog and its handler to give it a more human aspect, which helps remarkably to fully grab a reader's attention. Many times throughout the novel I found myself laughing out loud or crying over the stories that Rogak presented, and at times I'd even have to set the book down in order to better reflect on what I'd just read. It is very moving to see just how far these dogs go to protect not only their partners, but country as well. The beautiful color pictures also help bring these stories to life. I also like the fact that at the end of the book Rogak has an extensive list of books, documentaries, memorials, etc. that a reader can look at to gain further knowledge on the topic.

I adore dogs and after reading "The Dogs of War" have gained even more love and respect for them. I genuinely feel like I better understand Military War Dogs and what they go through throughout their entire lifespan because of this book. I would highly recommend this book to anyone because it will help shine a new light on the war and the importance dogs have in it.(less)

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Nov 21, 2011 Eva Leger rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: pets-animals, military-war, first-reads

This is a splendid, splendid book. I never dreamed I'd learn so much from this book when I first found it on a GR FirstReads giveaway. I don't think I've ever been so happy to win a specific book. Ever since I found and read Always Faithful: A Memoir of the Marine Dogs of WWII by William W. Putney (who is quoted in this book by the way) I've been intent on learning more about war dogs.
I find it absolutely horrendous that our government treated these dogs in the manner they did in the past. Deplo...more

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Aug 12, 2011 Elizabeth B rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is a well rounded, accurate depiction of working military dogs. Although it includes several specific dog bios, it is not a fictionalized narrative of stories about dogs and their handlers which is the impression many blurbs are giving it. Instead, it is more a historical essay on the ins and outs of how dogs are utilized in the service. It was an enlightening read and, as someone involved in dog assisted search and rescues, I found the title extremely engrossing. While it probably doesn’t...more

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Nov 02, 2011 Wayne rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: history

The Dogs of War by Lisa Rogak. When serving in the military and working for a contractor, I took the military working dogs (MWD) for granted. After reading this book, I now have a greater respect for the WMD's. The training these dogs go through is more intensive than their human counterparts. These dogs are with their handlers almost everywhere they are. While reading this book, all that I could see was the German Shepherd lying by the coffin of his handler. This is the bond that these dogs hav...more

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Aug 07, 2012 Travis Smith rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is a touching book about the unsung heroes that fight with the human heroes. The dogs that this book talks about are truly amazing. For anyone that loves dogs and the military this is a must read. The book tends to jump around a little, as far as going in and out of stories but it is still very enjoyable. There are some stories that can almost bring a tear to your eye but that’s what makes this book good.

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Jan 15, 2013 Diane rated it 3 of 5 stars

Beginning with the story of Cairo, a trained military working dog, and his part in the mission to track down Osama bin Laden, this books gives examples of dogs, large and small, who have been highly trained for combat scenarios and who have performed brilliantly, saving countless lives of troops. These are fascinating stories of loyalty and courage.

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Jun 13, 2012 Lara rated it 3 of 5 stars

This was a slow, excruciatingly slow read for me. She just collected people's quotes and stories from various sources, albeit other news articles or books. It just lacked a punch to it, though I did get a kick out of the provided pictures. Nothing is cooler than seeing a picture of a dog about to jump out of a plane. Woof!

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Nov 07, 2011 Dana Graves rated it 5 of 5 stars

First and foremost, thank you for this book on GoodReads!
Okay, onward...i LOVED this book. I never knew dogs skydived, had kevlar vest, and helped shuffle out Osama. I am an avid animal lover and this book sucked me in and made me so PROUD of these wonderful dogs who serve just as much as any human soldier. Its amazing. To see how very well kept and treated these babies are also makes it heart touching. The pictures were an added bonus that helped visualize these guys. Wonderful book. Wonderful...more

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Feb 15, 2012 Phil rated it 2 of 5 stars

This was a good overview of the life and service of dogs in the military, but I found the writing juvenile and repetitive. I wished for more depth or more heart, and found neither. Still, for someone who started knowing nothing about the working dogs of the military, I finished knowing quite a bit more.

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Sep 02, 2012 Rachel Bayles rated it 4 of 5 stars

Many remarkable stories. The author did a good job providing an overview of all the facets of the military working dog world.

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Feb 12, 2013 Glen Watanabe added it

Good overall picture of Military Working Dogs. Even has some snippets of individual dogs/handlers. I'm thinking I should have read this one before I read Sgt Rex.

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Jul 17, 2012 Bob added it

I'm a sucker for a good dog story. Combined with duty, bravery, loyalty and, 20 pages in, I'm already teary-eyed.

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Apr 24, 2013 Libby Anderson rated it 5 of 5 stars

AWESOME BOOK!! I was simply amazed with the facts I a learned through reading this book.

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Dec 19, 2011 Chad rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads, nonfiction

I really enjoyed this book. Lisa Rogak has done a wonderful job in telling the true stories of the Military Working Dog (MWD). I was personally involved with a few MWDs during one of my deployments to the sandbox and have a great appreciation for what they do and how talented they are. This book draws attention to how valuable MWDs are to our troops. I won this book through the Goodreads first-reads giveaway program. What a great program! I would not have chosen this book off a bookshelf, but am...more

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Nov 13, 2011 Suzie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, a-great-read, animals, contest-wins, culture, modern, nonfiction, paper-back-book, war-stories

***THIS WAS A GOODREADS.COM FIRST READ CONTEST WIN!***

This was such an amazing read. I so enjoyed reading this book. The author provided information about something that is not widely known to the general public. So many animal people would love this book. This book was very well written and very interesting. Thanks for a great read Ms. Lisa Rogak.

***THIS WAS A GOODREADS.COM FIRST READ CONTEST WIN!***

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Feb 19, 2012 Yvonne rated it 4 of 5 stars

A tribute to these unsung war heroes

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Jan 16, 2013 E rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: non-fiction

Useless, 10-word review: Somewhat disorganized/lacking in original research, but thrilling and heartbreaking.

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Jan 04, 2012 Kathie rated it 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book. I laughed and cried reading it.

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About Lisa Rogak

Lisa Rogak is the New York Times bestselling author of over 40 books on a wide variety of topics, from writers and their cats to sabbaticals to cemeteries in New England.
Through the years, in addition to writing books on an almost-schizophrenic range of topics, she has published newsletters and books, started a greeting card company for dogs and cats, bought and sold vintage funeral equipment, and...more

More about Lisa Rogak...

Books by Lisa Rogak

Haunted Heart: The Life and Times of Stephen King

A Boy Named Shel: The Life and Times of Shel Silverstein

And Nothing But the Truthiness: The Rise (and Further Rise) of Stephen Colbert

The Man Behind the Da Vinci Code: The Unauthorized Biography of Dan Brown

Death Warmed Over: Funeral Food, Rituals, and Customs from Around the World

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