about the book
When you think of military equipment, what comes to mind most often are guns and tanks, ships and airplanes. Bet you don’t think of dogs!
Some canine senses are far better than man’s, so they can do some jobs better. Military Working Dogs (MWD) come in all shapes, sizes, and breeds and they serve in every branch of the military. They help with the wounded; guard facilities; and sniff out guns, explosives, and the enemy. There is a special bond between a handler and his canine partner, and one of the dog’s most important duties is to keep his buddy safe.
But how do cuddly playful puppies get picked for the program? This book, filled with photos, explains the history of military dogs and how the pups are trained to become canine commandos! It is amazing what these dogs must learn to do—some use night-vision goggles, better known as doggles; wear heavy body armor; ride on rumbling tanks; stand ready as shells burst around them; or jump in roiling seas! They have to be obedient, courageous, and loyal. Not all dogs make it through the program.
You’ll enjoy the personal stories on individual “Hero Hounds.” Did you know that one of the commandos that brought down Osama bin Laden was a Belgian Malinois by the name Cairo?
This is a book must read, even if it is only to see the photo of the soldier dog licking the face of a laughing warrior.
about the author
Dorothy Hinshaw Patent was born in Rochester, Minnesota, but she grew up in the San Francisco area of California. A tomboy, she was fascinated by nature and animals. Her bedroom was lined with filled terrariums and aquariums.
Never into reading fiction, she had no plans to be a writer, though she did help her brother put out a family newspaper, The Henshaw News. She had a regular column called “Lots of Jots by Dots”!
When she went off to college, she studied biological sciences at Stanford University. Now she is called Dr. Patent and has a Ph.D. in zoology! While in graduate school, she met and married Greg Patent, and when he took a teaching position at a university in South Carolina, Dorothy decided to stay home with her two sons, David and Jason. That’s when she gave writing a try. So far she has authored more than 130 books!
Dorothy is also involved in Ink Think Tank, a company that helps teachers and librarians use nonfiction books in the classroom, and Authors on Call, a service that uses virtual classrooms to help teachers and students interact with award-winning nonfiction writers
Greg and Dorothy make their home in the mountains of Missoula, Montana. With her sons grown and married (five grandchildren!), they travel and have been all over the world! They also like to garden and cook. Greg is now a food writer and cook book author, and together they have co-authored a book on chocolate.
Sources:
Author website
Author page : Amazon
Author page : Scholastic
Also by Dorothy Hinshaw Patent:
The Horse and the Plains Indians : A Powerful Partnership. Clarion. 2012. Saving Audie : A Pit Bull Puppy Gets a Second Chance. Walker Books for Young Readers. 2011.
When the Wolves Returned : Restoring Nature’s Balance in Yellowstone. Walker & Company. 2008.
The Buffalo and the Indians : A Shared History. Clarion. 2006.
Garden of the Spirit Bear : Life in the Great Northern Rainforest. Clarion. 2004.
The Right Dog for the Job : Ira’s Path from Service Dog to Guide Dog. Walker & Company. 2004.
Animals on the Trail with Lewis and Clark. Clarion. 2002.
read more!
Cracker! : The Best Dog in Vietnam by Cynthia Kadohata
Trained as a military scout dog, Cracker works extremely well with and cares deeply for her handler, Rick. But during a brutal siege, they are separated, and Rick is wounded and sent home. Can Cracker survive without him?
Dogs of War by Sheila Keenan
This graphic novel tells about heroic canine commandos and their partners during World War I, World War II, and the Vietnam conflict. These dogs served as rescuers, messengers, scouts, sentries, and mascots. They braved bombs, barrages, and battles. Saving many lives, these were truly heroes on four legs!
The Right Dog for the Job : Ira’s Path from Service Dog to Guide Dog by Dorothy Hinshaw Patent
Ira is just a puppy when he is picked for a special job. He lives with a puppy raiser who introduces him to new situations and trains him to perform tasks such as picking up dropped keys and opening doors. But he has to leave her to attend a training center, where he learns to become a guide dog…for a blind piano tuner.