Soldier Dogs: The Untold Story of America’s Canine Heroes
By: Maria Goodavage / Narrated By: Nicole Vilencia
Length: 8 hrs and 11 mins
Everything, and I mean EVERYthing, you’ll ever wanna know about Military Working Dogs!
Did I mention that EVERYTHING is covered here in Soldier Dogs? One reviewer stated that it was like listening to a textbook.
Hmmm… Well, okay; there is THAT.
But there’s so much more. Let’s, however, deal with the textbook-like, analytical stuff first.
Soldier Dogs covers the breeding programs that provide the dogs; it covers how the dogs are named (with a really freaky name given by breeders on foreign soil) plus a letter for the year, followed by numbers (cuz we’re talking military here, and when the brass thinks military working dog, they think… equipment). The book also goes into the cognitive science behind what makes a good working dog, why the dogs would like it, and, well, LOADS of that ilk.
Aha! But there’s so much more. Interspersed throughout all the scientific stuff are anecdotes from trainers, from handlers (brothers and sisters of the bond), from breeders here in Texas who are trying to create our own strain of go-getter dogs. Yes, there’s that they have to have a “ferocious prey drive,” but there’s also that they’re goofy bits who’ll do ANYthing for a toy Kong, anything for that squeaky high-pitched voice that says they’re: Good Dogs!
There’s a lot of history here also. Most of it wasn’t a surprise as I do a lot of military history and schtuff, and animals sometimes fall into a story here, a story there. I’m glad I knew about all that stuff, so it wasn’t a surprise/didn’t break my heart when Vietnam’s turn came around for a summary of what happened to military working dogs: Thousands were used, only a few hundred made it home. The rest were either euthanized in Vietnam, left to the South Vietnamese, or were eaten. (Can you imagine being a soldier coming home without the faithful friend who served and loved you during your times of need and great stress? I mean, holy crud; it’s hard enough being back in civilian life, ya wanna add feelings that you’ve let a dog so very down to the mix?!?)
And by the way? I have sooooo many other audiobooks in my Library that I have to re-listen to, so I can get y’all some more wonderful stories of wonderful dogs in war zones. It’d be my most definite pleasure, as getting ready for K-9 Veterans Day 2019 had me chomping on the bit for more, more, more.
Perhaps that’s the greatest failing of Soldier Dogs? Ya just come away wanting more. Because there are some truly touching stories in here, scattered like sea glass along the beach—you have to travel a bit before you find them. Still and all, I loved the audiobook, although:
Nicole Valencia is NOT my favorite narrator, though she does much better with Soldier Dogs than she did with No Buddy Left Behind. I had a problem with THAT one because her tones are soooo chipper, so wide-eyed, and she was talking about DEATH and PTSD and SUFFERING, all in cheerful tones. But in THIS audiobook, we’re actually getting some cheerful stories, so her performance doesn’t blight anything (tho’ I warn you: There are a couple that’ll have you reaching for a hankie!).
If you want long stories of specific dogs, nope, not here. Snippets only. But oh what fun and neat information!!!
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