A heartfelt grazie grazie to my terrific husband, Craig Hanson, for pitching in with everything during the extremely busy months of putting this book together, and ditto to our daughter, Laura, for hanging in there and being a great kid while I disappeared into this book. to my terrific husband, Craig Hanson, for pitching in with everything during the extremely busy months of putting this book together, and ditto to our daughter, Laura, for hanging in there and being a great kid while I disappeared into this book.

Finally, to all the military working dog handlers who let me into their lives, and to their dogs: You have gained my utmost respect and admiration.

Sergeant Stubby, World War I hero, lives on at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. MARIA GOODAVAGE MARIA GOODAVAGE

This photo from World War II's Battle of Peleliu is a favorite of former Vietnam dog handler Robert Kollar. To him there's something about the handler, Marine Corporal William Scott, and his Doberman pinscher, Prince, that captures everything about the bond between wartime handler and dog. NATIONAL ARCHIVES NATIONAL ARCHIVES

Dog alerts to the scent of a homemade explosive (HME) at the Inter-Service Advanced Skills K-9 (IASK) Course in Yuma, Arizona. JARED DORT JARED DORT

The author "catching" a dog at Lackland Air Force Base-Ground Zero for dog and handler training. ROBIN JERSTAD ROBIN JERSTAD

A new dog draftee at Lackland wears a bucket around his head after undergoing surgery that will prevent the fatal effects of a syndrome called bloat. The bucket keeps him from interfering with the surgical site. new dog draftee at Lackland wears a bucket around his head after undergoing surgery that will prevent the fatal effects of a syndrome called bloat. The bucket keeps him from interfering with the surgical site. ROBIN JERSTAD ROBIN JERSTAD

Navy Master-at-Arms Second Cla.s.s Joshua Raymond and Rex P233 learn to work off leash together for the first time at the IASK course. It's a potentially life-saving capability that enables dogs to follow their noses better, and it keeps handlers and others farther from explosives. MARIA GOODAVAGE MARIA GOODAVAGE

Marine Gunnery Sergeant Kristopher Knight, who runs the IASK course, gives Raymond some tips on searching for IEDs. MARIA GOODAVAGE MARIA GOODAVAGE

Raid exercises at the IASK course take place in very realistic settings and come with loud sounds of ammo, IED, and mortar blasts. JARED DORT JARED DORT

"If this doesn't prepare you for Afghanistan, nothing will," Air Force Technical Sergeant Adam Miller says of the IASK course. On this day, in 114-degree heat, Miller has to carry his dog, Tina M111, to safety after she was "shot" during an exercise. JARED DORT JARED DORT

What's in a name? Ask Davy N532, a female dog whose name does not match her gender. Oddball names are not uncommon among military working dogs, whose breeders, usually from Europe, name them. "I trust her with my life. If I didn't trust her, I wouldn't be here," Army Staff Sergeant Marcus Bates says of his Belgian Malinois, Davy N532, during their deployment in Afghanistan. MARCUS BATES MARCUS BATES

You don't have to be a big dog to be a soldier dog. Lars J274, a Jack Russell terrier with a Napoleon complex, is the perfect size for sniffing out bombs in submarines. U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY PETTY OFFICER SECOND CLa.s.s PAUL D. WILLIAMS U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY PETTY OFFICER SECOND CLa.s.s PAUL D. WILLIAMS

Lars's handler lifts him from bunk to bunk on the USS Norfolk Norfolk so his nose can get close enough to detect explosives on any level. so his nose can get close enough to detect explosives on any level. U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY PETTY OFFICER SECOND CLa.s.s PAUL D. WILLIAMS U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY PETTY OFFICER SECOND CLa.s.s PAUL D. WILLIAMS

A "training aid" dog and his handler-in-training start the day enjoying the shade at the Department of Defense Military Working Dog School, at Lackland Air Force Base. "training aid" dog and his handler-in-training start the day enjoying the shade at the Department of Defense Military Working Dog School, at Lackland Air Force Base. ROBIN JERSTAD ROBIN JERSTAD

Lex L479 and his handler would go to sleep in the foxholes they shared while on patrol in Afghanistan. Soon after his handler fell asleep, the Belgian Malinois would crawl out from their tarp-protected foxhole and stand guard over him through the night-often in torrential rains. MARINE SERGEANT MARK VIERIG MARINE SERGEANT MARK VIERIG

Marine Corporal Max Donahue and Fenji M675-shown here in Garmsir, Afghanistan-bonded as soon as they met at Camp Pendleton, San Diego, six months earlier. MARINE GUNNERY SERGEANT CHRIS WILLINGHAM MARINE GUNNERY SERGEANT CHRIS WILLINGHAM

Donahue and Fenji during a combat patrol. Fenji, like most dogs deployed in Afghanistan, uses her powerful nose to sniff for explosives. CHRIS WILLINGHAM CHRIS WILLINGHAM

Donahue and Fenji on patrol in a marketplace in Garmsir. "You asked if Fenji has a good nose," says Marine Gunnery Sergeant Chris Willingham, who took this photo. "I wouldn't have been walking behind her if she didn't." CHRIS WILLINGHAM CHRIS WILLINGHAM

Air Force Staff Sergeant Brent Olson was awarded a Purple Heart for his actions in Afghanistan. Blek, who was also injured, received nothing. Military working dogs do not officially get commendations. "Dogs are soldiers, too. They give up their whole lives for this," says Olson. "Not to be recognized officially is a slap in the face." U.S. ARMY PHOTO BY SERGEANT JEFFREY ALEXANDER U.S. ARMY PHOTO BY SERGEANT JEFFREY ALEXANDER

Olson and Blek on a mountain mission in Afghanistan. U.S. ARMY PHOTO BY SERGEANT JEFFREY ALEXANDER U.S. ARMY PHOTO BY SERGEANT JEFFREY ALEXANDER

"He always had my back," says Air Force Staff Sergeant James Bailey, of his first military working dog, Robby D131. He has since adopted Robby. JAMES BAILEY JAMES BAILEY

Rex L274 on guard in Iraq as his soldiers take a lunch break in their Stryker vehicle. Rex did not make it as a patrol dog because he was too gentle. "If you were playing and you acted as if he bit you, he'd let go and look all sad," Army Sergeant Amanda Ingraham says. But she knew he would put his life on the line to protect her. AMANDA INGRAHAM AMANDA INGRAHAM

Ingraham on a mission with Rex in Iraq. More than anything, she remembers the companionship he provided her and the other troops. "He'd always find the one soldier who was having a hard day and hang out with them." AMANDA INGRAHAM AMANDA INGRAHAM

Marine Sergeant Mark Vierig and Lex L479, on patrol in Afghanistan's Upper Gereshk Valley during rainy season. A common refrain among handlers who have deployed: "War would have been h.e.l.l without my dog." MARK VIERIG. MARK VIERIG.

Army Staff Sergeant Marcus Bates enjoys a little down time with Davy. MARCUS BATES MARCUS BATES

Air Force Staff Sergeant Christine Campos relaxes on her cot with her dog, Bico F544. Dogs on deployment often share their handlers' bunks and even sleeping bags. Being together nearly 24/7 deepens the bond between dog and handler. CHRISTINE CAMPOS CHRISTINE CAMPOS

Ajax L523 shows off his pearly whites after his handler, Air Force Staff Sergeant James Bailey, gave them a good brushing while on deployment. JAMES BAILEY JAMES BAILEY

War hero Fenji needs to wear "Doggles" to help with an eye problem, but she doesn't much care for them. When she's not working, she tries to take them off at every opportunity. MARIA GOODAVAGE MARIA GOODAVAGE

Marine dog handlers mourn the loss of a beloved fellow handler-one who appears in this book. MARINE PHOTO BY CORPORAL SKYLER TOOKER MARINE PHOTO BY CORPORAL SKYLER TOOKER