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Shop nowSecret Service Dogs
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Learn moreIn an age fraught with terrorism, United States Secret Service canine teams risk their lives to safeguard the president, vice president, their families, visiting heads of state, and a host of others. Unprecedented access to these heroic dog teams has allowed a fascinating first-time-ever look at a very special breed of heroes.
Wherever the president goes, there will be dogs. They’ll be there no matter what the country or state. They’ll be there regardless of the political climate, the danger level, the weather, or the hour.
“If you let down your guard on the job,” says Special Agent Bill G., canine program manager, “it can change the history of the world.” It’s a burden Secret Service dog handlers take extremely seriously regardless of their specialty. Tactical dog handlers on the White House lawn, handlers whose dogs sniff for explosives around the world, and those who walk their amiable floppy-eared dogs up and down Pennsylvania Avenue all live one common mantra: Not on my watch. Or my dog’s.
Secret Service Dogs immerses readers into the heart of this elite world of canine teams who protect first families, popes, and presidential candidates: the selection of dogs and handlers, their year-round training, their missions around the world, and, most important, the bond—the glue that holds the teams together and can mean the difference between finding bombs and terrorists or letting them slip by.
“These animals will gladly run into a hail of gunfire,” says '"Stew," a Secret Service ERT tactical canine unit supervisor. “All they ask in return is for their handlers to throw the ball with them, pet them, and talk to them in an embarrassingly high voice.”
Secret Service Dogs celebrates the Secret Service’s most unforgettable canine heroes. It is a must-read for fans of Maria Goodavage, anyone who wants a rare inside view of the United States Secret Service, or just loves dogs.
Maria Goodavage is a veteran journalist and the New York Times bestselling author of Secret Service Dogs, Top Dog, and Soldier Dogs. She lives in San Francisco with her family and yellow Lab, Gus Kilroy.
Reviews
"A pawesome book on the lives of Secret Service dogs."–Time Magazine
“Secret Service Dogs offers an inside look at these animals; how they're selected, trained, and save the president from bad guys… a collection of funny, dramatic, and heartfelt anecdotes.”
–MensJournal.com
“Even non-dog lovers will be fascinated by Maria Goodavage’s in-depth examination of the highly trained canines and their equally impressive human handlers in Secret Service Dogs.”
–The Associated Press
“A wonderful account and history of these unsung heroes at work every day to make the world safer… an important addition to the works that show how dogs really are man’s best friend."
–Library Journal
“Goodavage compels readers with stories of the bonds between Secret Service dogs and their handlers. A must-read for the dog lover.”
–Booklist
"The latest treat for dog lovers by Goodavage.”
–Kirkus Reviews
“Packed with colorful vignettes, this rich tapestry serves up a combination of history, cases, and appetizing personal recollections of handlers with their special working partners.”
–American Kennel Club
“A fascinating read… a celebration of how training, heart, friendship, and duty can bring out the best in all of us. And it just goes to show you…everything’s better when dogs are involved.”
–San Francisco Book Review
“Secret Service Dogs tells the incredible story of the fearless animals who put their lives on the line every day to protect the first family and the men and women of the Secret Service who love them. It is a heartwarming and compelling read that offers an inside look at the incredible bond between these dogs and their handlers — a uniquely American story of bravery, loyalty, and love.”
–Kate Andersen Brower, #1 New York Times bestselling author of First Women and The Residence
“It has been said that the best nonfiction books are those that reveal a hidden world to the reader: A place they wouldn't otherwise be able to experience. Maria Goodavage's Secret Service Dogs is that kind of book – a well-researched and compelling read not only for dog lovers, but anyone interested in seeing high-level White House security operations from an insider's perspective.” –Gerald Petievich, former U.S. Secret Service special agent, author of To Live and Die in LA, The Sentinel, and other Secret Service novels.
“As a guide dog user and survivor of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001 I appreciate and understand the value of the teamwork and trust that bind a canine unit such as those portrayed in Secret Service Dogs. This book is a must read not only for anyone who wishes to better understand dogs, but also because it is just a really good story. Maria Goodavage captured me right from page one. As Larry King said about my own book, Thunder Dog, ‘This is a page turner’. After reading Secret Service Dogs you will have a new and stronger appreciation for how to build a relationship with your own animal colleagues and friends. Enjoy. The read is well worth your time.”
–Michael Hingson, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Thunder Dog
“Maria Goodavage takes us into a world that few know about and shows us just how special these dogs are. Although their work is serious, none of it could happen without the special relationships between the dogs and their handlers that come shining through.”
–Gregory Berns, author of How Dogs Love Us Expand reviews