First published 2017
Maria Goodavage takes readers inside the elite world of Secret Service dog teams who guard the president, vice president, their families, and visiting world leaders. These canine units face constant danger as they search for explosives and threats around the globe. Special Agent Bill G., the canine program manager, warns that any lapse in vigilance could alter world history. The handlers live by one rule: not on my watch or my dog's. Goodavage reveals how dogs and handlers are chosen, their intensive year-round training regimens, and their missions across different countries and political climates. She explores the deep partnership between handler and dog that makes the difference between catching threats and missing them. As tactical supervisor "Stew" explains, these animals will charge into gunfire, asking only for ball games and affection in return. The book showcases the selection process, training methods, and real-world operations of these specialized teams who work the White House lawn, sweep for explosives worldwide, and patrol Pennsylvania Avenue with their alert canines.
Genres: animals, dogs, non-fiction, 21st-century
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, partnership
Setting: White House, Pennsylvania Avenue
Period: 21st-century
320 pages · Paperback · Dutton