Top Dog

The incredible story of canine hero Lucca and the handlers who fought alongside her through two bloody wars.
Maria Goodavage renders a gritty account of a new kind of warfare with a new kind of war hero—Lucca K458—a decorated and highly skilled working dog hunting for lethal threats in the cauldron of war.

While the military classes its dogs as equipment, for those who know her and work with her, the German shepherd–Belgian Malinois mix with the expressive eyebrows is a real best friend on the battlefield.

Initially Lucca is partnered with Marine Staff Sergeant Chris Willingham, and their harrowing adventures in Iraq take us into rooftop firefights and IED-infested streets, and face-to-face with insurgents.

When Willingham's orders no longer include Lucca, she is assigned to Marine Corporal Juan 'Rod' Rodriguez. Together Lucca and Rod face new threats and challenges during their deployment to Afghanistan, where they serve alongside both Special Forces and regular infantry.

Top Dog reveals how the bond between military working dogs and their handlers saves lives and helps comrades overcome emotional trauma sustained on the battlefield. The moving relationship Lucca developed with her handlers, her outstanding skills, and her exceptional character are the stuff of military legend.
'Written like an adventure, with heart-pounding combat sequences, high tension, and suspense as well as moments of deep emotion and bonding, Top Dog is a must-read for anyone who appreciates heroes of both the two-legged and four-legged kind.' Stanley Coren, author of Born to Bark