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Sergeant Rex: The Unbreakable Bond Between a Marine and His Military Working Dog
“In Iraq we put our lives in each other’s hands (and paws) day after day. We took care of each other no matter what. Rex and I have a bond that will last for the rest of our born days. If ever there was a marine who lived up to Semper Fidelis, the motto of the Marine Corps, it’s Rex.”
Deployed to Iraq’s infamous Triangle of Death in 2004, Sergeant Mike Dowling and his military working dog Rex were part of the first Marine Corps military K9 teams sent to the front lines of combat since Vietnam. It was Rex’s job to sniff out weapons caches, suicide bombers, and IEDs, the devastating explosives that wreaked havoc on troops and civilians alike. It was Mike’s job to lead Rex into the heart of danger time and time again, always trusting Rex to bring them both back alive.
Dowling had turned twenty-five and Rex three just after they arrived in Iraq. Neither of them had any idea what to expect, and no training could fully prepare them for this job. An animal lover since childhood, Dowling had fostered and trained dogs for Guide Dogs for the Blind, and he was determined to serve in the military’s K9 unit after joining the Marines. On their first patrols in Iraq, Rex suffered a seemingly incurable fear of explosions and gunfire, but with Mike at the other end of his leash, Rex gained the courage to perform his duty.
Filled with harrowing tales of knife-edge bomb-detection work, including an extraordinary baptism by fire, Sergeant Rex is a heart-pounding account of how an unbreakable human-canine bond helped Mike and Rex to stay focused on their mission and save countless lives. Dowling takes us into the searing 130-degree heat, the choking dust, and the ever-present threat of violent attack that seemed to permeate Iraq’s streets. We experience Dowling’s visceral fear of walking down an IED-laden alley where dismemberment or death can come with any footstep, only his trusted partner, Rex, by his side.
Loyalty is one of the hallmarks of any good Marine, and nowhere is that quality more evident than in this astonishing account of Mike Dowling and Rex’s wartime experiences. A moving story of how a man and a dog developed complete trust in each other in the face of terrible adversity, Sergeant Rex is an unforgettable tale of sacrifice, courage, and love.
290 pages, Hardcover
First published December 13, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 173 reviews
July 30, 2020
Sometimes, I come across a book that stops me in my tracks. This book was one of those. I honestly wasn't expecting much. I'd just finished reading an awesome war book and thought this one would be a nice transition back to light reads, but man did I get more than what I bargained for. This one is true, honest and blunt. It gets to the heart of the matters and tells it straight forward, just like it was. I have no doubt this one will stay with me forever.
June 20, 2015
Any wartime experience shared usually gets an automatic 3+ star rating from me because I appreciate the service given to this country. That being said, it's really hard to rate a book written about someone's war time experience. So my rating is based solely on the writing style and the author's voice, not his experience in war for which I am truly grateful, as I am of Rex's courage and service as well.
I generally enjoyed this book. I love reading about war dogs and this was no exception. In fact, we adopted a retired EDD (he worked with a private security company in Iraq) so it was wonderful getting an idea of what his life was like while he was in service. I don't know that my dog was in actual combat situations like Rex but the detection work, the heat, the bonding with the handlers was a great glimpse into what his life was probably like during his serivce. I think the author did a great job showing us these experiences.
The writing was not the best but I look at it as someone sitting down and telling me of their experiences, not an award winning piece of lit. So, that being what it is, I enjoyed it enough. What I didn't enjoy was the human thoughts given to Rex. I'm well aware that the author had an amazing bond with his dog and that they really could read each other but when it's anthropomorphized it bugs me.
Btw, the Science Diet plug bugged me too as I know it's actually crap food. I would never feed my dog SD. ugh
I generally enjoyed this book. I love reading about war dogs and this was no exception. In fact, we adopted a retired EDD (he worked with a private security company in Iraq) so it was wonderful getting an idea of what his life was like while he was in service. I don't know that my dog was in actual combat situations like Rex but the detection work, the heat, the bonding with the handlers was a great glimpse into what his life was probably like during his serivce. I think the author did a great job showing us these experiences.
The writing was not the best but I look at it as someone sitting down and telling me of their experiences, not an award winning piece of lit. So, that being what it is, I enjoyed it enough. What I didn't enjoy was the human thoughts given to Rex. I'm well aware that the author had an amazing bond with his dog and that they really could read each other but when it's anthropomorphized it bugs me.
Btw, the Science Diet plug bugged me too as I know it's actually crap food. I would never feed my dog SD. ugh
January 23, 2018
A very interesting true story about an amazing dog, Sergeant Rex, and his partner, Marine Sergeant Mike Dowling. I would have rated it higher if it didn't have so much swearing in it.
May 2, 2023
3.5 stars ✨
If military memoirs and dogs interest you, pick this one up! Sergeant Rex is an enlightening look into military dogs and how they serve in war. It reads like someone is sitting across the table, telling a story. It's not professionally written, but it is engaging. I did find it hard to get into the story at first since every chapter first has a piece about Rex or Mike in training before Iraq, and then proceeds onto the present day's events. I liked the afterword and seeing what happened to Rex after his tour.
Quotes ~
"I pay special attention to the sports pages, but I can't help taking a look at the articles about the war in Iraq. It's weird. From reading those reports, you'd have thought there was some clear intent and purpose to what we're doing, some grand master plan. Here on the ground it often feels like a war of bitter attrition and random chaos and bloodshed."
"No one shoots my glowing dog, or blows him up or hammers him with an RPG, and there's nothing much to find. . . . Route Michigan is quiet as the grave. We're back at base before sunup, and no one's dead and no one's been injured.
That's about as good as it gets on a lot of our missions."
Content Notes: a lot of swearing (the reason I didn't rate the book higher even though I enjoyed the story), crass talk, graphic descriptions of war/injuries.
If military memoirs and dogs interest you, pick this one up! Sergeant Rex is an enlightening look into military dogs and how they serve in war. It reads like someone is sitting across the table, telling a story. It's not professionally written, but it is engaging. I did find it hard to get into the story at first since every chapter first has a piece about Rex or Mike in training before Iraq, and then proceeds onto the present day's events. I liked the afterword and seeing what happened to Rex after his tour.
Quotes ~
"I pay special attention to the sports pages, but I can't help taking a look at the articles about the war in Iraq. It's weird. From reading those reports, you'd have thought there was some clear intent and purpose to what we're doing, some grand master plan. Here on the ground it often feels like a war of bitter attrition and random chaos and bloodshed."
"No one shoots my glowing dog, or blows him up or hammers him with an RPG, and there's nothing much to find. . . . Route Michigan is quiet as the grave. We're back at base before sunup, and no one's dead and no one's been injured.
That's about as good as it gets on a lot of our missions."
Content Notes: a lot of swearing (the reason I didn't rate the book higher even though I enjoyed the story), crass talk, graphic descriptions of war/injuries.
June 4, 2021
Great book. If you love dogs, and you love history and war stories, you will love it too. Love the bond between the two. Love their piece of history as one of the dog teams early in the process of picking up after mostly dropping them in Viet Nam.
April 10, 2018
Sergeant Rex is in the vein of Marine memoirs by Marines such as Sledge, Leckie, and Brady except it tells the story of a Marine and his military working dog in the war on terrorism. A delightful human interest story that also has appeal for animal lovers. Suitable for middle schoolers and up. I highly recommend it. Semper Fi!
January 12, 2012
“Sergeant Rex” by Mike Dowling, published by Atria Books.
Category – Dogs/Military
The last time dogs were used in a military campaign was during the Vietnam War. These dogs were used for guard duty and searching out the enemy. After the war these dogs were mostly forgotten.
It was not until the Iraq War that we found that dogs were not only useful but also vital to the military. Their role became even more important when they were used to locate hidden explosives and armament.
Mike Dowling tells the story of how he came to become a Marine and how, due to good fortune, he was assigned to the K9 Corps. Mike was assigned to a small German shepherd named Rex. Rex was a Sergeant and Mike was a Lance Corporal, dogs are always given a higher ranking than their handlers.
Mike tells of the training that he and Rex went through and how they literally became guinea pigs because there was no precedent set for how a dog and his handler would operate under Iraqi War conditions.
Mike and Rex went on to do yeoman duty in Iraq and were responsible for saving hundreds of lives by sniffing out weapons, suicide bombers, and IEDs. They were continually put into harms way and faithfully executed their duty.
A story that shows the love, devotion, trust, and loyalty that exists between these “Working Military Dogs” and their handlers.
This book is definitely one for the dog lover and anyone who has served in the military.
Category – Dogs/Military
The last time dogs were used in a military campaign was during the Vietnam War. These dogs were used for guard duty and searching out the enemy. After the war these dogs were mostly forgotten.
It was not until the Iraq War that we found that dogs were not only useful but also vital to the military. Their role became even more important when they were used to locate hidden explosives and armament.
Mike Dowling tells the story of how he came to become a Marine and how, due to good fortune, he was assigned to the K9 Corps. Mike was assigned to a small German shepherd named Rex. Rex was a Sergeant and Mike was a Lance Corporal, dogs are always given a higher ranking than their handlers.
Mike tells of the training that he and Rex went through and how they literally became guinea pigs because there was no precedent set for how a dog and his handler would operate under Iraqi War conditions.
Mike and Rex went on to do yeoman duty in Iraq and were responsible for saving hundreds of lives by sniffing out weapons, suicide bombers, and IEDs. They were continually put into harms way and faithfully executed their duty.
A story that shows the love, devotion, trust, and loyalty that exists between these “Working Military Dogs” and their handlers.
This book is definitely one for the dog lover and anyone who has served in the military.
June 9, 2012
I was enjoying this book, quite a bit even though I know that the author was first a Marine and second an author. I could be wrong, but I have a feeling he had a great deal of help writing this. I don't believe that because I don't think he could write a book; he's a Marine...he could probably do anything. There is a point early on in the book (chapter 3 I think, after his first mission) that he talks about feeding his dog perfectly formulated Science Diet, etc etc. The section reads so much like a product placement that I will almost guarantee that it IS one.
Whatever the truth is, it read so fake that it literally stopped my enjoyment of the book. It's always hard to read a real life re-telling of such tough events, anyway, especially when such details are recalled. You know there has been a lot of editing and tweaking. That's normal and fine, and the story was riveting until the point that it started to read like an advertisement. I just couldn't finish it after that.
Also, anyone who knows the first things about dog food knows how crappy Science Diet is, and how they spend their budget on ads and on helping docs get through school. Go to your vet, you'll probably see Science Diet in his lobby. Ads as well. Then go do the research and you'll how bad the food is.
Anyway, a fun read until that point. I'm sure I am making too much of an issue about it, but it just set me the wrong way and ruined the experience.
Beau
Whatever the truth is, it read so fake that it literally stopped my enjoyment of the book. It's always hard to read a real life re-telling of such tough events, anyway, especially when such details are recalled. You know there has been a lot of editing and tweaking. That's normal and fine, and the story was riveting until the point that it started to read like an advertisement. I just couldn't finish it after that.
Also, anyone who knows the first things about dog food knows how crappy Science Diet is, and how they spend their budget on ads and on helping docs get through school. Go to your vet, you'll probably see Science Diet in his lobby. Ads as well. Then go do the research and you'll how bad the food is.
Anyway, a fun read until that point. I'm sure I am making too much of an issue about it, but it just set me the wrong way and ruined the experience.
Beau
February 11, 2013
I picked this up after my dad left it laying around. A couple hours later, I had finished it and was wiping away tears. (just as a heads up, everything works out okay).
This is the real life account of Sergeant Mike Dowling and his Military Working Dog (MWD) Sergeant Rex. Sent to Iraq to seek out improvised explosive devices (I.E.Ds) and to launch the Marine Corps military K9 use in the front lines. This book was a quick read, and more of a conversation between Dowling and the reader. It's pleasant to read with a bit of military and 'boy' humor thrown in. It depicts day to day life with the military and working dogs in the front lines of the Iraq war. Dowling keeps politics out of the book, and recounts both humorous and sad times with his work with Rex. There is a nice afterword that explains what happened after the brunt of the story. I really enjoyed this and would recommend it.
Kind of makes me feel a bit silly that all my German Shepherd does is nap. Though all I have to do is pull out the Kong ball and he's ready to play.
This is the real life account of Sergeant Mike Dowling and his Military Working Dog (MWD) Sergeant Rex. Sent to Iraq to seek out improvised explosive devices (I.E.Ds) and to launch the Marine Corps military K9 use in the front lines. This book was a quick read, and more of a conversation between Dowling and the reader. It's pleasant to read with a bit of military and 'boy' humor thrown in. It depicts day to day life with the military and working dogs in the front lines of the Iraq war. Dowling keeps politics out of the book, and recounts both humorous and sad times with his work with Rex. There is a nice afterword that explains what happened after the brunt of the story. I really enjoyed this and would recommend it.
Kind of makes me feel a bit silly that all my German Shepherd does is nap. Though all I have to do is pull out the Kong ball and he's ready to play.
March 3, 2013
This was a fun book to read. If you like dogs the bond between Rex and his handler Cpl Dowling is a good read. The book tells the story of Cpl Dowling and how he joined the Marines and how he ended up with the Military Working Dogs of the Marines. And of course he tells you all about Rex. Rex has been trained to detect explosives, ammo, weapons and also how to guard the perimeter. The story includes descriptions of their time in Iraq and how a dog with fur handles 130 degree heat, combat, stray dogs, enemy snipers and takes care of his handler. I was amazed at how Rex could detect bombs buried 3 feet under ground. Also, I learned how important it was to take care of the dogs pads in the desert and how easily the pads could be damaged by the environment they worked in. It was amazing to see how this dog would work day and night missions clearing paths for the Marines. Working days so long that he was "dog-tired". Also Rex provided stress relief to the Marines he worked with. The book is filled with many amazing stories and some funny stories. It was a good read and hard to put down.
October 13, 2014
Never a dull moment in this fantastic book for military buffs and dog-lovers alike. Equally heartwarming, humorous, and nerve-racking combat scenes. And it reminds me why the German Shepherd is my favorite breed of dog. OORAH and Semper Fi, SGT Rex and CPL Dowling!
May 15, 2023
i picked this book up mainly because my favourite dogs are German Shepherd’s but also it’s a n autobiography about a marine man life in war.
A rare but easily a 5 star from me. Aside from the occasional switch to his past, Dowling’s book about his life and Rex’ in their involvement with the war in middle east is brilliantly documented. It’s really interesting that he included what Rex might’ve thought during certain situations.
Key recurring themes other than Rex are his relationship with his fellow comrades, connection with his family members, chatting up pretty girls and his and Rex’ sense of honour when going out on mission for the US.
Rex was a super brave, handsome, loyal and extremely intelligent and also a physically and mentally strong German Shepherd.
A must read!!
A rare but easily a 5 star from me. Aside from the occasional switch to his past, Dowling’s book about his life and Rex’ in their involvement with the war in middle east is brilliantly documented. It’s really interesting that he included what Rex might’ve thought during certain situations.
Key recurring themes other than Rex are his relationship with his fellow comrades, connection with his family members, chatting up pretty girls and his and Rex’ sense of honour when going out on mission for the US.
Rex was a super brave, handsome, loyal and extremely intelligent and also a physically and mentally strong German Shepherd.
A must read!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 10, 2020
This was hands down one of the best books that I've read. A reminder of how intelligent and loyal our K-9's really are. This book was so moving, blunt, and I thought it to be quite humorous. It's heartwarming to know that Rex and all of the other K-9 MWD's help with the morale, and relieve a little bit of stress for our troops in Iraq. God bless our troops!
Read
April 10, 2017-Tells the bonding story between a marine and his working dog, very sweet and tells in detail what happened during their deployment
March 23, 2017
If you’re a Military Working Dog handler or know someone who is currently serving as one, this 2011 Memoir is in your honor! Written by former Marine Mike Dowling and co-authored by Damian Lewis, “Sergeant Rex” is an unflinching no-holds-barred real life account of the unforgettable experiences shared by a Marine and his always faithful four-legged comrade in combat.
The story chronicles the life of Marine Lance Corporal Mike Dowling and his experiences in Iraq with Military Working Dog “Rex”. Together they forge an unbreakable bond that only a true warrior and his dog can know. Assigned to Camp Pendleton, the pair hones their skills in bomb detection, patrol and apprehension work in preparation for their first active duty deployment to Iraq as the first wave of Military Working Dog teams. Once in country, Mike and Rex’s bond is tested like never before. Tasked with keeping their brothers-in arms safe from the constantly evolving threat of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) while out on patrols, dog and handler quickly find themselves right in the center of the action uncovering dozens of weapons caches, ducking for cover during relentless ambushes, and providing an extra margin of safety for fellow marines during raids on insurgent compounds.
Fortunately, not everything is mayhem and glory outside the wire. There are tender moments of love, joy and light-hearted happiness as well. As Mike struggles to deal with Rex’s occasional mischief on base, seeing his dog provide him with a momentary distraction while playing with a young boy and having to reluctantly except Rex’s subsequent promotion to “Sergeant” one rank above Dowling while in theater. Interestingly enough, since a handler relies so heavily on his dog, his canine is given seniority. This should be a movie!
The story chronicles the life of Marine Lance Corporal Mike Dowling and his experiences in Iraq with Military Working Dog “Rex”. Together they forge an unbreakable bond that only a true warrior and his dog can know. Assigned to Camp Pendleton, the pair hones their skills in bomb detection, patrol and apprehension work in preparation for their first active duty deployment to Iraq as the first wave of Military Working Dog teams. Once in country, Mike and Rex’s bond is tested like never before. Tasked with keeping their brothers-in arms safe from the constantly evolving threat of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) while out on patrols, dog and handler quickly find themselves right in the center of the action uncovering dozens of weapons caches, ducking for cover during relentless ambushes, and providing an extra margin of safety for fellow marines during raids on insurgent compounds.
Fortunately, not everything is mayhem and glory outside the wire. There are tender moments of love, joy and light-hearted happiness as well. As Mike struggles to deal with Rex’s occasional mischief on base, seeing his dog provide him with a momentary distraction while playing with a young boy and having to reluctantly except Rex’s subsequent promotion to “Sergeant” one rank above Dowling while in theater. Interestingly enough, since a handler relies so heavily on his dog, his canine is given seniority. This should be a movie!
May 1, 2013
Mike Dowling is a Marine and a K9 handler, he is not a professional writer. Don't expect to encounter life-altering prose in this novel. Having said that, I was touched by this book in many ways. I'd rank it a 3.5 if possible.
This is the story of Dowling's 6-month tour in Iraq with Rex, a dog trained in both patrol and bomb detection. The personality and intelligence of the dog shines through in Dowling's telling. He recounts missions with Rex wherein they encountered situations so dangerous it's frightening to read about them, but it is incredible that this dog and this man could communicate with only a glance during the most chaotic moments imaginable.
It pains me to know how miserable, frightened and alone our guys are over there (or in Afghanistan) but Dowling's narrative makes it easier to understand why people choose to go. It demonstrates how important dogs are to humankind and to our war efforts. It also shows me how cowardly our opponents are and how senseless this war is, but Dowling does it without getting political.
Some have argued that Dowling is too positive toward the military in this book, but my God, how else can he justify this experience to himself and others if he doesn't believe in the cause and the people he's with over there?
Besides being an amazing novel about a dog (and military working dogs in general), this is the story of a boy's transformation into a man on the front lines.
This is the story of Dowling's 6-month tour in Iraq with Rex, a dog trained in both patrol and bomb detection. The personality and intelligence of the dog shines through in Dowling's telling. He recounts missions with Rex wherein they encountered situations so dangerous it's frightening to read about them, but it is incredible that this dog and this man could communicate with only a glance during the most chaotic moments imaginable.
It pains me to know how miserable, frightened and alone our guys are over there (or in Afghanistan) but Dowling's narrative makes it easier to understand why people choose to go. It demonstrates how important dogs are to humankind and to our war efforts. It also shows me how cowardly our opponents are and how senseless this war is, but Dowling does it without getting political.
Some have argued that Dowling is too positive toward the military in this book, but my God, how else can he justify this experience to himself and others if he doesn't believe in the cause and the people he's with over there?
Besides being an amazing novel about a dog (and military working dogs in general), this is the story of a boy's transformation into a man on the front lines.
October 16, 2012
It's hard for me to not love a book about 1) dogs; 2) German Shepherd dogs. So those factors right there gave it an automatic 3 stars. I would have liked to have given it more stars but the author's "speaking" style was a little rough and didn't flow well. But, it is about a guy and his wonderful dog partner who risked their lives to go into war. 5 stars for that.
I made me feel bad that my German Shepherd just lays around all day napping and going for an occasional walk. I'm sure she'd love to have something to do to challenge her mind and take advantage of her skills. However, there isn't much excitement living in the suburbs of the midwest.
Great book.
I made me feel bad that my German Shepherd just lays around all day napping and going for an occasional walk. I'm sure she'd love to have something to do to challenge her mind and take advantage of her skills. However, there isn't much excitement living in the suburbs of the midwest.
Great book.
April 10, 2021
I overall enjoyed reading this book. It is a minute-by-minute account of a military working dog, Rex, and his handler, Sergeant Mike Dowling, who were part of the first military K9 teams sent to the frontlines of combat in Iraq, in 2004. Learning about bomb detection (IEDs) was really interesting, as well as reading about how this team works together. If you are an animal lover, you will enjoy this book. The writing is a little rough, but there is a lot of heart.
March 14, 2013
WOW, What our servicemen have gone through and going thru. I put this book right up there w/My Life in Dog Years & Training for the Iditarod by Gary Paulsen, and James Harriet's series of when he was a vet.
Great for animal lovers, Marine Corps Supporters and those that want to get a "feel" of life in the Hot kill zone of Iraq.
Great for animal lovers, Marine Corps Supporters and those that want to get a "feel" of life in the Hot kill zone of Iraq.
January 18, 2012
Without repeating what has been recorded prior to now, this book shows a relationship both humorous and serious. The methods used by the author suck you into their lives. I've recommended this to my friends. I could not sleep till I finished it. That does not happen very often.
June 28, 2017
Inspirational and Gripping
It's easy to take the presence of Working Dogs for granted but the author tells what it was like to be one of the first of a new breed of K9 and Handler. Great book.
It's easy to take the presence of Working Dogs for granted but the author tells what it was like to be one of the first of a new breed of K9 and Handler. Great book.
November 29, 2019
Not my usual choice of book. A suggestion from an enthusiastic pupil. I actually really enjoyed it though. It had moments of heart stopping worry, humour and an overall expression of respect for service personnel.
November 12, 2013
not as good as what i thought it was going to be
April 30, 2022
Spanish Review
4 estrellas
Creo que es muy difícil calificar un libro sobre las experiencias personales de guerra de alguien, por eso, me limitaré a las cuestiones prácticas y editoriales del libro:
Compré este libro porque estoy escribiendo sobre un Marine manejador de perros en Irak, por lo que viene perfecto para mi investigación. Nada es mejor que las vivencias personales de alguien en lo que se está investigado.
Además de admirar a los Marines, admiro muchísimo a los perritos de servicio y a sus manejadores. Desde chica siempre he soñado con entrenar perros de servicio y, aunque la vida me ha llevado por caminos diferentes, escribir e investigar sobre ellos me llena de felicidad.
Disfruté mucho de este libro, y creo que Mike Dowling hizo un trabajo fenomenal para mostrarnos sin tapujos lo que él y Rex vivieron durante su tour en Irak.
La narrativa no es perfecta, en realidad está lejos de serlo, pero como alguien ha dicho en las otras reseñas, lo tomo como si alguien me estuviera contando sus experiencias sentado a mi lado, así que en realidad pierde un poco de impacto si los tiempos verbales están bien utilizados o no.
Lo que sí no me gustó, fue que pusiera diálogos a los pensamientos del perro. Entiendo que tienen un vínculo súper fuerte y todo, pero una cosa es creer saber lo que piensa el perro y otra darle voz a esos pensamientos. Por eso me quedo con una estrella.
—-------
English Review
4 stars
I think it is very difficult to rate a book about someone's personal war experiences, so I will limit myself to practical and editorial issues of the book:
I bought this book because I'm writing about a Marine dog handler in Iraq, so it's perfect for my research. Nothing is better than the personal experiences of someone in what is being investigated.
In addition to admiring the Marines, I greatly admire the service dogs and their handlers. Since I was a little girl I have always dreamed of training service dogs and, although life has taken me down different paths, writing and researching about them fills me with happiness.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I think Mike Dowling did a phenomenal job of showing us what he and Rex went through during their deployment.
The narrative isn't perfect, it's far from it actually, but as someone has said in another review, I take it as if someone is telling me their experiences sitting next to me, so it actually loses a bit of importance if the verbs or idioms are well used or not.
What I did not like was that he put dialogues to the dog's thoughts. I understand that they have a super strong bond and everything, but it's one thing to think you know what the dog is thinking and another to give voice to those thoughts. That's why I keep one star.
Overall, it is a really good book.
4 estrellas
Creo que es muy difícil calificar un libro sobre las experiencias personales de guerra de alguien, por eso, me limitaré a las cuestiones prácticas y editoriales del libro:
Compré este libro porque estoy escribiendo sobre un Marine manejador de perros en Irak, por lo que viene perfecto para mi investigación. Nada es mejor que las vivencias personales de alguien en lo que se está investigado.
Además de admirar a los Marines, admiro muchísimo a los perritos de servicio y a sus manejadores. Desde chica siempre he soñado con entrenar perros de servicio y, aunque la vida me ha llevado por caminos diferentes, escribir e investigar sobre ellos me llena de felicidad.
Disfruté mucho de este libro, y creo que Mike Dowling hizo un trabajo fenomenal para mostrarnos sin tapujos lo que él y Rex vivieron durante su tour en Irak.
La narrativa no es perfecta, en realidad está lejos de serlo, pero como alguien ha dicho en las otras reseñas, lo tomo como si alguien me estuviera contando sus experiencias sentado a mi lado, así que en realidad pierde un poco de impacto si los tiempos verbales están bien utilizados o no.
Lo que sí no me gustó, fue que pusiera diálogos a los pensamientos del perro. Entiendo que tienen un vínculo súper fuerte y todo, pero una cosa es creer saber lo que piensa el perro y otra darle voz a esos pensamientos. Por eso me quedo con una estrella.
—-------
English Review
4 stars
I think it is very difficult to rate a book about someone's personal war experiences, so I will limit myself to practical and editorial issues of the book:
I bought this book because I'm writing about a Marine dog handler in Iraq, so it's perfect for my research. Nothing is better than the personal experiences of someone in what is being investigated.
In addition to admiring the Marines, I greatly admire the service dogs and their handlers. Since I was a little girl I have always dreamed of training service dogs and, although life has taken me down different paths, writing and researching about them fills me with happiness.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I think Mike Dowling did a phenomenal job of showing us what he and Rex went through during their deployment.
The narrative isn't perfect, it's far from it actually, but as someone has said in another review, I take it as if someone is telling me their experiences sitting next to me, so it actually loses a bit of importance if the verbs or idioms are well used or not.
What I did not like was that he put dialogues to the dog's thoughts. I understand that they have a super strong bond and everything, but it's one thing to think you know what the dog is thinking and another to give voice to those thoughts. That's why I keep one star.
Overall, it is a really good book.
November 19, 2017
Everything about this was interesting! It was written with many time jumps that ended up working so well and made the time in Iraq packed with even more emotion and urgency. There was a flowing plot line, but it was fluid enough that side stories and flashbacks could been written in seamlessly without feeling randomly placed.
Rex was clearly the star of the book, but the other people Dowling met along the way were also very important and added in a realness to war that allowed me to connect even more to the book. I loved the descriptions of everything Rex did, both in work and play. This coincides with the many emotions this made me feel, as there are parts of the book that are humorously light and others that are darkly grim. One of the scenes near the end where an IED explosion is described hit very close to home, as I lost a cousin to such a tragedy in Afghanistan.
The bond between Dowling and Rex is clear from the beginning of the book and cannot be forgotten throughout. I have watched Megan Leavey and read a bunch of articles about Rex's time with Leavey, so to read this book about Rex's training and time with Dowling was really special.
Thank you to all the men, women, and animals doing their very best to make our world a safer place.
Rex was clearly the star of the book, but the other people Dowling met along the way were also very important and added in a realness to war that allowed me to connect even more to the book. I loved the descriptions of everything Rex did, both in work and play. This coincides with the many emotions this made me feel, as there are parts of the book that are humorously light and others that are darkly grim. One of the scenes near the end where an IED explosion is described hit very close to home, as I lost a cousin to such a tragedy in Afghanistan.
The bond between Dowling and Rex is clear from the beginning of the book and cannot be forgotten throughout. I have watched Megan Leavey and read a bunch of articles about Rex's time with Leavey, so to read this book about Rex's training and time with Dowling was really special.
Thank you to all the men, women, and animals doing their very best to make our world a safer place.
July 19, 2020
#AtoZChallenge
X — Sergeant Rex
289 pages
Genre: Non-Fiction
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Unread shelf since: January 2020
Keep/donate?: Keep
SYNOPSIS: Sergeant Mike Dowling’s heart pounding account of an unbreakable bond between man and dog takes us into the searing 130-degree heat, the choking dust, and the ever present threat of violent attack in Iraq’s infamous Triangle of Death. In 2004, he and his military working dog, Rex, were part of the first marine corps military K9 teams sent to the front lines of combat since Vietnam. It was Rex who sniffed out weapons caches, suicide bombers, and IEDs, and it was Mike who led Rex into the heart of danger.
REVIEW: I think this was really well written, and it was an moving journey to go on. It was a quick and easy read, and the material was very interesting to me to read. I’d never read a military type story before, & I learned a lot about what it was like in Iraq during that time, because in 2004 I was really young and didn’t really know much about it. It was an heart-warming and heart-wrenching story between a Marine and his dog, and an incredible wartime narrative. I think stories like this are very important for people to read so this history is not lost.
X — Sergeant Rex
289 pages
Genre: Non-Fiction
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Unread shelf since: January 2020
Keep/donate?: Keep
SYNOPSIS: Sergeant Mike Dowling’s heart pounding account of an unbreakable bond between man and dog takes us into the searing 130-degree heat, the choking dust, and the ever present threat of violent attack in Iraq’s infamous Triangle of Death. In 2004, he and his military working dog, Rex, were part of the first marine corps military K9 teams sent to the front lines of combat since Vietnam. It was Rex who sniffed out weapons caches, suicide bombers, and IEDs, and it was Mike who led Rex into the heart of danger.
REVIEW: I think this was really well written, and it was an moving journey to go on. It was a quick and easy read, and the material was very interesting to me to read. I’d never read a military type story before, & I learned a lot about what it was like in Iraq during that time, because in 2004 I was really young and didn’t really know much about it. It was an heart-warming and heart-wrenching story between a Marine and his dog, and an incredible wartime narrative. I think stories like this are very important for people to read so this history is not lost.
October 19, 2022
A gripping, courageous story of a special dog from the first Marine Corps K9 division sent to the Middle East after 9/11. Rex was a German Shepherd trained to sniff out weapons, IEDs, suicide bombers, and other threats to civilians and troops. As one of the first dogs used in this type of terrorist environment, he was also the guinea pig who endured a lot of trauma and hazards which resulted in better protective gear for the dogs who came after.
This is a well-written informative book about many of the things those first waves of soldiers went through right after 9/11. A lot of learning curves in warfare tactics and frustration in what was initially lacking to protect soldiers and their K9s. It gave me a fresh respect and appreciation for what soldiers go through to protect civilians and people back home.
🐕🦺Fun Fact: The movie "Megan Leavey" is based on the true story of the US Marine Corporal who worked with Rex after Mike Dowling, then actively petitioned to adopt the dog when they were retired after injuries.
🐕🦺There are several organizations that provide care for veterans. One that I would recommend is Fallen Soldiers March which provides solid counseling and service dogs for veterans.
This is a well-written informative book about many of the things those first waves of soldiers went through right after 9/11. A lot of learning curves in warfare tactics and frustration in what was initially lacking to protect soldiers and their K9s. It gave me a fresh respect and appreciation for what soldiers go through to protect civilians and people back home.
🐕🦺Fun Fact: The movie "Megan Leavey" is based on the true story of the US Marine Corporal who worked with Rex after Mike Dowling, then actively petitioned to adopt the dog when they were retired after injuries.
🐕🦺There are several organizations that provide care for veterans. One that I would recommend is Fallen Soldiers March which provides solid counseling and service dogs for veterans.
June 26, 2020
This book is so amazing. There is good amount of strong language. To justify it. It is mainly dialogue, and this is a military book so. I love this very amazing story. I was able to convince my teacher to let me read it for a biography.
The story flows through both Mike's and sexy Rexy's life together. Sadly Mike wasn't able to keep him, and a woman named Megan Leavy was able to. If you are interested, there is a movie based on both Rex's and her life, and I believe it is very accurate. This book gives readers information about different military rules, commands, and way of life. For someone who isn't familiar with the military is was nice that it was explained very well. This book was an easy read, but it was very enjoyable. I am sixteen and my mom is forty-five and we both loved it dearly. I believe she cried lolz. I loved the connection with Mike and Rex, and also Rex with Mike's fellow soldiers. Fun fact that I learned was that the dog actually outranks his handler. Haha, the dog is superior to his fellow humans. Probably one of the best biography I have ever read!!!
The story flows through both Mike's and sexy Rexy's life together. Sadly Mike wasn't able to keep him, and a woman named Megan Leavy was able to. If you are interested, there is a movie based on both Rex's and her life, and I believe it is very accurate. This book gives readers information about different military rules, commands, and way of life. For someone who isn't familiar with the military is was nice that it was explained very well. This book was an easy read, but it was very enjoyable. I am sixteen and my mom is forty-five and we both loved it dearly. I believe she cried lolz. I loved the connection with Mike and Rex, and also Rex with Mike's fellow soldiers. Fun fact that I learned was that the dog actually outranks his handler. Haha, the dog is superior to his fellow humans. Probably one of the best biography I have ever read!!!
August 7, 2024
If anyone is familiar, with the movie “Megan Leavey”, this one is for you. I bought the book knowing nothing about it, simply for my love of dogs and specifically military working dogs (MWDs). I found it interesting that this book about Mike Dowling, a marine with an MWD, also happened to have the same name as Megan Leavey’s MWD, Rex. I go through the whole book, which was fantastic and a great story about the bond between man and dog and the mayhem of war, and the last few pages blew my mind. This doesn’t spoil anything in the story, but Mike mentions that Rex had a new handler and went on a few more deployments after the one described in this book. I curiously looked up if Mike Dowling ever got to adopt Rex after he retired, and I found out that the “new handler” was Megan Leavey! The amazing Rex I read all about in Mike Dowling’s book just happened to be the very same Rex that warmed my heart in the Megan Leavey movie. It was so cool to see two different points of view from handlers of Rex. What an amazing dog and what an amazing story. Highly recommend.
July 19, 2023
An excellent book about a dog and his handler during the battle for Fallujah. Mike joins the US Marines, and gets placed in the Military Police, and then Dog Handler. He's introduced to Rex, and after an early setback where his entire unit gets arrested, he and Rex build the unit back up to one of the best in the country.
He gets sent to Iraq as part of an experiment to see how Military Handling Dogs can help the Marines and other units with IED detection and finding bomb materials. He's embedded with the "Warlords" 2/2 Marines, and spends most of his deployment working with them, finding huge amounts of bomb making material, and detecting IEDs.
He and Rex come under heavy fire at times, and it seems a miracle that they managed to survive without being wounded or killed at times.
It's a great story, well written, and you really get a sense of what it must be like doing what they do.
He gets sent to Iraq as part of an experiment to see how Military Handling Dogs can help the Marines and other units with IED detection and finding bomb materials. He's embedded with the "Warlords" 2/2 Marines, and spends most of his deployment working with them, finding huge amounts of bomb making material, and detecting IEDs.
He and Rex come under heavy fire at times, and it seems a miracle that they managed to survive without being wounded or killed at times.
It's a great story, well written, and you really get a sense of what it must be like doing what they do.
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