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A Dog Named Mattis: 12 Lessons for Living Courageously, Serving Selflessly, and Building Bridges from a Heroic K9 Officer
Sergeant Mark Tappan shares the twelve lessons he's learned from his amazing K9 partner Mattis, whose heroic actions will remind readers to live courageously, serve selflessly, and love passionately because every human (and dog) has a purpose.
Sergeant Mark Tappan shares a unique bond with his K9 partner Mattis--one of the most decorated police K9s of all time--and knew from the first time they interacted that this dog was something special. As a man of deep faith, Mark also knew that God's most profound teaching often comes through the most unexpected sources--and he soon realized that Mattis was about to teach him a lot about building bridges and serving selflessly.
In A Dog Named Mattis, Mark shares the twelve life lessons he's learned from working with Mattis--such as, go all in, address your weaknesses, and listen first--and encourages others to apply those same principles to their own lives. Readers will also discover what kind of training police dogs and their handlers must go through, how a police dog is tested and selected, and understand the lengths a dog will go to in order to complete his mission. Through first-hand accounts of bravery and service, readers will
discover the unexpected ways that God shares his most profound lessons,look for ways to build bridges in their own communities and serve others, andgain a deeper understanding of the many ways that K9 units assist police departments and what a K9 officer's daily life looks like.
A Dog Named Mattis will capture the hearts of dog lovers everywhere and remind them that real success is built on relationships filled with trust, communication, and love.
Sergeant Mark Tappan shares a unique bond with his K9 partner Mattis--one of the most decorated police K9s of all time--and knew from the first time they interacted that this dog was something special. As a man of deep faith, Mark also knew that God's most profound teaching often comes through the most unexpected sources--and he soon realized that Mattis was about to teach him a lot about building bridges and serving selflessly.
In A Dog Named Mattis, Mark shares the twelve life lessons he's learned from working with Mattis--such as, go all in, address your weaknesses, and listen first--and encourages others to apply those same principles to their own lives. Readers will also discover what kind of training police dogs and their handlers must go through, how a police dog is tested and selected, and understand the lengths a dog will go to in order to complete his mission. Through first-hand accounts of bravery and service, readers will
discover the unexpected ways that God shares his most profound lessons,look for ways to build bridges in their own communities and serve others, andgain a deeper understanding of the many ways that K9 units assist police departments and what a K9 officer's daily life looks like.
A Dog Named Mattis will capture the hearts of dog lovers everywhere and remind them that real success is built on relationships filled with trust, communication, and love.
224 pages, Paperback
Published June 4, 2024
17 people are currently reading
4542 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
November 17, 2024
I won this book in a goodreads drawing.
A Christian K-9 cop has a misadventure that nearly kills him and his dog. This leads him to think about retiring his dog, or even himself.
However, he does not, and writes this book about Christian lessons he learned form his time with his dog. The Lord works in mysterious ways.
A Christian K-9 cop has a misadventure that nearly kills him and his dog. This leads him to think about retiring his dog, or even himself.
However, he does not, and writes this book about Christian lessons he learned form his time with his dog. The Lord works in mysterious ways.
June 19, 2024
I enjoyed A Dog Named Mattis by Mark Tappan. This book held my interest for several reasons. I enjoyed reading about Mattis, of course. What a wonderful police dog! I loved learning how that all works. A key component is Mark's part of the equation and it was interesting to learn how he trained Mattis and how he learned to get better at being a handler. I found the police stories to be fascinating and also how well they did on a show about working dogs and their handlers.
What makes this book even better is how the author relates the lessons he learns to ones that we could all learn and apply to our lives. Tappan is a man of Faith and he shares how God worked in various situations he shares in this book as well.
I think this would be a great book to read with young people who are interested in learning what it is like to be a police officer with a canine companion.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through TLC Book Tours. All opinions within this review are my own.
What makes this book even better is how the author relates the lessons he learns to ones that we could all learn and apply to our lives. Tappan is a man of Faith and he shares how God worked in various situations he shares in this book as well.
I think this would be a great book to read with young people who are interested in learning what it is like to be a police officer with a canine companion.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through TLC Book Tours. All opinions within this review are my own.
July 28, 2024
This was a great book about a K9 and his trainer. I have read a few other books about k9’s and they are all fascinating to me. Most K9s are trained by foreign breeders. I love the words that are used to “pull the dogs back. Phooey was my favorite for some reason? The first part of the book covers the training that the officer was putting Matthis through, there were a couple close calls that resulted in Matthis being injured. It scared Mark, the police officer who was putting his K9 through his training. (Georgia) state for the reading challenge
The later 1/5 maybe was when they competed in a TV reality show. There are several other books about Matthis and Mark that I look forward to reading as well.
This is a Christian author and I received an Arc from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley.
This did not affect my review freely given.
The later 1/5 maybe was when they competed in a TV reality show. There are several other books about Matthis and Mark that I look forward to reading as well.
This is a Christian author and I received an Arc from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley.
This did not affect my review freely given.
June 29, 2024
If you love police dogs and Jesus and don't mind a few tear drops while reading. This book is amazing. This pups story and his bond with his handler is wonderful. I enjoy watching them on social media, but even more so enjoyed hearing stories in this book.
10/10 book right here.
10/10 book right here.
June 9, 2024
This book is very special to me as I have followed Mattis and Mark for a while now and to read the whole story of their first meet to Mattis’ retirement was awesome. They have sure had their trials and tribulations during their time together, some sad, some funny as heck but all inspiring, the way Mark always turned to his faith. Mark does not hold back in this book even when telling on himself, because we all know Mattis never does the unexpected. It is truly a large loss to the K9 family that he no longer is a leash holder. There is truly something in this book that will touch every reader. This is a wonderful and inspiring book and I loved it all. Mattis you keep being the Rockstar you are!
Review copy provided by Netgalley
Review copy provided by Netgalley
June 11, 2025
Books on Police dogs make me laugh. Something about a dog whose games involve biting people is just funny. This book has a lot of good information on tests they do to select a dog to be used for K9 work as well as some on training. As a bonus, the dog was also one of the dogs that was in the television show America’s Top Dog and that experience is covered in a chapter.
I liked how he was told what qualities to look for when selecting a dog from a lead trainer:
‘Jeff’s first lesson for me was in how to select a good police dog. He had myriad tests he would put dogs through to determine whether they had the right focus and effort to be a good police dog. He explained that the three most important characteristics were that the dog be happy, social, and confident. I found it odd that Jeff started with a happy dog.‘
I like learning about the tests they do to choose a dog. In the story, he is out to get a Malinois but a big German Shepherd is also in the mix to be tested. From previous books I have read of the differences between the two breeds, including someone who said a Malinois will just do what is commanded, where a German Shepherd will think about what needs to be done. I seem to remember that being said as if it was not a good thing for the dog to think and maybe hesitate to obey. The way the big German Shepherd blows through the tests are funny. With his notes reflecting how high the dog is rated for each test but ‘too big,’ ‘but he’s a German Shepherd’ to ‘maybe.’ Here are the tests:
Test #1: Prey Drive
For prey drive the test is simple. You take the dog’s toy and throw it as far as you can. You are looking to see how intensely it runs after the toy. This test displays the value the dog places on the toy and how much it likes the game of chasing prey. It translates to police work in a few ways. The obvious is chasing a suspect, but it also shows whether the dog will respond to toy-driven training methods in which you use the toy as a reward.
Test #2: Hunt Drive
Next up was to test the dogs’ hunt drive: how hard they will look for something that they can smell but not see. For this test you throw the ball while holding on to the dog until the ball hits the ground. Spin the dog around a couple of times so it loses its visual cues and bearing and then let it go hunt for the ball. It translates to police work in that you need a dog to rely on its sense of smell to find a reward, and to track someone it must find satisfaction in the hunt itself. This test weeds out a lot of dogs because many will lose interest or be distracted during the search. It’s not about how fast they find the object but more about how hard they look.
Test #3: Perseverance
The last of the ball tests was perseverance. The way we do this is to tease the dog with the ball and place it in location the dog can see and smell but can’t get to. In our case we had a fifty-pound wooden pallet we placed the ball under. This is important to police work because you want to see if the dog, when presented with an obstacle to the goal, will still try hard to get to it.
For this last test, no other dog went over and flipped over the fifty-pound wooden pallet with the officer on top of it to get the ball other than the dog that would be later named Mattis.
Here is a bit on how they train dogs to track people:
‘Have your helper tease your dog with a toy and run away to a place the dog can’t see. Start the dog on an item the helper dropped, like a sweaty hat, then have the dog find him. As you progress, you want the dog to start using his nose, not his eyes, to identify the person who has his toy. So you remove the part where the dog sees the helper run away and just start him on the sweaty hat that was dropped. You make the tracks longer and longer with different types of ground and obstacles, and eventually you have an amazing tracking dog. The key to this one is, again, to flip out with excitement when the dog finds the helper and make it the most amazing time in the world.’
Another funny bit described training in a closed department store. The decoy is positioned between rows of shelving unites in the middle of a pitch-black warehouse. For the rest of the dogs it takes a couple of minutes before you hear the decoy scream in pain from the bite, which hurts, even in a bite suit. For Mattis, they heard the scream in fifteen seconds.
‘I asked the decoy what happened. He told me he heard Mattis go down a row in the distance and then jump up onto a shelf. He said he then jumped from shelf to shelf (ip the dark) straight toward him at about head level. The decoy said, “I know I was supposed to be still, but he was coming at me head level, so I threw my arm up to intercept him.”
The other handlers, the decoy, and I were all astounded. This was not what I had planned. This was not the lesson | wanted to teach Mattis. I laughed because he’d solved it in a manner I hadn’t considered, and in a more efficient way. This type of Mattis solution became commonplace at every training session. Throw a complex problem at him and just watch him with wonder as he comes up with a solution. We never knew what it was going to be, but we knew it was going to be grounded in determination, athleticism, and efficiency.’
Another thing I liked about this book was in the way a few parts attempted to describe what the dog must be thinking. I am not a fan of when a dog narrates a book but mostly because it is often done in an unrealistic way, but I liked the way they do it in this book as in this example (sorry, I don’t know how to make it italicized):
‘Quick stop, I need to get my balance. Best Friend’s door Opens; I hope mine is next.
It is! What game are we going to play?
Short leash hooked up to my flat collar, could be the find-the-smell game. Best Friend usually doesn’t smell as stressed as he is now for that game, and his heart doesn’t usually beat as
fast as it is now. We are running! This is probably the protection game!
There are lots of people everywhere. I wonder which is the target?
We are slowing so we must be getting close. Maybe it’s these two in front of me; they smell stressed.’
One other point to mention in the book. Each chapter title page includes a verse from the Bible. And in a couple of places, he interjects God into the lesson or that is part of his thought process. As a Christian, I think this should be normal stuff when it is a normal and important part of your life. The author’s life is remarkable, faith plays a part in his success. I don’t think it comes close to any line in a way anyone would find it obnoxiously distracting from the story. Here is an example of one reference to God when he had his previous Policy dog Niko:
‘Fun fact: most people are not good liars. I believe that we are all image bearers of God, and he has written his law on our hearts. We know what’s right, we just don’t always do it! Which is why I got the following answer from the driver: "There shouldn’t be.” Think about it: He wasn’t saying “No, there isn’t.” The claim was really that he either didn’t know or he was agreeing with my question, that yes, there was something in the car, but it shouldn’t be there according to the law. Either way, it was Niko time.’
Another good Police dog book. It however is not one of my favorites of the books on Police Dogs I have read and for that reason only giving it 4 stars, but still a book I would recommend.
I liked how he was told what qualities to look for when selecting a dog from a lead trainer:
‘Jeff’s first lesson for me was in how to select a good police dog. He had myriad tests he would put dogs through to determine whether they had the right focus and effort to be a good police dog. He explained that the three most important characteristics were that the dog be happy, social, and confident. I found it odd that Jeff started with a happy dog.‘
I like learning about the tests they do to choose a dog. In the story, he is out to get a Malinois but a big German Shepherd is also in the mix to be tested. From previous books I have read of the differences between the two breeds, including someone who said a Malinois will just do what is commanded, where a German Shepherd will think about what needs to be done. I seem to remember that being said as if it was not a good thing for the dog to think and maybe hesitate to obey. The way the big German Shepherd blows through the tests are funny. With his notes reflecting how high the dog is rated for each test but ‘too big,’ ‘but he’s a German Shepherd’ to ‘maybe.’ Here are the tests:
Test #1: Prey Drive
For prey drive the test is simple. You take the dog’s toy and throw it as far as you can. You are looking to see how intensely it runs after the toy. This test displays the value the dog places on the toy and how much it likes the game of chasing prey. It translates to police work in a few ways. The obvious is chasing a suspect, but it also shows whether the dog will respond to toy-driven training methods in which you use the toy as a reward.
Test #2: Hunt Drive
Next up was to test the dogs’ hunt drive: how hard they will look for something that they can smell but not see. For this test you throw the ball while holding on to the dog until the ball hits the ground. Spin the dog around a couple of times so it loses its visual cues and bearing and then let it go hunt for the ball. It translates to police work in that you need a dog to rely on its sense of smell to find a reward, and to track someone it must find satisfaction in the hunt itself. This test weeds out a lot of dogs because many will lose interest or be distracted during the search. It’s not about how fast they find the object but more about how hard they look.
Test #3: Perseverance
The last of the ball tests was perseverance. The way we do this is to tease the dog with the ball and place it in location the dog can see and smell but can’t get to. In our case we had a fifty-pound wooden pallet we placed the ball under. This is important to police work because you want to see if the dog, when presented with an obstacle to the goal, will still try hard to get to it.
For this last test, no other dog went over and flipped over the fifty-pound wooden pallet with the officer on top of it to get the ball other than the dog that would be later named Mattis.
Here is a bit on how they train dogs to track people:
‘Have your helper tease your dog with a toy and run away to a place the dog can’t see. Start the dog on an item the helper dropped, like a sweaty hat, then have the dog find him. As you progress, you want the dog to start using his nose, not his eyes, to identify the person who has his toy. So you remove the part where the dog sees the helper run away and just start him on the sweaty hat that was dropped. You make the tracks longer and longer with different types of ground and obstacles, and eventually you have an amazing tracking dog. The key to this one is, again, to flip out with excitement when the dog finds the helper and make it the most amazing time in the world.’
Another funny bit described training in a closed department store. The decoy is positioned between rows of shelving unites in the middle of a pitch-black warehouse. For the rest of the dogs it takes a couple of minutes before you hear the decoy scream in pain from the bite, which hurts, even in a bite suit. For Mattis, they heard the scream in fifteen seconds.
‘I asked the decoy what happened. He told me he heard Mattis go down a row in the distance and then jump up onto a shelf. He said he then jumped from shelf to shelf (ip the dark) straight toward him at about head level. The decoy said, “I know I was supposed to be still, but he was coming at me head level, so I threw my arm up to intercept him.”
The other handlers, the decoy, and I were all astounded. This was not what I had planned. This was not the lesson | wanted to teach Mattis. I laughed because he’d solved it in a manner I hadn’t considered, and in a more efficient way. This type of Mattis solution became commonplace at every training session. Throw a complex problem at him and just watch him with wonder as he comes up with a solution. We never knew what it was going to be, but we knew it was going to be grounded in determination, athleticism, and efficiency.’
Another thing I liked about this book was in the way a few parts attempted to describe what the dog must be thinking. I am not a fan of when a dog narrates a book but mostly because it is often done in an unrealistic way, but I liked the way they do it in this book as in this example (sorry, I don’t know how to make it italicized):
‘Quick stop, I need to get my balance. Best Friend’s door Opens; I hope mine is next.
It is! What game are we going to play?
Short leash hooked up to my flat collar, could be the find-the-smell game. Best Friend usually doesn’t smell as stressed as he is now for that game, and his heart doesn’t usually beat as
fast as it is now. We are running! This is probably the protection game!
There are lots of people everywhere. I wonder which is the target?
We are slowing so we must be getting close. Maybe it’s these two in front of me; they smell stressed.’
One other point to mention in the book. Each chapter title page includes a verse from the Bible. And in a couple of places, he interjects God into the lesson or that is part of his thought process. As a Christian, I think this should be normal stuff when it is a normal and important part of your life. The author’s life is remarkable, faith plays a part in his success. I don’t think it comes close to any line in a way anyone would find it obnoxiously distracting from the story. Here is an example of one reference to God when he had his previous Policy dog Niko:
‘Fun fact: most people are not good liars. I believe that we are all image bearers of God, and he has written his law on our hearts. We know what’s right, we just don’t always do it! Which is why I got the following answer from the driver: "There shouldn’t be.” Think about it: He wasn’t saying “No, there isn’t.” The claim was really that he either didn’t know or he was agreeing with my question, that yes, there was something in the car, but it shouldn’t be there according to the law. Either way, it was Niko time.’
Another good Police dog book. It however is not one of my favorites of the books on Police Dogs I have read and for that reason only giving it 4 stars, but still a book I would recommend.
June 16, 2024
There is always one
Regardless of the number of dogs you have over the years, there is always one who is just a bit special. I watched "America's Top Dog" when it aired, expressly for Mark and Mattis. That show really drove home both the nature of this dog but also the level of training that they have put in. I have followed them ever since. Thank you, sir(s) for both your service and for the insights you have given. Thank you also for bringing me the memories of my first GSD. He was definitely my bestest boi.
Regardless of the number of dogs you have over the years, there is always one who is just a bit special. I watched "America's Top Dog" when it aired, expressly for Mark and Mattis. That show really drove home both the nature of this dog but also the level of training that they have put in. I have followed them ever since. Thank you, sir(s) for both your service and for the insights you have given. Thank you also for bringing me the memories of my first GSD. He was definitely my bestest boi.
June 10, 2024
Moving story, I love reading about K9 officers, this really is am amazing story.
June 9, 2024
Great book. Author self depreciating. Would love to see more books with more stories about Mattis.
June 6, 2024
This is a heartwarming book filled with love and wisdom. The life lessons and heartfelt subject matter make this wonderfully narrated book an inspirational masterpiece. Mark’s emotional narration (Audible version) was an added bonus that truly makes this a five star book.
June 4, 2024
I received a copy of this book.
This is a wonderful story about a phenomenal police K9 and his handler. I love how Sgt. Tappan wove meaningful scripture with his story of how he became partners with Mattis.
Definitely recommend this book.
This is a wonderful story about a phenomenal police K9 and his handler. I love how Sgt. Tappan wove meaningful scripture with his story of how he became partners with Mattis.
Definitely recommend this book.
July 15, 2025
In A Dog Names Mattis, Mark Tappan went over 12 lessons he learned while being a Georgia law enforcement officer and having a K9 dog. Some of these included go all in, keep your eyes on what matters most, pride is the enemy, be strong and courageous, and much more. In the book, he opened up the book by sharing a terrifying story about in pursuit of a criminal. A suspect driving a BMW with Florida tags was fleeting. The driver didn’t seem to care about others safety. They were running red lights and speeding. He was calling off the chase when another officer spotted that they wrecked the vehicle near North Point Parkway. He explained how he made the choice to try and stop him near a guardrail. The suspect jumped and he almost made the jump but grabbed back on. He had already hit the secret button on his belt to release the door on his vehicle which will in turn let out his dog Mattis. Mattis made the jump after the suspect and this event almost cost him his dog’s life. He goes into great detail about this event and what happened after that.
In the book, he discussed the different training methods they use for their K9 dogs. He also started an Instagram showcasing videos of the training sessions. He touched on getting a chance on staring on the American Top Dog. This show was a K9 show that they competed on to win money for their department.
I would recommend this awesome book to anyone who is curious about how the K9 unit works and you want an insider look to the program. It was very eye opening and revealing to read about the training and how difficult they must train the K9 to hunt, search, and stop suspects. The stories at times from the field will leave you on the edge of your seat to see how they all play out. I enjoyed reading this inspiring book and believe others will to.
March 30, 2024
The love and respect this officer has for his best friend shines out from every page of this book. Those of us who have had the privilege of knowing and loving a shepherd will be drawn in from the start. They go beyond the words best friend. They are more like soul dogs. It is always an honor to know them and be loved by them.
This book is extremely interesting and I love that it takes you through all the steps of becoming a handler and about learning to trust your dog more than your own mind especially when the dog knows more than you do.
The insight into the author becoming a K9 instructor is just as captivating. I loved the information on how he selected his ultimate partner. It really shows how impressive these dogs are and the effort that goes into this job.
Mattis is just amazing. Sergeant Mark Tappan honors that and does him justice in this book. I found the story about learning scent really interesting. There are a lot of techniques in here that can be amended for a family dog too like the scent "game". It is amazing how much better a dog can be trained by simply giving it love and respect. Many trainers have said that they don't even need to train their dog formally because these two elements are enough for the dog to want to do what the trainer wants. Mattis is a perfect example of this as well as the beauty of that one dog that naturally just "gets it" more than the others. It is an intuition gift that is mesmerizing to watch.
The bond that develops between these two is beautiful. An incredibly enjoyable read by an author filled with affection for his partner. I truly loved this book.
This book is extremely interesting and I love that it takes you through all the steps of becoming a handler and about learning to trust your dog more than your own mind especially when the dog knows more than you do.
The insight into the author becoming a K9 instructor is just as captivating. I loved the information on how he selected his ultimate partner. It really shows how impressive these dogs are and the effort that goes into this job.
Mattis is just amazing. Sergeant Mark Tappan honors that and does him justice in this book. I found the story about learning scent really interesting. There are a lot of techniques in here that can be amended for a family dog too like the scent "game". It is amazing how much better a dog can be trained by simply giving it love and respect. Many trainers have said that they don't even need to train their dog formally because these two elements are enough for the dog to want to do what the trainer wants. Mattis is a perfect example of this as well as the beauty of that one dog that naturally just "gets it" more than the others. It is an intuition gift that is mesmerizing to watch.
The bond that develops between these two is beautiful. An incredibly enjoyable read by an author filled with affection for his partner. I truly loved this book.
July 11, 2024
I love this dog. Mattis is an amazing retired K9 officer who worked in Alpharetta Georgia. Mark and Mattis have a huge following on Instagram and YouTube and were a part of America's Top Dog. Mark is a former marine and youth pastor. He is currently a Sergeant in the Alpharetta Police Department in Georgia. Mattis is one of the most decorated police K9s of all times. He was awarded a departmental Purple Heart, Officer of the Year (with Mark) and the Directors Award - all from the Alpharetta Police Department.
This is the true story of the amazing relationship between Mark and Mattis, their career in the K9 division and the lessons Mark learned from Mattis in regards to relationships, trusting God and remembering that truths that God shares can be found in the most unexpected ways.
Each of the chapters start off with one of the twelve lessons and bible verse based on that lesson. The chapters are concluded with what Mark learned from the specific incident/scenario/story and how that ties in with the verse and God's plan. For example - Lesson 10 Keep Your Eyes of What's Most Important and from Proverbs 3:5 Lean not on your own understanding.
If I ever have the chance to meet Mattis, I would certainly take it and I'd make sure to tell him he is the goodest boi ever. Thank you Mark for sharing your story and Mattis with the world. Both of you make it a much better place.
This is the true story of the amazing relationship between Mark and Mattis, their career in the K9 division and the lessons Mark learned from Mattis in regards to relationships, trusting God and remembering that truths that God shares can be found in the most unexpected ways.
Each of the chapters start off with one of the twelve lessons and bible verse based on that lesson. The chapters are concluded with what Mark learned from the specific incident/scenario/story and how that ties in with the verse and God's plan. For example - Lesson 10 Keep Your Eyes of What's Most Important and from Proverbs 3:5 Lean not on your own understanding.
If I ever have the chance to meet Mattis, I would certainly take it and I'd make sure to tell him he is the goodest boi ever. Thank you Mark for sharing your story and Mattis with the world. Both of you make it a much better place.
October 15, 2024
First, I'd like to extend a thanks to the author, Mark Tappan, the publisher, Nelson Books, and Goodreads for the opportunity of winning A Dog Named Mattis in physical form in a giveaway. This book focused on the experience of a K9 officer named Mattis and his handler, including information about Mattis' training, their relationship, mishaps and manhunts. The author passes on their experiences through some harrowing scenes and heartfelt moments as well. The book is religiously-focused with a Christian basis. I particularly enjoyed the aspects of the book that focused on training the dog and psychology of K9 officers. I didn't know much about their training or the process beforehand, and it was interesting to learn a little.
The book outlines some major lessons for life that can be learned through their experiences, and I'd say many of the lessons are pretty important and are backed by anecdotes that provide some context. In the middle of the book are some included photos of the major influences in the life and career of Mattis, which I thought was a great touch to add some visual connections to the stories. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes memoirs focused on police work, K9 officers, dog training, or Christian/religious self-help books.
The book outlines some major lessons for life that can be learned through their experiences, and I'd say many of the lessons are pretty important and are backed by anecdotes that provide some context. In the middle of the book are some included photos of the major influences in the life and career of Mattis, which I thought was a great touch to add some visual connections to the stories. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes memoirs focused on police work, K9 officers, dog training, or Christian/religious self-help books.
November 16, 2024
Thank you Goodreads And Nelson Books for the book in exchange for my honest review. WOW. This just moved me, inspired me. The sub title "12 Lessons for Living Courageously, Serving Selflessly and Building Bridges from a Heroic K9 Officer" reveals the real theme and purpose of this book. But there's MORE than those 12 lessons. The theme of trust, loving relationships, friendship, caring, expressing joy and love are seen in the life work of Mark Tappan, Mattis (his K9), his fellow officers, and the community. When I read a book, I focus on who the "audience" is.... wow. I think this tome is great for everyone-- dog lovers/not, book lovers/not, young/old/mature, Christians/agnostics/athiest/any denominations that believe in Goodness ( yes, you can read the quotes as is, as if they were from a learned philospher/scholar).
As part of sharing the goodness, I will be giving my copy to the local Police Captain to share with his troops (and the K9 unit).
As part of sharing the goodness, I will be giving my copy to the local Police Captain to share with his troops (and the K9 unit).
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June 15, 2024
I received A Dog Named Mattis as part of a book tour to feature the book. When I grabbed it the morning I had to post it, something made me sit down and read it. It only took me a little over 2 hours (I'm a speed reader) because I became consumed by the stories, wisdom, and experiences shared by Mark Tappan on behalf of himself and Retired K9 Mattis.
There are highs, there are lows, and there are some funny stories in between. What Mark Tappan highlights the most is that dogs bring people together and when you find the right dog, at the right time, sometimes it's just fate.
I highly recommend following Mattis on social media for a daily dose of dogs being dogs, you can't help but smile.
Thank you Thomas Nelson for the gifted copy.
There are highs, there are lows, and there are some funny stories in between. What Mark Tappan highlights the most is that dogs bring people together and when you find the right dog, at the right time, sometimes it's just fate.
I highly recommend following Mattis on social media for a daily dose of dogs being dogs, you can't help but smile.
Thank you Thomas Nelson for the gifted copy.
August 11, 2024
Excellent read, for all the Dog Lovers out there and for all those that support our First Responders, this is a book for you. Take the time and hear about the dedication and partnership between Officer Tappan and Officer Mattis. The history of the two and how all this came together is a great story. The bond between them and all the others that were part of this journey, show the dedication to the community, not just in Alpharetta but in the K-9 patrol community as well.
It was my honor to meet and talk with Officer Tappan, while working with Alpharetta High School, awesome team Officers Tappan / Mattis.
For all of you that have every had that dog that help make you better and you wanted to give your all for them, this is the story for you. After you read the book you too will say “Man, I love this dog!”
It was my honor to meet and talk with Officer Tappan, while working with Alpharetta High School, awesome team Officers Tappan / Mattis.
For all of you that have every had that dog that help make you better and you wanted to give your all for them, this is the story for you. After you read the book you too will say “Man, I love this dog!”
October 14, 2024
I read a lot of books, but none have ever had me in tears before like this book did … some happy tears. Some of the scenes were pretty emotional, and I actually had to put the book down and take a little break. That’s NEVER happened to me before!
It’s a well written, moving story of the bond between a police dog and his handler. The trust they have for each other is nothing short of amazing. For people who are not familiar with police operations/procedures, this story gives a bit of insight into the duties of a K9 officer. Though the book isn’t particularly religious, Officer Tappan does site scriptures at the beginning, and sometimes the end, of each chapter while sharing some of his religious beliefs.
It’s a well written, moving story of the bond between a police dog and his handler. The trust they have for each other is nothing short of amazing. For people who are not familiar with police operations/procedures, this story gives a bit of insight into the duties of a K9 officer. Though the book isn’t particularly religious, Officer Tappan does site scriptures at the beginning, and sometimes the end, of each chapter while sharing some of his religious beliefs.
June 26, 2024
Though I am not usually a fan of Memoirs, I AM an avid animal lover with immense respect for K-9 officers and their partners so this book was a must have.
I was so touched by this story! I laughed and I cried and felt every ounce of emotion that the author penned in this book. Wonderfully written and narrated by the man who bonded so deeply with his partner, it is a must read/listen for anyone who loves animals, respects the badge or even just needs a feel good story to brighten their day! I highly recommend this book!
I was so touched by this story! I laughed and I cried and felt every ounce of emotion that the author penned in this book. Wonderfully written and narrated by the man who bonded so deeply with his partner, it is a must read/listen for anyone who loves animals, respects the badge or even just needs a feel good story to brighten their day! I highly recommend this book!
February 25, 2025
Fascinating book! Courageous duo K9 officers Mark Tappan and Mattis shows us a little of what it’s like in the line of duty. Officer Tappan adds scriptures to add emphasis to his lessons for living courageously and serving his community with his best friend! I’m thankful I got a glimpse of their life and career together. Super inspirational!
I recommend this book for all ages! I am honored to have been given the opportunity to read this book from a giveaway here on Goodreads via Officer Tappan and Thomas Nelson Books. This is my honest review.
I recommend this book for all ages! I am honored to have been given the opportunity to read this book from a giveaway here on Goodreads via Officer Tappan and Thomas Nelson Books. This is my honest review.
August 13, 2024
This is a true story of the amazing relationship and journey between Mark and his K9 partner Mattis,
and their career with the Alpharetta Police Department in Georgia. Their bond is remarkable, and Mark truly shows it in this book. I am a huge animal lover and after reading this book, I started following K9 Mattis on Instagram. I appreciate Mark for sharing him with us.
Thank you, Mark Tappan, Nelson Books/Thomas Nelson, and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book.
and their career with the Alpharetta Police Department in Georgia. Their bond is remarkable, and Mark truly shows it in this book. I am a huge animal lover and after reading this book, I started following K9 Mattis on Instagram. I appreciate Mark for sharing him with us.
Thank you, Mark Tappan, Nelson Books/Thomas Nelson, and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book.
July 15, 2024
I love dogs. I love working dogs even more. I have been following K9 Mattis on Instagram since probably 2017 and have loved seeing him work with his handler. I find Mattis’ intelligence and his sweet side so endearing. Sgt. Tappan’s love for Mattis showed through in his writing and made me love Mattis even more. This was a fun read and made me respect K9s and their handlers even more.
July 26, 2024
I really enjoyed this book. I’ve always enjoyed Mattis’ content on social media (and that guy that is always with him lol). It was really cool to see the background of his Mark and Mattis came to be. Mattis sounds like such an amazing dog and I learned a lot about him and Mark that I didn’t know prior to this. I really thought Marks lessons were helpful and valuable to think about.
July 27, 2024
This book was absolutely amazing. It got my attention right from the start to the very end. I could picture everything that was going on. Mark and Mattis have always been a favorite of mine in their videos, but reading this book really gave me insight to their special bond. My 14 year daughter loves it just as much as me and she isn't much of a reader.
June 6, 2024
The love and loyalty this amazing duo has is unmatched, I have been a huge fan of them since top dog and have followed them since and this book was absolutely incredible. Thank you Mark and Mattis for your service and for allowing us into your lives
September 11, 2024
Amazing book, after reading you will appreciate the work that goes into training k9s and the bond between man and his best friend. What I also like is that there is biblical wisdom in the book along with cool stories and other things.
November 20, 2024
I absolutely loved this book! A wonderful story about the strong bond between this Police Officer and his beloved partner Mattis! The officer makes you laugh and shed some tears too! I won’t give away any spoilers! I highly recommend this book if you love Law Enforcement and K-9s as much as I do!
March 19, 2025
What an amazing book! I have followed Mark and Mattie on IG for several years so to read their story and the lessons learned was such a treat! I absolutely love how Mark was able to take experiences with Mattis and apply those lessons to how we can (and should) live our lives.
July 20, 2025
I won the physical copy on Goodreads Giveaways, listened to the audiobook, and truly, this is beautiful! Great stories! I was wary of police stories, but there is a genuine human quality and understanding of what good police can be.
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