Top Dog

The Story of Marine Hero Lucca

By: Maria Goodavage

Narrated by: Neil Shah

The New York Times best-selling author of Soldier DogsTop Dog, Maria Goodavage takes listeners into the life of Lucca K458, a decorated and highly skilled military working dog. An extraordinary bond developed between Lucca and Marine Corps handler Chris Willingham, launching what became a legendary 400-mission career. A Specialized Search Dog, Lucca belongs to an elite group trained to work off-leash at long distances from her handler. She served alongside both Special Forces and regular infantry. She and Willingham became so sought-after that units scheduled missions around their availability.

The audiobook describes in gritty detail the team’s adventures on and off the battlefields, including tense, lifesaving explosives finds and firefights as well as the bravery of fellow handlers and dogs they served with. Ultimately, we see how the bond between Lucca and Willingham overcame the endless brutalities of war and the traumas this violence ignites. Here is a portrait of modern warfare with a heart-warming and inspiring conclusion that will touch dog lovers and the toughest military listeners.

©2014 Maria Goodavage and Christopher Elden Willingham (P)2014 Recorded Books

Courageous men and dogs of the U.S. Marines.

This is a book that tells of courageous men and the dogs that were just as courageous doing a job to protect our armed forces. God bless them all!

Great story!

A great story! Not just for dog lovers. Makes me want to get a German Shepard.

Iraq, Afghanistan, Soldiers, Marines, DOG!

Alright, Y'all . . . This Alabama mama of a two combat veteran sons and the wife of a retired Sergeant Major LOVES this story of Lucca . . . whose handler just happens to come from Alabama . . . ROLL TIDE . . . Seriously, this book will melt the heart of anyone who has ever had a loved one deployed to a combat zone, known the fear involved when soldiers and marines go outside the gates of the FOB in search of IEDs, and dread the knock on their door that might come at any time of the day or night notifying them that their son/daughter/husband has been injured or killed in the line of duty . . . learning more about the canine working dogs in the military was fascinating for me, and a blessing to hear about the ways that the handlers and the dogs bonded and together saved the lives of many of our military in Iraq and Afghanistan . . .the changing policies that now allow the dogs to retire and come home and be a permanent part of their handler's family lend themselves to the healing of many a soldier and family beyond the military context . . . thank you so much for this amazing book!

Best dog story ever

A wonderful account of these brave warrior dogs and the men who adore them. Best of all, Lucca is still enjoyable her semi-retirement as a symbol of war dogs everywhere.

Heartwarming story

What did you love best about Top Dog?

Not only a great story about a wonderful dog, but an inside look at a truly unique relationship between handlers and their dogs. I had heard stories about service dogs, but I really enjoyed learning about what a valuable role they play in combat.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Lucca, of course!

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I definitely cried any time one of the dogs was killed or injured, but when the handler climbed into the cage with Lucca to comfort her, that was probably what moved me most.

Any additional comments?

Don't pass on this one.

Another excellent book by this author!

Totally enjoyable. You go along with the missions of this hero dog and her handlers. There is also humor involved where you get to know, that while highly trained and intelligent, after all, they have similar traits like our own dogs. I read Secret Service Dogs too. Both books are enjoyable and the narration is easy to listen to!!! If you love dogs and the military or just want to go on a mission with them, I recommend this book!

What a hero!

Great work for a good read. This is one of the best honor audiobooks about a hero dog. Takes you into training and battle. I'm sure I'll have to listen to this again!

Great!!

The book had substance where it could end earlier... A bit lengthy in the end. Story is wonderful

Masterfully told epic of a canine hero

This is the story of Marine Corps hero Lucca K458, a German shepherd-Belgian Malinois mix, off-leash IED-detecting military working dog (MWD). Lucca conducted 400 missions over three deployments during her six year career and saved countless soldiers and marines without injury except her own. On March 23, 2012, with a dozen Special Forces soldiers in the Nahr Saraj district of Afghanistan, Lucca detonated an IED and lost her left forelimb.

Lucca had two handlers in her career, Marine Staff Sgt. Chris Willingham and Cpl. Juan “ROD” Rodriguez, who saved her life after the explosion. Goodavage captures the pure essence of the handler-dog bond when she writes of Willingham’s extended transfer of the leash to Rodriguez. Lucca is retired and was adopted by Willingham and his family. The DOD does not give dogs awards, but the Marine Corps League of Tuscaloosa gave her a Purple Heart plague, the VFW in Fairfax, Virginia gave her an honorary position in its organization.

The book is a beautifully told story told through the eyes of the handler. I enjoyed this true story and if you are a dog person you will to. Neil Shah narrated the story.

Grab a Tissue Box

Other than the novel Suspect, about a dog with PTSD, and a few others I'm usually not into animal books, but if you have even a passing interest in books about them I urge you download this.

It wasn't until some way through that I realized it was about a real dog...a world renowned hero no less. I listened to the entire book at one sitting, didn't eat all day (I'm starving now!), and my eyes were leaking through 25-30th% of the time.

if you have enjoyed books about Seabiscut, Phar Lap, Ole Yeller, etc. you'll like this. One thing is that while I usually listen at normal speed I had to listen to this one at 1.5 speed...the narrator was just a little slow for this Texan.