In Afghanistan, sometimes all that stands between coalition troops and death or serious injury is a dog. Highly trained dogs and their handlers search for improvised explosive devices or hidden weapons out on patrol with combat troops. It's a perilous job, often putting them right in the firing line, and making them high priority targets for the Taliban insurgents they're fighting.

Shane Bryant, a former Australian Army dog handler, has spent the past four years in Afghanistan working with elite American special forces alongside his faithful dog. War Dogs is his story – a riveting account of the hidden war in the mountains and cities of the world's most dangerous conflict, and the comradeship between man and dog that has saved numerous lives.

Author Information

After joining the Australian Army at the age of 17, Shane Bryant eventually fulfilled his ambition to qualify as an explosive detection dog handler. In 2006 he took a job in Afghanistan as a civilian dog handler contracted to provide support to the US Army and other coalition military forces. He currently splits his time between Kabul and Port Kembla, where he lives with his partner, Nat, five children, and a Staffordshire Terrier named Tyra.
Tony Park has worked as a journalist, a government press secretary and served with the Australian Army in Afghanistan in 2002. He is the author of Far Horizon, Zambezi, African Sky, Safari, Silent Predator and Ivory. He and his wife, Nicola, divide their time between Africa and Australia.