Sniffer dog with a nose for a tale

Buster the hero dog with Michael and their new book

Few retired dogs have a book written about them - but Buster is no ordinary dog

The hero hound’s five military tours of duty with Shaw-born handler Michael Barrow (48) have made Buster one of the world’s most travelled dogs

Now Michael has written a book about Buster’s exploits as an arms and explosives sniffer dog.

“Buster: The Dog Who Saved a Thousand Lives”, details his time in Afghanistan, Bosnia and Iraq.

The 12-year-old springer spaniel found RAF Police Flight Sergeant Michael in 2007, as the latter was being deployed to Afghanistan.

Michael, currently based at RAF Henlow in Bedfordshire, said: “A certain type of dog is required for the desert terrain, the heat and the fact it was a war zone; a dog with loads of drive, an exceptional nose and battle experience. Only a select few have what it takes.”

The book is a collaboration between Michael and writer Isabel George, and focuses on Buster’s experiences - not always from a military point of view.

Buster officially retired in 2011 with arthritis, but Michael wasn’t able to let go and kept him as his pet. In 2012 he won the coveted Crufts Friends For Life Award, and is now the official lifetime mascot of the RAF police.

“Buster is very much a people dog and loves seeing new faces,” Michael said.

“When he’s not making media appearances he’s lounging around on the rug, playing with his toys and making a mess of my house!”

The book, published by Virgin, is £9.99 and out now.