The story of Will Chesney and his canine partner, Cairo, as detailed in “No Ordinary Dog: My Partner from the SEAL Teams to the bin Laden Raid,” offers a profound look into the world of elite military operations and the unique bond forged between a handler and his dog. This account, co-authored with Joe Layden, focuses heavily on the journey of Cairo the dog, SEAL Team 6’s famous Belgian Malinois, who played a crucial role in the 2011 raid on Osama bin Laden’s compound. Yet, it’s equally the story of Chesney, nicknamed “Cheese,” the dedicated handler who shared Cairo’s path through training, combat, and beyond. The narrative provides a compelling window into the intense dynamics of a SEAL K9 team operating in the challenging environments of the Middle East.
Cover of No Ordinary Dog book featuring Cairo the Belgian Malinois.
The Unbreakable Bond: Beyond Friendship
From the outset, Chesney establishes the depth of their connection: “Cairo was my dog. And I was his dad… The relationship between a handler and a canine SEAL is profound and intimate. It goes well beyond friendship… a round-the-clock immersion designed to foster not just expertise but an attachment of uncommon depth and complexity.” This powerful union, from their first meeting until Cairo’s passing from cancer years later, forms the emotional core of the book. While the bin Laden mission is a significant event, the narrative emphasizes the “exhaustive and intricate training” that shaped Cairo into a formidable soldier, tested across diverse and dangerous landscapes. Chesney promises a unique story, and the book delivers on that front.
Forging a SEAL: Will Chesney’s Journey
Chesney’s path began with a singular focus: becoming a Navy SEAL. Enlisting in 2002 at 18, the East Texan faced daunting odds, with only 20 percent of candidates successfully completing the notoriously difficult BUD/S (Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL) training. He describes it as “an utterly merciless, non-stop, six-month beatdown,” emphasizing that the SEALs demand professionalism, 100 percent commitment, and the ability to handle adversity without letting emotions compromise the mission. The reader gains immense appreciation for the rigorous selection and training process that produces these elite operators. Only 22 men from Chesney’s initial class of 168 made it through.
Navy SEAL Will Chesney posing with his military working dog Cairo, a Belgian Malinois.
Discovering the Canine Warrior: Military Dogs Enter the Scene
It wasn’t until 2006, after deployments to South America and Iraq, that Chesney encountered military working dogs during a training demonstration. Though familiar with family pets, he was unaware of their capabilities in warfare. The demonstration featuring a Belgian Malinois, a breed unknown to him then, left a lasting impression. A subsequent six-month deployment to Iraq involved high-stakes combat operations, but Chesney wasn’t yet part of a SEAL team. His candid account provides a visceral feel for frontline action. Upon returning, he finally joined a SEAL Training Team, graduating after six months. This period allowed him to explore different specializations within the SEALs.
Becoming a Handler: Teaming Up with Cairo the Dog
His interest in dogs steered him towards a new path, recognizing their significant value in conflict. “It always seemed to me that the bad guys feared our dogs more than they feared us,” Chesney observes, adding that it wasn’t rare for these “fighting and tracking machines” to save a teammate’s life. The decision to become a handler solidified during a 2008 deployment in Afghanistan where his squadron worked alongside two K9 units. He quickly understood the dual responsibility: managing and caring for the dog while operating as a shooter – “an extraordinarily demanding and complicated job.”
Chesney explains that combat assault dogs, often Belgian Malinois sourced from European training programs like Schutzhund or KNPV, are typically 2-to-3 years old when acquired. Valued for their strength and readiness, the selection process measures not just instinct but the dog’s “heart.” Cairo, purchased for around $10,000, wasn’t Chesney’s initial pick in 2008, but their partnership blossomed through rigorous training encompassing scent detection, bite work, command response, and desensitization. “In a lot of ways, I felt like he could teach me as much as I could teach him,” Chesney reflects.
Cairo the dog SEAL Team 6 Belgian Malinois wearing protective doggles and booties.
Into the Fire: Combat and Injury
Their first deployment together began in Afghanistan in June 2009. A significant part of this four-month assignment involved the challenging, ultimately unsuccessful, search for Pfc. Bowe Bergdahl, who had disappeared from his base. Amidst this frustration, tragedy struck when Cairo suffered severe injuries to his chest and leg during a firefight. Prompt field treatment by a former combat medic likely saved his life before he was airlifted to Bagram Airfield for veterinary care.
Cairo, then four years old, was subsequently flown to Lackland Air Force Base in Texas, the hub for military working dog medical care and rehabilitation. Chesney returned to his unit, separated from his partner for over two months.
Cairo the military dog walking outside during recovery from gunshot wounds sustained in combat.
SEAL Team 6’s Secret Weapon: The Bin Laden Raid
Uncertainty clouded their future. Having completed two deployments as a handler, Chesney was preparing to return to a primary role as a shooter. Cairo, nearing six, faced potential retirement. However, the Navy decided the recovered K9 would serve as a spare, ready for deployment. In late March 2011, Chesney’s planned training schedule was abruptly interrupted. Ordered back to Virginia from Arizona without explanation, he was instructed to retrieve Cairo upon arrival. This unexpected reunion set the stage for the most famous and secretive operation in Navy SEAL history: the raid targeting Osama bin Laden. Chesney provides a gripping, moment-by-moment account of the mission that catapulted Cairo the dog, SEAL Team 6’s canine member, into the international spotlight.
The Battle After the War: PTSD and Healing
The story doesn’t conclude with the successful raid. Chesney faced his own battles upon returning, struggling profoundly with PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Conventional treatments offered little relief. Amidst this darkness, a surprising source of solace emerged. “You know what did help? Stopping by the kennel to play with Cairo (then 8),” he admits. “I know that probably sounds crazy, but it’s the absolute truth.” Their bond proved therapeutic during Chesney’s most challenging times.
Will Chesney and his girlfriend taking Cairo the dog for a ride in a motorcycle sidecar.
The latter part of “No Ordinary Dog” explores whether these two soulmates found peace in retirement, if Chesney conquered his medical struggles, and how Cairo fared after his military service. The narrative concludes with a poignant mix of honesty and emotion, offering answers while underscoring the extraordinary life and legacy of Cairo, the Navy SEAL dog, and the man who called himself his dad.
