Navy Seal Dogs

Navy SEAL Dogs

First hour guest, former SEAL Team 3 member Mike Ritland (book link) talked about training elite Navy SEAL dogs. While the SEAL dogs are similar to other working dogs, what sets them apart is that they have an absolute drive to do this kind of work, and a relentless willingness to defeat the target being apprehended, often amidst tough environmental challenges, he explained. Detailing one case, he described how a SEAL dog was shot point blank in the chest by an insurgent, but still managed to subdue and hold on to the target until the team came in. The dog was medevaced out and treated by a surgeon. He subsequently recovered, and was actually deployed again, though is now retired at Ritland's K9 Warrior Foundation.

Mike Ritland joined the Navy in 1996 and graduated with BUD/S class 215. After years as a member of SEAL Team 3 he became a BUD/S instructor and then started his own company to train dogs for the West Coast SEAL teams. Today he continues to supply working and protection dogs to a host of clients. He started the K9 Warrior Foundation to help retired military dogs after their service.