Navy SEAL Dogs

My Tale of Training Canines for Combat

By: Mike Ritland

Narrated by: Michael Kramer

The Navy SEAL teams' elite K9 warriors do it all - from detecting explosives to eliminating the bad guys. These powerful dogs are also some of the smartest and most highly skilled working animals on the planet. Mike Ritland's job is to train them. This is the tale of how Ritland discovered his passion and grew up to train these elite dogs. After becoming a SEAL, he was on combat deployment in Iraq when he saw a military working dog in action, and he instantly knew he'd found his true calling. Ritland eventually started his own company to train and supply working and protection dogs for the U.S. government, the Department of Defense, and other clients. He also started the Warrior Dog Foundation to help retired Special Operations dogs live long and happy lives after their service.

©2013 Michael Ritland (P)2014 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Fascinating... About time these heroes got the attention they deserved for a young audience." (Kirkus)

Great book

Easy listening. You never want to turn it off. Loved the content and the narrator.

Engaging

Ritland tells of his early life and interest in canines. He joined the NAVY at age 17 and eventually became a SEAL and then a dog handler, then MWD (Military Working Dog) trainer. I like that Ritland warns that the breeds of dogs, he trains in the Navy SEALs are not a breed for the average city bound civilian.

Ritland goes into depth about how dogs are chosen; the temperament needed for the Special Operation Forces dogs. He discusses the enormous amount of training that goes into each dog and handler team. Except when deployed into a war zone, the book takes place at his dog training facility in San Diego, California.
This book is not for everyone as it goes into great detail about the training and the importance of the K-9 teams in combat rather than an entertaining story. I understand there is a children’s version of the book.

The book is well written, the author does a good job telling about his time training and handling MWDs. Some of the stories are sad, but some have humor, but all reveal the bond between the dog and the handler. Ritland is now retired from the Navy and has his own MWD training facility. He is also working with the Warrior Dog Foundation. The Foundation’s goal is to make certain that retired MWDs are able to live out the remainder of their lives in a positive environment. If you are interested in canines and the military, this book should interest you.

The book is a little over 6 hours long. Michael Kramer does a great job narrating the book. Kramer is an actor and an award-winning audiobook narrator.

What's a MWD?

Mike Ritland, Navy Seal and MWD dog trainer, tells of his interest turning to passion in training dogs for one of the most dangerous duties on earth; a Navy Seal Dog. This is a very interesting and quite enjoyable recounting of what the dogs go through in their training and what is expected of them when that training is done. I was hoping for more accounts of actual missions that these dogs and their handlers experienced, but I probably grabbed the wrong book. The book was still enjoyable even though there were only a couple accounts of real missions. Thank you for your work and dedication Mike.

Great content, didn’t like narrator’s voice/inflection/cadence

Great insight to the training and care these amazing dogs receive by a proven expert in the field! Narrator wasn’t my cup of tea.

great book

I have my first Gsd pup now 4 Mon old. it is amazing to learn what some of these dogs are capable of with correct training. they are selfless and brave.

Thank you!!!

To all involved in this book....Thank you! Mr.Rittland and all the SOF dogs and handlers....thank you !!

Hearing about the training of our Warrior Dogs

I truly appreciate what our Warriors, both Human and Canine go through to protect our country and each other. I've worked with dogs in several capacities in my past. I have come across several dogs that were amazing talented animals. This book was amazing, the content and narration was excellent. I will probably read it again.

Working Dogs!

If you own, wished you own or are planning to own a working breed pup THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU. Hell, if you LOOOOVE dogs in general this book is for you. And if you like Navy Seal lore and dogs i’m not really sure what you’re waiting for…ENJOY!!!

Excellent story

Excellent book about Military dogs. It was very thorough and enjoyable - like an accounting of cool action stories all revolving around dogs.

Heroic Dogs and Their Trainers

The story line was outstanding and the reader read the book in a superb manner. Kramer was easy to listen to and he did a great narration of the book.