Navy SEAL Dogs (28 page)

Arko, the retired but still very capable dog, who was wounded in battle and is now almost ten years old.

The author with Carlos, the dog that protected his handler even when his own life was in the balance.

Curt and Odin preoperation.

Curt and Odin getting ready to clear a tunnel.

Odin charging ahead, sniffing out the enemy.

Odin showing off his goggles, a much-needed piece of gear to combat the dust and sand for our K9s.

Odin on a munitions cache hunt.

Odin ready to go as usual.

Odin alerting on an explosive find.

Curt and Odin about to load up for a raid.

An MWD and his handler atop a mountain.

Circling the wagons and getting some much-deserved rest after a long patrol.

 

Also by Mike Ritland

Trident K9 Warriors

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

MIKE RITLAND joined the navy in 1996 and graduated with BUD/S class 215. After years as a member of SEAL Team Three, he became a BUD/S instructor and then started his own company to train dogs for the SEAL teams. Today he continues to supply working and protection dogs to a host of clients, and he has also started the Warrior Dog Foundation to help retired special-operations dogs live long and happy lives after their service.

 

This is a true story, though some names and details have been changed.

 

NAVY SEAL DOGS.
Copyright © 2013 by Michael Ritland. All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin's Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.

 

www.stmartins.com

 

Cover design by Lisa Marie Pompilio

 

The Library of Congress has cataloged the print edition as follows:

Ritland, Mike.

     Navy seal dogs: my tale of training canines for combat / Mike Ritland.

        p. cm

     ISBN 978-1-250-04182-1 (hardcover)

     ISBN 978-1-4668-4023-2 (e-book)

     1.  Dogs—War use—United States.   2.  Ritland, Mike.   3.  United States. Navy. SEALs—Biography.   4.  Dogs—War use—Iraq.   5.  Dogs—War use—Afghanistan.   6.  Iraq War, 2003–2011—Dogs.   7.  Afghan War, 2001—Dogs.   I.  Title.

  UH100.R58 2014

 359.9'84—dc23                                                   2013026244