Navy SEAL Dogs. My Tale of Training Canines for Combat PDF
Preview Navy SEAL Dogs. My Tale of Training Canines for Combat
The author and publisher have provided this e-book to you for your personal use only. You may not make this e-book publicly available in any way. Copyright infringement is against the law. If you believe the copy of this e-book you are reading infringes on the author’s copyright, please notify the publisher at: us.macmillanusa.com/piracy. This book is dedicated to the brotherhood, and the loyal hounds that help keep them safe. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to thank the following people, for without them this book would not have been possible. My parents, George and Sandy—Thank you for putting up with me as a kid and instilling the values and foundation that forged me into the man I am today. The SEAL Teams—Enlisting at eighteen, I grew up in the teams. There could not have been a finer collection of warriors to be around to set the example of how to live your life. The entire country owes you an infinite debt of gratitude for the violence you bestow on our enemies. Marc Resnick, his assistant Kate Canfield, and everyone at St. Martin’s Press —Thank you for your professionalism and pride in what you do. It’s been a pleasure working with you. Gary Brozek—Thank you for the countless hours of hard work you have put into this project, bringing my words to life in a way that couldn’t make me prouder. Brandon Webb—The brotherhood continues to prove that it takes care of its own, and your friendship and advice are certainly no exception. Thank you for everything, brother. Wayne Dodge—Brother, there are no words to give ample thanks for what you have done for me, in more ways than one. Your friendship will be forever appreciated. The warriors (both men and dogs) at MPC-1 (Multi-Purpose Cammo)—You guys are the reason I do what I do, and I could not be prouder of the job you guys have done and continue to do. Special thanks to: The Allon Family CP Happy SA Fro Cinnamon Bear Johnny D BC Mike Mike Mrs. Toad Wimbo Mike Suttle Matt Betts DK Shrek Darryl Richey Del Trey Straub Echy KNPV Dusty CONTENTS Title Page Copyright Notice Dedication Acknowledgments Author’s Note Map Prologue PART I: NAVY SEALS AND DOGS 1. A Visit to Chopper and Brett 2. A Lifelong Love of Dogs 3. A Desire to Serve and Defend 4. Combining Passions PART II: ON MAKING THE GRADE 5. Not Your Typical House Pet 6. Well Trained 7. Prep School for Puppies 8. Detection Training: Passing the Sniff Test 9. Apprehension Training: Sinking Their Teeth into It 10. Distinct Personalities 11. The Bond at Both Ends of the Leash PART III: ADVENTURES IN BATTLE 12. Cairo and Lloyd: Among the First 13. Samson and Dave: Undeterred Underdogs 14. Rex and Dwayne: Foiling Insurgents 15. Poncho in Pursuit 16. Kwinto’s Nighttime Raids PART IV: GIVING BACK AND MOVING FORWARD 17. Carlos and Arko at Ease More About the Warrior Dog Foundation Appendix: A Brief History of Canines in Combat Glossary References Photographs Also by Mike Ritland About the Author Copyright AUTHOR’S NOTE I’m a very lucky man in lots of ways. A lot of men and women haven’t returned from our recent wars. I was able to. Now, I combine two passions of mine— working with dogs and still aiding in the defense of our country. I love dogs as pets and companions. I admire them as workers and useful “tools,” and also know how much they benefit from our training and guidance. I feel sorry for anyone who hasn’t experienced the joys of seeing a dog in action doing what nature intended or even just the look in a dog’s eyes when you scratch “that” spot for him or her. I appreciate all sides of the dog-human interaction enough that I’ve chosen to make training military and other working dogs my career, while still sharing my life with dogs as pets. Multipurpose K-9s have saved countless lives. As a nation, we owe them a tremendous debt of gratitude. By telling the story of some of these dogs, I hope to increase awareness of the vital role that military working dogs play. By sharing some of my own story and the stories of some of the Navy SEAL dog handlers I’ve come to know, I hope to encourage you to believe in yourself and your own dreams, and to keep working toward your goals, because you never know how far you can go—until one day, you realize you’re there, exactly where you want to be.
The list of books you might like
