#5 Mike Ritland - Navy SEAL Warrior K9 Dog Trainer (Part 2)
Sep 25, 2020
auto_awesome
Mike Ritland, a top-tier K9 trainer and founder of the Warrior Dog Foundation, shares insights on the unique challenges faced by military and police dogs. He discusses the emotional bond between handlers and their K9 companions, the extensive training dogs undergo, and the psychological toll of combat on these brave animals. Ritland emphasizes the importance of rehabilitation for dogs returning from active duty and sheds light on his non-profit's mission to help them adjust to civilian life.
Dogs are the most accurate tool in detecting IEDs, emphasizing their crucial role in saving lives and enhancing security measures.
From ancient times to modern warfare, dogs have adapted to fulfill various roles, reflecting changing demands and tactics in combat situations.
Training military dogs now focuses on reinforcement and trust-building, departing from compulsion methods to enhance their capabilities as invaluable assets.
Deep understanding of dog psychology and non-verbal communication is essential for effective handler-dog relationships, highlighting dogs' superior ability to interpret emotional and physical cues.
Deaf dogs can be successfully trained with hand signals and flashlights, similar to teaching children, emphasizing behavior over complex language tasks.
Proper selection of dogs with suitable reactivity levels is crucial for effective service dog placement, ensuring their ability to sense and respond to human emotions and needs.
Deep dives
The Importance of Dogs in Combating IEDs
The podcast discusses the use of dogs in detecting improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Despite massive investments to combat IEDs, a dog's nose was found to be the most accurate and reliable tool. This highlights the vital role dogs play in saving lives and enhancing security measures.
The Evolution of Dogs in Warfare
The podcast delves into the historical significance of canines in warfare. From ancient times to modern conflicts, dogs have been integral in various roles based on breeds and purposes. Their evolution parallels the changing demands and tactics in warfare, where their capabilities adapt to fulfill different functions.
Training and Interaction with Military Dogs
The episode explores the intensive training and interaction involved in working with military dogs. Training methods have shifted from compulsion and punishment towards reinforcement, mirroring modern dog training approaches. Handlers emphasize building trust and enhancing dogs' abilities, considering their role as invaluable assets in high-stress operational environments.
Understanding Dog Psychology and Non-Verbal Communication
Discussions in the podcast emphasize the significance of dog psychology and non-verbal communication. Dogs excel at interpreting body language and cues, often surpassing human abilities. Handlers must be attuned to subtle cues and gestures to effectively communicate with dogs, highlighting the deep understanding dogs have of emotional and physical signals.
Training Deaf Dogs and Using Flashlights for Communication
Deaf dogs can be effectively trained using hand signals and flashlights instead of verbal cues. By using a flashlight to grab a deaf dog's attention and then marking desired behavior with consistent signals, training can be successful. The approach to training a deaf dog is similar to teaching a child, focusing on behavior without complex language tasks.
Emotions Transferred to Dogs in Training and Service Dog Selection
Dogs can sense and react to human emotions, making them suitable companions for individuals with PTSD. However, dogs raised in environments with consistent stress may face challenges in service roles. Selecting dogs with lower reactivity and high socialization levels is crucial for effective service dog placement.
Prey Drive and Bite Force Training in Working Dogs
Working dogs require varying levels of prey drive based on their intended roles. High prey drive is essential for police and military dogs, while personal protection dogs benefit from a balance of drive. Training bite behavior involves reinforcing the struggle reward and teaching dogs to target specific body areas to mitigate potential risks and ensure controlled responses.
Impact of Bite Force and Targeting Training on Dog Behavior
Dogs trained in bite work exhibit varying bite force levels, causing significant damage without appropriate handling. Targeting training helps dogs focus on specific body areas during apprehensions, enhancing control and effectiveness. Understanding how dogs respond to human movements and behaviors informs targeted training methods for superior results in real-world scenarios.
Handling and Training Dogs in High-Stress Situations
In high-stress situations, dogs may exhibit extreme bite force and target vulnerable body areas. Targeted training of dogs aims to direct their responses in controlled ways, emphasizing specific body targets for apprehensions. Proper training helps minimize risks of uncontrolled bites and ensures effective use of force in various tactical scenarios.
Signs of Trauma in Working Dogs
Working dogs can exhibit signs of severe trauma from their experiences in the field. They may show aggressive behavior due to their training and exposure to violent situations. The recovery process for these dogs involves desensitization to trigger stimuli such as gunfire through gradual exposure and positive reinforcement. The goal is to rewrite their negative associations with positive experiences.
Impact of Combat on Working Dogs
Working dogs can become addicted to the action and adrenaline of combat scenarios after repeated exposure. Increased bite counts can lead to heightened confidence and potentially make them more challenging to handle. Despite speculation, there is no evidence that dogs develop a taste for blood; their drive stems from genetics and training. Handlers must carefully manage these behaviors and experiences to ensure the well-being and adaptability of the dogs after retirement.
In part 2 of Vigilance Elite's "Shawn Ryan Show" #005 with Mike Ritland we discuss some of his methods as a top tier K9 dog trainer working with military, police, and many other government agencies. We go into great detail about the psychology and mindset of the warrior dogs and the toll that a deployment full of combat has on the dogs as they return home from war. Mike opens up about his non-profit "The Warrior Dog Foundation" which rehabilitates and gives dogs coming back from war a home they can be comfortable in.
