Before there was Max, there was Mike. A true story much like the touching movie, Navy SEAL Dogs explores the incomparable relationship between trainer and military dog. From the author of Team Dog, Trident K9 Warriors gave readers an inside look at the Navy SEAL teams' elite K9 warriors-who they are, how they are trained, and the extreme missions they undertake to save lives. From detecting explosives to eliminating the bad guys, these powerful dogs are also some of the smartest and highest skilled working animals on the planet. Mike Ritland's job is to train them. This special edition re-telling presents the dramatic tale of how Ritland discovered his passion and grew up to become the trainer of the nation's most elite military working dogs. Ritland was a smaller-than-average kid who was often picked-on at school-which led him to spend more time with dogs at a young age. After graduating BUD/S training-the toughest military training in the world-to become a SEAL, he was on combat deployment in Iraq when he saw a military working dog in action and instantly knew he'd found his true calling. Ritland started his own company to train and supply working and protection dogs for the U.S. Government, 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. Navy SEAL Dogs is the true story of how Mike Ritland grew from a skinny, bullied child, to a member of our nation's most elite SEAL Teams, to the trainer of the world's most highly skilled K9 warriors.

"Originally published in the United States by Feiwel and Friends" -- Title page verso

An insider's account of the world of elite Navy SEAL military canines traces the author's international search for eligible dog combat unit candidates with whom SEAL handlers eventually forged close bonds and saved countless lives.

The thrilling and inspiring story of a U.S. Marine and his dog Rex, a bomb sniffing German Shepard, who forged a bond of trust and loyalty while serving on the war-torn streets of Iraq's most dangerous city. Called "a deeply affecting tale of courage and devotion in the cauldron of war" by Publishers Weekly, Sergeant Mike Dowling's heart-pounding account of an unbreakable bond between man and dog takes us into the searing 130-degree heat, the choking dust, and the ever-present threat of violent attack in Iraq's infamous Triangle of Death. In 2004, Dowling and his military working dog Rex were part of the first Marine Corps military K9 teams sent to the front lines of combat since Vietnam. It was Rex's job to sniff out weapons caches, suicide bombers, and IEDs, the devastating explosives that wreaked havoc on troops and civilians. It was Mike's job to lead Rex into the heart of danger. An extraordinary chronicle of loyalty in the face of terrible adversity, Sergeant Rex is an unforgettable story of sacrifice, courage, and love.

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Sample Book Insights: #1 The truth is, SEALs are not superheroes. They come from all walks of life and from all parts of the country. They are expected to be physically fit, mentally strong, psychologically resilient, smart, and ferociously devoted to the cause. #2 I wanted to be a Navy SEAL when I was young. I couldn’t explain why, but I felt that joining the military would give me access to girls. I wasn’t particularly athletic or skilled in sports, so I didn’t have the background required to join the military. #3 I grew up in a trailer park, and I never felt sorry for myself because I knew I had less than many other kids at school. I was a self-sufficient kid who knew how to work hard. I was proud that I didn’t ask my parents for things they couldn’t afford. #4 Working for my father was not the best experience of my life, but I did not let it affect my performance on the job. I was terrified of heights, but I had to conquer a significant level of fear to do the job well.

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Book Preview: #1 The truth is, SEALs are not superheroes. They come from all walks of life and from all parts of the country. They are expected to be physically fit, mentally strong, psychologically resilient, smart, and ferociously devoted to the cause. #2 I wanted to be a Navy SEAL when I was young. I couldn’t explain why, but I felt that joining the military would give me access to girls. I wasn’t particularly athletic or skilled in sports, so I didn’t have the background required to join the military. #3 I grew up in a trailer park, and I never felt sorry for myself because I knew I had less than many other kids at school. I was a selfsufficient kid who knew how to work hard. I was proud that I didn’t ask my parents for things they couldn’t afford. #4 Working for my father was not the best experience of my life, but I did not let it affect my performance on the job. I was terrified of heights, but I had to conquer a significant level of fear to do the job well.

THE INSTANT NATIONAL BESTSELLER No Ordinary Dog is the powerful true story of a SEAL Team Operator and military dog handler, and the dog that saved his life. Two dozen Navy SEALs descended on Osama bin Laden’s compound in May 2011. After the mission, only one name was made public: Cairo, a Belgian Malinois and military working dog. This is Cairo's story, and that of his handler, Will Chesney, a SEAL Team Operator whose life would be irrevocably tied to Cairo's. Starting in 2008, when Will was introduced to the SEAL canine program, he and Cairo worked side by side, depending on each other for survival on hundreds of critical operations in the war on terrorism. But their bond transcended their service. Then, in 2011, the call came: Pick up your dog and get back to Virginia. Now. What followed were several weeks of training for a secret mission. It soon became clear that this was no ordinary operation. Cairo was among the first members of the U.S. military on the ground in Pakistan as part of Operation Neptune Spear, which resulted in the successful elimination of bin Laden. As Cairo settled into a role as a reliable “spare dog,” Will went back to his job as a DEVGRU operator, until a grenade blast in 2013 left him with a brain injury and PTSD. Unable to participate in further missions, he suffered from crippling migraines, chronic pain, memory issues, and depression. Modern medicine provided only modest relief. Instead, it was up to Cairo to save Will's life once more—and then up to Will to be there when Cairo needed him the most.