• Members
  • Blog
    • News
    • Daily SGPT Content
    • YOUTUBE
    • Event Hub
      • SOF Prep Academy
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
    • Gear Reviews
    • Supplements
  • Military
    • GoRuck
  • Gear
  • Fitness
    • Training Tips
    • workout
    • Sports
    • SEALFIT
    • Mental Training
  • Store
    • Books
    • Military Gear
    • Discounts
  • ABOUT
  • Home
  • Online Training
    • 180 Day Program
    • 90 Day Strength
    • 30 Day Bodyweight
    • FreakFrogMan BUD/s Prep
  • SOF Prep Academy
  • Members
    • Coaching
  • Online Store
    • Audio Downloads
    • Books
You are here: Home / Blog / Daily SGPT Content / US Navy SEAL Dogs

US Navy SEAL Dogs

May 9, 2017 by Brad 1 Comment

navy seals, navy seal dogs, military dogsA man’s best friend is also a Navy SEAL’s best friend. SEAL teams have often utilized animals from Dolphins to K9’s. Most canines used by the elite special forces branch are Belgian Malinois. A slightly smaller, lighter and faster cousin of the German Shepard. Both dogs have high intelligence.

While German Shepherds are still used in military units, the Belgian Malinois is much easier to take on missions because of their size, allowing Navy SEALs to carry them everywhere.

SEAL Dogs will also skydive on a mission. Their handler will strap the SEAL dog to their chest or let them fly solo.

navy seals, navy seal dogs, military dogs

Like their human counterparts, the dog SEALs are highly trained, highly skilled, highly motivated special ops experts, able to perform extraordinary military missions by Sea, Air and Land (thus the acronym).

The dogs carry out a wide range of specialized duties for the military teams to which they are attached.

With a sense of smell 40 times greater than a human’s, the dogs are trained to detect and identify both explosive material and hostile or hiding humans.

navy seals, navy seal dogs, military dogs

SEAL Dogs can be equipped with Video Cameras and other recording devices. They small size and skill sets combined with senses allow them to reach areas SEALs can’t on missions.

Like human SEALS, the training the dogs go through is intensive and arduous; only 1% of dog candidates graduate. They must learn how to ignore their instincts and follow the orders of their handlers. There must be a complete sense of trust between the two.

navy seals, navy seal dogs, military dogs

Training between the handler and the dog can be upwards of 15 hours a day. Some of the abilities the dogs must have are:

  • Swimming a distance that takes them to where they can no longer see the shore.
  • Being comfortable around gunfire
  • Showing they are mentally capable of their job (yes; just like the human SEALS, the dogs must have a high level of mental toughness and psychological stability)
  • Navigating through combat environments
  • Being comfortable jumping out of planes for a mission—either on their own, or strapped to the chest of their handler

Just as the Navy SEALS and other elite special forces are the sharp point of the American military machine, so too are their dogs at the top of a canine military hierarchy. In all, the U.S. military currently has about 2,800 active-duty dogs deployed around the world.

Sources:

NavySEALs.com, Dogs of the Navy SEALS

Buisiness Insider, Why the Dogs Of the Navy Seals Are a Force To Be Reckoned With, Jeremy Bender

Question: What is a good book about these type of special dogs?

Answer: We like the book Navy SEAL Dogs: My Tale of Training Canines for Combat by Mike Ritland.

Question: Where can I find out more information about joining the Navy SEAL teams?

Answer: Check out the SEAL/SWCC main website.

 

Related Articles:

Navy SEAL Dog Missions and Training

Taliban Tries to Ambush SEALs; Instead, They Get a Furry Surprise

Somali Pirates vs American Contractors

Comments

  1. Ronald Wyncott says

    May 10, 2017 at 1:17 pm

    I have read MIke’s book and it is fantastic. Both he and the dogs are true warriors and deserve all the Hooyahs!!!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  • Google Plus
  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • Email
  • RSS Feed
Seal Fit Stack
The Top 10 Navy SEAL Workouts Book

Get The Top 10 Navy SEAL Specific
Workouts FREE From Former
Navy SEAL Brad McLeod

SGPT Upcoming Events



Freak Frog Training, Montana

Google+

Personal Online Coaching

Work 1-on-1
with SEAL Grinder's Brad McLeod
To Achieve Your Goals

pic of brad

Personal fitness training from Brad McLeod, Navy Seal and CrossFit Level 1 instructor. Delivered online, directly to you.

"I recommend Brad to anyone that seriously wants to go to BUDs or anything else in life... try these workouts. Hooyah!" - Chris H.

learn more button
SGPT
Grinder Strength Pull Ups
Fight To Win Phone
Supplement
Rise Up!

SGPT T-shirts + Hoodies

SGPT Tshirts On Sale $19.99
Go To Top
SEALgrinderPT, LLC. © Copyright 2009 - 2019 . All rights reserved. Phone: 404-906-0726 | 275 Stone Mill Trail, Sandy Springs GA 30328. [email protected] | Privacy Policy