Sheriff’s K9 units train like a SEAL
K9 training with Trikos International Kennel Master Carlos Ramirez, Deputy Sheriff Josh Peet his K9 team mate DJ (a shelter rescue) and Trikos International Owner and Lead Trainer Mike Ritland.
K9 units trained by Naval Special Warfare Trainer Mike Ritland in Paso Robles
–Members of the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office and the Santa Barbara Police Department K9 units undertook a three day training course from Apr. 20-22 by US Navy SEAL Mike Ritland, whose company Trikos International specializes in the training and provision of private protection K9’s to government agencies.
Ritland served 12 years as a Navy SEAL in Operation Iraqi Freedom as the Naval Special Warfare Multi Purpose Canine Trainer. After his service he began Trikos International, he has over 18 years experience in importing, breeding, raising, and training multiple breeds of working dogs. He is the author of three New York Times Best Selling books: Trident K9 Warriors, Navy SEAL Dogs and TEAM Dog.
The customized training course held at the former Paso Robles Youth Correctional Facility on Airport Road, focused on emboldening handlers through training to get a higher level of tracking and basic training through dog imprinting and a reward system. Ritland said his training philosophy was about building on the foundation between the dog and the handler. “There has to be a level of trust and respect and our focus is heavily on the bond,” he said. “We do this by positive reinforcement, the principle is the same as training a goldendoodle to stay off the couch as it is with K9 training it is about relying on successful repetition and reward for a job well done.”
Trikos International’s Mike Ritland explains his perspective on K9 training to members of the San Luis Obispo Sheriffs Department and Santa Barbara Police Department K9 units.
San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office Senior Deputy Al Barger, who was the first one in the sheriff’s office to have a K9, said they had six dogs in the K9 unit in San Luis Obispo, four multi-purpose dogs and and two narcotic detection dogs; they have had multi-purpose dogs for over four years and narcotic detection dogs since 2010. “The multi-purpose dogs are used to track and apprehend suspects, search for missing persons, suspects and narcotics,” he said. “The two dogs who are single purpose narcotic detection are trained to locate cocaine, methamphetamine, heroine, opium and marijuana.”
Ritland said that multi-purpose dogs are more difficult to train with the added components. “It requires ingenuity to train the dogs and switch between drives,” he said “Dogs have the ability to go where we aren’t able to, the dogs can be sometimes in danger but as opposed to humans they have stealth and speed…The immeasurable amount of good work the dogs have done has saved countless lives.”
Barger said the dogs have a dual role as a deputy in their own right and as a back up to human deputies. “Our dogs are assigned to a patrol division, as a team member and are a force multiplier which means they handle patrol like other deputies and they also provide backup for deputies during dangerous situations,” he said. “For example if they go to a house or business that has had a break-in, the deputy will secure and the K9 will do a search for possible suspects inside…The situation is a lot safer for the dog to go through than the deputy and our dogs are very important for our deputies’ safety.”
“The training was really good, and as tracking is a priority of the sheriff’s department the different perspective and a new approach means we are able to become more successful in our tracking operation,” he said “The training we are receiving is top notch, it has been beneficial to have both Mike and Carlos out from Texas and we couldn’t ask for better training.”
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