What happened in this episode?
Mike Ritland interviews a DEVGRU operator about selection, training, and the practicalities of integrating working dogs into special operations. The guest describes screening and the initial training phase after being accepted as “another BUD/S for team guys”, arguing that instructors assume candidates will not quit and therefore grade largely on performance under stress; he estimates attrition at about 50% and says his own “close calls” centred on parachuting and the unpredictability of instructor assessment.
A larger portion of the episode focuses on how dogs are introduced to non-handlers within a squadron. The guest says new personnel are deliberately exposed early, repeatedly clearing buildings with muzzled dogs before progressing, to ensure the dog becomes an asset rather than a distraction. Ritland contrasts this with part-time police tactical units, where infrequent training and unfamiliar team members can hinder canine integration.
The guest also discusses canine training doctrine, saying dogs often arrive trained for a police-style “bark and hold” but are retrained for direct engagement in assault operations because barking can invite enemy fire. He recounts the loss of a dog, Falco, during a mission in which the dog found two men hiding in a ditch and was shot; he believes Falco’s action prevented a teammate being shot or killed, while noting he learned the patrol details second-hand. The conversation closes with a practical explanation of reading “change of behaviour” cues from a dog’s body language when it detects odour.
