Mike Ritland is a former Navy SEAL and K9 trainer, three-time New York Times bestselling author, and speaker. He hosts the raw, unfiltered, and wildly entertaining hit podcast Mike Drop. Ritland spent 12 years as a US Navy SEAL, where he saw action in Operation IRAQI Freedom and the single largest mission in Special Operations history. Ritland served as the lead trainer for Navy SEAL K9 Program for their west coast operations.
In 2008, after leaving the Navy, drawing from his experience as a SEAL and his extensive knowledge gained from working with these elite canines, Ritland founded Trikos International, which has grown into a global brand providing private protection K9s for celebrities, private individuals, and working K9’s to government agencies. Showcasing his proven commitment to excellence, Trikos quickly gained recognition and secured government contracts with entities such as DHS, DOD, TSA, and Customs and Border Protection. In 2010, Ritland and Trikos were entrusted with training the West Coast SEAL Multi-Purpose Canines. With his unique approach, Ritland has trained thousands of working dogs for real-world applications and has sourced Tier 1 dogs used in anti-terrorist operations and various law enforcement agencies. Trikos has evolved into a distinguished dog training and procurement firm that provides highly-skilled and trained protection dogs to diverse clientele, including celebrities, high net-worth estates, and government agencies.
The founder and heart behind The Warrior Dog Foundation, Ritland recognized the need and had the vision to create an organization with the capability, capacity and willingness to care for our country’s retired working K9’s. The Warrior Dog Foundation exists to provide the highest level of retirement care to working dogs who have dedicated their lives to serving our country and communities. These heroes have endured intense situations, saved lives, and protected our service members and our freedoms. Yet like many human veterans, they return home with physical and mental injuries. Because these special dogs may have a bite history, aggression, and other traits that render them unadoptable, they are often euthanized. WDF provides mental and physical rehabilitation to these four-legged veterans so they can be adopted; if this is not possible, they are cared for by WDF for the rest of their lives.
The Mike Drop podcast, launched in 2018, features in-depth interviews with military veterans, first responders, and experts from various fields. Topics range from personal stories of heroism and resilience to discussions on dog training, tactical gear, and current events. The podcast has been praised for its candid, no-nonsense style and its ability to delve deeply into the experiences and insights of its guests. Filled with intellectually sound and intuitive dialogues from guests that know what the hell they are talking about. Mike Drop tolerates absolutely zero bullshit and does not give a shit about your feelings. A wildly entertaining podcast of wide-ranging topics, hear first-hand from the heroes that movies are made from.
Ritland has been featured in The Washington Post, HuffPost, the New York Post, and Men's Journal and has been interviewed by dozens of shows and affiliates, including 60 Minutes, ABC, CBS, C-SPAN, Fox News, NBC, and PBS. He is also the founder of Team Dog Online Training, and Team Dog dog food, treats and supplements.
