Mike Ritland > Quotes

“We’ve clearly placed form over function when it comes to choosing dogs for the home. Maybe this is because we are such a visual species ourselves, but I think it’s a shame, and some breeds are being ruined because of this tendency to stress how they look over what they can do. Bulldogs, more commonly known as English bulldogs, are a prime example of this overemphasis on physical appearance, particularly within so-called purebred dogs. Among the laundry list of physical ailments that English bulldogs suffer from—eye and ear problems, skin infections, respiratory ailments, immune system and neurological disorders, and problems with moving, eating/digesting, copulating, and bearing puppies—many are attributable to breeding practices to produce dogs with what are considered desirable physical traits.”
― Mike Ritland, Team Dog: How to Train Your Dog--the Navy SEAL Way

“The bottom line is that if your dog isn’t doing what he is supposed to or what you want him to, it’s not the dog’s fault. It’s YOUR fault, for not properly communicating to him what you need him to do, not spending the time needed to train him properly, or not being observant enough to recognize early on when and how your relationship may be out of balance.”
― Mike Ritland, Team Dog: How to Train Your Dog--the Navy SEAL Way

“Look for the intelligence behind the mistake.”
― Mike Ritland, Team Dog: How to Train Your Dog--the Navy SEAL Way

“Let’s say you’ve worked with your dog to go to his bed or some other area of the house after greeting company. Reward the dog by going over to him and offering a few simple words of praise. More important, get down on his level, pet him, and spend a few seconds with him. I’m frequently surprised by how seldom some owners interact with their dogs on the dog’s level—not acting like a dog, but physically moving into the space the dog occupies. Once you have a good relationship with that dog, doing so is a reward.”
― Mike Ritland, Team Dog: How to Train Your Dog--the Navy SEAL Way

“Because of that lack of stimulation, a result of most dogs being alone for much of the day and allowed to express their natural behaviors only briefly, “many cattle have better lives than some of the pampered pets.” That’s a provocative statement, but I think it is one we should all keep in mind in assessing our expectations when considering bringing a dog into our lives.”
― Mike Ritland, Team Dog: How to Train Your Dog--the Navy SEAL Way

“Alexandra”
― Mike Ritland, Team Dog: How to Train Your Dog--the Navy SEAL Way