Dog Works Radio
by Dog Works Radio® | DogWorksRadio.com
Dog training experts and best-selling authors Dr. Robert and Michele Forto (A Musher's Dream) take the listener into the scruffy, curious, and sometimes heroic world of dogs. What does it mean to "own" a dog? Can dogs teach us compassion? How do dogs learn? What are your breed's origins, and what were they bred to do? Dog Works Radio is an award-winning podcast that offers a delightful and surprising look at the relationship we have with our canine companions.Popular Podcast Guests Include: Dr. Erica Boling, Sophie Barton, Samantha Spoto, Dorothy Wills-Rafterty, Jennifer Holland, Jared Easley, Mark Connolly, Marc Goldberg, Doug Mader, Suzanne Elshult, and more. Popular Podcast Topics Include: Dog training fundamentals, puppy training and early foundations, dog behavior problems and solutions, positive reinforcement and motivation, timing, consistency and training mechanics, management and preventing bad habits, service dogs and therapy dogs, canine nutrition and health, real-world
Episodes
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Sam's Story: What It Really Takes to Train a Service Dog
What does it really take to prepare a service dog for a life of travel, independence, and supporting someone with medical and mobility needs? On this episode of Dog Works Radio, Nicole Forto introduces us to Sam, a Labrador Retriever with a unique training journey. Unlike many service dogs, Sam…
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Turkey Day Prep: Getting Your Dog Ready for the Big Meal | Dog Works Radio
Thanksgiving is Thursday, November 26, not this weekend. Michele Forto of Alaska Dog Works walks through a simple plan to keep your dog safe and calm while the kitchen fills with turkey. Choose one place (crate, closed room, or mat) and tell every adult. Practice leave it with kibble (not…
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Flying Puppies in Cargo: Airline Rules, Hotels, Rental Cars & Airport Timing (Maine to Alaska)
Michele Forto breaks down the actual logistics of bringing two very different 8-week-old puppies home from New England to Alaska: Skoll (Seppala Siberian) and Durin (German Shepherd). You'll hear the non-negotiables (health certificates within 10 days, crate size rules, Alaska Airlines...
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Can You Take Your Dog to the Polling Place? Election Day Rules for Dog Owners
Election Day is here. Michele Forto of Alaska Dog Works keeps it non-political and practical: most polling places do not allow family dogs inside. The only exception is trained service dogs protected by the ADA. She explains why the "I Voted" sticker photos usually show dogs outside or actual...
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Is my dog anxious or frustrated? | Dog Works Radio
Your dog barks at everything, pulls toward other dogs, and loses it when something exciting happens. Is it anxiety, or has your dog never been taught how to handle frustration and stimulation? Nicole Forto breaks down the difference on The Daily Dog. Key show-notes points: Behavior is…
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The First Week With a New Puppy: What Nobody Tells You
Bringing home a new puppy is exciting, but what happens when the cute photos give way to sleepless nights, potty accidents, constant supervision, and a puppy who seems determined to bite everything in sight? In this episode of Dog Works Radio: The Daily Dog, host Nicole Forto welcomes Michele…
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What Makes a Professional Dog Trainer? Joe Dickinson of Western States K9 College
In this episode of Dog Works Radio, host Robert Forto sits down with Joe Dickinson, founder and dog trainer at Western States K9 College in Ogden, Utah. Joe specializes in custom in-home behavior modification for pet dogs and also runs a federally approved certification program that teaches...
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Why Training Beyond the Backyard Matters
Many owners spend hours teaching sit, stay, and come in a quiet room, then watch the whole thing fall apart the moment the sidewalk, the bike, or the farmers market appears. On Dog Works Radio, Robert and Michele Forto explain why the real test of training is not the backyard; it is the…
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Give your dog a job before the doorbell rings
Your dog doesn't need to greet everyone who knocks. On The Daily Dog, Nicole Forto walks through threshold manners—the door, the doorbell, and the routine that keeps the dog out of the chaos before Halloween visitors arrive. Yelling "no" while the dog loses its mind at the front door is not a...
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Iseult: A Dual Purpose Sled Dog and Therapy Companion
Iseult is a Seppala Siberian husky who does not live in one box. On The Daily Dog, Nicole Forto tells the story of a calm sled-dog leader who also visits elementary schools, races campers, bikejores, and keeps the mouse patrol on high alert. Iseult was raised by dog trainers who work with therapy...
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Why One Dog Always Seems to Be the Problem
Your dogs mostly get along, until one of them ends up with stitches. On Dog Works Radio, Michele Forto explains why the dog who "starts it" is usually responding to a quiet signal the other dogs have been sending for days. If you have more than one dog and you keep thinking, "If we just fixed…
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Before the Streets Are an Ice Rink
Leash pulling is one of the top issues families already try to fix with new harnesses, YouTube videos, and classes. On Dog Works Radio, Robert and Michele Forto explain why a dog that walks perfectly for twenty minutes indoors falls apart on the Coastal Trail or in a Wasilla parking lot, and why...
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Your Dog Isn't Disrespecting You
Your dog is not plotting against you. On this episode of The Daily Dog, Nicole Forto draws the line most owners miss: understanding a behavior is not the same as tolerating it. Jumping, leash pulling, counter surfing, and a stolen sock are not revenge. They are patterns that paid off. Nicole…
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What Is a Dog Training Strategy Call and Should You Book One?
You know something needs to change with your dog. Maybe walks have become a wrestling match, guests get jumped on at the door, or your dog knows "come" until something more interesting appears. But what actually happens when you contact a professional dog trainer? In this episode of Dog Works...
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How to Train a Dog That Seems Untrainable
What do you do with a dog that seems completely untrainable? You give a command and get nothing. You offer treats, and the dog does not care. Toys do not work. Praise does not work. Eventually, you start wondering whether the dog simply cannot be trained. In this episode of Dog Works Radio…
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What Breaks If the Founder Leaves for 30 Days | Family Dog Training Businesses
If the person whose name is on the van disappeared for thirty days, what would actually break at your shop? Not the website. The eval. The hard dog. The refund. Saturday. Michele Forto is solo on this episode of Dog Works Radio. She talks to owners of family-run dog training businesses in rural…
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From Police K9s to Support Dogs with Dr. Coby Webb
What happens when decades of law enforcement experience, a career working with police K9s, and an interest in officer wellness come together? On this episode of Dog Works Radio, Robert Forto talks with Dr. Coby Webb, a retired captain with the Riverside County Sheriff's Department who spent much…
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Why Your Dog Listens in Class but Not in Real Life
Your dog sits perfectly in class, walks nicely when the trainer is nearby, and seems to know exactly what you want. Then you get home and everything falls apart. That does not necessarily mean your dog forgot the training. It may mean the training was never built to survive real life. In this...
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The 3 Keys to a Well-Trained Dog | What Actually Creates Reliability
This episode covers dog training fundamentals and how to train a dog so you end up with a reliable dog, not just a dog that sits in the kitchen. Michele Forto shares the dog training philosophy Alaska Dog Works uses after 30+ years: clear communication, structure, and follow-through. If your dog...
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Is My Dog Reactive or Aggressive?
Join host Nicole Forto as she discusses a common question: Is my dog reactive or aggressive? on this episode of One Minute Dog Training Tips on Dog Works Radio Other Episodes You Will Love · How to Get the Best Results out of Dog Training Support the Show This episode was recorded on the Shure…
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Don't Sell Your Soul to Social Media
Dr. Robert Forto just left the stage at Podcast Movement in New York. The session: Don't Sell Your Soul to Social Media. Michele Forto brings the talk home. Podcasters were told to post more, clip more, and feed the algorithm. That builds a business on rented land. When an account is restricted,...
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Dogs, Animal TV, and the Stories Behind the Camera with Rick Dowlearn
What really happens behind the scenes of some of television's most popular animal shows? On this episode of Dog Works Radio, Robert Forto sits down with television producer and showrunner Rick Dowlearn, whose career has taken him into veterinary clinics, wildlife facilities, remote communities…
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Lead Dog Access Program: Foundation Training for Independence
On this episode we open with a Foundation announcement that belongs on Dog Works Radio: partnership, training, and helping people live more independently with their dogs. The Team and Trail Foundation is now accepting applications for the Lead Dog Access Program. This is a Foundation program, not…
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The Dogs of 9-11
On September 11, 2001, hundreds of working dogs and their handlers answered the call. They searched through twisted steel and concrete, guided people out of the World Trade Center, recovered those who were lost, and offered comfort to firefighters and recovery workers during one of the darkest...
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Stop Leash Pulling: Dog Training That Actually Works in Alaska
If walking your dog feels more like being towed down the trail, the problem probably is not your leash, collar, or lack of exercise. It is the way your dog has learned the walk. In this episode of Dog Works Radio, Michele Forto from Alaska Dog Works explains why dogs pull, how owners accidentally...
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Will Training Take Away My Dog's Personailty?
Join host Michele Forto on this case study about training and your dog's personality, on this episode of The Daily Dog on Dog Works Radio Other Episodes You Will Love · How to Get the Best Results out of Dog Training Support the Show This episode was recorded on the Shure SM7B and a Rodecaster…
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Why is my dog reactive off leash? | Dog Works Radio
Join host Michele Forto as she discusses why is my dog reactive off leash? on this episode of One Minute Dog Training Tips on Dog Works Radio Other Episodes You Will Love · How to Get the Best Results out of Dog Training Support the Show This episode was recorded on the Shure SM7B and a…
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Black and Tan Coonhound | The Daily Dog
Join host Michele Forto as she profiles the Black and Tan Coonhound on this episode of The Daily Dog on Dog Works Radio Other Episodes You Will Love · How to Get the Best Results out of Dog Training Support the Show This episode was recorded on the Shure SM7B and a Rodecaster Pro II Like this...
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Service Dog Training in Alaska: What It Really Takes
Service dog training is about much more than putting a vest on a dog and teaching basic obedience. A reliable service dog must have the right temperament, learn specific disability-related tasks, demonstrate strong public-access behavior, and continue performing consistently in the real world. In...
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Your Dog Is the Doctor: How Dogs Improve Your Health with Dr. Dan Guirguis
Other Episodes You Will Love · How to Get the Best Results out of Dog Training Support the Show This episode was recorded on the Shure SM7B and a Rodecaster Pro II Like this episode? Share it with your dog training friends! Love this episode? Say thanks in true dog training podcasting style by...
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Hearing Support Dogs in Alaska: Why We Start with the Handler and the Right Puppy From Day One
Join host Michele Forto on this case study about, Hearing Support Dogs in Alaska: Why We Start with the Handler and the Right Puppy From Day One, on this episode of The Daily Dog on Dog Works Radio Other Episodes You Will Love · How to Get the Best Results out of Dog Training Support the Show…
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Will dog training change my dog?
Join host Nicole Forto on this case study about training and your dog's personality on this episode of One Minute Dog Training Tips on Dog Works Radio Other Episodes You Will Love · How to Get the Best Results out of Dog Training Support the Show This episode was recorded on the Shure SM7B and a...
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English Foxhound | The Daily Dog
Join host Michele Forto as she profiles the English Foxhound on this episode of The Daily Dog on Dog Works Radio Other Episodes You Will Love · How to Get the Best Results out of Dog Training Support the Show This episode was recorded on the Shure SM7B and a Rodecaster Pro II Like this episode?...
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The Taylor Swift Effect: Is a Samoyed the Right Dog for You?
Taylor Swift may be famous for being a cat person, but photos of Travis Kelce traveling with a fluffy white Samoyed puppy have people talking. Could celebrity influence suddenly make the Samoyed one of the next must-have dog breeds? In this episode of Dog Works Radio, Michele Forto looks beyond…
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When a Free Service Dog Costs You Three Years
Join host Michele Forto on this case study about When a "Free" Service Dog Costs You Three Years on this episode of The Daily Dog on Dog Works Radio Other Episodes You Will Love · How to Get the Best Results out of Dog Training Support the Show This episode was recorded on the Shure SM7B and a...
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Back to School Safety and Dog Training
Join host Michele Forto of Alaska Dog Works as she talks about back-to-school safety and dog training on this episode of Dog Works Radio. Other Episodes You Will Love · How to Get the Best Results out of Dog Training Support the Show This episode was recorded on the Shure SM7B and a Rodecaster…
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The After School Rush and Dog Training
Join host Michele Forto of Alaska Dog Works as she talks about after-school activities with kids and dogs on this episode of Dog Works Radio. Other Episodes You Will Love · How to Get the Best Results out of Dog Training Support the Show This episode was recorded on the Shure SM7B and a…
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The Kids Are Going Back to School. Is Your Dog Ready?
Join host Michele Forto of Alaska Dog Works as she talks about making sure your dog is ready when your kids head back to school on this episode of Dog Works Radio. Other Episodes You Will Love · How to Get the Best Results out of Dog Training Support the Show This episode was recorded on the…
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The Power of Structure and GSD Mixes | The Daily Dog
Join host Michele Forto as she presents a case study on the power of structure and GSD mixes on this episode of The Daily Dog on Dog Works Radio Other Episodes You Will Love · How to Get the Best Results out of Dog Training Support the Show This episode was recorded on the Shure SM7B and a...
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The American Hairless Terrier | The Daily Dog
Join host Michele Forto as she profiles the American Hairless Terrier on this episode of The Daily Dog on Dog Works Radio Other Episodes You Will Love · How to Get the Best Results out of Dog Training Support the Show This episode was recorded on the Shure SM7B and a Rodecaster Pro II Like this...
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Why Your Dog Listens at Home but Ignores You Outside
Your dog sits perfectly in the kitchen, comes when called across the living room, and seems to know exactly what you are asking. Then you walk outside, and suddenly it feels like all that training disappeared. In this episode of Dog Works Radio, Michele Forto explains why your dog probably has…
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Starting Service Dog Training in Alaska
Join Michele Forto as she presents a case study: Starting Service Dog Training in Alaska, on Dog Works Radio Other Episodes You Will Love · Zombie Dogs Support the Show This episode was recorded on the Shure SM7B and a Rodecaster Pro II Like this episode? Share it with your dog training friends!...
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The Beauceron | The Daily Dog
Join host Michele Forto as she profiles the Beauceron on this episode of The Daily Dog on Dog Works Radio Other Episodes You Will Love · How to Get the Best Results out of Dog Training Support the Show This episode was recorded on the Shure SM7B and a Rodecaster Pro II Like this episode? Share it...
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Why Does My Dog Follow Me Everywhere? What Your Dog Is Really Telling You
Have you ever wondered why your dog follows you everywhere, from the kitchen to the bedroom and sometimes even the bathroom? You are definitely not alone. The so-called "Velcro dog" is something many dog owners know very well, but there is more behind this behavior than simple affection. In this...
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The Bulldog | The Daily Dog
Join host Michele Forto as she profiles the Bulldog on this episode of The Daily Dog on Dog Works Radio Other Episodes You Will Love · How to Get the Best Results out of Dog Training Support the Show This episode was recorded on the Shure SM7B and a Rodecaster Pro II Like this episode? Share it...
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Military Family Dog Training
Join Michele Forto as she presents a case study: Military Family Dog Training on Dog Works Radio Other Episodes You Will Love · How to Get the Best Results out of Dog Training Support the Show This episode was recorded on the Shure SM7B and a Rodecaster Pro II Like this episode? Share it with…
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How Dog Trainers Can Effectively Use AI
Other Episodes You Will Love · How to Get the Best Results out of Dog Training Support the Show This episode was recorded on the Shure SM7B and a Rodecaster Pro II Like this episode? Share it with your dog training friends! Love this episode? Say thanks in true dog training podcasting style by...
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The Superpowers Your Dog Already Has (And How Understanding Them Makes You a Better Trainer)
Have you ever wondered if your dog has superpowers? In this episode of Dog Works Radio, Michele Forto explores the incredible natural abilities that make dogs one of the most remarkable animals on the planet. From their extraordinary sense of smell and incredible hearing to their ability to read...
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Wirehaired Vizsla | The Daily Dog
Join host Michele Forto as she profiles the Wirehaired Vizsla on this episode of The Daily Dog on Dog Works Radio Other Episodes You Will Love · How to Get the Best Results out of Dog Training Support the Show This episode was recorded on the Shure SM7B and a Rodecaster Pro II Like this episode?...
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Why Herding Training is Tough in Alaska: And What You Can Do Instead
Join host Michele Forto as she presents a case study: Why Herding Training Is Tough in Alaska: And What You Can Do Instead Other Episodes You Will Love · Zombie Dogs Support the Show This episode was recorded on the Shure SM7B and a Rodecaster Pro II Like this episode? Share it with your dog...
About this show
Dog training experts and best-selling authors Dr. Robert and Michele Forto (A Musher's Dream) take the listener into the scruffy, curious, and sometimes heroic world of dogs. What does it mean to "own" a dog? Can dogs teach us compassion? How do dogs learn? What are your breed's origins, and what were they bred to do? Dog Works Radio is an award-winning podcast that offers a delightful and surprising look at the relationship we have with our canine companions.Popular Podcast Guests Include: Dr. Erica Boling, Sophie Barton, Samantha Spoto, Dorothy Wills-Rafterty, Jennifer Holland, Jared Easley, Mark Connolly, Marc Goldberg, Doug Mader, Suzanne Elshult, and more. Popular Podcast Topics Include: Dog training fundamentals, puppy training and early foundations, dog behavior problems and solutions, positive reinforcement and motivation, timing, consistency and training mechanics, management and preventing bad habits, service dogs and therapy dogs, canine nutrition and health, real-world
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Dog Works Radio® | DogWorksRadio.com