Dog Works Radio® | Dog Training, Puppy Training, Dog Behavior & Service Dogs

Dog Works Radio® | DogWorksRadio.com
  • 4.9 (47)
  • Pets & Animals
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Dog Works Radio is a dog training podcast for dog owners who want real-world results, better behavior, and a stronger relationship with their dogs. In every episode, professional dog trainers Dr. Robert and Michele Forto break down the dog training advice, behavior challenges, and canine myths that confuse most owners and show you what actually works in everyday life with dogs. Whether you are raising a new puppy, struggling with leash pulling, dealing with barking or reactivity, training a service dog, or simply trying to better understand your dog's behavior, this podcast gives you practical dog training strategies you can actually use. Produced by Alaska Dog Works, Dog Works Radio combines over 30 years of professional dog training experience with real-world stories, expert interviews, and honest conversations about life with dogs. You'll learn practical strategies for: • Puppy training and early socialization • Dog behavior problems and solutions • Recall training and off-leash reliability • Loose leash walking and reactivity • Positive reinforcement dog training • Service dog and therapy dog training • Canine nutrition and health • Real-world obedience training • Building confidence in nervous dogs • Understanding breed behavior and drive • Creating better routines and communication with your dog This podcast is designed for dog owners who are tired of generic advice and want clear, proven training methods that work in the real world. Popular Guests Include: Jennifer Carter (author, canine nutritionist), Melissa McCue-McGrath (author, dog trainer), Lisa Lacy (author), Dr. Vanessa Serratore (veterinarian), Marc Goldberg (author and dog trainer) Popular Topics Include: puppy biting, leash pulling, dog aggression, separation anxiety, recall training, service dogs, therapy dogs, dog nutrition, positive reinforcement, canine behavior, dog training myths, real-world obedience, dog confidence, and living better with dogs. If you are ready to train a calmer, more reliable dog, hit follow and join one of the longest-running dog training podcasts anywhere. Learn more at DogWorksRadio.com

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  1. 18h ago

    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 aspiring trainers both the methodology and the business side of the industry. Unlike subscription-based certifications, students complete a structured program with human-graded work, one-on-one mentoring, live classes, and ongoing alumni support. Key topics covered: - Why Joe got into dog training (starting with a Border Collie at age 12 and harsh old-school herding methods) - The biggest issues pet owners face right now: leash reactivity and dogs being forced into socially awkward human situations - How she approaches reactivity — understanding the history, then teaching dogs (and owners) that "we don't have to say hi to everyone" - The powerful "make eight new friends and bring them to dinner" analogy - Board-and-train vs. private lessons: foundation first, then client accountability - A difficult Airedale case involving bite history, household stress, muzzle training, and eventual success with a new baby in the home - What actually qualifies someone to call themselves a professional dog trainer - Why measurable outcomes and clear client expectations matter more than titles - The industry's lack of regulation and the importance of continuing education - Why trainers should support each other instead of competing in silos - Joe's two podcasts: Training Through the Eyes of the Dog (for pet owners) and The Dog Trainer's Blueprint (for trainers) This conversation is especially useful for pet owners dealing with reactivity and for anyone thinking about becoming (or already working as) a professional dog trainer. Connect with Joe Dickinson: - Website: [westernstatesk9college.com](https://www.westernstatesk9college.com) - Instagram: @WSK9College - Facebook: Western States Canine College / Western States K9 College - Podcasts: Training Through the Eyes of the Dog & The Dog Trainer's Blueprint 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 leaving a review. FREE! Grab our 7-Day Real-World Dog Training Plan Take our Understanding Drive Behaviors quiz to see exactly what drive your dog is in and how to begin to train for it. Join the On-Air Dog Training Coaching waitlist for a chance to be coached on the air by Dr. Robert or Michele Forto and get your dog training questions answered in real time. Sign up now for 20% off our Group Coaching Program and learn how to build the best possible relationship with your dog. Take your dog training to the next level with our Peak Performance membership. Follow Dog Works Radio for more dog training tips: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn   ©2009-2026 by Dog Works Training Company® All Rights Reserved.

    What Makes a Professional Dog Trainer? Joe Dickinson of Western States K9 College

  2. Oct 20

    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 environment where you actually live with the dog. The AKC Urban Canine Good Citizen (CGCU) title is one practical framework for that gap. It asks the dog to ignore food on the sidewalk, cross a street calmly, stay under control around traffic and bicycles, and remain polite in public buildings. Those are not flashy tricks. They are the skills that make a dog safer and easier to include in everyday life, whether you live in downtown Anchorage or just want to walk the trailhead without a meltdown. Key points Foundational commands matter. They count only if they hold up when distractions are real. The Urban CGC builds on the standard Canine Good Citizen and takes those behaviors into sidewalks, traffic, crowds, and public buildings. To earn the official CGCU title, a dog must already hold a CGC certificate and pass the urban exercises. The title is not a service-dog or therapy-dog certification. Alaska dogs face the same challenges: busy parking lots, trailheads, farmers' markets, airports, veterinary clinics, and pet-friendly stores. A dog that is perfect in the training building but ignores you outside hasn't finished the learning process. Proofing closes the gap. Confidence is built by gradual, guided exposure, not by avoiding the hard environments. This episode's question Can your dog ignore food on the sidewalk, stay calm when a bicycle passes, and cross a street without pulling—or does the training still live only in the backyard? 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 leaving a review. FREE! Grab our 7-Day Real-World Dog Training Plan Take our Understanding Drive Behaviors quiz to see exactly what drive your dog is in and how to begin to train for it. Join the On-Air Dog Training Coaching waitlist for a chance to be coached on the air by Dr. Robert or Michele Forto and get your dog training questions answered in real time. Sign up now for 20% off our Group Coaching Program and learn how to build the best possible relationship with your dog. Take your dog training to the next level with our Peak Performance membership. Follow Dog Works Radio for more dog training tips: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn   ©2009-2026 by Dog Works Training Company® All Rights Reserved.

  3. Oct 16

    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 training plan. Nicole shows how to give the dog a clear job (a settle spot away from the doorway), practice it when the house is quiet, then raise the difficulty so the routine still holds when the doorbell actually rings. Key points A threshold is any transition point: front door, gate, doorway. The dog needs clear expectations there, not hope. Charging the door, barking at the delivery person, or rushing an open doorway are patterns that paid off. Change the pattern. Give the dog a job. Every time the doorbell rings or someone knocks, the next step is the same: go to the settle spot and stay there while you handle the door. Build the skill with no distractions first. Then add the sound of a knock or doorbell from a phone. Then practice while you walk toward the door and open it. A settle in a quiet living room is not the same skill as a settle when a costumed stranger is on the porch. Context matters. Do not use Halloween night as the training experiment, especially if the dog has a history of fear or aggression around strangers. Training and management work together. Introduce decorations and costume pieces calmly, in small doses. Reward observation and calm. Do not force interaction. The same skills make ordinary days better: deliveries, visitors, open doors. This episode's question Does your dog actually know what to do when somebody comes to the door, or have you just been hoping they will figure it out? 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 leaving a review. FREE! Grab our 7-Day Real-World Dog Training Plan Take our Understanding Drive Behaviors quiz to see exactly what drive your dog is in and how to begin to train for it. Join the On-Air Dog Training Coaching waitlist for a chance to be coached on the air by Dr. Robert or Michele Forto and get your dog training questions answered in real time. Sign up now for 20% off our Group Coaching Program and learn how to build the best possible relationship with your dog. Take your dog training to the next level with our Peak Performance membership. Follow Dog Works Radio for more dog training tips: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn   ©2009-2026 by Dog Works Training Company® All Rights Reserved.

  4. Oct 15

    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 and service dogs and also keep sled dogs. She became the clear example of a dual-purpose dog: focused and composed on the line, affectionate and playful with kids, and serious about her unofficial security detail. Key points  - Leadership on a sled team is not always the loudest dog. Sometimes the calm one sets the tone.  - A dual-purpose dog can excel at serious work and still be the one who demands coconut-scented hugs.  - School visits and therapy work use the same reliability that makes her steady on the trail. - Adventure Dog Club work (bikejoring, obstacle courses, camp) gives her jobs that use her natural drive. - Mouse Patrol is the playful side of a dog who was built to notice movement and investigate. - Working dogs were not designed only to exist in the house. Giving them real jobs produces better dogs and better stories. This episode's question: What job or adventure could your dog actually do that would use the abilities they already have? Credits  The Daily Dog with Nicole Forto. Dog Works Radio is a First Paw Media production, sponsored by Alaska Dog Works.   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 leaving a review. FREE! Grab our 7-Day Real-World Dog Training Plan Take our Understanding Drive Behaviors quiz to see exactly what drive your dog is in and how to begin to train for it. Join the On-Air Dog Training Coaching waitlist for a chance to be coached on the air by Dr. Robert or Michele Forto and get your dog training questions answered in real time. Sign up now for 20% off our Group Coaching Program and learn how to build the best possible relationship with your dog. Take your dog training to the next level with our Peak Performance membership. Follow Dog Works Radio for more dog training tips: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn   ©2009-2026 by Dog Works Training Company® All Rights Reserved.

  5. Oct 14

    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 that one, the house would settle," this episode is for you. Michele breaks down the triangle: the manager dog who doesn't always growl, the independent dog who pushes back, and why both humans have to see the same picture before teaching any new command. Key points In a house with three dogs, the hierarchy is a triangle, not a straight line. It shifts when a dog joins or leaves. One dog usually manages space, who gets close to people, the best bed, the food bowl. The manager often does it with body blocks, stares, or a lowered head that the owners have stopped noticing. The second dog usually goes along. The third, often more independent, refuses and pushes back. Fights often start with the third dog, but the manager often makes the first move by saying, "Not right now." Breed is information, not an excuse. Traditional Alaskan huskies are often pack- and people-oriented and, once rules are clear, food-motivated. Karelian Bear Dogs and certain Laikas are bred to work at a distance and make their own decisions. You do not convince them by repeating the cue louder. Late neutering (after the dog has already learned patterns) can change the individual dog while the other dogs still treat him as the old version. That mismatch can look like random aggression. The first step in an in-home session is not a new sit. It is watching who moves when people enter, who steps between the others, and what happens when attention lands on one dog. Both adults must use the same words, interrupt the same way, and reward the same behaviors so the dogs stop testing which person is easier. For the manager dog, people now make the access decisions. For the independent dog, find what actually motivates her and make the rules clear so cooperation is a choice, not a surrender. For the older dog, give clear ways to leave so he does not have to choose between fighting and freezing. This episode's weekly action Choose a time when your dogs are together, and you are not rushed. Watch them for five minutes without saying anything. Who moves first when you open the door? Who stands between the other two? Who gives a look that says enough without making a sound? Write it down. Do not try to fix anything yet. 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 leaving a review. FREE! Grab our 7-Day Real-World Dog Training Plan Take our Understanding Drive Behaviors quiz to see exactly what drive your dog is in and how to begin to train for it. Join the On-Air Dog Training Coaching waitlist for a chance to be coached on the air by Dr. Robert or Michele Forto and get your dog training questions answered in real time. Sign up now for 20% off our Group Coaching Program and learn how to build the best possible relationship with your dog. Take your dog training to the next level with our Peak Performance membership. Follow Dog Works Radio for more dog training tips: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn   ©2009-2026 by Dog Works Training Company® All Rights Reserved.

  6. Oct 13

    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 the gap gets dangerous once the sidewalks turn to ice. The walk only continues when the leash is slack. If the leash is tight, you stop. No speech, no negotiation. Timing matters more than the collar. Practice the same short route every day while the ground is still dry so the habit is already in place when the dark, icy walks of November and January arrive. Key points - Pulling works for the dog because it gets them to the next smell faster. When the leash is tight, following keeps the cycle going. - Proper equipment can help you manage the walk. It does not teach the dog how to walk. - Three practical rules: the walk continues only on a slack leash; timing (hands, feet, when you start moving again) is the owner's job; practice in the places you actually walk. - A dog that walks perfectly after a long hike is usually just tired. That doesn't carry over to a short, dark Tuesday night walk. - Start now. Two short practices beat one long struggle in the driveway. Choose one daily route. - Real examples from Anchorage/Valley clients and from work with volunteers at Rebel Rescue in South Korea show the same principle: build the routine before the hard environment. This episode's question If your dog is dragging you to the mailbox today, what happens when that same pull happens on ice in the dark? Weekly action Choose one route you walk every day. Every time the leash gets tight, stop. When it loosens, go. Keep the sessions short. Start while the ground is dry. 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 leaving a review. FREE! Grab our 7-Day Real-World Dog Training Plan Take our Understanding Drive Behaviors quiz to see exactly what drive your dog is in and how to begin to train for it. Join the On-Air Dog Training Coaching waitlist for a chance to be coached on the air by Dr. Robert or Michele Forto and get your dog training questions answered in real time. Sign up now for 20% off our Group Coaching Program and learn how to build the best possible relationship with your dog. Take your dog training to the next level with our Peak Performance membership. Follow Dog Works Radio for more dog training tips: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn   ©2009-2026 by Dog Works Training Company® All Rights Reserved.

  7. Oct 13 • Subscribers Only

    EXTRA: What Makes a Professional Dog Trainer? Joe Dickinson of Western States K9 Colleg

    In this episode of Dog Works Radio, Robert Forto talks with Joe Dickinson, founder of Western States K9 College in Utah. They cover leash reactivity, the reality of putting dogs in social situations, a tough Airedale case, board-and-train vs. private lessons, and the big question: what actually makes someone a professional dog trainer in an unregulated industry?

  8. Oct 12 • Subscribers Only

    Training Before the Streets Get Icy

    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 the gap gets dangerous once the sidewalks turn to ice.

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Dog Works Radio is a dog training podcast for dog owners who want real-world results, better behavior, and a stronger relationship with their dogs. In every episode, professional dog trainers Dr. Robert and Michele Forto break down the dog training advice, behavior challenges, and canine myths that confuse most owners and show you what actually works in everyday life with dogs. Whether you are raising a new puppy, struggling with leash pulling, dealing with barking or reactivity, training a service dog, or simply trying to better understand your dog's behavior, this podcast gives you practical dog training strategies you can actually use. Produced by Alaska Dog Works, Dog Works Radio combines over 30 years of professional dog training experience with real-world stories, expert interviews, and honest conversations about life with dogs. You'll learn practical strategies for: • Puppy training and early socialization • Dog behavior problems and solutions • Recall training and off-leash reliability • Loose leash walking and reactivity • Positive reinforcement dog training • Service dog and therapy dog training • Canine nutrition and health • Real-world obedience training • Building confidence in nervous dogs • Understanding breed behavior and drive • Creating better routines and communication with your dog This podcast is designed for dog owners who are tired of generic advice and want clear, proven training methods that work in the real world. Popular Guests Include: Jennifer Carter (author, canine nutritionist), Melissa McCue-McGrath (author, dog trainer), Lisa Lacy (author), Dr. Vanessa Serratore (veterinarian), Marc Goldberg (author and dog trainer) Popular Topics Include: puppy biting, leash pulling, dog aggression, separation anxiety, recall training, service dogs, therapy dogs, dog nutrition, positive reinforcement, canine behavior, dog training myths, real-world obedience, dog confidence, and living better with dogs. If you are ready to train a calmer, more reliable dog, hit follow and join one of the longest-running dog training podcasts anywhere. Learn more at DogWorksRadio.com

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