Rescue Tails

First Paw Media
  • 5.0 (1)
  • PETS & ANIMALS

Behind every rescued dog is a story of survival, hope, and the humans who refused to give up. Rescue Tails is where those stories come to life. Hosted by Dr. Robert Forto, a lifelong dog trainer and media producer, and Robin Lucas, the driving force behind Rebel Rescue South Korea, this podcast shares powerful tales of rescue, resilience, and redemption from around the world. Each episode reveals the realities of rescue work, what it takes to rebuild trust, navigate cultural challenges, and find new beginnings for dogs who once had none. From the streets of South Korea to the snowy trails of Alaska, these are the voices of those on the front lines of compassion. Whether you’re a rescue advocate, a dog lover, or simply someone who believes in second chances, Rescue Tails will inspire you to see what’s possible when dedication meets heart. Because every rescue has a story, and every story deserves to be told. Subscribe or follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

  1. 6D AGO

    How to Rescue and Transport a Dog from South Korea to the U.S.

    What does it really take to give a troubled rescue dog a second chance? In this episode of Rescue Tails, Robert and Robin record from the Seattle airport as they bring Scooby, a young lab mix rescued from South Korea, to Alaska Dog Works for intensive behavioral training. Scooby’s past includes suspected meat farm origins, multiple level-four bite incidents, and escalating resource guarding behaviors in a shelter environment. With few training options available in Korea, the decision was made to transport him internationally for rehabilitation. This episode breaks down: • The real logistics of flying a rescue dog internationally • CDC import requirements and airline regulations • The true financial cost of saving one dog • Why some dogs deserve every possible chance • What kind of adopter will Scooby ultimately need If you’ve ever wondered whether difficult dogs can be rehabilitated, or what goes on behind the scenes in international rescue work, this is an honest, unfiltered look at the process. This episode was recorded on the Shure SM7B Support the Show 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. Learn more about Rebel Rescue South Korea We work with Dog Training Clients worldwide! 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 relationship possible for your dog. Take your dog training to the next level by enrolling in 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.

    18 min

  2. FEB 11

    Building Buy-In with Volunteers and Staff in Dog Rescue Organizations

    In this episode of Rescue Tails, Robert and Robin tackle one of the hardest challenges in dog rescue: building buy-in with volunteers, staff, trainers, and kennel teams. After collecting intake, medical, and training data, rescues still face a critical question. How do you get people to consistently follow systems, protocols, and best practices? This episode explores leadership, trust, communication, and culture inside volunteer-driven rescue organizations. Robert and Robin discuss mindset, shared purpose, explaining the “why” behind policies, navigating pushback, cultural differences, and how leadership behavior shapes rescue culture. Drawing on real examples from Rebel Rescue in South Korea, this conversation offers practical insights for rescue leaders seeking to align people, systems, and outcomes. This episode was recorded on the Shure SM7B Support the Show 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. Learn more about Rebel Rescue South Korea We work with Dog Training Clients worldwide! 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 relationship possible for your dog. Take your dog training to the next level by enrolling in 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.

    23 min

  3. FEB 4

    Using Rescue Intake Data to Build Real Training Plans and Better Outcomes

    In this episode of Rescue Tails, Robert and Robin continue their intake procedures series by focusing on how rescue organizations can turn intake data into practical, effective training plans. Rather than collecting notes that sit unused, they explain how to convert early behavior observations into clear training goals, foster adoption matching, implement stress-reduction strategies, and protect length of stay. The episode covers handling plans, foster matching, red-flag thresholds, escalation protocols, and why standardized language matters when working with volunteers, trainers, and adopters. Using real-world rescue examples from South Korea and beyond, this episode helps shelters and rescues move from reactive problem-solving to proactive, outcome-driven training systems. This episode was recorded on the Shure SM7B Support the Show 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. Learn more about Rebel Rescue South Korea We work with Dog Training Clients worldwide! 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 relationship possible for your dog. Take your dog training to the next level by enrolling in 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.

    34 min

  4. JAN 28

    Rescue Intake from a Training Perspective: How to Evaluate Behavior Without Failing Dogs

    In this episode of Rescue Tails, hosts Robert and Robin break down dog rescue intake procedures from a training and behavior perspective. Moving beyond medical checklists and surface-level temperament tests, they explain how to observe behavior without labeling or prematurely failing dogs. The conversation covers low-stress handling, decompression periods, separating intake behavior lanes, enrichment during intake, and why the first 24–72 hours should be treated as data gathering, not final judgment. Using real rescue examples from South Korea and the U.S., this episode helps rescues, fosters, and volunteers make better placement decisions while reducing behavioral fallout. If you work in rescue, fostering, shelter operations, or canine behavior, this episode offers practical insight into creating safer, more humane intake systems that actually work. This episode was recorded on the Shure SM7B Support the Show 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. Learn more about Rebel Rescue South Korea We work with Dog Training Clients worldwide! 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 relationship possible for your dog. Take your dog training to the next level by enrolling in 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.

    32 min

  5. JAN 21

    After Intake: How Rescues Decide a Dog’s Path Forward

    What happens after a rescue collects intake information on a dog? In this episode of Rescue Tails, Robert Forto and Robin Lucas break down how rescues actually use intake data to make real decisions about placement, medical care, foster needs, and adoption readiness. They explain how dogs are assigned to specific tracks, why the first 24 hours matter, how rescues assess operational risk, and why internal notes must be separated from public-facing adoption language. The episode also features Inu, a six-year-old Shiba Inu, returning to rescue and in need of a new home or foster placement. This episode was recorded on the Shure SM7B Support the Show 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. Learn more about Rebel Rescue South Korea We work with Dog Training Clients worldwide! 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 relationship possible for your dog. Take your dog training to the next level by enrolling in 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.

    31 min

  6. JAN 14

    Inside Dog Rescue Intake: Health, Safety, and Decision Making

    What happens before a dog officially enters a rescue? In this episode of Rescue Tails, Robert Forto and Robin Lucas break down real-world intake procedures used by dog rescues, from urgency assessment and legal status to medical screening, quarantine, and early behavior observations. The conversation explains why intake is about risk control, disease prevention, and long-term outcomes, not just saving every dog immediately. The episode also features Milky, a five-year-old Samoyed rescued from a life on a chain and now looking for a home. This episode was recorded on the Shure SM7B Support the Show 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. Learn more about Rebel Rescue South Korea We work with Dog Training Clients worldwide! 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 relationship possible for your dog. Take your dog training to the next level by enrolling in 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.

    30 min

  7. JAN 7

    Volunteering With a Dog Rescue: What It Really Takes to Make a Difference

    Volunteering with a dog rescue sounds simple, but the reality is far more complex. In this episode of Rescue Tails, Robert Forto and Robin Lucas break down what volunteering really looks like behind the scenes, from daily shelter operations to long-term commitment, emotional challenges, and the skills rescues actually need. They discuss what makes a great volunteer, common misconceptions about rescue work, why retention is so difficult, and how people can meaningfully support animal rescues in their own communities. The episode also features Genie, a three-year-old Shiba Inu currently looking for a home. This episode was recorded on the Shure SM7B Support the Show 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. Learn more about Rebel Rescue South Korea We work with Dog Training Clients worldwide! 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 relationship possible for your dog. Take your dog training to the next level by enrolling in 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.

    24 min

  8. 12/31/2025

    The 24-Hour Rescue Fail: Why Some Dog Adoptions Fall Apart Fast

    In this episode of Rescue Tails, Robert Forto and Robin Lucas tackle one of the most challenging topics in dog rescue: the 24-hour rescue fail. They explain why some dogs are returned within hours of adoption, what adopters often misunderstand, and how unrealistic expectations can derail even the most well-screened placements. The conversation breaks down the 3-3-3 rule for rescue dogs, common behavioral triggers in the first days at home, and what rescues are doing to prevent quick returns. The episode also features Cory, a high-energy border collie mix who was returned after several months because of a mismatch between lifestyle and expectations. This episode was recorded on the Shure SM7B Support the Show 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. Learn more about Rebel Rescue South Korea We work with Dog Training Clients worldwide! 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 relationship possible for your dog. Take your dog training to the next level by enrolling in 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.

    25 min
See All (18)

About

Behind every rescued dog is a story of survival, hope, and the humans who refused to give up. Rescue Tails is where those stories come to life. Hosted by Dr. Robert Forto, a lifelong dog trainer and media producer, and Robin Lucas, the driving force behind Rebel Rescue South Korea, this podcast shares powerful tales of rescue, resilience, and redemption from around the world. Each episode reveals the realities of rescue work, what it takes to rebuild trust, navigate cultural challenges, and find new beginnings for dogs who once had none. From the streets of South Korea to the snowy trails of Alaska, these are the voices of those on the front lines of compassion. Whether you’re a rescue advocate, a dog lover, or simply someone who believes in second chances, Rescue Tails will inspire you to see what’s possible when dedication meets heart. Because every rescue has a story, and every story deserves to be told. Subscribe or follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Information

  • Creator
    First Paw Media
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    18
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025, First Paw Media
  • Show Website
    Rescue Tails