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

Dog Works Radio® | DogWorksRadio.com
  • 4.8 (47)
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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. 15h ago

    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 Radio, Michele Forto explains what a strategy call with Alaska Dog Works is and, just as importantly, what it isn't. A strategy call isn't a sales pitch or a free training lesson. It's a focused conversation about what is happening with your dog right now, what your family wants to change, and what needs to happen next.  Michele also explains why everyone involved in the training decision should be part of the conversation. When one person wants change but another hasn't heard the same information, training can stall before it even begins. The goal is to get the household working from the same plan and move from talking about the problem to actually addressing it.  If you've been wondering whether it's time to talk with a professional dog trainer, this episode will help you understand what to expect before scheduling that first call. What is a strategy call? 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 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.

    What Is a Dog Training Strategy Call and Should You Book One?

  2. 4d ago

    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, Nicole Forto challenges that assumption. Some dogs are confused or distracted. Others have learned that if they ignore their owner long enough, the owner eventually gives up. And then there are genuinely difficult dogs that are highly independent, defensive, reactive, or willing to make their own decisions.  The conversation becomes even more important when those decisions create a safety problem. If a dog has a history of biting people or other dogs, owners cannot simply continue allowing unrestricted interactions and hope the next encounter goes better. Management, boundaries, and controlled access become part of responsible training.  Nicole also explores what happens when food is not motivating. Treats, toys, and praise can all be useful training tools, but they are not the only things a dog values. Movement, sniffing, freedom, exploring, interaction, and access to the environment can become meaningful parts of training. 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 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.

  3. 6d ago

    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 and mid-size markets, private lessons, group class, board-and-train, service and therapy work, where family is on the books and the founder is still the bottleneck. Get the handout at https://dogworksradio.com/handoff In this episode Why a thin local list is not the real ceiling Drive time, seasons, and word of mouth as operating rules The four stalls: eval, hard case, refund, Saturday exception Family system vs. training floor in the same building Criteria, consequences, consistency—for the dog and the next trainer The one page to write if someone left for four days Free worksheet The 30-Day Handoff (two pages): dogworksradio.com/handoff Connect Podcast: https://dogworksradio.com Training: https://alaskadogworks.com Worksheet: https://dogworksradio.com/handoff 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 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.

  4. Sep 29

    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 of her 28-and-a-half-year law enforcement career working with dogs. Her experience included patrol dogs, bloodhounds, detection dogs, and supervising a canine unit that included 26 dogs. Coby shares what life is really like as a police K9 handler, how different breeds are selected for different jobs, and why the relationship between a handler and working dog extends far beyond a normal shift. She also tells the story of launching a bloodhound program and explains why training dogs in the environments where they will actually work matters. The conversation then turns to her work with Guide Dogs of the Desert and an unexpected idea that began when a dog trained for guide work simply did not enjoy being a guide dog. Coby brought the dog into her workplace as a pilot program and discovered how much of an effect he had on employees dealing with demanding, stressful work. That idea grew, and Coby says she has now placed more than 70 dogs across the United States. Robert and Coby also discuss her work imprinting dogs on the odor associated with cortisol so they can gravitate toward people experiencing stress without performing a conspicuous formal alert. The goal is to give the handler a chance to start a conversation while keeping the dog engaged with the person. 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 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.

  5. Sep 25

    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 episode of Dog Works Radio, Michele Forto from Alaska Dog Works explains why dogs often learn the environment surrounding a behavior instead of developing a skill they can perform anywhere. Sitting quietly inside a training facility is very different from responding when a runner appears on a trail, a visitor knocks at the door, or a moose catches your dog's attention. Michele also explains why training the owner matters just as much as training the dog. At Alaska Dog Works, the goal is not a dog that performs beautifully for an hour in class. It is a dog and owner who can take those skills into walks, doorways, trails, public spaces, winter conditions, and everyday Alaska life. 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 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.

    Why Your Dog Listens in Class but Not in Real Life

  6. Sep 22

    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 listens at home and falls apart in real life, start here. Listen for: why repeating cues teaches the wrong lesson, why you cannot out-train a bad rehearsal schedule, and the one key to install this week. Companion article: alaskadogworks.com/the-3-keys-to-a-well-trained-dog/ This week's action: pick one key: communication, structure, or follow-through — and keep it consistent for seven days. Questions or ready for a plan? Book a strategy call at alaskadogworks.com. 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 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.

    The 3 Keys to a Well-Trained Dog | What Actually Creates Reliability

  7. Sep 18

    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 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 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.

  8. Sep 17

    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, reach collapses, or a host deletes a library by mistake, you find out what you actually own. Michele covers borrowed vs owned audiences, the path from show to site to offer to list to home, and three moves before your next episode: turn it into a ten-minute magnet, say one URL twice, deliver it by email. If you cannot reach them without the app, they are not your audience. Get the one-pager: DogWorksRadio.com/soul 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 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.

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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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