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

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 moments in American history. In this special episode of Dog Works Radio , Michele Forto remembers the dogs of 9/11 and the handlers who trusted them to do extraordinary work under extraordinary conditions. The episode shares stories of dogs including Sirius, Roselle, Salty, Apollo, Trakr, and Bretagne, while also exploring the lasting effect September 11 had on search-and-rescue training, veterinary research, and how we understand working dogs. The episode also closes with a personal connection. Robert and Michele later named a litter of their own sled dogs after 9/11 rescue dogs, including Tikva and Bretagne, giving this remembrance a connection that extends well beyond the history books. 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.

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 reinforce the behavior, and why equipment alone rarely solves the problem. She breaks down the importance of timing, teaching the dog that a slack leash keeps the walk moving, and practicing the behavior where it actually matters: neighborhoods, parking lots, sidewalks, trails, and busy Alaska trailheads. A reliable walk should work whether you are heading through Wasilla on a Tuesday or Anchorage on a Saturday. The goal is not simply getting your dog tired enough to stop pulling. It is training both ends of the leash so the behavior holds up in real 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.

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 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.

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 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.

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 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.

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 this episode of Dog Works Radio , Michele Forto explains what service dog training really looks like in Alaska. She discusses how service dogs differ from therapy dogs and emotional support animals, how dogs are evaluated for service work, why training commonly takes 18 to 24 months, and what owner-trained teams should expect. You'll also hear about challenges unique to Alaska, including winter weather, limited daylight, wildlife, long travel distances, ferries, small aircraft, and fewer training resources in rural communities. Most importantly, Michele explains why choosing the right dog and setting realistic expectations from the beginning can make the difference between a successful working team and a frustrating experience. 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.

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.

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 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.

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 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.

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? 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.

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 the celebrity buzz to discuss what families need to know before bringing home a Samoyed. These beautiful northern working dogs are intelligent, social, active, and independent, with coats that require serious maintenance. Michele also explains why sudden breed popularity can create problems when people choose dogs based on appearance rather than temperament and lifestyle. From early training and exercise to grooming, responsible breeding, recall, leash manners, and learning to settle, there is much more to living with a Samoyed than the picture-perfect puppy seen online. Before falling in love with the latest celebrity dog, ask the question that really matters: Does this breed actually fit your 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.

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 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.

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 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.

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 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.

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 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.

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 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.

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 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.

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 not forgotten their training and is not deliberately ignoring you. Instead, dogs often struggle to generalize behaviors from one environment to another. Add new smells, other dogs, wildlife, traffic, people, and dozens of other distractions, and a simple command can suddenly become much harder. You will learn how to gradually move training from the house into the real world, why distance from distractions matters, how to choose better rewards outdoors, and why repeatedly giving the same command can actually weaken your training. Michele also discusses using tools such as a long line to safely develop a more reliable recall. The goal is not simply to have a dog that behaves during a training session. It is to build a dog that can use those skills at home, around the neighborhood, on trails, during trips, around guests, and wherever life takes you. 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.

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! 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.

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 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.