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

  Your dog has probably been telling you they're uncomfortable, frustrated, or overwhelmed long before they bark, growl, or snap. The question is, have you been paying attention? On this episode of Dog Works Radio, Nicole Forto explores one of the most overlooked parts of dog ownership: understanding canine body language. A wagging tail doesn't always mean a happy dog. A quiet dog isn't necessarily a comfortable dog. And that guilty-looking expression you see when your dog gets caught doing something wrong? It might mean something entirely different than you think. Nicole explains how dogs communicate through subtle changes in posture, movement, facial expressions, and behavior. She also discusses why owners need to pay closer attention to their own body language and how inconsistent communication can create confusion during training. You'll learn how to recognize early warning signs of stress, understand the difference between a relaxed dog and one that's freezing, and build a stronger relationship by respecting your dog's communication. Your dog doesn't need to speak your language to communicate. They've already been talking. It's time to learn how to listen. Learn more about real-world dog training 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 what drive your dog is in and how to start training 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

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 is spending his entire two-year training program living with professional trainers at Alaska Dog Works in Willow, Alaska. His future handler travels extensively and works remotely, which means Sam must learn much more than basic obedience. From navigating busy public spaces and transportation to settling quietly in restaurants and airports, his training focuses on confidence, adaptability, and remaining calm in unpredictable environments. Nicole shares what Sam's first year has looked like, including how recorded voice commands and scent items helped him become familiar with his future handler before they met. You'll also hear why playtime, rest, and learning the art of doing nothing are essential parts of developing a reliable working dog. Learn more about the Lead Dog Service Dog Program at AlaskaDogWorks.com. Subscribe to Dog Works Radio for practical training advice, real-world stories, and insights from the professional trainers at 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 what drive your dog is in and how to start training 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  

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 turkey), off the counter, and a real settle while you move around the kitchen.  Then the hard rule: good behavior does not get paid in skin, gravy, bones, or drippings. Onions, garlic, grapes, raisins, chocolate, xylitol, alcohol, and corn cobs are never treats. Short daily sessions now beat a long practice the night before. Your dog is part of the family; he just needs his own place, a job he understands, and food that won't send him to the vet on Friday.   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.

  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 climate-controlled cargo at $200 each), what Enterprise actually requires for pets in crates, why online hotel "pet-friendly" listings aren't contracts, the real timeline at Boston Logan guest services, and the three habits that turned a multi-day pickup into a repeatable routine. Includes the checklist covering health certificates, crate requirements, hotel confirmation questions, and airport timing. Sponsored by Alaska Dog Works. Use code DOGWORKS for 20% off training 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 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.

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 service dogs, why even a "friendly" polling place is a high-stress environment for most dogs, and why leaving your dog tied up or in the car (especially in Alaska in November) isn't the kind choice. The episode then pivots to the three core skills, place, leash manners around strangers, and confidence in chaos, that help dogs handle polling places, Thanksgiving, hardware stores, and guests. A practical checklist for November 3 is included. Sponsored by Alaska Dog Works. Winter board-and-train camps are filling; check AlaskaDogWorks.com for Black Friday details. 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.