Sunday, January 31, 2010

Knowing What You Want

Knowing What You Want
By Robert Forto, PhD


As a practitioner of Neuro-Linguistics (NLP) I am constantly asked, “Dr. Forto, how do I know what I want?” I tell my clients when you set an outcome you are programing your mind to achieve that goal. Consciously or unconsciously, you that to notice opportunities and possibilities around you that can help you reach your goal. So getting the program absolutely right from the very beginning is an important step. Otherwise you do not achieve your outcome--and you may actually get something you don't want.

The starting point for any outcome is to make sure that you express it positively--what do you want to have. Consider the difference between these two outcomes

I do not want to feel trapped in my boring job any longer,

I want to face new challenges in my job every day.

Although the first example does not include any overtly negative words such as no or not, the statement expresses what you don’t want. Even more importantly the first statement does not give any indication of what you need to replace the current situation.

The difficulty with focusing on what you don’t want is that in order to think about not having something, you need to think about that very thing. This puts your attention on what you don’t want rather than what you do want.

Some examples of focus on what they don’t want are below:

I want to stop smoking.
I want to stop being short tempered at work
I want to cut out sweet and fatty foods to lose weight.

To change these desires into positive outcomes you must concentrate on what you want rather than what you need to stop doing and give up. To make the shift ask yourself this instead: What do I want instead?

When you honestly answer this question your outcomes shift to things like this:

I want to live a healthy lifestyle.
I want to be more patient at work.
I want to be slim.

Look over your outcomes and look for words like should, must, and try.

If you would like to be the best at what you do or your want to reach your peak in performance, give me a call and we can talk about it.

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Dr. Robert Forto is a public speaker, business coach and radio show host. Dr. Forto can be reached through his website at http://www.robertforto.com

Saturday, January 30, 2010

Dog Doctor Radio Show #52

Show Notes: The Dog Doctor Radio Show #52
By Robert Forto, PhD

Week 52 Show

You can listen to the show at http://tinyurl.com/dogdoc

1/30/10

Intro It is a beautiful day here in the Rockies. Its hard to believe that we are heading into February already.

News Notes and Events

Todays Show: Unleashed, Anniversary Special
2/6/10 Pet Airways
2/13/10 Chris Fuller from Influence Leadership and Mushing in the Olympic Games
2/20/10 Deb Jacobs back on to talk in depth about Animal Hoarding
2/27/10 NO SHOW Topic Yet
3/6/10 Iditarod Special
3/13/10 Dog Doctor Junior Nicole will be back on the air!
3/20/10 Dog Works Training Centers Mushing Recap
5/1/10 Live Remote Broadcast Furry Scurry
6/19/10 Live Remote Broadcast Goose Chase

We update our Blog everyday at http://www.denverdogworks.com

This is our one year anniversary! Congratulations to all that support this show and everyone behind the scenes, first I want to thank my wife, my cohost, my biggest fan and supporter, Michele, next our producer, Mark Crowley, our generous guest Ken Preuss for the use of studio space at the E-travel Unlimited International Headquarters, David Sandusky at Your Brand Plan and all the guests that have been on this year and made this show a huge success!


Camp Works

Mushing update (Mushing in the Olympic Games Tease, Iditarod updates tease, Team Ineka tease) Starting March 6, 2010 I will be giving daily updates on the Iditarod and I am working out the logistics to be up in Anchorage this year for the start and to attend the Musher’s Ball.


Unleashed Indoor Dog Parks

We spoke to Kelly Acree the co-owner of Unleashed an Indoor Dog Park in Dallas Texas. This is the first of its kind in the nation. It includes a cafe, pet shop, grooming, training, seminars and two seperate play areas for big and little dogs. The place cost 10 million dollars to build and it costs a nominal fee of jus $7.50 per day and that is for a full day so the dog/owner can come and go all during the day. The dog owner can visit a “pet friendly cafe” and use the free wifi. This is the ultimate in pets.


Commercial

Etravel Unlimited is our host for studio time. We are proud to be associated with E-travel. They are our travel partner for all of our business and occasional pleasure trips. In fact we are going to be on a cruise booked through E-Travel Unlimited in October. It is a who-done-it-Sleuth Cruise in the Mexican Riviera. If you would like to book this adventure please call Ken or Sandy at 888-770-9225 or visit etravelunlimited.com


Be sure to fan us on Twitter and Facebook under Denver Dog Works and Team Ineka. and if you like what you hear on the DogDoctor be sure to click that Favorite button on the blog talk site.

Special We are offering and exciting special that just started today. We are offering 15 sessions for $579 that is 38 dollars a session for basic obedience or an intro to a sport such as rally, foundation agility, competition obedience and CGC. We have only a few spots in our schedule for this each day so please call Michele at 303-578-9881. We also have a 99.00 special to introduce you and your dog to training. This is 3 session for this price and are 40 minutes in length and we will work on manners and loose leash walking.

Back to Unleashed Interview....

We continued with the interview with Kelly Acree from Unleashed indoor dog park in Dallas Texas and spoke about seminars being offered at the location and the type of clientelle and staff that they attract. We also talked about a very unique concept in that they offer cage free boarding where one of the dog park staff stays with the pets in an “hotel” type setting and the dogs can come and go as they please during the night. We also talked about the vaccine requirements and the need for an indoor space due to the climate of Texas. We also spoke about the future of the unleashed brand and possible licneseing and franchising. You can contact Kelly through her website and on Facebook and Twitter at @kellyunleashed and @unleasheddfw What a great idea!


Canine Sciences and Communication Course info starting in April. As announced this week we are changing the way people become dog trainers. In our next course starting in April we will be offering all students an iPad with their course. We are in the process of re-writting our course book to include interactive video, exams, lessons and projects. This is like no other canine trainer course in the world. If you want to receive a cutting edge education and become one of the best dog trainers in the world give us a call at 303-578-9881.

Are you ready to change your life? Join us for the Peak Performance Weekend in beautiful Estes Park, CO. Our featured speaker in Traci Brown of http://www.tracibrown.com. Traci Brown is a personal trainer for your mind. Her innovative techniques will change your outlook on life, business, sports, relationships and more. Stay tuned for details!


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Robert Forto is the training director for Denver Dog Works and the host of the Dog Doctor Radio Show which can be heard every Saturday morning at 9:30 am in the Rocky Mountain West or downloaded anytime. Dr. Forto can be reached through his website at http://www.denverdogworks.com

Friday, January 29, 2010

Timing is Everything

Timing Is Everything
By Michele Forto


Timing is everything! In dog training timing is of the essence. Whether you are praising, redirecting a drive, or correcting your dog. The timing involved is of the utmost importance. This is particularly the case when you are treat or clicker training. If your timing is off by just a second you may end up praising your dog for performing the wrong action. Or praising them for doing the wrong action because you were to slow in praising what you liked.
Taking on training on your own is quite a feat and you should get a pat on the back for this undertaking. Having a trainer can help immensely with timing alone. Your trainer is able to see where your timing is off and then make adjustments in your ability to react and viola you and your dog are communicating in sync and everything you have been working towards falls in to place.

I have observed too many times that handlers have a tendency to be compulsive in their training. Letting their frustrations lead their training sessions instead of giving their training session forethought and guidelines to follow. I have found that my clients who are compulsive do best by keeping a training journal and writing down how the dog performed as well as how they were feeling throughout the course of the training session. It shows them when their optimum training times are; for you it may be in the morning versus the afternoon or evening. Mornings just may be better for you and your dog. If working your dog at your optimum training time doesn’t work then I suggest breaking up the training routine to shorter sessions throughout the day so frustration does not build within you or your dog.

That being said, take one day off from training during your week and take a different day and throw out your training routine. Do something completely different and work in your training commands. For example, take your dog to the backyard turn on some music, get your dog’s ball and dance with your dog by luring him with his ball into moving around and performing basic commands like sit and down. Send him to fetch his ball, return into the “dance” routine. Do this for four songs or approximately 15 minutes – what a workout! You and your dog will have fun and build your bond and viola training success.
Talk with your trainer about your day off from training and how your dog behaved. Also talk with your trainer about your fun day and how your dog responded. This will help your trainer adjust your training routine for optimum progress and success. Even in basic obedience I will incorporate training styles from sport and service training to keep the routine fresh and fun for both my client and their dog.

Remember in training that giving a treat or clicking that clicker are just two ways of training and the most difficult when it comes to timing. Praising your dog with “good dog” or petting on the head can also have timing consequences. Keep your eye on your dog while training as this will help you develop better timing. Trainers make it look so easy; watch us, we rarely take our eyes off your dog when we make it look like magic!
______________________
Michele Forto is the business manager and a certified canine trainer at Denver Dog Works. Michele can be reached through her website at http://www.denverdogworks.com

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Haiti Emergency vs. American Emergency

Haitian Emergency vs. American Emergency
By Michele Fort
o

Let me start off by making sure everyone understands that I believe in helping EVERYONE in need. This is not pointed in the direction against helping Haiti or any country and its people.

In this economy, we are all challenged to make ends meet. Any emergency can put us into bankruptcy or foreclosure. Growing up in California I have experienced earthquakes and living in Oklahoma I experienced tornados these natural disasters can ruin individuals, neighbors, towns, counties, and in some instances countries. None of us can fathom the horrors that the people of Haiti are experiencing at this very moment just as none of us could fathom the horrors that the people of New Orleans went through after Hurricane Katrina.

I read just last week that “we” Americans have raised 100 million dollars to aid the people of Haiti. That is extraordinary. The very next day, I was watching the local news, something I rarely have time to do. They reported about a 7 year old little boy and how he goes to school every day and gets good grades and does what little boys do, while his dad spends his day looking for a job and a place for them to live. You see, he’s homeless. What I’m having trouble gripping is that in this roller coaster economy “we” have stopped shaking hands with our neighbors, we have stopped looking at what’s going on on our own street.

“We” hide in our homes surfing the internet, playing games on facebook, and watching American Idol and Biggest Loser. What happened to getting to know our neighbors and lending a helping hand? When you take your child to the bus stop in the morning have you noticed one of the kids isn’t wearing a coat? You shrug it off as maybe he forgot it, but you notice that he never wears one. You are planning to give $40.00 to help the International Red Cross and hope your money goes to aid someone in need in Haiti. What stops you from taking that same $40 and buying that little boy a coat? Judgment. Judgment is what keeps us from helping each other and what keeps us from asking our neighbors for help. You worry that IF you buy this boy a coat that his parents will feel insulted and even angered by your gesture. Or maybe your overstepping and he really does have one. You can always return it!

“We” can’t agree on how to fix our economy, “we” can’t agree on how we can have healthcare for everyone. But, “we” rally in the face of tragedy – this is what America is about! Let’s rally for our neighbors first, for our cities, our states, our country and when that is strong and restored and “we” are able to care for ourselves then “we” can care for others and then “we” do what America does best – strengthen the world.

This evening I gave a woman the only dollar in cash I had on me at the time and as I handed it to her I said I’m sorry this is all I can offer to help you as I have to feed my children too. I don’t give money to homeless people or pan handlers I gave to her because I chose to listen to my own morals and values and help my neighbor – right or wrong we have been taught that being needy is an ugly unwanted place to be. In realty, none of us should be in this position. Not everyone makes the choice to be homeless or needy. Why do “we” judge our neighbors but not other countries when they are faced with tragedy.
______________________
Michele Forto is an entrepreneur of several businesses in the Denver area. She can be reached through her website at http://www.denverdogworks.com

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

The iPad and How Denver Dog Works will Utilize It

The iPad and How Denver Dog Works will Utilize It
By Robert Forto


As many of you know we offer a course at Dog Works Training Centers to teach people how to become the best dog trainers in the world. In our course we provide an interactive learning environment that is partnered with cutting edge technology and over nineteen years of living with dogs.

With the recent announcement from Apple today and the upcoming March release of the iPad, Denver Dog Works and Dog Works Training Centers plans to include an iPad with every course and include it in the student’s enrollment package.

Our next canine trainer career course starts on April 13th, 2010 and is a 24 week course that consists of three days of training every two weeks on Friday-Sundays. You can find out more information on our canine career courses by visiting our website at http://www.denverdogworks.com and http://www.dogworkstrainingcenter.com

Over the next couple months I will be re-writing our companion course book to include video links, .pdf exams and projects, interactive lessons and more. A perfect partnership of class lectures, our video library, and the iPad technology.

You may think I am crazy to jump on the iPad bandwagon. To the contrary. We have always offered a low-end net-book computer to our canine trainer students but with the release of the iPad it will take our training school to new heights.

Use of the iPad in our every day business operations at Denver Dog Works

We at Denver Dog Works also plan to utilize the iPad in our every day business tasks such as credit card processing through Cynergy Data’s Lucy Gateway and Paypal as well as training contract review with clients, training plan utilization and more.

If you would like to have a career that you love and want to become one of the best canine obedience instructors in the world, give us a call at 303-578-9881 and speak to Robert Forto or Michele Forto anytime.

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Dr. Robert Forto, PhD is the training director of Denver Dog Works and the host of a weekly radio program The Dog Doctor Radio Show. Dr. Forto can be reached through his website at http://www.denverdogworks.com

Who Are You? Canine Trainer, Leah Morse

Who Are You, Anyway?
Contract Trainer, Leah Morse
By Robert Forto, PhD


We are members of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers, and they have one of the best dog training journals around, especially for us in the canine training industry, The APDT Chronicle of the Dog. Each month in their highly acclaimed magazine, they have a member profile edited by Nicole Wilde. While we haven't been privy to be showcased in this column yet, I thought it would be appropriate to showcase each one of our trainers over the next few weeks so that you can get to know us and what we are about.

This week I will be interviewing Leah Morse. Leah is a graduate of our canine obedience instructor course and offers contract training at Denver Dog Works.

Let’s get to know Leah Morse, certified canine trainer:

Business Name: Denver Dog Works
Location: Denver, Colorado
Phone: 303-578-9881
Email: mforto@denverdogworks.com
Website: www.denverdogworks.com
Years in Business: 2 years
Personal Training Philosophy: Training a dog should have an equal priority level to proper nutrition and health care for a dog. Use as many techniques as possible to get a dog to think for himself and to choose to do the right thing happily. Dogs need an owner that provides adequate leadership, a safe and happy environment, structure and training.

How long have you been in business and what types of services do you provide?

I have been educating people how to raise and train their dogs for my entire adult life but professionally for 2 years. I have 20 years of retail pet experience, 10 years of vet assisting experience and have been raising and training dogs for over 30 years. I encourage touch free training but am prepared to incorporate all types of training. I offer private and group classes, in home private lessons and semi private lessons, puppy socialization “kindergarten” classes, basic obedience and some advanced obedience classes, behavior therapy. trick training, CGC (Canine Good Citizenship) prep.

How did you get started?

A phone call to Denver Dog Works, researching training facilities for a friend, and was informed by Michelle Forto of Denver Dog Works School for dog trainers. Next an interview with Dr. Forto and then I was well on my way to becoming a professional dog trainer and certified.


Are you involved in and dog sports or activities?

Would love to learn about tracking and herding but currently I am investing time in a competition obedience dog and an up and coming conformation show prospect.

How do you get business, and what is your relationship like with veterinarians in your community?

I have a very good relationship with my local veterinary practice in Bennett CO. I give the vet technicians free lessons to test drive the trainer and they refer clients to me. I have donated obedience private lesson packages to the local recreation center’s private auction. I also have acquired clients from Facebook, advertising in the employee lounge at my other employment, current word of mouth and soon to be a website.

Do you belong to a trainer networking group, or otherwise consult with/refer to other trainers in your area?

I work with Dr. Robert and Michelle Forto of Denver Dog Works and Sandy Chiavelli with Prairie Dog Acres in Strasburg. I have applied for membership with Colorado Dog Trainers Network. I am a member of APDT, a certified CGC evaluator, a member of MSDTC and am currently registered with TeachStreet.com and am in the process of connecting with some local Doggy Day Care Providers.

What do you believe are the three most important things to teach a dog?
That the owner is a confident Leader that provides a safe and structured environment and is worthy of respect.
That training is a fun game to play daily
That it is a pleasure to work for their people

What types of cases do you find the most challenging and why?

The most challenging cases are the owners that come for some or even all of the classes but don’t practice at home with their dogs. You see the dogs that are being regularly practiced with and the ones that aren’t and how much the practiced dogs progress compared to not. The frustration that then ensues between owner and dog (the unpracticed pair) could have been avoided by even a few quick sessions daily. There is such potential that is not being realized by the owner such as better relationship, a calmer dog, better owner/dog communication and the satisfaction of accomplishment. Basically as they say “You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink.

What teaching techniques or philosophies have you found helpful in dealing with your challenging cases?

Pay attention to the emotional status of the owner and the behavior/mood of the dog and try to add encouragement or stress release techniques if necessary. As tactfully as possible, point out what is observed and, quite often, the owner is harboring left over negative feelings from home or work or frustration at the dog.

Work the dog for the owner if the owner is really having a hard time.

What advice would you give to other trainers about working with dogs and their owners?

Allow new dogs to sniff around and get comfortable with the training environment prior to the session.

Pay attention to the demeanor of the owner and watch for calming signals given by the dog.

If the dog allows the trainer, demonstrate the techniques to the owner with the owner’s dog, as this shows that it can be done.

Can you offer a specific tip or trick for working with dogs or owners that other trainers might find helpful?

It is great that we all love dogs but you have to develop a love for people too. Loving/appreciating people, helps you to be tolerant and be more in tune to what a client actually needs. People know when you are frustrated with them or if you are disinterested. Common sense for you may not be for others, it just means that you heard it or learned it more than they did. Don’t judge an owner on their inadequacies but help them through them. You help the dog more in the end of if you connect with their people.

What was your scariest moment with a dog (or client)?
Watching a young handler get attacked by an aggressive dog he was working with. Fortunately it ended alright.

What would you say are the top three things you have personally learned as a trainer?

Patience, Patience, Patience,
Be flexible to a point
Be Personable

What was the last training related seminar you attended?

I am still progressing through a correspondence course as I am working towards another certification.

Are there any specific books, authors, DVDs that have influenced you as a trainer?

Many of the Leerburg training DVDs.
Don’t Shoot the Dog by Karen Pryor.
Calming Signals by Turid Rugaas
Caesars Way
Tender Foot Training DVD
Monks of New Skeet
It’s Me or the Dog Cable Show

Anything else you would like to add?

It is my goal to help as many dogs stay home and out of the shelters and to help prevent as much as possible, future dog bites and behavior problems through prevention training, starting with young puppies by educating their owners.
I would like to see more professional dog trainers start to work together instead of against each other.

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Dr. Robert Forto is the training director for Denver Dog Works and the host of a weekly radio program, The Dog Doctor Radio Show which can be heard every Saturday at 9:30 am in the Rocky Mountain West or downloaded anytime. Dr. Forto can be reached through his website at http://www.denverdogworks.com

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Dog Doctor Radio: Unleashed Dog Parks

On this edition of the Dog Doctor Radio Show we celebrate our 1 year anny. on the air! We will also be interviewing a representative from Unleashed, the nations first indoor dog park in Dallas, Texas.

The Dog Doctor Radio Show
Saturdays at 9:30 am MDT
303-578-9881
live@dogdoctorradio.com

You can listen to The Dog Doctor Radio Show anytime at http://tinyurl.com/dogdoc

NATION’S FIRST INDOOR DOG PARK OPENS IN DALLAS
Unleashed Indoor Dog Parks™ becomes top dog destination in Dallas with 25,000 square-feet of indoor parks, outdoor water features, grooming salon, supply center, café, daycare, playcare and cage-free boarding


Dallas, August 11, 2009: Unleashed Indoor Dog Parks™ has rocketed to the top of Dallas dog lovers’ lists as the nation’s first and only indoor, off-leash play park for dogs. The $10 million, 50,000 square-foot facility debuted this spring with 25,000 square-feet of indoor parks, grooming salon, full supply center, daycare, playcare, cage-free boarding, and a café for owners.

Launched through the efforts of dog lovers Kelly and Cody Acree of Dallas, Unleashed takes pet retailing to a new level, catering to dogs and owners alike with its year-round appeal.

“Unleashed Indoor Dog Parks answers every need we could think of for dogs and their owners – a clean, safe, monitored, comfortable environment where dogs can play off-leash while owners can lounge. The 25,000 square-feet of indoor air-conditioned parks present a comfortable, sanitary and green environment for large and small dogs to exercise off-leash and socialize while owners can do the same, or just relax, work remotely with wifi and read the paper with a snack, meal or dessert from our café,” said Kelly Acree, co-founder of Unleashed.

Over-engineered to ensure a fresh environment, Unleashed features the largest indoor installation of K9Grass in the world on the indoor parks. The turf is the only artificial grass designed specifically for dogs with antimicrobial properties and a unique knitted construction to allow draining, keeping the grass clean and free of bacteria or odors.

“One of the first questions we get from first-timers at Unleashed is what the dogs do if they need to ‘go’,” added Kelly. “The answer is, they ‘go’. We’ve designed Unleashed to allow dogs to act as naturally as they would if you had a 25,000 square-foot backyard with play and agility equipment and other dogs available anytime for a play date. Because of the K9Grass, our sprinkler, cleaning and patent-pending drainage and flushing systems, as well as a state-of-the art exhaust system, it always smells fresh and looks green inside no matter what the dogs do.”

Additionally, the Acrees have put in place a variety of safety measures to ensure a secure environment for dogs and owners. Before gaining entrance into the park, owners must provide proof of rabies, DHLP, Parvo and Bordetella vaccinations for their dogs. Additionally, dogs without previous exposure to other dogs will be temperament-tested by one of the park’s trained dog handlers, who are present in the park at all times. At least one pet CPR and First Aid certified staffer is in the park at all times. Inside, owners with small or timid dogs can enjoy the Powderpuff Park, while rough-housing medium and large dogs can take advantage of the Bodyslammers Park. Finally, for insurance reasons, pit bulls and pit bull mixes are not allowed in the off-leash portions of the park.

“Our entire staff consists of people who are dog lovers and have the ability to read and respond to dog behavior. This means they can manage the dogs at play as more dogs come into the park, and avert or handle any scuffles,” Kelly continued. “We run Unleashed like an exclusive gym, so that when your dog comes through the gate with her personalized RFID membership tag, she’s going to have access to the best equipment, staff and experience available.”

Entry for a dog into the off-leash parks with full in and out privileges is $7.50, with discount packages available for multiple dog families or frequent visits. For more information, visit www.unleasheddogparks.com, or follow Unleashed Indoor Dog Parks on Twitter at twitter.com/kellyunleashed and twitter.com/unleasheddfw.

About Unleashed

Unleashed Indoor Dog Parks™ is the nation’s first indoor and outdoor off-leash play park offering year-round play for dogs and their owners. The $10 million 50,000 square-foot facility is situated on 6.5 wooded acres just four miles from downtown Dallas. Featuring the largest indoor installation of Forever Lawn’s K9Grass, Unleashed also offers outdoor water features, grooming salon, supply center, café, daycare, playcare and cage-free boarding. Visit www.unleasheddogparks.com for more information, pricing, photos and registration details.

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Dr. Robert Forto is the host of the Dog Doctor Radio Show and the training director for Denver Dog Works. Dr. Forto can be reached through his website at http://www.denverdogworks.com

Leonhard Seppala

Leonhard Seppala
By Robert Forto, PhD


No dog driver has the status, the renown and the respect of his colleagues as does Leonhard Seppala. His fame has lasted far beyond his brief national acclaim following the race to Nome against an epidemic. His greatness has long outlasted his success as a racer. Before his death in 1967 at the age of ninety, Seppala had been made an honorary member of four prestigious organizations: The Siberian Husky Club of America, The International Siberian Husky Club (which was originally chartered as the Seppala Siberian Husky Club), The New England Sled Dog Club and The Norwegian Sled Dog Club.

The longest sled dog race in North America was named for Seppala. When thirty four dog teams left the starting line in Anchorage on March 3, 1973 bound for Nome, in the first thousand-mile Seppala Memorial Iditarod Trail Race, no driver wore Number One. Starting position Number One had been reserved in memory of the most distinguished dog driver of all time.
In 1961, at a testimonial banquet at the Alaska Press Club, Lowe Thomas introduced the 84-year-old musher with sparkling blue eyes as “the greatest dog team driver that ever lived.” For Seppala was an original, an innovator, and a pioneer. There was no aspect of dog driving he left untouched. Even today, over one hundred years after his birth, many Siberian Huskies that race today are descended from Seppala’s Siberians.

At the turn of the century young Seppala left his native Norway, his father’s fishing boat and his apprenticeship with a blacksmith, to join the hundreds of new explorers seeking their fortune in the gold fields of Alaska. He soon discovered that a steady, if less spectacular, way to make money was to have a dog team and to freight supplies to the miners. Within a few years Seppala had the reputation as one of the best dog punchers in the new territory.

His life swerved onto a new trail when inspired by the excitement of the new sled dog races in Nome, he entered and won his first race at age thirty-six. The next year, 1914, he entered the All Alaska Sweepstakes with a team of young Siberian dogs he had been training for the explorer Roald Amundsen. After losing the trail and injuring his dogs, Seppala finished last. He started that race with a leader named Suggen, and he was hooked on sled dog racing.1 Seppala trained hard and in secret, far away from town and returned to win the race by over an hour in 1915. He repeated this feat in 1916, and 1917, winning both Sweepstakes by large margins. Seppala was to obtain permanent possession of the Siberians when Amundsen’s North Pole trip was cancelled. Seppala’s appreciation of the imported huskies was immediately apparent and years later he wrote, “Once more the little Siberians had proved their superiority over the other dogs and I was proud to have been their driver and to have brought them in such good condition.”2

Seppala’s continuing success put him on “top of the list when the chairman of Nome’s Board of Health was looking for fast teams to go for the diphtheria serum being relayed in from Anchorage.”3 Seppala’s leader by then was Togo, a son of Suggen. Togo, destined to be a hero as the result of his valiant leadership across the trackless treachery of Norton Sound, began life as a spoiled, hard to handle pup. He was the offspring of some of Fox Ramsay’s Siberian imports. Part of his early training including running free beside the big team, which he loved, but one day he ran into a team of tough Malamutes and was badly chewed up. Perhaps this is one of the ways a future lead dog learns part of his lessons, for Togo became the best passer Seppala ever had. Togo was a master at leading his team well out of reach of any other dogs on the trail.

After the successful life-saving race to Nome, Seppala toured the East Coast of the United States. In 1927 he took his whole team to New England and proceeded to win race after race. He won New England Sled Dog Club races in Maine and New Hampshire; he won Eastern International Dog Derby’s in Quebec; he raced in Lake Placid, although Canada’s great Emile St. Godard did beat him for first place in the Olympic Games exhibition race. Everywhere he went, if he was not actually racing, he was “talking dogs.” Many future dog drivers learned the basics, the fun and the dangers of driving sled dogs by listening whenever “Sepp” was around.

Eastern mushers became just as enamored of the Siberian Huskies as was Seppala and, with his help, selective breeding programs were started at several kennels. Seppala was looking for a slightly larger dog without diminishing alertness, grace and the lightness of foot had contributed to this natural breed’s success in racing. These new kennels provided this by mixing their bloodlines with his.

In addition to the dogs, Seppala introduced to the East at least two innovations to the sport of dog sled racing. To New Englander’s familiar with the single file freight hitch brought from Alaska by Arthur Walden, Seppala’s method of hooking the dogs in pairs with a single leader looked strange. Nothing bodes better for an innovation than success however, and this double tandem hitch, with occasional slight modifications, is standard in races today. The other novelty presented by Seppala was the driver’s more active participation in the race. Although dog punchers and long-distance racers usually ran beside their sleds, the sprint racers would stand on the runners of their lighter sleds, jumping off only to run uphill. Seppala broke through this prevailing concept by introducing a pedaling motion. With one leg, as though on a scooter, timing his push with the dogs’ strides to keep the sled moving at an even rate.

Seppala and his wife returned to Alaska in the mid-thirties, and then after retirement moved to Seattle, Washington. In 1960 the chipper little man flew to Laconia to serve as honorary judge at the World Championships Sled Dog Derby. He was eighty-three years young and still delighted with the sled dogs. He reflected on his forty-five years of dog driving, his quarter of a million miles by dog team, his ninety-three silver cups and eight gold medals. The people of Laconia knew they were witnessing a giant in the sport.

Beyond the trophies, the Seppala-strain sled dogs, the inspired dog drivers, the innovations and contributions to the sport, lies the quality of the man. In a sport where handling dogs well is a necessity, the best still pay tribute to Seppala’s skillful relationship with his dogs. In a sport where some try to win with pressure and punishment, Seppala’s unequalled triumphs were achieved with kindness and encouragement. A driver could be running a good race, but he knew if Seppala was in it, chances were good that the little Siberian team would go flying past, almost soundless. Many mushers would say that Seppala would just cluck them every now and then, and the dogs would lay into their harnesses harder than they have ever seen before. One competitor said, “Something came out of him and went into those dogs with that clucking sound. He passed me every day of the race and I wasn’t loafing any.”4

After a long day Seppala would reach for his parka and cap and go out to his dogs one more time before retiring for the night to check on their comfort. Out would go that little weather-beaten Alaskan, a man who pinned his faith and his life on the good health, endurance and loyalty of his dogs.
_______________________
Dr. Robert Forto is a professional musher and the training director for Denver Dog Works. Dr. Forto can be reached through his website at http://www.teamineka.com

Monday, January 25, 2010

Culture of Denver Dog Works: Professionalism

Culture of Denver Dog Works: Professionalism
By Robert Forto, PhD

A couple weeks ago I introduced a series of articles that I am going to post each week about the culture of Denver Dog Works. I am only only doing this to give our readers an idea of what we are about at Denver Dog Works but also as an exercise for us here at the training center to make sure we are all on the same page and delivering exceptional customer service and training a client's dog to be one of the best trained dogs in the world.

The 10 Elements of Culture as defined by Denver Dog Works are:

Integrity
Professionalism
Development
Service Availability and Belief
Character
Self Development
A Event Culture
Structured Activity
Leadership
Fun

Professionalism at Denver Dog Works and our Culture


We're Professional. At Denver Dog Works we take pride in training you and your dog. It is important to us that every client and every dog receive the best training. Our motto is “We have the best and train the rest” this means that we expect each of our instructors to present themselves in the best way possible and to provide the best training possible. We listen to your goals and to your concerns and then we design a training package specifically for you and your dog. There is no cookie-cutter dog training going on at Denver Dog Works. Group class is not for everyone therefore we do not offer a signup sheet for our group class. Private lessons done in-home also may not work for you that is why we have our state of the art training center with over 700 square feet of training space on a ¾” rubber mat.

With over 200 dog trainers to choose from in the Denver area we believe our professionalism separates us from the pack. Our instructors are attentive to your needs as they change throughout your training. The most important aspect regarding dog training is not in training the dog but training you what your dog’s potential may be and then harnessing that potential and creating a harmonious relationship between you and your dog.

We have knowledgeable, skilled and friendly instructors. Our large training center provides you with a large area to work with your dog no matter what class you are taking. At Denver Dog Works we offer a variety of classes to help you and your dog reach your greatest potential. We specialize in sport training but do not let this stop you if you have a puppy. Building you a proper training regimen when your dog is a puppy is vital to his training and ability to perform at the level you expect once he is old enough to perform. Whether your goal is in competition obedience or working as a service dog developing a proper training foundation helps you obtain your goals faster and easier. Let our professional certified canine instructors design a training package for you and your puppy and let’s build a relationship together. Training is not just about getting your dog to learn how to do a few basic commands in a few short weeks.

We're Convenient- Our training classes are available Monday through Friday evenings and Saturday afternoons. Private lessons can be scheduled to fit your timetable. During your evaluation our evaluator will design your training package and work with your schedule to provide you the best opportunity to train your dog and to reach your goals. Adjustments can be made in the schedule but we strive to meet with you on a weekly basis.

We know our stuff- Our instructors are all extremely knowledgeable in the science of behavior and learning theory. In fact, we are the only training center in the area that has a PhD on staff and require all of our instructors to be certified. Our instructors are not just certified as obedience instructors. Our instructors have been certified in canine behavior and sciences. Each of our instructors are certified in various specialties such as Canine Good Citizen, Service Dog Instructor, Conformation, Competition Obedience, Rally, and even Canine CPR and First Aid.

Our training classes give you great results using the easiest, most up to date methods. We have developed training programs in a variety of disciplines to allow your dog to reach his fullest potential. One of our most popular training packages is called Peak Performance. This package offers you two different training goals. For example, basic obedience and foundation agility, or obedience and level one protection. Each class is designed to prepare for your end goal giving you the best results you could ask for.
We are professional – I encourage you to review our website. See what we offer, see what sets us aside from the other trainers out there and then give us a call. You will be greeted by a person ready to listen to your needs. If you receive our voice message your call will be returned to you within two hours. If you email you will receive a response no later than 24 hours later and if you provide your phone number you will receive a call within 24 hours with an email follow up.

I encourage any feedback you may have and of course share the culture of your business as well. I can be reached anytime by email at train@denverdogworks.com

__________________
Dr. Robert Forto is the training director of Dog Works Training Centers and the host of a weekly radio program, The Dog Doctor Radio Show which can be heard every Saturday at 9:30 am in the Rocky Mountain West or download it anytime. Dr. Forto can be reached through his website at http://www.denverdogworks.com

Saturday, January 23, 2010

H1N1, Captain Trips and the Swine Flu

H1N1, Captain Trips and the Swine Flu
Hello All,

As a frequent reader of my posts you will know that I have been highly suspect of the media fueled swine flu epidemic and have written about it on my blog a few times. My most recent is: http://fortoblog.com/2009/04/30/the-...swine-flu.aspx

On Monday, I thought how could I go wrong: go to Walgreens and pay 18 bucks for the H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine. 18 bucks is a lot better than missing countless days at work if and when I come down with the dreaded flu right?

How wrong could I have been? I have been laying in bed since Monday night with the worst case of the flu that I have ever seen. It hit me like a brick wall at 8:15 pm and I haven't been the same since. Let me put it this way, have you ever seen the Dumb and Dumber movie when Harry has to use the restroom in the fancy bathroom in Aspen.... I know that analogy was not politically correct but neither is the government saying that "systemic side-effects" rarely occur.

For this 18 dollar vaccine that I thought would keep me from getting the flu has now cost me at least three days of productive work and countless contacts with my clients. I guess you could look at it this way, just how bad would have the flu really been if I hadn't gotten the vaccine in the first place? I guess thats why 16,000 people have died from it already.

Your thoughts on what you think of the swine flu and its vaccine? Lets keep the discussion alive!

Regards,

Robert Forto, PhD
Denver Dog Works
http://www.robertforto.com

Culture of Denver Dog Works: Integrity

Culture of Denver Dog Works: Integrity
By Robert Forto, PhD

Last week I introduced a series of articles that I am going to post each week about the culture of Denver Dog Works. I am only only doing this to give our readers an idea of what we are about at Denver Dog Works but also as an exercise for us here at the training center to make sure we are all on the same page and delivering exceptional customer service and training a client's dog to be one of the best trained dogs in the world.

The 10 Elements of Culture as defined by Denver Dog Works are:

Integrity
Professionalism
Development
Service Availability and Belief
Character
Self Development
A Event Culture
Structured Activity
Leadership
Fun

Integrity of Denver Dog Works and our Culture


If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don't have integrity, nothing else matters. -- Alan K. Simpson

The Wild West was full of them and they are the actors of legend along the carnival midway and the performers of modern day late night infomercials. His line was superficial and his promises great. he had the cure for diseases and could wow you with his magic cloth that soaked up a can of soda with little effort.

Modern medical licensing has done much to amend quackery in medicine but in the spirit of the snake oil salesmen or the the late night pitch-man they will always find a new outlet, and professional dog training is a prime example.

As I tell my students studying to be professional dog trainers all the time, all it takes to be a dog trainer is a business card, a leash and a smile. Anyone can rent out a storefront, put a sign on their car, take an out an ad in the local newspaper, start a website and call themselves a professional dog trainer. If you work out of your home, a couple hundred bucks can be enough to say you are in business! These same people say they can offer obedience training, solve problems and turn your dog into service dog just because you want a constant companion with you while you ride the bus to work in the morning.

Often there is a certificate saying Master Trainer, possibly indicating the completion of a correspondence course without ever having to demonstrated how to properly work a dog in a training routine. It is against the law in all states, I assume to set up shop and offer medical advice, or legal counsel or even plumbing services without a license. Not so in the dog training world. There are no legal requirements or even standards in the way that a dog should be trained.

What truly separates the men from the boys, so to speak, in the dog training world is just one word: Integrity.

If I were to ask what the most important and influential aspect of a business is I would have to say integrity. Without integrity at the forefront of a business’ culture a business is usually doomed to fail. In fact, when integrity is part of the business culture is becomes the heart and soul of the company and can mean the difference between a company that succeeds and one that fails.

In recent times, with the media fueled recession, and business people having a hard time making ends meet often a business’ core values are overlooked in order to salvage a struggling business or to meet the basic needs of a company such as payroll and paying vendors. But, if a business does not take the time to examine it core values and continually live by them, even in the rough times, the business is not operating with an ethical commitment to those that truly have a say in whether they will succeed or fail, and that is it’s customers and clients.


At Denver Dog Works Integrity is so ingrained in our culture that it we strive to continually live by it in our day to day business operation in that we see that we are above and beyond the quacks that give our industry such a bad name. We strive to do this but applying seven basic principles of integrity within our company:


Principle #1 At Denver Dog Works we recognize that our clients want to do business with a company they can trust; when trust is at the core of a company, it is easy to recognize. Trust defined is assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of a business. Dog training is a capricious business. You are dealing with a member of a client’s family and you must remember to treat this relationship as such.

Principle #2 At Denver Dog Works we strive for continuous improvement of our company, and as the leader in an industry we must be willing to open up to ideas for betterment. We ask for opinions and feedback from both clients and team members and by doing so our company will continue to grow.

Principle #3 At Denver Dog Works, regardless of the circumstances, we do everything in our power to gain the trust of our past customer's and clients, particularly if something has gone awry. We strive to do what you can to reclaim any lost business by honoring all commitments and obligations. Yes it is true you can never please everyone. In the dog training world we often dealing with relationship problems, financial constraints and a theory of absolutes (fix my dog or else...). We often deal with unhappy clients because of unrealistic expectations and we must meet them in the middle in order to accomplish a common goal and that is to better the relationship between their dog and the family.

Principle #4 At Denver Dog Works we continually re-evaluate all print/media materials including our small business advertising, brochures and other business documents making sure they are clear, precise and professional; most important we make sure they do not misrepresent or misinterpret our business. This is what I was talking about above. Anyone can say they have the best and train the rest but can they live up to their own motto?

Principle #5 At Denver Dog Works we remain involved in community-related issues and activities thereby demonstrating that our business is a responsible community contributor. In other words, we stay involved. We are actively involved in two local chamber of commerces and attend and host many events where we give back to the local community. In business it should never be just about making money. At Denver Dog Works we don’t just train dogs, we change lives.

Principle #6 At Denver Dog Works we take a hands-on approach in regard to accounting and record keeping, not only as a means of gaining a better feel for the progress of our company, but as a resource for any "questionable " activities; gaining control of accounting and record keeping allows you to end any dubious activities promptly. Even in a difficult economy where every small business owner is pinching every penny and saving every dime they can, a business must have integrity in regards to the day to day operation of their business. I will admit, this past year was a struggle for us and we seemed to have pulled through and weathered the storm but that did not mean neglecting our vendors or our businesses associates.

Principle #7 At Denver Dog Works we strive to treat others with the utmost of respect. Regardless of differences, positions, titles, ages, or other types of distinctions, we always strive treat others with professional respect and courtesy. This principle is not just in place in the back-room of our training center but to our clients as well. A client should never be seen as a meal ticket or a a way to pay the light bill, but as a relationship that is forged with mutual respect and understanding.

I encourage any feedback you may have and of course share the culture of your business as well. I can be reached anytime by email at train@denverdogworks.com

Posted: http://www.robertforto.com

__________________
Dr. Robert Forto is the training director of Dog Works Training Centers and the host of a weekly radio program, The Dog Doctor Radio Show which can be heard every Saturday at 9:30 am in the Rocky Mountain West or download it anytime. Dr. Forto can be reached through his website at http://www.denverdogworks.com

New Successes, Creative Ideas and Our Culture

New Successes, Creative Ideas, and our Culture
By Robert Forto, PhD



This is a new day of a new week of a new month of a new decade in a new century. It is special isn't it? Last year was a tough year for all of us in this recessed economy where everybody was worried about the future of the world as we knew it. At Denver Dog Works, it was tough on us too. We are thankful for all of our clients, new and old, that helped make our business special. We also took advantage of the down time to receive training for our business, our leaders, our trainers and our staff. This training was expensive, but worth every penny. We learned so many new things about our business, our goals, our values, and our desires. We learned what we need to do to set us apart from the crowd. We learned that we are not just a small fish in a big pond, but a fish that has a considerable influence over the pond that we swim.

In January 2009, we started our Internet radio program, The Dog Doctor Radio Show, that has gotten great reviews and has had on some tremendous guests. We spoke about everything dogs and everything that we love about our furry friends and what makes that relationship special to so many people. We spoke about the Michael Vick controversy, many authors including the most heart-warming story I have every heart about Baxter, the therapy dog that touched so many lives until he last days, and so much more.

We trained several students to become exceptional canine obedience trainers in 2009 and have done so against the wishes of our most vocal competition in our industry. I can not count how many times I have heard from my peers that own dog training schools here in Denver say, “Why are you teaching people how to become dog trainers? Don't you think the business is saturated?” My response is, “It do it because I can, and no, I don't think it is saturated.” We change people’s lives at Denver Dog Works. Whether it be by training people for a new career or providing a service dog for a young child in need. That’s what we do.

In March 2009, I announced my intentions on running the Iditarod in 2013. This is a promise I must keep. My family and I thought about this for a long while and realized that the time is now to begin training for the last great race, as they call it. I am taking this year to get into shape and next year I will run my first qualifying races in Minnesota and Oregon. The monumental feat of running the race is not the race itself but the raising of ten’s of thousands of dollars to train and run the race. We are starting our quest to find corporate sponsors during the second quarter of 2010.

We met many new friends in 2009 that taught us so much. The members of the Aurora and Greenwood Village Chamber of Commerce (Colorado) have been great and I want to personally thank Mark Crowley for all that he does. When I attended a seminar put on by Mark and the Greenwood Village Chamber in late 2008 it changed how we do business forever. It introduced me to social media and what an impact it has had! As many of you know I routinely update twitter and Facebook with news, notes, nuggets of information, and stories that have absolutely nothing to do about dogs, but do you know what? Social media works! I have received so many business leads, new contacts and friends, often while I update driving down the highway at 70 miles per hour going from class to class.

In May 2009, I attended a training program in Neuro-Linguistics from my good friend and “personal trainer for the mind”, Traci Brown. This revolutionary training taught me to think outside the box and harness the potential of my unconscious mind. While many may think this is some New-Age quackery I will be the first to tell you that you are furthest from the truth. This innate communication will change your life!

In July, we moved to our new location and we regret that we haven't had the time to have a grand opening celebration yet. Our new place is only about 70% remodeled due to the fact that through blood, sweat and tears we are doing the re-model ourselves and it is typically only on our days off. In the coming months we will have a grand opening and a ribbon cutting and we will have that bar-b-que that we have been talking about.

In 2010 we are stepping outside the box completely and offering Dog Works Training Centers in select cities throughout the country. While there are many dog training franchises out there, ours is different. We teach new business owners how not only to be great dog trainers but effective and successful business owners as well. Our Dog Works Training Centers business opportunity will change the dog training industry forever.

The 10 Elements of Culture as defined by Denver Dog Works

Much can be said about what makes us the best dog training school in the country. A lot of that lies on our core values and principles of doing business. A lot lies in the education and training we received over the years, moreover, this past year with our branding program that we took with the branding guru of all guru’s David Sandusky and his company, Your Brand Plan. Our work with David changed how we thought about our business and saved our marriage ( as you know, I work with my wife, Michele), but more importantly our work with David allowed us to develop a culture at Denver Dog Works. Over the coming weeks, every Monday, I will post an article about our culture and what sets us apart in a very competitive industry.

The 10 Elements of Culture as defined by Denver Dog Works are:

Integrity
Professionalism
Development
Service Availability and Belief
Character
Self Development
A Event Culture
Structured Activity
Leadership
Fun

I ask that you follow us along in the coming year. As one fast food restaurant chain’s tagline says: We’re going to be big. At Denver Dog Works, we don't just train dogs, we changes lives and I can bet you that we do have the best and train the rest!

I encourage any comments or questions you have about anything at all.

Next Week: Element of Our Culture: Integrity

Posted http://www.robertforto.com

________________________
Dr. Robert Forto is the training director for Dog Works Training Centers and the host of a weekly radio program, The Dog Doctor Radio Show, that can be heard every Saturday at 9:30 am in the Rocky Mountain West or anytime by download. Dr. Forto can be reached through his website at http://www.denverdogworks.com