Sunday, February 28, 2010

Is it Contempt to be a Dad?

Is it Contempt to be a Dad?
By Michele Forto


It isn’t often that the word “rookie” is used to describe my husband and business partner. Recently, Dr. Robert Forto, Ph.D. was encouraged to obtain his credentials toward a press pass and start taking his communications degree to the next level. He also was advised to pursue obtaining his press pass so that he could have access to the start of the Iditarod while he podcasts live to his radio show.

First assignment: Cover the Darrent Williams murder trial.

As his wife, I thought “Wow! That’s a huge responsibility for a citizen journalist with no experience.”

Dr. Forto is receiving a lot of bad press and to be perfectly candid some nasty name calling is going on all because he got a call from our daughter. He did not answer her call; he simply sent a text stating he could not talk. This infraction however, got him detained and questioned by the judge. He was not arrested. He was not read his rights, he was not charged with any crime. He was made an example of for the infraction.

Dr. Forto discovered while being detained that the selected press allowed into the courtroom were there under a lottery drawing. He went through a metal detector and was not questioned regarding a pass to enter. Being a “rookie” he was just following everyone else.

This should not excuse him for his infraction.

I would like to bring the following to everyone’s attention. Just days before Deer Creek Middle School suffered a tragic incident whereas a disturbed individual opened fire on seventh and eighth graders. Our sons attended that school a few years ago so the incident struck us close to home. Our kids know families in that area. What does that have to do with his infraction – everything! Robert is a “rookie” journalist but his first job is being a dad.

We always say Mom’s have the hardest jobs in the world. Well Dad’s do too. My husband chose to do his job as a dad while learning the ropes as a “rookie” journalist which isn’t even his job! He doesn’t get paid to write the article unless it’s picked up. He took the assignment to learn the ropes.

His job is a father first, a business owner second.

For all of those opinions being cast out like stones let’s keep in mind that no matter what your job is, if your child calls you no matter where they are, especially after a recent tragedy, your heart will leap into your throat and you won’t hesitate to answer in one way or another.

I am proud of you Robert for always continuing to learn and challenge yourself but I am the proudest of you for the father you strive to be every day. Your passion in our business flows over into the kids and they are becoming thoughtful young adults. You have taught them the importance of following your dreams and thinking outside the box and to face challenges head on. Go Big or Go Home!

Tags: Robert Forto, Michele Forto, Dog Training Denver, Colorado Dog Training, Citizen Journalist, Denver Dog Works, Dog Training Denver Forum, #dogs #denver #dogtraining
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Michele Forto is the business manager for Denver Dog Works and the host a weekly Radio Program, The Dog Dog Doctor Radio Show heard every Saturday at 9:30 am. Michele can be reached through her website at http://www.denverdogworks.com

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Raw Food Diet for Dogs

Learning to Feed Bones and Raw Food to Boxers
By Leah Morse


This will be the first of a series of blogs that I want to share my experience with learning to feed raw diet to my dogs. It is a controversial way of providing nutrition for your dogs. I am not suggesting that anyone follow these guidelines that I have chosen to do for my own dogs. I am just simply sharing the information that I have found and where I found it. I have seen some amazing changes in the health of my dogs but this is, by any means, a simple way to feed your dog. It takes planning and work. The days that you are tired and don’t feel like preparing an extra meal, or paying for it, for that matter, you still have to do it. Your dogs can’t feed themselves. I have gotten creative at saving on the cost but again this creates more work. I am thankful to own a Vita-mix blender (http://www.vitamix.com) which saves me time and blends down the veggies, raw eggs and shells to liquid if needed. I am simply sharing my experiences. I am not a veterinarian; I am also not a health care professional. This theory of feeding raw species appropriate diet can have serious health risks associated with incorrect handling, preparing and feeding. NEVER EVER FEED COOKED BONES! Cooking bones changes the molecular structure, they become brittle and may splinter which would injure or kill your dog! Do not feed bones that are frozen either, as they can and will ruin your pet’s teeth. All bones must be thoroughly thawed before feeding. Mixing raw meat with cooked meat can cause digestive problems. If feeding raw diet is your goal read as many books and literature as possible. Find people who are already feeding and have experience to have as mentors. Use your own good judgment, when in doubt, don’t do it. The ideas and opinions in this blog are my own and come from feeding my dogs this way since 2008, unless otherwise credited. I am by no means an expert, just sharing my own acquisition of information and observations from my own dogs. Take any ideas that I present here at your own risk and discretion. I, for one, have found it worth it.

After suffering through the agonizing cancer and liver disease deaths of my late great boxers Bohdi and Leelu, I vowed to dedicate myself to being part of finding a solution rather than just a victim of diseases that plague boxers and many other breeds for that matter. I have tried many different top brand highly nutritious dog foods only to be somewhat satisfied. I have gone to many dog food nutrition seminars put on by Iams, NutroMax, Science Diet and others. I experimented with adding supplements and veggies to these great foods. Then the great dog food recall of 2007 happened and Melamine (http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/petfoodrecall/) seemed to be the main problem. In my opinion it seemed that outsourcing their manufacturing to other countries (or at least procuring ingredients from them), quality control is not the same as in the United States to save on their bottom line. I spent thousands of dollars on drugs and medications for a variety of ailments. Though there are many theories out there I, for one, believe that environment and nutrition quality play a huge role in keeping our furry children happy and healthy. I know that when my husband and I started eating healthier and incorporating more fresh nutritious choices into our everyday meals, we began to feel much better and we did not have trouble with as many ailments.

So I made my decision and decided to experiment with raw diet, B.A.R.F diet (Bones and Raw Foods) with my dogs. I was terrified at first. After being a veterinary assistant for 10 years, 20 years in pet retail and now as a professional dog trainer, where I preached to never feed people food, I was going to go against everything I had once believed. Although the bird nutrition classes have always pushed to feed fresh as it was the best. Still grieving from the loss of Leelu (just shy of 10 years when we lost her to the horror of hemangiosarcoma) I wanted to do everything that I could for the eight year old rescued boxer and the eight month old boxer puppy that we had left. I had noticed that Bohdi’s health was starting to go downhill. So I did due diligence and scoured the internet, I ordered books (Dr. Billinghurst’s book “Give Your Dog a Bone” and “Natural Nutrition for Dogs and Cats the Ultimate Diet” by Kymythy R. Schultze C.C.N., A.H.I. I joined B.A.R.F chat networks and groups on Facebook. I found these to be quite informative.

I had read that I should keep track of the health of my dogs. In the beginning, both had moderately shiny coats. Bohdi’s energy level seemed to be declining and Story had a normal puppy energy level. Bohdi was on a thyroid maintenance prescription drug, a Glucosamine supplement, pepcid (prescribed for his daily struggle with a sour stomach) and a daily pain relief prescription drug. Both dogs, as many boxers do, suffered us with their flatulence. Bohdi had stained teeth but had just had a dental cleaning done. Much to my surprise the puppy started to show signs of a small amount of tarter building up on her Carnasal molars. I was feeding Blue Buffalo brand food to both, one of the better and more expensive processed dog foods. One of the things that really bothered me about feeding such expensive processed food was that I seemed to feed the same amount that I was picking up afterward in the dog run. I thought that feeding premium foods was supposed to give you less to pick up. I seemed to feed 40lbs of dog food and then I seemed to pick up the same 40lbs in stool.

I finally broke down and purchased chicken wings with the purpose of feeding them to my dogs. I had found that non wait bearing bones were the best and that chicken wings backs and necks had just about the right ratio of bone to meat. I split the dogs up and gave them each a raw chicken wing. It was a strange experience to feel both the excited anticipation of healthier dogs and also the pit in my stomach that said “What did I just do?” I intently watched as the older dog, Bohdi, cautiously sniffed the wing picked it up and gave it a little shake only to drop it again. He then picked it back up and started to chomp through it. A couple of cracks and smacks and the chicken wing disappeared down his throat as he licked his lips. Bohdi looked at me as if to say “Is that it?” I wasn’t comfortable with giving more until I saw how he handled it. Meanwhile, out in the dog run, Story, the puppy, was shaking and licking her chicken wing. It took her much longer to figure out that it was something she could touch and then that it was more than just a toy but she finally got the job done. I kept my eye on both of them the rest of the evening and as gross as it may seem I kept a close eye on their bathroom habits. The morning after my initial feeding of the chicken wings I was anxious to see what the end result would be. I was terrified and had a rough night of sleep, envisioning a quick trip to the local veterinary hospital to extract the bones from my poor dogs. On the contrary, both dogs were fine and had normal stool, yet smaller amounts and much to my surprise I could actually see the digested bone. White dog stool that literally disintegrated as you tried to shovel it up. Another added bonus was that it did not smell nearly as bad. Third bonus was that Bohdi, who usually has an easily upset stomach, was having no digestive issues that I could see, at all. Last but not least, our dogs did not seem to have foul smelling gas. Day one of feeding Raw Diet appeared to go well. Their next meal would, again, be chicken wings with the addition of pureed celery. Now I would start planning meals and start keeping track of the cost. Research where to get the ingredients cost effectively. I wanted to come up with a system that lowered my risk of contamination in the kitchen and that would be the most sanitary for our dogs. I was also going to really educate myself about supplementation. My experiences will follow in future blogs.

If you have any questions for Leah or would like to learn more about feeding a raw diet to your dogs from someone that has first hand experience, please give us a call at Denver Dog Works at 303-578-9881.

Tags: Denver Dog Works, Dog Training Denver, Colorado Dog Trainers, Leah Morse, Canine Nutrition, Raw Diet for Dogs, Robert Forto, Dog Works Training Centers, Rocky Mountain Classic Canine, Your Brand Plan
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Leah Morse is a canine trainer and the owner of Rocky Mountain Classic Canine in Colorado. Leah also is a contract trainer for Denver Dog Works and a former student. Leah can be reached through Denver Dog Works at http://www.denevrdogworks.com

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Dog Sledding Prehistory

Dog Sledding Prehistory
By Robert Forto, PhD

The art of dog driving started with early man. The area in northern Asia known as Siberia, is the location of some of the most brutal weather conditions on the face of the planet. The bone chilling temperatures produce almost frictionless snow and ice that covers everything for the majority of the year.

The next natural step from dogs pulling firewood along the beaches, or dragging home spoils from the hunt across the frozen, snow covered tundra, was to pulling toboggans and sleds. From ancient bone runners dug up at Savoonga on Saint Lawrence Island, we know that the sled was used between four and five thousand years ago. The dog sledding that these prehistoric people started became a crucial tool for the tribes of the north in the fight against Mother Nature for survival.

The Chukchi and Samoyed tribes of Siberia developed dog driving into an art over the centuries. The Chukchi, according to experts, are the first people that depended seriously on the dogs in order to survive. The Russian scholar, Dr. Robert Crane, wrote, “climatic changes and displacement of the Chukchi by a more powerful southern people combined to force the Chukchi to base their economy on sled dog transportation in order to survive.”

In the long winters of the northern region the sled dog’s contributions were the most prevalent. Time and time again the Chukchi people suffered from the scarcity of

food that continually threatened their very survival. This reality was the catalyst that drove the tribe to develop the sled dog. With this development, the Chukchi had trumped the other arctic tribes who competed fiercely for the limited resources. The native people of the north were able to extend their hunting ranges in direct correlation to the added mobility that their dogs enabled them to achieve by pulling sleds of supplies

The original canines that the Chukchi used were likely descended from the domesticated dogs of their competitors from the southern latitudes. The dog of the north scarcely resembled its southern ancestors a few generations later. They were larger, more rigorous, wolf–like and of course very furry. Their thick outer coats were supplemented with a life sustaining undercoat that helped the canine to retain heat, and fight off the bitter cold of the arctic regions.

These early dogs did more than pull sleds; they were hunters, protectors and companions. The sled dog was to become an important part of history, figuring predominantly in a plethora of history changing events. Most assuredly, without the sled dog many things would be different.

Monday, February 22, 2010

Culture of Denver Dog Works: Self Development

Culture of Denver Dog Works: Self Development
By Robert Forto, PhD



This is the sixth installment in a series on the Culture of Denver Dog Works. I am not 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
An Event Culture
Structured Activity
Leadership
Fun

Self Development at Denver Dog Works and our Culture:

If you want more you have to require more from yourself--Dr. Phil

Being a business owner is tricky business. It takes a tremendous amount of time and even more risk. It is not for the faint at heart or the ill-prepared. It takes a decade of learning in every decision you make every day but you don’t have time to hit the books or research a topic before making a decision that could mean the difference between success and failure of your business.

At Denver Dog Works we pride ourselves in allowing everybody involved to be creative and chase after what they want in business while we give them the tools to make them the best dog trainers in the world. Its hard to share your trade secrets with others. Many even ask me why I do it. It’s simple. I want to be the best dog training school not just in denver but in the world.

We do this in seven key areas: they are: Working Toward Success, Building a Better Team Acquiring New Skills, Giving Back and Getting Back into Focus, Strive Forward to Fulfill our Company Purpose, Help Others with Professional Development and Balancing Work and Life.


Working Toward Success
Our main goal at Denver Dog Works is to continue to work toward success. Not only in business or in our industry but personal achievement as well. If we continue to build our success through our strengths and recognize and correct our weaknesses we will be a much stronger company in the next year. Our goal is to continue to learn from those who have walked a mile in our shoes and to teach those that are looking for guidance.

Building a Better Team

First and foremost my goal as the training director is to build the right team to grow our business. By training most of our team from within in our canine career courses we harvest new talents to complement our business in different training disciplines and philosophies.

Acquiring New Skills

Our business manager’s mantra is: Learn! We continue to learn everyday from our clients, attending seminars, lectures and CEU’s but also from each other. We strive to coach our team in all aspects of business not just dog training. We encourage daily discussion of challenges and issues and offer advice and guidance on these matters.

Giving Back and Getting Back into Focus

At Denver Dog Works we have a service dog training program. This is one way that we give back to our community but it is also how we get back into to focus. A service dog training program takes approximately two years to complete and in that two years you have to be totally focused on the goals that you want to achieve. By training service dogs it brings everything in our culture to the forefront so we can be the best that we can be.

Strive Forward to FulFill our Company Purpose

At Denver Dog Works we strive to improve communication in every way we can. We strive to have organization amongst our team and complete an ambitious list of projects, maintain a high level of customer service, and coach our clients in training their dogs to be the best.

Help Others with Professional Development

At Denver Dog Works we help our team preserve with integrity and to always encourage continual learning as they strive to reach their goals and vision. This is done by working closely with our team and helping them see what they don't know and helping them over come.

Balancing Work and Life

This is the most important area of Self Development in our culture at Denver Dog Works. There has to be a clear boundary between work and personal lives. If one of our trainers, or even us as the owners, work non-stop it will kill any personal goals that we have. You have to have fun and you have to let loose every once in a while because constant work will burn you out. It will become more difficult to muster the energy to work. If you don’t have the energy to work you wont fill inspired and don't have time to enrich your soul. Work affects life and life effects work.

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 

Next Week: An Event Culture

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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, February 20, 2010

The Hidden Nightmare: Animal Hoarding

The Hidden Nightmare: Animal Hoarding
By Robert Forto, PhD


On the latest edition of The DogDoctor Radio Show (http://tinyurl.com/dogdoc) I interview Debbie Jacobs, the author of “A Guide to Living & Working With Fearful Dogs”. Jacobs’s book was a finalist in the 2008 Dog Writers Association of America’s annual writing competition. Her work with fearful dogs is dedicated to he rescued friend, Sunny. Sunny was rescued from Arkansas from an animal hoarder.

“Sunny survived a hoarding situation and was brought to one of the hurricane rescue camps in 2005, where I met him. Over the years I have learned about rehabbing a ‘damaged’ dog and wanted to share that information with other scared/fearful/shy dog owners. Working with a scared dog will be one of the most challenging, frustrating and rewarding experiences a dog owner will ever have.” stated Jacobs.

In Sunny’s case he was rescued from a so-called “sanctuary” where a couple had over 300 dogs in squalid conditions, with all the animals brought there under the guise to “save them.”

Animal hoarding is one of America’s hidden nightmares. A typical hoarder suffers from a mental condition in which they fulfill a need to obtain and “collect” animals, often in deplorable conditions. If you have seen the shows on cable television on A&E and Animal Planet’s Animal Cops series you know what I am talking about.

On the show we talk about what is necessary to help these people suffering from this condition. While neither Jacobs or I are therapists we are often the ones that see animal hoarding situations first hand. I speak about three times when I am confronted with animal hoarding in my daily work as a canine behaviorist with Denver Dog Works and Jacobs re-tells the shocking story of Sunny’s life before he was rescued by Jacobs.

Both of us agree that animal hoarding is a societal problem and one that is not going to go away. The recidivism rate is close to 100% for people suffering from this condition and the court systems have no real way of dealing with it. Sure, you can fine these people or put them in jail for a month or two. But what is that going to do? These people need therapy and intervention not a criminal record.

Jacobs and I discussed the need to research and further study and the need for trainers and other people that come across this dire situation to become proactive and intervene.

We will continue to keep you abreast of this topic and figure what resources are needed to do something about it. We welcome you ideas.

Jacobs lives in Vermont with her husband and four dogs and created the Fearful Dogs website (http://www.fearfuldogs) to help owners and trainers learn about the most effective and humane ways to work with fearful dogs.

The Dog Doctor Radio Show can be heard every Saturday morning at 9:30 am in the Rocky Mountain West or can be downloaded anytime from our website at http://www.denverdogworks.com

If you have a topic or a question for the host of The Dog Doctor Radio Show please email it to live@dogdoctorradio.com
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Dr. Robert Forto is a canine behaviorist and the training director of Dog Works Training Centers and the host of the Dog Doctor Radio Show. Dr. Forto can be reached through his website at http://www.denverdogworks.com

Friday, February 19, 2010

Dog Parks vs. Dog Sports? You Decide

Dog Parks vs. Dog Sports? You Decide
By Robert Forto, PhD


At my training center, Denver Dog Works and in my behavioral practice most of the problems we face are from dogs not getting enough or dogs getting into “trouble” while at the dog park. For those of you that read my articles you will know that I do not like dog parks. They are an ill-conceived idea by city planners that do not know anything about canine behavior.

Of course some do it right, like the nation’s only indoor dog park in Dallas, TX, Unleashed. They have trainers on staff and run the park more like a dog daycare rather than a canine free-for-all. But these conciseness people are few and far between.

Just this past month, The Association for Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) ran an article on this very issue; Inspiring Dog Owners Into Dog Sports and Out of Dog Parks (Sue Sternberg pg. 10-11). I just want to expound on that article for pet owners than may not have access the magazine.

The Dog Park Madness

Almost daily I get a call or an email from someone telling me about the problems they have with their dog because they think he is aggressive, or a story about how their dog was attacked when they were on walks or running loose at a local dog park. I have even addressed this problem and have a class that meets on Saturdays. I call it my Growl Class. You would be surprised of how many people have signed up for it. Not just owners with Colorado's classified banned breeds. We've had everything from miniature poodles to Old English sheep dogs.

People ask me how to deal with overly aggressive dogs that belong to other owners. They ask me to show them how to handle their dog so that they can "teach" someone at the dog park how to handle their dogs. They ask me questions about their own dog not trying to stick up for or defend themselves when they are approached by an aggressive dog. Many people have watched television shows and they were told that the dogs need to work it out for themselves. I say--so far from the truth!

The concept of dog parks was well intended but not a researched enough idea by the local, state, and city governments. The idea of a park is to bring people and families closer together-not to build internal strife and conflict that sometimes resembles doggie gang warfare! Many dog parks allow dogs to run off-leash in lush acreage of surrounding utopia--what a disaster. The main problem stems from people who just do not understand canine pack structure. The City Council's that set up these open space wonderlands are politician's not canine handlers--they should have consulted an expert. What it equals is that the dogs in these parks are out of control. Too often as well, the owners are completely oblivious as to what their dog is doing at the dog park. The owners are often observed using cell phones or doing other things that distract them from monitoring their own dogs' actions.

The average dog owner does not take the time to understand, much less install, pack structure. They do not know how strong the pack instincts are in their family pets. These drives can, and often do, click into high gear when a dog is taken into a park with strange dogs. I meet with people every day that come into my training center and they say that this dog is the alpha dog because he is the male, or he is older, or he is stronger, or he is my favorite. Canine pack behavior is a very complex dynamic that should not be under-estimated. I spent the better part of my career studying pack structure with a team of thirty-five Siberian husky sled dogs. I lived and slept with these dogs. I became a part of their pack. I learned many life lessons from them. The most important one: do not under estimate at dog's potential-ever.

When a new dog comes into a park that other dogs visit every day the new visitor is often seen as an intruder into "the personal territory" of the regular visitor. More often than not they are not seen as a new found friend. This often leads to either territorial aggression, dominance aggression or fear aggression. Instincts kick in and pandemonium develops. Owners are running and screaming towards their dogs, a fight breaks out and the utopia is now in chaos. Someone inevitably gets hurt.

DOG PACKS in the PARK

When a group of dogs, three or more, are allowed to run together in an area where there are no strong pack leaders (human pack leaders), they instinctively try to establish a rank order, or pecking order. If there are several dogs that want to assume a certain rank within this new pack there are often problems. Too often, this results in dog fights to determine what rank a dog will assume.

It is a mistake to assume that every dog in the park is a well-mannered, well-trained pet. Just because its playing with other dogs does not mean that it will play with your dog. The issue of rank has already been settled with these other dogs and the game may be going according to their rules. Your dog will not know the rules and can easily get into trouble. Too often when a fight breaks out between your dog and the leader of this pack the other dogs in the pack will also jump in and go after your dog.

The vast majority of dogs do not want to be pack leaders. They are perfectly happy with their owners assuming the position of leader. As such these dogs expect their pack leader--their owner-- to protect them. That's why these dogs will run to their owner when they fell threatened by another dog. When an owner does not protect his dog the dog is in conflict and loses confidence. When the owner ignores the perceived threat their dogs often move into fight or flight.

When you stop to think about it, normal people would never expect their young children to fight adults that were threatening their home. So why do people expect their young dogs to show aggression to older dogs? In most cases, the owners simply lack the understanding of pack drive and dog training. People get caught in the trap of thinking they have a German Shepherd from working police bloodlines and it should be tough!! Well, it doesn't work that way.

When new owners assume the position of pack leader and they do everything right when their pup is young the dog will grow up to be a confident adult dog. When owners drop the pack structure ball their dogs grow up to be dogs with aggressive issues (either overly aggressive or fearful). This is the primary focus of my work and why my aggression management classes are so successful. Canine training is not about training the dog. It is about educating the owner. I have been known to say that dog training is 90% people and 10% dog. I wholeheartedly believe that. I have conducted many seminars called "Leader of the Pack" and there is a weekly show on cable that promotes "Be a Pack Leader." But do you really know what that means? Do you know how much work, how much time and energy, how much of a commitment it is going to take to give you that empowerment? Being a pack leader to your dog can not, and should not, be compartmentalized in a 30-minute program where the magic of television makes everything alright.

Dog fights are scary business. They could literally mean life and death. I am sure you have heard the horror stories. Is this something that you are ready for? I have been bit hundreds of times--often by the cutest dogs in the neighborhood. I have respect for all dogs. And I make it my business to earn theirs. Aggressive dogs need to be dealt with by a professional. Not an arm-chair quarterback at a dog park shouting "leave it!" because they read a book, or watched a show or attended a chain store puppy class.

My Growl Class is a course out of necessity. People love their dogs and they love the outdoors. But dog parks are a plethora of chaos. Research shows that three out of four dogs are not trained. My definition of training has always been: "Control for you, routine for your dog". If you have a dog that needs work with aggression. If you would like to better understand canine pack structure or if you are tired of your dog getting into fights at the dog park give me a call and we'll talk about it.

Canine Sports

At Denver Dog Works we pride ourselves in being the premiere canine training center in the Rocky Mountain region that specializes in canine sports and working dogs. I have been involved in almost all canine sports at one time or another in my 19-year career in working with dogs. I have been a professional musher, I finished three Siberians in conformation (dog shows) and two as Obedience Trial Champions. I have competed in protection trials and taught many people how to dog sled, scooter and skijor. What does this all mean? It means at Denver Dog Works we can teach you and your dog the true meaning of intrinsic drives and proper exercise and to many dogs the thought of having a “job” to do is reason to celebrate!

As trainers we need to think outside the box a bit and encourage people to try new things with their dogs. In my opinion the dog park should be an option of last resort. What happened to the days of just walking your dog around the block a few times? Instead people are paying thousands of dollars at a doggie daycare because they feel guilty to leave their dog home alone while their child is a latch key kid with a cell phone with mom and dad calling on them every ten minutes to see if they are okay. Insanity.

In fact, most sports that you can participate in with your dog are relatively inexpensive, often less than a cup gourmet coffee a day, if not free.

Where do you go? Denver Dog Works of course. But if you are outside of the Rocky Mountain Region you may want to seek out a training center that offers canine sports classes like agility or competition obedience, tracking or even canine freestyle (dancing with your dog). There is even an organization called Dog Scouts that is like boy/girl scouts for dogs! In the Dog Scouts you and your dog work toward earning merit badges in a variety of sports and activities while promoting good dog training and proper behavior. Dog Scouts even has a camp that you can attend with your dog in Michigan, I think it is.

Give the Dog a Bone

As with any physical activity, the reward has to outweigh the work. Think about it. Is working out at the gym that fun? No. I hate it but the reward of losing weight and training for the Iditarod and feeling good about myself makes me go to the gym every other day.

Canine sports are no different. Once you find a sport that you and your dog enjoy it is easy to get hooked. What a better way to build friendship with fellow dog owners, keep your dog exercised physical and mental fit, and doing something that you enjoy.

“It’s a tough time to be dog. There is so much less access to open spaces, off-leash exercise in secluded rural land, owners have less time, busier schedules and a lot less financial freedom,” says Sternberg.

When an owner and their dog get hooked on to something they love and they excel at this will build a lifetime of bonding, training and community with your dog. This will not only help you and your dog but the community in which you live.

The time is now! Get out and do something with your dog and leave the gourmet coffee to the people that don’t have a dog!

If you would like to find out more about canine sports training or having one of the best trained dogs in the world, contact us at Denver Dog Works at 303-578-9881.

Tags: Dog Training Denver, Denver Dog Works, Denver Dog Trainers, Colorado Dog Trainers, Canine Sports, Working Dogs, #dogs #dogtraining #pets #forto #denver

Citation: The APDT Chronicle of the Dog, Jan-Feb 2010 pg. 10-15 Inspiring Dog Owners Into Dog Sports and Out of Dog Parks by Sue Sternberg.

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Dr. Robert Forto is the training director for Denver Dog Works and Dog Works Training Centers. Dr. Forto hosts a weekly radio program, The Dog Doctor Radio Show every Saturday at http://tinyurl.com/dogdoc Dr. Forto can be reached through his website at http://www.denverdogworks.com

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Doggierobics Anyone?

Doggierobics Anyone?
By Michele Forto


Have the effects of the economy affected your decisions regarding your pets? Did you decide not to train the puppy or rescued dog you have because you feel you can’t afford it. Cut back on your pets care because you’ve lost your job, or even given that dog away or worse abandoned them because your home was foreclosed on.

In today’s economy understandably pets become disposable. This is a sad but true reality in our society. Pets enrich our lives in so many ways and our society has included dogs alone as our number one companions for thousands of years.

Too often in my line of work I see great dogs that have been taken to shelters and luckily get adopted by a person willing to invest in good veterinarian care, socialization, and training for their new dog. The dogs I see most are between the ages of 6 months and 2 years of age. The simple and most common reason is that the dog became more of a hassle than the people bargained for. That Christmas puppy is no longer cute and cuddly, he’s now untrained and still not house trained.

The cost to society outweighs the cost to individuals who decide that getting a pet also means paying for veterinarian care, socialization, and training. When you take your dog to a shelter and you are no longer responsible for their care it becomes society’s burden.

Training your dog is and can be affordable. Getting out and doing things with your dog helps you get exercise too. If you are experiencing economic problems try cutting back on that fitness club membership and trading in the treadmill for the sidewalk or the open space trail just behind your house. Grab your dog and get going on a brisk walk. Eventually you and your dog could be jogging and benefiting from the fresh air and tranquil scenery.

Of course, I am writing this article while it’s snowing in Denver. So how do I apply exercising and training my dog during inclement weather? At Denver Dog Works I offer a lifetime group class on Saturdays. This class gives my clients the opportunity to exercise and train their dogs at least once a week. This is better than no training and no exercise. The group class incorporates socialization as well.

Other training centers offer group classes in a variety of training goals. Talk with your trainer and see if they can design specific training group classes to address your needs and your dogs’ needs. In other words, you could potentially do aerobics with your dog! In fact, become a fan of Denver Dog Works on facebook and be on the lookout for upcoming special group classes like doggierobics.

Many trainers do not take payment plans for their services but several will and several trainers have affordable training options for all income levels. One of the best classes you can take and invest in for your dog is Canine Good Citizen developed and sponsored by the American Kennel Club. I offer these classes at Denver Dog Works for puppies as well as dogs 6 months and older.

The bottom line is your pet will be an asset to you and your family. By providing emotional support and exercise for you. Do not give up on your pet, adjust your way of thinking and breathe some fresh air with Fido and take in a new prospective.

Tags: Denver Dog Works, Dog Training Denver, Canine Training, Puppy Obedience Dog Training, Michele Forto, #dogs #dogtraining your brand plan
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Michele Forto is a certified canine trainer and the CEO (Chief Evaluator Officer) at Denver Dog Works. Michele can be reached through her website at Denver Dog Works (http://www.denverdogworks.com

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Who DAT? NLP in Canine Training

Who DAT? NLP in Canine Training
By Robert Forto, PhD

Many times I am asked at my training school, Denver Dog Works, are you a coach or a trainer? I tell them that I am more of a coach. I work with clients and their dogs in a way that is like no other canine training center in the country. I employ a technique called Neuro-Linguistics or NLP. By using this cutting edge way of training it allows my clients to achieve their goals much quicker. Whether that be basic obedience for their new puppy or competing in a sport such as competition obedience or skijoring. You see, NLP is all about taking charge of your thinking-- finding out about your own thinking patterns and noticing when they become barriers to your success. When you know how you are blocking your own success, you can use your new insights to start to make changes. As most of you know, canine behavior problems often have a root cause of the owner doing (or not doing) something. Whether it be allowing your pup to jump on your friends when they come over or in competition obedience not getting that change of pace just right.

Taking charge is not just about taking charge of your thinking; NLP gives you the chance to take charge of your life. The notion is a revelation to many people when they think about canine training, especially canine sports. The days of dog training at your local big-box store for canine sports are long gone. People increasingly experience not all canine trainers are created equal and many trainers at the local pet department store is just not equipped to train you and your dog to reach your full potential.

Think about it. What if you could learn how to work in harmony with your dog and each of you work in perfect tandem together. Whether it be a simple sit when you meet and greet a stranger or that absolutely fluid movement you have seen the champions do in the obedience ring? Do you want that? Yes, you do!

By incorporating NLP into your training routine it will give you a clear sign that you can be the best and your dog will be one of the best trained dogs in the world. It will take some time to notice that you are putting up obstacles for yourself (and your dog) thats where I can help. But as soon as you are aware of how you are thinking, you are on the road to change and on the road to that championship you have always dreamed of.

Now is the time to take charge of your canine training and destiny. NLP, partnered with canine training, gives you all the help you need.

If you would like to schedule a consult with me on how we can coach you to peak performance, give us a call at 303-578-9881.

_______________________
Dr. Robert Forto is the training director for Dog Works Training Centers and is 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 any time. Dr. Forto can be reached through his website at http://www.denverdogworks.com

Friday, February 12, 2010

How Dental Disease Can Affect Your Pet

How Dental Disease Can Affect Your Pet
By Robert Forto, PhD



I will be the first to admit that I don't bush my dog’s teeth. I know it is a bad thing to do and as a canine behaviorist I should be the strongest advocate for canine health care this just one of those things that I always forget to do, as do most pet owners.

When I adopted my Siberian Husky, Ineka, many years ago the first thing I noticed was he was missing a Canine tooth, one of the large pointed ones. I don't know if he lost it due to injury or decay but it didn't seem to bother him. After several years and of course many bones (said to work well in canine hygiene) we did take him to our vet’s office to have his teeth cleaned. Mind you he was well over 10 years old at that time. They had to do blood work on him to make sure that the anesthesia would not harm him and they had to put him to sleep for the procedure. Several hours later his teeth were cleaned and they had to pull a few of them because they had cavities. I was told this is how they do it now.

Dental Care for Your Pet

If you notice an odor coming from your pet’s mouth it may be a result of some form of dental disease. Your veterinarian can correctly diagnose the problem and suggest treatments. Here are some of the basic facts about dental disease.

According to experts, many pets over the age of two have some form of periodontal disease. Any odor other than nice, clean-smelling breath may indicate a problem. Dental disease is graded in four steps:

Grade I - some tartar and breath odor.

Grade II - heavy tartar and some gum recession; gums are reddened and infected.

Grade III - severe tartar and gum recession; teeth are often loose, gums very reddened and inflamed, severe breath odor.

Grade IV - severe tartar with tooth loss, severely infected gums, gums very receded, swollen and bleeding, and tooth roots are exposed, severe breath odor.

Considering that a human visits the dentist for a toothache, imagine how your pet feels with inflamed gums, heavy tartar and loose teeth. Eating may become difficult. In addition to the discomfort, your pet is at risk for serious health conditions. As bacteria collects along the gum line, it produces acids. These acids gradually inflame the gum tissue, and the ligaments that hold teeth in place. As tartar builds, and works its way under the gum, bacteria and acid continue to erode more tissue. Teeth become loosened, and may start to fall out on their own. Bone from the jaw also becomes affected and starts to reabsorb, leaving loose teeth. As the mouth tissue becomes more swollen and infected, it will eventually start bleeding. Now the bloodstream can pick up the bacteria from the mouth and circulate it through your dog or cat’s entire body. Dental disease has been linked to kidney, heart and sinus infections. This is why your veterinarian may prescribe antibiotics before your pet has any dental work done, as well as after any procedure.

Many clients have said their dog acts like a puppy again once the diseased teeth and resulting infections have been addressed. Loose teeth are usually removed, because too much damage has already occurred, and they can not be saved. Your dog or cat can actually eat quite well and get along with no teeth if necessary and can live a longer and healthier life with a healthy mouth. We urge you to visit your veterinarian and have your pet's teeth and gums evaluated.

This article is provided as a general overview of the topic. Always consult your veterinarian for specific information related to diseases or medical care for pets.

Source: ABKA

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

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Help! I Need a Dog Trainer

Help! I need a Dog Trainer
By Michele Forto


Congratulations! You have decided to train your dog. But you are puzzled by the amount of choices and the differences each website portrays about each canine trainer. This particular blog entry is being written to help you decipher the professionalism you are looking for.
Each website has a plethora of information which is helpful but can become washed out.
Make a list of what goals you have in mind for you and your dog. Then as you are browsing each website, narrow them down by the sites that are able to answer most of your questions and keep your goals in mind.

Get your dog an evaluation. If the trainer does not offer evaluations then move on. Some trainers are beginning to charge for their evaluations; this fee is typically taken off of your package price if you sign up and pay in full. Keep in mind that you are hiring someone who is paid for their time and there are no industry standards or guidelines as to what each trainer can charge for their hourly rate. In the end, you are paying for their expertise whatever that may be.

You watch the dog training shows, and you’ve read the books, maybe you’ve even taken a webinar and you’re ready to train your dog yourself. That’s great. One thing all of those resources fail to tell you is that undertaking the training solely on your own requires a large amount of your time being spent doing nothing but training. Training requires consistency and repetition. I have found my training to be the most successful by following a training formula for 21 straight days. I start with puppy basic obedience then I move up to basic obedience, take into consideration that during adolescence my dog is not going to learn as quickly as he did while he was a puppy. The resources I listed above do not teach you how to understand dog learning theory or behavior. Some trainers possess this knowledge but not all trainers.

Your dog will go through specific learning stages and it is imperative that during each stage you expose your dog appropriately to socialization with people, dogs, and other animals as well as inanimate objects. If you have decided on a puppy it’s a bit easier than if you have rescued an older dog.

Let’s say you adopted a six month old dog he is still young and impressionable. Well not really, he’s had six months to learn a lot of bad habits regarding behavior. His social development has been damaged and you discover that you’re having trouble getting him to listen to commands. This is not just because you rescued a six month old dog, this is also because you have adopted an adolescent dog.

As a trainer I always recommend to my clients who have rescued or adopted a dog of any age to seek out a professional trainer or even a canine behaviorist. I want to see the relationship develop and to see the dog become healthy socially and mentally.

Even if you decide to do the training on your own it is still worth getting an evaluation for yourself and your dog, even if the trainer charges for that evaluation it will be a worthwhile investment. You will get to hear a professional’s opinion regarding your dog and you may receive their training plan which can help you whether you train on your own or make the better choice and hire the trainer to assist you along the way.

Canine training is fast becoming a new recognized certification/vocational job in the United States. As of today there are no formal guidelines nor is there any formal licensing to become a dog trainer. We have general standards that we follow and associations that we belong to in order to continue our education.

As you are browsing the websites and you have narrowed it down to two or three prospective trainers take the time to write down some questions to ask them during your evaluation. Here is a list of questions that should be asked;

How long have you been training?
What methodology do you use in your training style?
What training do you specialize in?
Additional questions will arise during the evaluation and possibly from the trainer’s website. Remember that there are dozens of trainers available to you from many different training styles. Be informed, if the web searches confuse you, ask your veterinarian for a recommendation on a trainer(s).
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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

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Who Are You? Dr. Robert Forto

Who Are You, and What Makes You Special, Anyway? Dr. Robert Forto, PhD
By Michele Forto

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 Dr. Robert Forto, PhD....

Lets get to know Dr. Robert Forto, PhD....

Business Name: Denver Dog Works
Location: Denver, Colorado
Phone: 303-578-9881
Email: rforto@denverdogworks.com
Website: www.denverdogworks.com
Years in Business: 3 1/2 in Denver, 19 years as a canine obedience instructor and behaviorist
Personal Training Philosophy: Know Yourself. Know Your Dog.

Our training philosophy at Denver Dog Works is not a procedure but a lifestyle.

I have learned in the nineteen years of literally living with a pack of dogs and on the sled dog trail that it has offered me a unique perspective. There I was forced to examine my attitude about everything including my dogs. I was constantly challenged to become more open to the language dogs use to communicate with us. This experience confirms our deepest intuitions about the relationship of human beings not only with their dog but every aspect of their lives.

I hope to foster my clients with a diverse and varied understanding of the environment for which they live. I hope to foster a more realistic understanding of their dogs and an increased awareness of the benefits of their companionship.

Drawing on my experience as a kennel owner of many Siberian Huskies I will teach my clients how dog training goes far beyond the elementary instruction of basic obedience; as it must encompass a whole new attitude and lifestyle with their dog. It must touch on the levels of a dog’s own life that are often ignored.

I will bring my client into the world of a dog musher, canine behaviorist, and father of three by using my experience as a lens through which they may broaden their understanding of their dog. The stage will then be set for a balanced, lasting relationship between them and their best friend.

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

I have been training professionally since the summer of 1994 when I attended my first “certification” course. Also in 1994 I started my Siberian Husky sled dog kennel in Duluth, Minnesota on my hobby farm. I began training clients dogs in local parks in a Canine Good Citizen-type training program and offering in-kennel board and train programs for clients. In 2000, I went back to school to earn my doctorate and began research on human-canine communication in the sport of dog sledding and I took a hiatus from dog training for clients. In 2006, my family and I moved to Denver, Colorado and I sought employment as a canine trainer. I sent out three resumes and one person called me back. I interviewed for the job and gave him a stack of certificates and degrees and the owner of the school said, “I don’t care about paper, I want to see how you train dogs.”

I went back into his kennel and got a dog and took it to the training room and showed the owner how I could work the dog through an obedience routine. He hired me the next day and shortly thereafter offered me the training school to lease. In January 2007, we opened Denver Dog Works at that location and have been training in Denver ever since.

How did you get started?

As I stated before, I have been training dogs since the 90’s in competition obedience and conformation with Siberian Huskies, thought by some to be the toughest breed to train, but my work with canines really started to take off when I moved to Minnesota. I literally lived with a pack of 35 sled dogs 24-hours a day. We ran teams all night on the snowmobile trails in the Superior National Forest and then I would come back and take care of the dogs and interact with them and study their behavior. While there is much to be said about pack based training theory today, I learned so much about those dogs that I became an expert in canine body language and communication. In 1997, I was given the opportunity to attend a wolf migration study in Alaska and we conducted research by dog sled and helicopter. That was when they still used radio collars on the wolves and antenna, unlike today where they track them via GPS. I worked on that study for 17 months before returning home to run my sled dog teams for sport. I learned so much about the two species and how to compare and contrast the two. Shortly after my return, I was thirty for knowledge and began to read every book I could get my hands on and took several courses in canine training and behavior. I started to attend seminars and lectures and took exams to become a certified canine trainer.

Are you involved in and dog sports or activities?

I am heavily involved in canine sports. I have several clients that I am working with right now in conformation classes and competition obedience. I am a professional musher and in training for my first Iditarod in 2013. I plan on running a pure-breed Siberian Husky team under the Team Ineka banner.

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

Most of our business comes from referrals, our website, Denver Dog Works, and word of mouth. Denver Dog Works is sought after often as a last resort for dog owners who have tried other training schools and failed for one reason or another. There is a veterinary office right next door to our training center and we receive a lot of referrals and “foot traffic” from there. I am sought out often for canine aggression cases and behavior modification. We take full advantage of social media sites such as Twitter, Facebook, Ustream, YouTube and others. Of course, we do offer a lot of canine sports and working dog programs as well.

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

I belong to several trainer associations and clubs throughout North America. I have found that a lot of trainers in Denver do not refer clients to each other. I don't know why. I speak to a lot of people though networking events at the Chamber of Commerce and I host a weekly radio program, The Dog Doctor Radio Show where we discuss everything that is related to dogs.

What do you believe are the three most important things to teach a dog?

Loose leash walking, Come (recall) and manners. As I tell my clients all the time, a dog that does not know how to walk on a loose leash is the first candidate for a shelter. Why? because if the relationship between owner and dog is strained on walks (pardon the pun), the owner does not want to interact with the dog, hence that equals lack of exercise, which equals destructiveness. In regards to the recall command, I tell my clients, “who cares if your dog will sit and down on command in your living room, if he won’t come to you at the park, you will have a big problem.”

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

I find dispelling the myths that people have about their dogs the most challenging. I routinely talk about canine evolution and anthropomorphism and how proper relationships should be formed with our canine companions.

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

Patience. Just one word, Patience.

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

Take the time to listen to your clients and encourage them to think outside the box about their dog and their training goals. Also, turn off the T.V. and get out and do something with your dog and that will teach them more about their canine companions than any book or T.V. dog training show.

What was your scariest moment with a dog (or client)?

I have been known to say that I have been bit by the best and trained the rest. In all honesty I have never had a scary moment with a dog but witnessing my wife being attacked by a Dutch Shepherd that we had in training scared me to death. You can read her story about that by clicking here.

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

1. Patience. 2. dogs make better clients than people, 3. and that fear and punishment is the least effective way to get a dog to do what you want.

What was the last training related seminar you attended?

I conducted the last seminar I attended and that was about the misconceptions people have about how dogs behave in dog parks. I was the featured speaker at a conference with several HOA’s and the city of Denver when it was up for debate on whether Denver should add more dog parks.

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

I have read so many books on canine training, behavior, evolution and origin that I cant list them all. Some of the most influential have been the books written by the Monks of New Skeete, the book Dogs: A New Understanding of Canine Origin, Behavior and Evolution. the three book series by (Lindsey) Darwin’s Origin of the Species, Karen Pryor’s Don’t Shoot the Dog, many courses in psychology an learning theory, hundreds of business books and articles, countless hours of research for my dissertation and the thousands of miles on the back of a dog sled and in my kennel have been my greatest teacher.

Anything else you would like to add?

In my opinion,our relationship with our dogs is our greatest gift. I say that not only as a dog trainer and a business owner, but also as a father of three teenagers. Our dogs have taught us so much about life. My work with canines is dedicated to my friends of friends “Ineka and Rutgrr” who have taught me the definition of unconditional love. In addition, to all other sled dog pups that have unselfishly provided comfort, compassion, and unparalleled commitment to humans. This dedication is generally without measure of our right to such gifts or of our own commitment to reciprocate.
It is this affection that has given me the ability to survive, with relative sanity, in an often difficult world. The power of this unconditional love has been the inspiration for this dissertation and the project that produced it. May this project bring power to those who want to chase their dreams. May this project also give us a better appreciation for those creatures with which we share the earth.


_________________
Michele Forto is the business manager and a trainer for Dog Works Training Centers and the co-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 and downloaded anytime. Michele can be reached through her website at http://www.denverdogworks.com

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Mushing Legends: Scotty Allen

Mushing Legends: Scotty Allan
By Robert Forto, PhD


Scotty Allan journeyed to Alaska, attracted by news of the gold strike in the Klondike. Around him were men of action from many different countries, dependent on in a large measure upon animals. It was not long before Allan had a wife, a baby and a dog team, and with his uncanny knack with animals, was well on his way to being a first class dog-puncher. His first leader was named Dubby, a Mackenzie River Husky from the stock of the Hudson’s Bay Company. Dubby led the team the day his venturesome owner decided to sledge across the Bering Strait to Russia. While in Russia, Allan visited some Siberian Eskimos and then headed back to Nome, impressed with the self-sufficiency of those people.

Scotty Allan joined with Judge Albert Fink and other Nome citizens to organize the All-Alaska Sweepstakes, the first official series of sled dog races anywhere. From these races emerged a new kind of hero in the far North, the racing sled dog driver. In preparation for these 408-mile non-stop races, Allan put his team and himself into training. He watched everybody’s diet, gave up smoking and even practiced going without sleep. He must have done something right, for the first eight years of the Sweepstakes, Scotty Allan never finished lower than third and had three firsts and three seconds to his credit. His team consisted of lop-eared freighting dogs, mongrels, and he was proud of their ability on the racing trails.

In more than one race, however, Allan could look back over his shoulder and see John “Iron Man” Johnson’s long string of Siberians slowly gaining on him. Johnson led a team of culls from Fox Ramsay’s other two imported Siberian Husky teams to a record setting win for him in 1910. The handwriting was on the wall for the mixed-breed freighting teams. Johnson’s Siberians beat Allan’s team by nine hours in 1914, and then Leonhard Seppala and his Siberians wrapped it all up in the final three years of the Sweepstakes.

______________________
Dr. Robert Forto is a professional musher training for his first Iditarod racing under the name Team Ineka. Dr. Forto can be reached through his website at http://www.teamineka.com

Monday, February 8, 2010

Culture of Denver Dog Works: Service Availability and Belief

Culture of Denver Dog Works: Service Availability and Belief
By Robert Forto, PhD


This is the fourth installment in a series on 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

Service Availability and Belief at Denver Dog Works and our Culture:

Along with a strong belief in your own inner voice, you also need laser-like focus combined with unwavering determination. -- Larry Flynt

Yes, I know who Larry Flynt is. That is not up for debate. What I interpret from his quote is that in business you have to belief in yourself in business and if you second guess you will not accomplish your goals.

A lot can be said about the way one business approaches it’s day to day operation over another but you know what? That is what separates the businesses that will succeed and those that will fail.

Service Availability

At Denver Dog Works we designed our business on 40 years of collaborated dog training experience. We pride ourselves on our ability to build you a customized training package with the ability to adjust the program as needed if necessary. Learn how to train your dog with Denver Dog Works and experience the best pet relationship you could ever imagine.  At Denver Dog Works you won't feel like your walking through a revolving door. You will feel like your taking your dog to the gym! Our trainers will keep you motivated and wanting to come back. Training is for life! For you and your dog.

Core Beliefs

At Denver Dog Works we truly are a mom and pop business. My wife, Michele, and I work every day to make our business a success and something that we can be proud of. We include our family in our business and if you have stopped in on a Saturday you will see our 12-year old daughter Nicole working right along with us. This is important to us and is what we believe in.

I say that at Denver Dog Works we don’t just train dogs, we change lives. In our work with our service dog training program and our constant reminder of the need for a quick and educated response to canine aggression, we strive to make that our business model. As we have covered in previous articles about our culture; our core beliefs are important to us and they should be important to you.


1.) Integrity: At Denver Dog Works we strive to provide each client with the most up to date thorough training available. We design your training program to fit your needs.

2.) Professionalism: At Denver Dog Works we believe that each client is an individual with individual needs for their dog and their lifestyle. There is no cookie cutter packaging available at Denver Dog Works. Our professional staff takes the time to listen to your goals and concerns during our initial evaluation.

3.) Education: At Denver Dog Works all trainers are certified in canine behavior. All staff members are certified in canine CPR and first aid. We have the best and train the rest! We pride ourselves on continuing our educations and experiences by learning new methods as well as updating old methods. We can teach you how to train your dog for any goal. We specialize in sport training and understand the various methods and tools utilized in sport training.

4.) Quality: At Denver Dog Works we believe in the quality of our training rather than the quantity. There are times when an hour long session isn't going to be enough. In those cases we schedule longer class times to adjust the needs of our clients. We also will address minor behavior issues if they arise in our private lessons and our camp works programs. If it is determined that a larger behavior problem exists we refer you to our canine behaviorist.

Denver Dog Works cares about you and your dog. Our attention to service and customer care gives us the opportunity to expand our availability to you.


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

Next Week: Character

__________________
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

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Pet ID Measures

Pet Identification Measures
By Robert Forto, PhD


Pets can unexpectedly escape through an open door or window, from a vehicle, or even by pulling the leash from your hand. Something really interesting on the other side of the fence might just be enough to entice your dog to jump or dig his way out.

Traveling by car with your pet provides a whole new set of circumstances that Fluffy or Fido might not be used to. If your pet escapes while you’re on the road, there may be little chance he could be returned to you if he is not properly identified.

Consider these measures to keep your pet safe and to help him find his way home again:
 
• Most dogs are used to wearing a collar, so make sure he has an ID tag with your name address and telephone number. If you are traveling, make a temporary tag listing the destination address and telephone number. Consider using a cell phone number that will remain constant, or perhaps list a second number as an alternate. A few dollars for a new ID tag is a cheap investment in case of an emergency.

• A breakaway collar is a good idea for a cat when traveling. Though it would come off if caught on something, at least there’s a chance that someone would find your cat with the collar and ID intact.

• Leave the old license on your dog when moving, at least until you obtain the new one at your destination. Most townships and cities have a database to search the number, so if lost, at least someone could call your old number – and hopefully be directed to your new one. 

• Microchip your pet. This is the ultimate identification of an animal, and many countries now require pets to be microchipped. Most shelters, humane societies and animal control agents have a scanner to read Avid and Home Again chips, the two most popular in the USA. The biggest problem is people do not register the chip with complete information (name, address and current phone number). Many pets have been found with chips, but without a contact in the database, little can be done to return them to their owners. Be sure to update your registration if you move. 

• Tattooing is not as popular as it once was, but still serves as a method of identification. Most tattoos are done inside the thigh of the rear leg, or under an ear flap. Unfortunately, there is not a registration system for tattoos, nor is there one number for a person finding a pet to call (as with a microchip). You might want to keep a photo of the tattoo as well as of the pet, as proof that he or she is yours.
 
• When traveling, it’s a good idea to keep photos of your pet with you, just in case you need to make up flyers on short notice.

Source: ABKA

___________________
Dr. Robert Forto is the training director for 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

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Dog Doctor Radio Show #53

Show Notes: The Dog Doctor Radio Show #53
By Robert Forto, PhD

Week 53 Show

2/06/10

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 Pet Airways interview with Founder Dan Weysel
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


Camp Works Charlie is doing well on his 12 week camp works training program and we are excited to talk to Pet Airways and the trip he took.

Mushing update 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.


Pet Airways

We introduced Dan Weysel the founder and owner of Pet Airways and how the business was brought about with Dan’s dog Zoe. We spoke about the cities that the airline flies too including Ft. Lauderdale, Denver, Chicago, Omaha, N.Y. City, San Fransico. They are adding new cities each month. We talked about the Pet Lounge and how dogs are dropped off and pick (great customer service!)

Commercial

E-travel 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 http://www.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 Pet Airways Interview...

We spoke to the founder and owner Dan Wesyel we spoke about plane set up and how the dogs are taken care of as if they were their own by taking the pets out on walks and even allow you to board your pet if there is a delay or flight problems on the “human” end.

Dan talked about the importance of treating our pets as family and not as cargo. It was a great interview! Check out their webpage at http://www.petairways.com and follow them on twitter at http://www.twitter.com/petairways


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.

Iditarod Start

I will be in Anchorage for the Iditarod start and will report nightly on our sister show, Mush! You Huskies http://www.blogtalkradio.com/teamineka I look forward to meeting a lot of new friends and mushers.

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

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Why Denver Dog Works?

Why Denver Dog Works
By Michele Forto

Lately I have been receiving many inquiries regarding what is Denver Dog Works all about. Dr. Forto has written blog article upon blog article about Denver Dog Works. I’d like to give you a different perspective on what Denver Dog Works is all about.
At Denver Dog Works we perform a detailed evaluation and then I design a training plan and a package to suit your goals and expectations. Because not every person is the same and because not every dog learns at the same pace we have developed a proven process to train you and your dog.

We pride ourselves on the value our training will bring to your dog and your family. The trainers here focus on training everyone involved with your dog not just your dog. We want you to develop a training relationship with your dog. We offer board and trains and can do all of the training for you but we always follow up the training we do with teaching you how to handle your dog as well.

During the evaluation process you will be interviewed and asked specific questions relating to your expectations and goals that you would like to achieve with your dog. Your dog’s behavior will be observed and analyzed. We use this information to analyze your dog for any behavior problems and to assess their strengths and weaknesses. A training plan will be developed and if you are in need of behavior modification a treatment plan will be developed and outlined. The goal of Denver Dog Works is to build your relationship and to strengthen your bond with your dog.

There is not a cookie-cutter approach at Denver Dog Works. We consider each client individually and build each program package to suit their needs and their dog’s abilities. Our style in training is based on operant conditioning, observation of behavior and adjusting the training schedule to meet the dog’s optimum learning levels.
Training with your dog should be fun. It should not feel like a chore. An asset of training with Denver Dog Works is participating in the lifetime group class offered once a week. This class gives you the opportunity to keep your training fresh which keeps your dog on his toes. This class is unique to Denver Dog Works. Having a training center gives us the ability to train you and your dog in a multi-faceted way.

Denver Dog Works is a family friendly training center. We encourage you to include your spouse and your children in the training. Few trainers will allow this. Why would we encourage this type of training? To strengthen the bond between the dog and all family members, not just the person doing the training, we believe the dog should see all humans in the household as its leaders not just one person. Michele works with children as young as two and develops training plans with toddlers and infants to teach the dog boundaries. Toddlers to school aged children learn dog rules and boundaries and a few basic obedience commands.

If you are interested in learning more about Denver Dog Works please visit our website at http://www.denverdogworks.com or give us a call at 303-578-9881.
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Michele Forto is a certified canine trainer and the business manager at Denver Dog Works. Michele can be reached through her website at http://wwww.denverdogworks.com

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Who Are You? Junior Trainer, Nicole Forto

Who Are You, Anyway? Junior Trainer, Nicole Forto
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 junior trainer, my daughter and the Dog Doctor Junior, Nicole Forto.

Lets get to know junior trainer, Nicole Forto,

Business Name: Denver Dog Works
Location: Denver, Colorado
Phone: 303-578-9881
Email: nicole@denverdogworks.com
Website: www.denverdogworks.com
Years working with dogs: I’ve worked with dogs since I was two years old. When I was two we had 36 Siberian Huskies.

Personal Training Philosophy: My training philosophy is positive but not treats there are negative parts but I think when a dog isn’t doing one thing change to something you know they can do and go back to that command later.

Nicole, how did you become interested in working with dogs?


I became interested in dogs from my parents I’ve always wanted to help dogs thats why I want to go to CSU and get a degree in Animal Science and then to Vet school.


Have you received any training as a dog trainer?

Yes, my parents have always helped me with my dog Qyain, Qyain is 2 years old and I’ve completed him in basic obedience, Canine Good Citizen, also Level 1 in protection and that is all thanks to my parents they’ve giving me advice on all of these things and how to improve my techniques.

Would you explain what it is like as a day in the life as a junior dog trainer at Denver Dog Works?

A typical day for me at Denver Dog Works starts by me and my mom feeding and pottying all the dogs then we take them on a fifteen minute walk then to groups of two training then we do socialization after this which takes just about an hour we begin our classes for the day.

What breeds have you worked with so far?

I’ve worked with all sorts of breeds from Akbash to Klee Kai’s. The difference you may not be able to understand by the name but an Akbash is pretty much a dog near the size of a horse very much like a great dane just bigger and furrier. Now a Klee Kai is pretty much a Siberian Husky decreased in size by a lot. Now I’ve worked with Labs, Labradoodles, Rottweiler, German Shepherds, Yorkshire Terriers. But, the main breed I’ve always worked with is Siberian Huskies and don’t get me wrong I love siberian huskies but my favorite breed is a Rottweiler.

How has your involvement with dogs changed your life?

The involvement has changed my life because by the time I get to CSU I will have a greater knowledge then most people in how to work with dogs because I’ve already completed dog CPR twice now so its giving me an advantage for my future.

So what’s next on your agenda?

Next on my agenda for my life is I’m going to be starting lacrosse and hopefully this summer I will be able to go and see CSU and for my birthday I’ll hopefully be going to the Mayhem festival and seeing two of my favorite artists Korn and Rob Zombie. In the dog world I will be helping my dad prepare his team for the Iditarod in 2013.


Do you have any advice for other young men and women who might be interested in learning more about training dogs?

Yes, say you should really get into it but I would say what you do isn’t worth doing unless you enjoy what your doing.

What would you say are the top three things you have learned with working around dogs?

The top three things I’ve learned is one always be cautious. I mean the sweetest dog can actually be the dangerous; two as long as your mood is calm and your collected most often the dog will read off of your energy and he or she will be calm and not anxious; three always have fun!!!!

What was your scariest moment with a dog?

When my moms dog Gina who is aggressive tried to attack another dog and I pulled her off and I was scraped pretty badly by her canine tooth. It definitely made me think a lot differently about aggressive dogs.

Are you involved in any dog sports or activities?

At the moment no but soon I will be helping my dad with getting his dog team together for the Iditarod in 2013.

What do you do when you are not training dogs or working at Denver Dog Works?

I do school or sports right now I’m getting ready to start lacrosse and in August I’ll be doing my 6th year of softball.

I hear you are a frequent guest on The Dog Doctor Radio Show, tell us what that is like?

The Dog Doctor Radio show is actually not what you would think of you would think. Its scary being on the radio with hundreds of people listing it really isn’t that bad.

Nicole, thanks so much for taking the time to visit with us, We are sure you will have a long career in anything you choose to accomplish.

Thank you so much for having me.

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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 and downloaded anytime. Dr. Forto can be reached through his website at http://www.denverdogworks.com

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Dog Sledding Legends: Arthur Walden

Dog Sledding Legends: Arthur Walden

By Robert Forto, PhD


When sled dog racing started to catch on as a winter sport in New England and Canada, the speedy little Siberian dogs with the great endurance had not yet been introduced outside of Alaska. These crossbred dogs still held the inside track. Arthur Walden and Emile St. Godard won many races in New England and Canada during the 1920’s; Walden’s dogs were the big golden Chinooks, a freighting dog, and St. Godard’s were hound-husky crosses, bred for speed.

For his part in the promotion of the sport in New England, Arthur Walden held the inevitable title, “Father of New England Sled Dog Racing.” For nearly twenty years he traveled all over the Northeast, including Canada, driving his teams in races and exhibitions, at schools and fairs. For much of that time his famous dog, Chinook, was on lead, and was a welcome companion at ball games, lectures, and promotional visits. With a breeding program that included not selling any dog that could not reproduce to Walden’s standards, he developed his unique dogs and sold them as sled dogs and pets.

In 1928, Walden, age fifty-six, and with his special breed of sled dog, ventured from New Hampshire and his New England Sled Dog Club, from the races and the farm where he taught dog driving, and joined Admiral Byrd’s Antarctic Expedition. His position was that of dog handler, his chief assistant was his faithful lead dog, Chinook. Chinook did not make it back to New England from his trip to Antarctica and the Manchester (New Hampshire) Union Leader newspaper carried a tribute story to this fine sled dog on January 24, 1929.

Walden returned to New Hampshire and remained a popular speaker on sled dogs. His life touched all the aspects, from dog punching to racing, from kennel manager to explorer. He brought the spirit of the gold rush dog team from Alaska and he instigated sport races a continent away from their original home.

Walden lived to be ninety-one years old, straddling the animated decades from the 1870’s into the 1960’s. Without Arthur Walden, the lore and the lure of the sled dog would be much less than it is.

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Dr. Robert Forto is a professional musher and training for his first Iditarod racing under Team Ineka. Dr. Forto can be reached through his website at http://www.teamineka.com

Monday, February 1, 2010

Culture of Denver Dog Works: Development

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


This is the third installment in a series on 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

Development at Denver Dog Works and our Culture:

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore, Dream, Discover." - Mark Twain

We are on the cutting edge of the dog training world at Denver Dog Works. Everything that we do, whether it be new technology, development of individualized training plans, our customer service team, and our attention to detail, all says our tag-line loud and clear: We Have the Best and Train the Rest.

Sure many companies proport to be the best in their industry. I am sure many of them have won awards from their peers and comrades in their respective businesses, but do you really know what it means to be the best? In my humble opinion it means that you take a moment each day to look at what you are doing right and more importantly what you are doing wrong and you tweak your system to address your challenges.

Sure, this media-biased economic downturn has hurt us all small business owners but we have held steadfast to our belief that we are the best and we continue to evolve every day. We took advantage of the downturn in the economy and the abundance of extra hours in our work weeks and got as much training as we possibly could. We attended a great program that changed the way we do business forever by working with David Sandusky and his Your Brand Plan, I attended training to become a neuro-linguistics practitioner and what a difference that has made in being able to work with my clients and help them be the best they can be and reach their full potential. We hold weekly sales meetings and innovative presentations on how we can work together as a team and work together to be the best.

As I said, the opportunity to take David’s Your Brand Plan program has changed the face of Denver Dog Works. The first way this happened is we found David and hired him as a professional facilitator and allowed him to make the tough decisions that build upon the perceived strengths and weaknesses of our leadership team. This team, mainly me, had trouble seeing the forest for the trees and the work with David allowed me to take a look at it from a different perspective. After doing that, he then helped contain a message that we transmitted and transferred down the rank and file of all that are involved in our business. This has taken us from a mediocre canine training school to one that is sought out all over the world based on the way that we conduct our daily business affairs.

In our course development we truly are cutting edge. I will admit that I have always been a bit of a technology geek and I had a cell-phone when it cost three dollars a minute and I was the first on my block on the Internet in the early 1980’s studying the Dow Jones wires and amassing a $700.00 phone bill that got me in hot water with my parents. In the coming months we are re-working our canine career training course and implementing the new iPad technology to support it. We will be including an iPad in every new student’s package and our course will be fully interactive with video, lecture, webinars, video chat, exams and business development tools. Sure you can do this the old way by writing it all down on paper, but who has time for that? A person told me a long time ago, in order to be a good dog trainer you need to train a lot of dogs. True, but if you don’t have something innovative to offer then you will just be another dog trainer and they are a dime a dozen. It is funny because the person who told me that proports he is an “old school” style trainer and the same three clients and their dogs are still on the trainers homepage as “success stories.”

Some other key areas that we strive to continue to develop and stay abreast of are:

Financial literacy. At Denver Dog Works we must understand budgets, cash flow, bookkeeping and working with other business partners and vendors is a must for any entrepreneur.

We continue to work on our leadership. We recognize that we are the only one in charge of our business. We are not looking for a “bail out” or a promise of a loan. We also recognize that pressures abound since a single decision can grow a business or cripple it.

We at Denver Dog Works strive to stay focussed and committed to the financial success of our company and that spells the difference between success and failure. Yes, we love to train dogs. It is our passion but we also recognize that we are in this to make a living. While we will not ever drive luxury cars or fly on private jets, we love what we do and are proud we chose this as a career.

As we stated in a previous article, integrity is a hallmark of our business. we handle, care for and train other peoples dogs and they are looked upon as a member of their family. We also handle a client’s money and they have contracted us for our services.

We continue to develop our sales techniques, our marketing plans and how to brand ourselves in a very competitive industry. We continue to exercise sound business judgment and allocating our resources with great care. We also know that we must re-charge our own batteries so we can maintain an edge by offering company training and retreats such as white-water rafting as a team building exercises and attending sporting events as a group to build camaraderie.

As I say all the time, all you need to be a dog trainer is a business card, a leash and a smile. But it takes a savoy businessperson to live through the highs and learn from the lows to be one of the greatest dog trainers in the world. We at Denver Dog Works, truly believe we are and that is what sets us apart.

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

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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