Expert Witness for Canine Aggression Litigation
By: Robert Forto, PhD
Attorneys may be uncertain about the benefits of retaining an expert in animal behavior in dog bites cases, or how such an expert can help. This is understandable: In Colorado, and in many other states, the law specifies strict liability for injuries caused by a dog bite. Thus, when only damages are contested, the animal behavior expert's role may be limited. However, if liability is contested, then having an animal behavior expert on your side may mean the difference between winning and losing.
Ten areas in which the opinions of an animal behavior expert can help the dog bite attorney:
1. Whether provocation was a factor in causing the dog to bite;
2. Breed identification and behavioral proclivities of different breeds;
3. The side effects of drugs and how they impact aggressive responding and the safety and reliability of dog training equipment;
4. The behavioral capabilities of the dog at the time the incident happened;
5. The dangerous or vicious nature of the dog in question;
6. The care and maintenance of a dog and how these factors influence behavior;
7. Was the incident foreseeable to the dog owner, or a landlord?
8. How alleged gross misconduct of an owner impacts a dog's behavior.
9. Identification of the dog which did the biting when multiple dogs are involved in an incident;
10. Reconstruct how the incident must have happened for the purposes of discounting or supporting testimony in the case.
Dr. Robert Forto is a qualified expert for both plaintiff and defense counsel in canine behavior, aggression, bites and other pet related attacks. Dr. Forto has over 19 years direct hands-on experience as a canine behaviorist and trainer, lecture, columnist and educator.
Dr. Forto has conducted numerous seminars on the evaluation, assessment and investigation of pet related injuries for attorneys, in-house training programs, home owners associations and city councils. Dr. Forto is available to lecture to consumer attorney organizations, insurance firms, trial lawyers and city governments, municipalities, shelter organizations, non-profits, among others. Dr. Forto has developed a course on the subject and his articles have been published in numerous publications nationally and internationally.
You can follow Dr. Forto on Twitter and Facebook and listen a weekly radio show, The Dog Doctor Radio Show and his subscribe to his forum.
_______________________
If you would like to have Dr. Forto speak with your group concerning pet related injuries or aggression please contact him though his website at http://www.denverdogworks.com
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Coaching for Peak Performance
Coaching for Peak Performance
By Robert Forto, PhD
If you are a small business owner and you want to have a leading edge in your industry consider coaching for peak performance. If you want any of the following give Dr. Robert Forto, a call at 303-522-1727 or contact him anytime through this website.
Would you like to:
Recruit the best
Make effective change
Achieve goals
Enhance performance
Enhance creativity and innovation
Motivate and energize people
Decrease response times
Keep your talented people
Communicate effectively
Improve teamwork
Dr. Robert Forto is a practitioner of Neuro Linguistic Programming, commonly called NLP and he can show you quick results in a minimal amount of time.
A common theme we always hear when consulting with a business or organization is that people are always trying to do more with less. Expectations of employees are rising, while resources are limited. The fight to stay competitive drives this need to innovate continually, to improve products, services and processes.
In some businesses or organizations this pressure leads to tightly managed. Process-led approaches that focus on minimizing errors and maintaining control. These management models have their roots in the days of heavy industry and manufacturing and the drive to control quality. Nowadays, however, these approaches tend to create workforces that lack motivation, intuitive and drive-and are often very stressed.
More and more forward thinking businesses and organizations realize that supporting and developing people is as important as getting the job done, and in fact the job can't get done unless people develop and grown their skills. These businesses and organizations are on the forefront of their industry and put in place performance reviews, feedback tools and training, and increasingly offer individual coaching between manager and employee on an ongoing basis.
Through a consultation with Dr. Robert Forto, you can discover how you can use NLP knowledge and techniques through individual coaching sessions to improve your employee's effectiveness.
The most progressive employers in the nation are using Dr. Forto and his techniques of NLP by integrating coaching into their every day company culture. Rather than formal training sessions where you may have to send one or two employees to an out of state conference, Dr. Forto's coaching program and techniques of NLP can create solutions to problems and attain goals very quickly.
Coaching can be a really worthwhile investment and does not always need to take a huge amount of time. In fact just after a few sessions you can use these techniques anywhere, anytime and in any type of business and as a result improve other peoples thinking and results.
So if you would like to find out more about Dr. Robert Forto's Coaching for Peak Performance program give him a call anytime at 303-752-2818 or contact him through this website.
_________________________
Dr. Robert Forto is a business coach, author, radio show host, professional musher, public speaker and canine behaviorist. Dr. Forto can be reached through his website at http://www.robertforto.com
By Robert Forto, PhD
If you are a small business owner and you want to have a leading edge in your industry consider coaching for peak performance. If you want any of the following give Dr. Robert Forto, a call at 303-522-1727 or contact him anytime through this website.
Would you like to:
Recruit the best
Make effective change
Achieve goals
Enhance performance
Enhance creativity and innovation
Motivate and energize people
Decrease response times
Keep your talented people
Communicate effectively
Improve teamwork
Dr. Robert Forto is a practitioner of Neuro Linguistic Programming, commonly called NLP and he can show you quick results in a minimal amount of time.
A common theme we always hear when consulting with a business or organization is that people are always trying to do more with less. Expectations of employees are rising, while resources are limited. The fight to stay competitive drives this need to innovate continually, to improve products, services and processes.
In some businesses or organizations this pressure leads to tightly managed. Process-led approaches that focus on minimizing errors and maintaining control. These management models have their roots in the days of heavy industry and manufacturing and the drive to control quality. Nowadays, however, these approaches tend to create workforces that lack motivation, intuitive and drive-and are often very stressed.
More and more forward thinking businesses and organizations realize that supporting and developing people is as important as getting the job done, and in fact the job can't get done unless people develop and grown their skills. These businesses and organizations are on the forefront of their industry and put in place performance reviews, feedback tools and training, and increasingly offer individual coaching between manager and employee on an ongoing basis.
Through a consultation with Dr. Robert Forto, you can discover how you can use NLP knowledge and techniques through individual coaching sessions to improve your employee's effectiveness.
The most progressive employers in the nation are using Dr. Forto and his techniques of NLP by integrating coaching into their every day company culture. Rather than formal training sessions where you may have to send one or two employees to an out of state conference, Dr. Forto's coaching program and techniques of NLP can create solutions to problems and attain goals very quickly.
Coaching can be a really worthwhile investment and does not always need to take a huge amount of time. In fact just after a few sessions you can use these techniques anywhere, anytime and in any type of business and as a result improve other peoples thinking and results.
So if you would like to find out more about Dr. Robert Forto's Coaching for Peak Performance program give him a call anytime at 303-752-2818 or contact him through this website.
_________________________
Dr. Robert Forto is a business coach, author, radio show host, professional musher, public speaker and canine behaviorist. Dr. Forto can be reached through his website at http://www.robertforto.com
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Pets as Therapists
Pets as Therapists
By Robert Forto, PhD
This is the first entry in a series of posts about dog law. The subject of dog law is often misunderstood and I hope by providing education to dog owners that it is not just he said, she said, in regards to the rights of our canine companions. The topic today is about canines assisting in therapy for a variety of individuals.
Four out of five people who responded to a recent Psychology Today survey said that when they were lonely, or upset that their pets were often their closest companions. One woman in a difficult family situation wrote that without her dog she “could not tolerate life.”
This finding explains why the most visible benefits of an animal’s companionship are reaped by people who lack normal human relationships: disturbed children, lonely older people, or prison inmates. Therapists and administrators now routinely use animals to treat or manage such patients.
For the most part animals entered into the world of psychology therapy serendipitously. One psychiatrist for example happens to have his dog in his office when a young patient came early for an appointment, then dog became an integral part of the child’s therapy. In the 1970’s an entire course of research was triggered when troubled adolescents in an Ohio State University hospital—many of whom refused to communicate with staff—asked if they could play with dogs used for behavior research, which they had heard barking in a nearby kennel. Even the most withdrawn patients improved after contact with the dogs. Dr. Forto helped develop a study for at risk youth with violent tendencies and paired them up with aggressive dogs for training. The idea behind the premise is to have to individuals with internal conflict learn to work together and to assist one another, cross species, I might add in a way that has never been explored before. The results were nothing short of remarkable. It gave the youth a productive use of their time and they gained valuable skills in caring for and training dogs, but it also gave these aggressive dogs a second chance.
It is not an exaggeration to say that pets can give people a reason to live. Often people institutionalized in prisons have no goals, no responsibilities, and no variety in their lives. Dogs as residents in these prisons make an atmosphere more homelike and can have a wonderful enlivening effect on morale.
A prisoner that is allowed to care for, or even train, a dog while his/her doing time may become more alert, involved and sociable to other inmates and staff. As one prison program director put it “the therapeutic results are nothing short of miraculous.” Dr. Forto was the training coordinator for a prison service dog-training program for a number of years and he can see the benefits of this type of situation. Not only did it change the lives of these prisoners, many of them doing life sentences, but it was their way of giving back to the community as they were a puppy raiser program with a national service dog organization. Their training of these dogs was very successful, much better than the national average and many of these dogs went on to be placed with families in need of a service dog.
Now that scientists in the medical and psychiatric communities have accepted what pet owners have always known—that animals make people feel better—they have set about documenting the psychological effects animals have on people. When people pet dogs, especially ones they have grown attached to, their blood pressure drops. The same thing happens when people talk to a dog—although talking to another person usually raises blood pressure. Even the presence of a dog is comforting. In one study, people who took a standardized anxiety-measuring test when the experimenter’s dog was in the room scored lower than those who took the test with only the human present.
Let’s let Freud, who was an avid dog lover, have the last word on the psychology of dog-people relationships. Here’s how he described the “extraordinary intensity” with which he loved his dog, Topsy: “affection without ambivalence, the simplicity free from almost unbearable conflicts or civilization, the beauty of existence complete in itself…that feeling of intimate affinity of an undisputed solidarity.” While yes, that may sound like psycho-mumbo-jumbo, it is clear what Dr. Freud is trying to say isn’t it?
If you are a therapist and would like to find out more about using a dog in your counseling practice or if you are a prison administrator and would like to explore the benefits of a canine training program at your facility please give us a call. We would be happy to discuss this with you.
Next article: Dogs in the Law
__________________________________
Dr. Robert Forto is the training director of Denver Dog Works and The Ineka Project in Colorado. Dr. Forto is a certified canine behaviorist and develops training programs and consultations nationwide. Dr. Forto can be reached through his website at http://www.denverdogworks.comThursday, June 4, 2009
Socializing Sled Dogs to be Canine Good Citizens
Socializing Sled Dogs To Be Canine Good Citizens
Socialization is the key to making sled dogs safe for people and other dogs. This begins at puppyhood during a critical period of development between three and sixteen weeks. The sport of dog sledding is unique in the world of working dogs. These canine athletes are exposed to a plethora of experiences on the trail – other dogs, sights, sounds, environmental factors, and other circumstances. They encounter people at the start and the finish and along the trail. This could pose for a potential problem if these dogs are not properly socialized.
Sled dogs are raised in a group and are naturally socialized with each other and learn through interaction and what is considered acceptable socialization among dogs. Sled dogs will be expected to interact successfully with many other dogs during their lives, so it is imperative that they learn to behave in a group.
Sled dogs need to learn manners around people as well. Ideally this is done during the critical period of development, when all experiences are new to the puppy and a trainer can have maximum affect of a dog’s personality and temperament.
Dr. Robert Forto (2005) encourages trainers and sled dog enthusiasts to socialize their dogs. At a minimum these dogs should be socialized at least to the point of accepting handling from strangers and at a maximum, training the dogs to pass the Canine Good Citizen Test offered by the American Kennel Club. The purpose of the Canine Good Citizen testing program is to ensure that our favorite companion, the dog, can be a respectable member of the community on and off the trail. A Canine Good Citizen (CGC) dog has been trained to be well behaved in the home, in public places, and in the presence of other dogs.
Can sled dogs be over socialized? You will often hear that many mushers prefer their dogs slightly “wild” fearing that too much socialization could make the dogs “soft” or less willing to work in harness. But taken to that extreme, these dogs can be unruly and downright dangerous to other teams, mushers, and the public.
By contrast, four-time Iditarod Champion Martin Buser often lets his dogs run loose as they come out of the dog truck and they stay right with him until they are hooked up to the sled. Forto explored this in is doctoral dissertation: Chasing the Dream: A Study of Human-Canine Communication in the Sport of Dog Sledding (2005). He arrived at some interesting findings.
To some extent, the amount of socialization is a personal preference, but it is certainly time that sled dogs can be treated as companions and still be hard workers. As all mushers know, a dog’s life on the trail is relatively short. If these dogs could be socialized starting at puppy hood and carry on becoming CGC dogs’ it would be of tremendous benefit to both dogs and people.
Further research could be conducted on the feasibility for sled dogs to become CGC dogs’ and well-trained companions. This would save thousands of dogs from euthanasia, culling by the musher or worse.
Forto laments, “If I were buying a puppy for a pet, I would check its early environment and make sure it was not raised in a kennel with little to no human interaction, with only its mother and littermates for immediate company the first eight weeks of life.”
During this time of critical brain development, it implies so much more than simply animal-to-animal or animal-to-human socialization. What this means is that many an imperfect dog makes a very good sled dog if the owner/trainer has paid strict attention to the socialization during this period of the puppy’s life.
A musher needs to expose his young sled dog puppies to countless situations – crowds, flashbulbs, race chutes, loose dogs, other teams, wild animals, deep snow, running water, ice, streets, ramps, vehicles, small places, strange places – the list is obviously endless. Mushers should get their puppies used to their dog trucks. They should take them to town, and let strangers handle them. While it is true that puppies have a window of say three to sixteen weeks where the capacity to learn can occur, socialization can occur at any time as long as you are careful. The old cliché goes; You can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but you can socialize them to new situations as long as the dog does not perceive it as a fearful situation.
Raising puppies and especially raising them for special jobs as adult dogs requires attention to detail. When people raise puppies as companions they often get them at about eight weeks old, take them home, feed and cuddle them, housebreak them, take them for walks, and play with them. What they are doing (and they are not usually aware of) is providing specialized socialization activities that shape the dog’s future behavior.
The layering and interacting of development and socialization events that produce an adult working dog are precisely unfathomable. This complexity of the developing dog’s behavior should remind the reader how passé the nature versus nurture controversy really is. Although, it was once a compelling question for behaviorists; scientists now understand why nature can not be separated from nurture. When we look at the critical period for social development, we realize that the genetic nature of the dog is shaped by the environment in which the dog is growing up.
To some people this critical socialization period and nature versus nurture and vise-versa sounds like magic. But actually, something permanent is in the dog’s brain that causes it to become genetically unalterable after the critical period is over. For some reason, what is learned is limited to this period. Once “learned” the behavior cannot easily or completely be unlearned. Given how much we as dog trainers, and mushers, know about teaching and learning, it would seem that we could teach the sled dog, and our companions, to behave differently, but the dog does not appear to learn it after the critical period of socialization is over. People do know this: You can’t teach a dog new tricks. But now do they know why?
Resources:
Forto, R. and Bowersox, R., Canine Sciences Level I, course material. ed. 2004.
Forto, R., CHASING THE DREAM: A Study of Human-Canine Communication in the
Sport of Dog Sledding. Doctorate, Human-Canine Communication,
Madison University.
Volhard, J., and W., The Canine Good Citizen: Every Dog Can Be One. New York, NY:
Howell Book House, 1994.
Forsberg, W., “Training Good Citizens,” Mushing Magazine. March/April 1996.
pp. 12-13, & 18.
Coppinger, R., and L., DOGS: A New Understanding of Canine Origin, Behavior, and
Evolution. University of Chicago Press, 2001.
________________________________________________
Robert Forto, Ph.D. (Human-Canine Communication) is a graduate of Canine Communication Studies and is a musher. His research interests include: canine evolution, sled dog history, the Siberian Evaluation for Performance Program and Mushing in the Olympic Games. He can be contacted through his website at http://www.denverdogworks.com
Socialization is the key to making sled dogs safe for people and other dogs. This begins at puppyhood during a critical period of development between three and sixteen weeks. The sport of dog sledding is unique in the world of working dogs. These canine athletes are exposed to a plethora of experiences on the trail – other dogs, sights, sounds, environmental factors, and other circumstances. They encounter people at the start and the finish and along the trail. This could pose for a potential problem if these dogs are not properly socialized.
Sled dogs are raised in a group and are naturally socialized with each other and learn through interaction and what is considered acceptable socialization among dogs. Sled dogs will be expected to interact successfully with many other dogs during their lives, so it is imperative that they learn to behave in a group.
Sled dogs need to learn manners around people as well. Ideally this is done during the critical period of development, when all experiences are new to the puppy and a trainer can have maximum affect of a dog’s personality and temperament.
Dr. Robert Forto (2005) encourages trainers and sled dog enthusiasts to socialize their dogs. At a minimum these dogs should be socialized at least to the point of accepting handling from strangers and at a maximum, training the dogs to pass the Canine Good Citizen Test offered by the American Kennel Club. The purpose of the Canine Good Citizen testing program is to ensure that our favorite companion, the dog, can be a respectable member of the community on and off the trail. A Canine Good Citizen (CGC) dog has been trained to be well behaved in the home, in public places, and in the presence of other dogs.
Can sled dogs be over socialized? You will often hear that many mushers prefer their dogs slightly “wild” fearing that too much socialization could make the dogs “soft” or less willing to work in harness. But taken to that extreme, these dogs can be unruly and downright dangerous to other teams, mushers, and the public.
By contrast, four-time Iditarod Champion Martin Buser often lets his dogs run loose as they come out of the dog truck and they stay right with him until they are hooked up to the sled. Forto explored this in is doctoral dissertation: Chasing the Dream: A Study of Human-Canine Communication in the Sport of Dog Sledding (2005). He arrived at some interesting findings.
To some extent, the amount of socialization is a personal preference, but it is certainly time that sled dogs can be treated as companions and still be hard workers. As all mushers know, a dog’s life on the trail is relatively short. If these dogs could be socialized starting at puppy hood and carry on becoming CGC dogs’ it would be of tremendous benefit to both dogs and people.
Further research could be conducted on the feasibility for sled dogs to become CGC dogs’ and well-trained companions. This would save thousands of dogs from euthanasia, culling by the musher or worse.
Forto laments, “If I were buying a puppy for a pet, I would check its early environment and make sure it was not raised in a kennel with little to no human interaction, with only its mother and littermates for immediate company the first eight weeks of life.”
During this time of critical brain development, it implies so much more than simply animal-to-animal or animal-to-human socialization. What this means is that many an imperfect dog makes a very good sled dog if the owner/trainer has paid strict attention to the socialization during this period of the puppy’s life.
A musher needs to expose his young sled dog puppies to countless situations – crowds, flashbulbs, race chutes, loose dogs, other teams, wild animals, deep snow, running water, ice, streets, ramps, vehicles, small places, strange places – the list is obviously endless. Mushers should get their puppies used to their dog trucks. They should take them to town, and let strangers handle them. While it is true that puppies have a window of say three to sixteen weeks where the capacity to learn can occur, socialization can occur at any time as long as you are careful. The old cliché goes; You can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but you can socialize them to new situations as long as the dog does not perceive it as a fearful situation.
Raising puppies and especially raising them for special jobs as adult dogs requires attention to detail. When people raise puppies as companions they often get them at about eight weeks old, take them home, feed and cuddle them, housebreak them, take them for walks, and play with them. What they are doing (and they are not usually aware of) is providing specialized socialization activities that shape the dog’s future behavior.
The layering and interacting of development and socialization events that produce an adult working dog are precisely unfathomable. This complexity of the developing dog’s behavior should remind the reader how passé the nature versus nurture controversy really is. Although, it was once a compelling question for behaviorists; scientists now understand why nature can not be separated from nurture. When we look at the critical period for social development, we realize that the genetic nature of the dog is shaped by the environment in which the dog is growing up.
To some people this critical socialization period and nature versus nurture and vise-versa sounds like magic. But actually, something permanent is in the dog’s brain that causes it to become genetically unalterable after the critical period is over. For some reason, what is learned is limited to this period. Once “learned” the behavior cannot easily or completely be unlearned. Given how much we as dog trainers, and mushers, know about teaching and learning, it would seem that we could teach the sled dog, and our companions, to behave differently, but the dog does not appear to learn it after the critical period of socialization is over. People do know this: You can’t teach a dog new tricks. But now do they know why?
Resources:
Forto, R. and Bowersox, R., Canine Sciences Level I, course material. ed. 2004.
Forto, R., CHASING THE DREAM: A Study of Human-Canine Communication in the
Sport of Dog Sledding. Doctorate, Human-Canine Communication,
Madison University.
Volhard, J., and W., The Canine Good Citizen: Every Dog Can Be One. New York, NY:
Howell Book House, 1994.
Forsberg, W., “Training Good Citizens,” Mushing Magazine. March/April 1996.
pp. 12-13, & 18.
Coppinger, R., and L., DOGS: A New Understanding of Canine Origin, Behavior, and
Evolution. University of Chicago Press, 2001.
________________________________________________
Robert Forto, Ph.D. (Human-Canine Communication) is a graduate of Canine Communication Studies and is a musher. His research interests include: canine evolution, sled dog history, the Siberian Evaluation for Performance Program and Mushing in the Olympic Games. He can be contacted through his website at http://www.denverdogworks.com
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Mushers Workout
Mushers Workout
By Robert Forto, PhD
If you don’t already know, my name is Dr. Robert Forto and I am the training director and owner of Denver Dog Works and The Ineka Project in Colorado. I am also a professional musher (dog sledding) and motivational speaker. I have been out of mushing for the past several years because, I like to say, life got in the way. I followed my wife, Michele, to Colorado for her to pursue a career as a paralegal, which she hated and now works with me at my dog training school, but I also retired because frankly there is no snow in Denver, despite what you see in those famous beer commercials. The closest place with considerable snow, at least enough to run a dog team, is two hours away in the mountains and if you plan on going up to run during ski season plan on tacking on at least two more hours on your trip home.
But despite those odds I have announced my intentions on running the Iditarod in 2013 but first things first, I need to get back into shape. The past few years I have had at least two surgeries, one on my groin and one on my wrist and being a small business owner I got lazy and ate on the run without any structure or plan.
Many people have asked about my mushers workout and I am here to share it with you. Use the parts that you like and hybridize it if you must. I can assure you it will get you in the best shape of your life, especially if you plan to run with a team of Siberian Huskies.
Mushers Workout
Day 1
10 minute Warm-Up - Cardio
4 Sets (10 reps) each of the following:
Squats – Lat Pulls – Dumbbell Rows – Standing Calf – Seated Calf – Leg Curl
20 minute Cool Down - Cardio
Day 2
10 minute Warm-Up - Cardio
4 Sets (10 reps) each of the following:
Bench Press – Overhead Dumbbell Extensions
3 Sets (15 Reps) each of the following
Incline Press – Seated Shoulder Press – Triceps Press Down
20 minute Cool Down - Cardio
Day 3
10 minute Warm-Up - Cardio
4 Sets (15 reps) each of the following:
Squats – Seated Row – Barbell Curls – Lateral Rows
3 Sets (25 Reps) Walking Lunges
20 minute Cool Down - Cardio
Day 4
Bike Cherry Creek Trail approximately 20 miles or swim 1 mile in pool
Sports
Continue to play indoor lacrosse and hike Colorado 14ers as a team building exercise for Denver Dog Works.
Diet: Starting June 4, 2009
Goal: weight loss and muscle gain. Loss 30 pounds before the snow starts this winter.
Starting weight: 214 pounds on May 27, 2009
A Sample Day
7 am
Breakfast: a bowl of instant oatmeal or one or two eggs
10:30 am
Snack: Fiber One bar
12:30 pm
Lunch: Lean Cuisine
3:00 pm
Snack: Orange, yogurt or pretzels
6:30 pm
Dinner: Lean protein less than a fist size, one green vegetable and/or salad and sometimes a potato or pasta
8:00 pm
Run, Bike, Swim or Mushers Workout
Diet Downfall:
I love coca-cola and I am on my way to totally quitting. I will enjoy water or low calorie juices.
I encourage all of you to follow me on my journey. I will post my progress on my blog and you can track my progress on facebook, twitter, youtube and my websites. If you would like me to speak at your event or if you need a training session for your employees on team building, motivation, leadership and goal setting, give me a call at 303-522-1727.
My motto is: “Never Forget Your Dreams”, I will see you on the trail!
Regards,
Robert Forto
Robert Forto, PhD
Denver Dog Works
_______________________
Dr. Robert Forto is the training director of Denver Dog Works and The Ineka Project in Colorado. He is training for the Iditarod in 2013 and is available for speaking engagements and sponsorship requests. Dr. Forto can be reached through his website at http://www.denverdogworks.com
By Robert Forto, PhD
If you don’t already know, my name is Dr. Robert Forto and I am the training director and owner of Denver Dog Works and The Ineka Project in Colorado. I am also a professional musher (dog sledding) and motivational speaker. I have been out of mushing for the past several years because, I like to say, life got in the way. I followed my wife, Michele, to Colorado for her to pursue a career as a paralegal, which she hated and now works with me at my dog training school, but I also retired because frankly there is no snow in Denver, despite what you see in those famous beer commercials. The closest place with considerable snow, at least enough to run a dog team, is two hours away in the mountains and if you plan on going up to run during ski season plan on tacking on at least two more hours on your trip home.
But despite those odds I have announced my intentions on running the Iditarod in 2013 but first things first, I need to get back into shape. The past few years I have had at least two surgeries, one on my groin and one on my wrist and being a small business owner I got lazy and ate on the run without any structure or plan.
Many people have asked about my mushers workout and I am here to share it with you. Use the parts that you like and hybridize it if you must. I can assure you it will get you in the best shape of your life, especially if you plan to run with a team of Siberian Huskies.
Mushers Workout
Day 1
10 minute Warm-Up - Cardio
4 Sets (10 reps) each of the following:
Squats – Lat Pulls – Dumbbell Rows – Standing Calf – Seated Calf – Leg Curl
20 minute Cool Down - Cardio
Day 2
10 minute Warm-Up - Cardio
4 Sets (10 reps) each of the following:
Bench Press – Overhead Dumbbell Extensions
3 Sets (15 Reps) each of the following
Incline Press – Seated Shoulder Press – Triceps Press Down
20 minute Cool Down - Cardio
Day 3
10 minute Warm-Up - Cardio
4 Sets (15 reps) each of the following:
Squats – Seated Row – Barbell Curls – Lateral Rows
3 Sets (25 Reps) Walking Lunges
20 minute Cool Down - Cardio
Day 4
Bike Cherry Creek Trail approximately 20 miles or swim 1 mile in pool
Sports
Continue to play indoor lacrosse and hike Colorado 14ers as a team building exercise for Denver Dog Works.
Diet: Starting June 4, 2009
Goal: weight loss and muscle gain. Loss 30 pounds before the snow starts this winter.
Starting weight: 214 pounds on May 27, 2009
A Sample Day
7 am
Breakfast: a bowl of instant oatmeal or one or two eggs
10:30 am
Snack: Fiber One bar
12:30 pm
Lunch: Lean Cuisine
3:00 pm
Snack: Orange, yogurt or pretzels
6:30 pm
Dinner: Lean protein less than a fist size, one green vegetable and/or salad and sometimes a potato or pasta
8:00 pm
Run, Bike, Swim or Mushers Workout
Diet Downfall:
I love coca-cola and I am on my way to totally quitting. I will enjoy water or low calorie juices.
I encourage all of you to follow me on my journey. I will post my progress on my blog and you can track my progress on facebook, twitter, youtube and my websites. If you would like me to speak at your event or if you need a training session for your employees on team building, motivation, leadership and goal setting, give me a call at 303-522-1727.
My motto is: “Never Forget Your Dreams”, I will see you on the trail!
Regards,
Robert Forto
Robert Forto, PhD
Denver Dog Works
_______________________
Dr. Robert Forto is the training director of Denver Dog Works and The Ineka Project in Colorado. He is training for the Iditarod in 2013 and is available for speaking engagements and sponsorship requests. Dr. Forto can be reached through his website at http://www.denverdogworks.com
Friday, May 22, 2009
Redemption...Or Not?
Redemption…Or Not?
By Robert Forto, PhD
On this week’s edition of the Dog Doctor Radio Show we are going to talk about the big news story of the week—Michael Vick released from prison. The Dog Doctor Team weighs in on redemption, punishment and community service. While I am sure that most of you know the Michael Vick story unless you have been under a rock for the past two years, he was released from federal prison on dog fighting charges this past week. What brings this story to our forefront is that he is planning on working with the Humane Society of the United States on a campaign directed at at-risk youth. Our question to you is what does a person have to do to receive redemption?
When the story of Vick being released broke I posted on Facebook and Twitter this question and received a lot of responses. While I am sure you are aware our forum is mostly dog owners you will be surprised at what they all said.
The question I posted was: Vick to work with Humane Society. Your thoughts?
I have included some of the comments and they are listed below in bold. My thoughts are in italics. I encourage all of you to comment as well and let’s keep this story alive.
Comment 1: I think it is great. He served his time in jail, now it’s the reconciliation tour.
I agree with this comment and I also believe that we are using situational ethics in this case. I mean, if a pro-football player got in trouble for beating up his girlfriend he would be on the field the next week, right? What separates Vick from this is that it was the callousness and the atrocity of the act of dog fighting and what was done to those dogs. By no means am I condoning the behavior. I actually abhor this, but don’t we go to NASCAR racing for the wrecks, don’t we go to boxing matches for the knockout? Don’t we go to greyhound racing for the dog to catch the rabbit?
Comment 2: Whatever as long as he is serious...he was one of my favorite players in the NFL...cannot stomach him now.
This is also true and I think the same way of Woody Allen. I used to love to watch Vick play ball. His athleticism was second to none. He was entertaining and he brought a passion to a sport that is otherwise lacking but now it will be tough to watch him play. Just like it is tough to watch Woody Allen movies after he was caught in a child abuse scandal. It just makes him somehow “dirty” now.
Comment 3: It would be nothing more than a PR tactic to better his image. He could care less about the lives of the dogs he owned. I think he'd still be at it if he hadn't been caught. I also believe any NFL team that picks him up is in for a world of bad press and upset fans.
This is where redemption comes in for me. All of us have skeletons in our closets. All of us have ill deeds. This is what makes us uniquely human. What does a person have to pay for redemption? What price do they have to pay after they say I am sorry?
Comment 4: Listen as far as I am concerned the ONLY reason he is going to "work" with the Humane Society is because he got caught, I know people deserve a second chance but did these dogs get a second chance? Some did some have been given a life in a cage...hmmm..MAYBE he should spend life in a cage...I am sorry I will stop, seeing first hand what dog fighting does to the dogs...I just can't be objective about this.
Vick, or his PR people, approached the Humane Society and the director went to visit him in prison before his release. And while an article in USA Today says that the director does not condone Vick’s actions he believes he is sincere in his willingness to work with the Humane Society.
Comment 5: Last night on CNN, they had an individual that had adopted one of the dogs. Through love and patience, she gave "Jhumba?" a new life. They reported none of the surviving animals were in shelters. They had either been adopted or were in sanctuaries. "Redemption" for Vick? While I hate the actions, I can't hate the man. His future actions, while under scrutiny, will determine if he’s legitimate or not. I hope, if anything, his mess has exposed the prevalence of dog fighting and made the public more aware of the signs. Something good came from this.
I agree, something good has come from this and with discussions like this will hopefully continue to educate the public about dog fighting and the violence and criminal activities linked to dog fighting. I challenge the Humane Society and all shelters to campaign for more education about animal abuse. We are destined to repeat history unless we are educated about its ramifications.under scrutiny, will determine if he's legitimate or not. I hope. If anything, his mess has exposed the prevalence of dog fighting and made the public more aware of the signs. Something good came from this.
Comment 6: I know that some of these dogs are in "sanctuaries" such as Best Friend’s society. I still DO NOT agree that is a life for a dog, living in an aggressive stance not trusting and still LIVING a life in a "gilded" cage. Sorry I feel and (I know I will be BLASTED for this )but I feel a gentle death is better than living a life in a cage- no matter how "big" it is. I know many will not agree with my feelings on this but oh well!
I disagree with this comment. Many dogs find themselves living in sanctuaries or foster homes for many reasons including as foreclosure victims. I wrote an article about that very subject…… Retired sled dogs, greyhounds, and other working dogs spend their retirement years in some of these same circumstances; it’s still a decent life. Fighting dogs that are confiscated from their “homes” and placed into another sort of kennel environment can still have decent thriving lives. From the research that my wife/co-host Michele has done, all of the dogs have been placed in homes not “gilded” cages. Michele adds, what about all of the other dogs out there being raised to fight? We only know what happened to the dog’s Vick owned, what about the countless others’ that are still living that existence?
Comment 7: Personally I think what he did is unacceptable, but with the way our society works, if you do the time you get a second chance. I hope that he had plenty of time to reconsider what he did, and grew up. This should make him realize that he is not invincible, and he has no choice but to do charity work to reclaim any chance he has of going back to the NFL.
In my opinion what he is did is atrocious! But it is how our society works. My wife/co-host Michele added Martha Stewart received redemption. She is more successful since her release than before. People still tune into her show and buy her merchandise. She went to federal prison for securities fraud. No, she didn’t abuse animals, but her crime received a higher penalty and longer sentence. Not only that, but she didn’t do her time in Leavenworth, noted as one of the toughest federal facilities out there. This is not saying that her time wasn’t tough, I’m just saying that his was done in a harsher environment. Countless other celebrities and politicians have gone to federal prisons and received public redemption for their crimes. Again, I personally do not condone what Mr. Vick was involved in, I’m just asking what’s the price?
Comment 8: Honestly, if he has a change of heart and he finds a dog that he falls in love with...he will find it difficult to forgive himself. No one knows another man's heart...but, I would rather he use his fame and money to help our four-pawed angels than for his selfish endeavors.
I cannot agree more. This is the best comment of all I believe. It sums up all the qualities of forgiveness, human emotion, redemption, restitution and resolution.
Comment 9: Celebrities get the spotlight for whatever they do. Whatever Mr. Vick's intentions are for "volunteering" with the Humane Society, he will undoubtedly benefit from what he will be exposed to and he will learn. And, isn't that the whole point? As pet owners, trainers, and advocates for education, isn't our job to a bad behavior albeit a human bad behavior and teach that individual right from wrong? Rather than punishing them their entire lives for what they were involved in.job to take a bad behavior albeit a human bad behavior and teach that individual right from wrong? Rather than punishing them their entire lives for what they were involved in.job to take a bad behavior albeit a human bad behavior and teach that individual right from wrong? Rather than punishing them their entire lives for what they were involved in.job to take a bad behavior albeit a human bad behavior and teach that individual right from wrong? Rather than punishing them their entire lives for what they were involved in.
This is actually my wife, Michele’s comment to the question. Michele and I co-host the Dog Doctor Radio Show and she and I will speak about this topic in depth on the show.
Comment 10: I believe if he can use what he knows and what he's learned to help eliminate dog fighting than I embrace this idea. I say USE his notoriety to fight the good fight.
Comment 11: I think it all comes down to if you believe people can change, and if there's a point at which they can't or won't. I think that I almost agree with the comment posted earlier that if he finds an animal he cares about, his genuine guilt will punish him a great deal...
So, ladies and gentlemen, sports lovers, and dog enthusiast, what should happen next? Should this person receive redemption or not? Sure, someone has to be an advocate for the dogs. I work tirelessly doing that every day. I have spoken on countless occasions about breed bans, landlord/tenant disputes, canine aggression, bite statistics and much more, but when I do speak I speak the facts of the case and let my peers decide what is right and wrong. I am asking for you to do the same here. What is the price for redemption…in anyone’s case, not just Michael Vick?
____________________________
Dr. Robert Forto is the host of the acclaimed Dog Doctor Radio and the training director of Denver Dog Works and The Ineka Project in Colorado. Dr. Forto can be reached through his website at http://www.denverdogworks.com/
By Robert Forto, PhD
On this week’s edition of the Dog Doctor Radio Show we are going to talk about the big news story of the week—Michael Vick released from prison. The Dog Doctor Team weighs in on redemption, punishment and community service. While I am sure that most of you know the Michael Vick story unless you have been under a rock for the past two years, he was released from federal prison on dog fighting charges this past week. What brings this story to our forefront is that he is planning on working with the Humane Society of the United States on a campaign directed at at-risk youth. Our question to you is what does a person have to do to receive redemption?
When the story of Vick being released broke I posted on Facebook and Twitter this question and received a lot of responses. While I am sure you are aware our forum is mostly dog owners you will be surprised at what they all said.
The question I posted was: Vick to work with Humane Society. Your thoughts?
I have included some of the comments and they are listed below in bold. My thoughts are in italics. I encourage all of you to comment as well and let’s keep this story alive.
Comment 1: I think it is great. He served his time in jail, now it’s the reconciliation tour.
I agree with this comment and I also believe that we are using situational ethics in this case. I mean, if a pro-football player got in trouble for beating up his girlfriend he would be on the field the next week, right? What separates Vick from this is that it was the callousness and the atrocity of the act of dog fighting and what was done to those dogs. By no means am I condoning the behavior. I actually abhor this, but don’t we go to NASCAR racing for the wrecks, don’t we go to boxing matches for the knockout? Don’t we go to greyhound racing for the dog to catch the rabbit?
Comment 2: Whatever as long as he is serious...he was one of my favorite players in the NFL...cannot stomach him now.
This is also true and I think the same way of Woody Allen. I used to love to watch Vick play ball. His athleticism was second to none. He was entertaining and he brought a passion to a sport that is otherwise lacking but now it will be tough to watch him play. Just like it is tough to watch Woody Allen movies after he was caught in a child abuse scandal. It just makes him somehow “dirty” now.
Comment 3: It would be nothing more than a PR tactic to better his image. He could care less about the lives of the dogs he owned. I think he'd still be at it if he hadn't been caught. I also believe any NFL team that picks him up is in for a world of bad press and upset fans.
This is where redemption comes in for me. All of us have skeletons in our closets. All of us have ill deeds. This is what makes us uniquely human. What does a person have to pay for redemption? What price do they have to pay after they say I am sorry?
Comment 4: Listen as far as I am concerned the ONLY reason he is going to "work" with the Humane Society is because he got caught, I know people deserve a second chance but did these dogs get a second chance? Some did some have been given a life in a cage...hmmm..MAYBE he should spend life in a cage...I am sorry I will stop, seeing first hand what dog fighting does to the dogs...I just can't be objective about this.
Vick, or his PR people, approached the Humane Society and the director went to visit him in prison before his release. And while an article in USA Today says that the director does not condone Vick’s actions he believes he is sincere in his willingness to work with the Humane Society.
Comment 5: Last night on CNN, they had an individual that had adopted one of the dogs. Through love and patience, she gave "Jhumba?" a new life. They reported none of the surviving animals were in shelters. They had either been adopted or were in sanctuaries. "Redemption" for Vick? While I hate the actions, I can't hate the man. His future actions, while under scrutiny, will determine if he’s legitimate or not. I hope, if anything, his mess has exposed the prevalence of dog fighting and made the public more aware of the signs. Something good came from this.
I agree, something good has come from this and with discussions like this will hopefully continue to educate the public about dog fighting and the violence and criminal activities linked to dog fighting. I challenge the Humane Society and all shelters to campaign for more education about animal abuse. We are destined to repeat history unless we are educated about its ramifications.under scrutiny, will determine if he's legitimate or not. I hope. If anything, his mess has exposed the prevalence of dog fighting and made the public more aware of the signs. Something good came from this.
Comment 6: I know that some of these dogs are in "sanctuaries" such as Best Friend’s society. I still DO NOT agree that is a life for a dog, living in an aggressive stance not trusting and still LIVING a life in a "gilded" cage. Sorry I feel and (I know I will be BLASTED for this )but I feel a gentle death is better than living a life in a cage- no matter how "big" it is. I know many will not agree with my feelings on this but oh well!
I disagree with this comment. Many dogs find themselves living in sanctuaries or foster homes for many reasons including as foreclosure victims. I wrote an article about that very subject…… Retired sled dogs, greyhounds, and other working dogs spend their retirement years in some of these same circumstances; it’s still a decent life. Fighting dogs that are confiscated from their “homes” and placed into another sort of kennel environment can still have decent thriving lives. From the research that my wife/co-host Michele has done, all of the dogs have been placed in homes not “gilded” cages. Michele adds, what about all of the other dogs out there being raised to fight? We only know what happened to the dog’s Vick owned, what about the countless others’ that are still living that existence?
Comment 7: Personally I think what he did is unacceptable, but with the way our society works, if you do the time you get a second chance. I hope that he had plenty of time to reconsider what he did, and grew up. This should make him realize that he is not invincible, and he has no choice but to do charity work to reclaim any chance he has of going back to the NFL.
In my opinion what he is did is atrocious! But it is how our society works. My wife/co-host Michele added Martha Stewart received redemption. She is more successful since her release than before. People still tune into her show and buy her merchandise. She went to federal prison for securities fraud. No, she didn’t abuse animals, but her crime received a higher penalty and longer sentence. Not only that, but she didn’t do her time in Leavenworth, noted as one of the toughest federal facilities out there. This is not saying that her time wasn’t tough, I’m just saying that his was done in a harsher environment. Countless other celebrities and politicians have gone to federal prisons and received public redemption for their crimes. Again, I personally do not condone what Mr. Vick was involved in, I’m just asking what’s the price?
Comment 8: Honestly, if he has a change of heart and he finds a dog that he falls in love with...he will find it difficult to forgive himself. No one knows another man's heart...but, I would rather he use his fame and money to help our four-pawed angels than for his selfish endeavors.
I cannot agree more. This is the best comment of all I believe. It sums up all the qualities of forgiveness, human emotion, redemption, restitution and resolution.
Comment 9: Celebrities get the spotlight for whatever they do. Whatever Mr. Vick's intentions are for "volunteering" with the Humane Society, he will undoubtedly benefit from what he will be exposed to and he will learn. And, isn't that the whole point? As pet owners, trainers, and advocates for education, isn't our job to a bad behavior albeit a human bad behavior and teach that individual right from wrong? Rather than punishing them their entire lives for what they were involved in.job to take a bad behavior albeit a human bad behavior and teach that individual right from wrong? Rather than punishing them their entire lives for what they were involved in.job to take a bad behavior albeit a human bad behavior and teach that individual right from wrong? Rather than punishing them their entire lives for what they were involved in.job to take a bad behavior albeit a human bad behavior and teach that individual right from wrong? Rather than punishing them their entire lives for what they were involved in.
This is actually my wife, Michele’s comment to the question. Michele and I co-host the Dog Doctor Radio Show and she and I will speak about this topic in depth on the show.
Comment 10: I believe if he can use what he knows and what he's learned to help eliminate dog fighting than I embrace this idea. I say USE his notoriety to fight the good fight.
Comment 11: I think it all comes down to if you believe people can change, and if there's a point at which they can't or won't. I think that I almost agree with the comment posted earlier that if he finds an animal he cares about, his genuine guilt will punish him a great deal...
So, ladies and gentlemen, sports lovers, and dog enthusiast, what should happen next? Should this person receive redemption or not? Sure, someone has to be an advocate for the dogs. I work tirelessly doing that every day. I have spoken on countless occasions about breed bans, landlord/tenant disputes, canine aggression, bite statistics and much more, but when I do speak I speak the facts of the case and let my peers decide what is right and wrong. I am asking for you to do the same here. What is the price for redemption…in anyone’s case, not just Michael Vick?
____________________________
Dr. Robert Forto is the host of the acclaimed Dog Doctor Radio and the training director of Denver Dog Works and The Ineka Project in Colorado. Dr. Forto can be reached through his website at http://www.denverdogworks.com/
Sunday, May 17, 2009
The Power of Your Mind in Dog Training
The Power of Your Mind In Dog Training
By Robert Forto, PHD
Think about it, you are about to head into the ring for a big obedience match or a conformation show. Of course you are nervous. You have worked so hard for this big day. Up until now you and your dog have been in perfect synchronicity. Haven't you? You have done your pre-game prep and you are up next.
Then something catches your dogs eye and your whole dog training world comes crumbling down. Your dog gets spooked, you tense up and your dog pulls away. Your run in the ring ends in chaos and you are disqualified. Something you have worked so hard on for the past two years: all of those individual lessons with your private trainer, the perfect pick of the litter puppy, all that money, gone in an instant!
What if you could change that just by harnessing the power of your mind? No, I am not talking about some freakish mind over matter, late night TV infomercial garbage. I am talking about a centuries old process known as Neuro Linguistic Programing (NLP). In a sense it is a model of how we communicate and our personality. While this process has been around for centuries, the NLP model was developed in the 1970's by Richard Bandler, John Grinder and others. This model explains how we process the information that comes from our outside world. Their belief is "the map is not the territory." And so the internal representations that we make about an outside event are not necessarily the event itself.
Makes sense doesn't it? Even in dog training we can use this process to make you and your dog the the best team in the world. Even if you don't compete and just have a "lazy mutt" that likes to play fetch in the back yard.
You see, Dr. Robert Fortois a practitioner of NLP, and his training school, Denver Dog Workshas a motto: We have the best and train the best. By employing the processes of NLP in our training programs we too can make your dog one of the best too. This is cutting edge training in the dog training world. Nobody does this and that is why they can not hold claim to our title.
Do you want to see how it works? Here's how. Typically what happen is that there is an external event (your dog getting spooked in the ring) an we then run that event though our internal processing. We then make an Internal Representation (I/R) of that event. That I/R of the event combines with a physiology and that creates a state. "State" refers to our emotional state--a happy state, a sad state, a motivated state, or in our case with our dog in the ring, and anxious state. Our I/R includes our internal pictures, sounds and dialogue and our feelings (for example, whether we feel anxious and challenged in our dog's training and performance). A given state is the result of the combination of an internal representations and a physiology. So what happens is that an event comes through our sensory input channels which I can teach you in NLP training and training your dog to be the best.
After the event becomes an I/R it is how our mind processes this information and the outcome that is achieved. We use filters in our mind to accomplish this and this is where the real power of NLP comes into play. For example I am just going to talk about one: Beliefs. Beliefs are generalizations about how our world is. One of the important elements in the NLP model is to find out a persons beliefs about a particular behavior we are trying to model. Richard Bandler says "Beliefs are those things we can't get around." Beliefs are the presuppositions that we have about the way of the world us that we either create or deny personal power to us. So beliefs are essentially our on/off switch for our ability to do anything in the world. In our dog training example. Make you and your dog the best dog team ever! Wouldn't that be great? Go into the ring and get a qualifying score every time? Heck yes it would!
So if you would like to find out more about mind-body dog training, I highly encourage you to give us a call. We truly to have the best and train the rest. Do you want to win too? Yes you do!
Citation: The Accelerated NLP Practitioner Certification Training Manual
__________________
Dr. Robert Forto is the training director of Denver Dog Works and The Ineka Project. Dr. Forto is also a practitioner of NLP and is the host of a weekly show, The Dog Doctor Radio and can be reached through his website at http://www.denverdogworks.com/
By Robert Forto, PHD
Think about it, you are about to head into the ring for a big obedience match or a conformation show. Of course you are nervous. You have worked so hard for this big day. Up until now you and your dog have been in perfect synchronicity. Haven't you? You have done your pre-game prep and you are up next.
Then something catches your dogs eye and your whole dog training world comes crumbling down. Your dog gets spooked, you tense up and your dog pulls away. Your run in the ring ends in chaos and you are disqualified. Something you have worked so hard on for the past two years: all of those individual lessons with your private trainer, the perfect pick of the litter puppy, all that money, gone in an instant!
What if you could change that just by harnessing the power of your mind? No, I am not talking about some freakish mind over matter, late night TV infomercial garbage. I am talking about a centuries old process known as Neuro Linguistic Programing (NLP). In a sense it is a model of how we communicate and our personality. While this process has been around for centuries, the NLP model was developed in the 1970's by Richard Bandler, John Grinder and others. This model explains how we process the information that comes from our outside world. Their belief is "the map is not the territory." And so the internal representations that we make about an outside event are not necessarily the event itself.
Makes sense doesn't it? Even in dog training we can use this process to make you and your dog the the best team in the world. Even if you don't compete and just have a "lazy mutt" that likes to play fetch in the back yard.
You see, Dr. Robert Fortois a practitioner of NLP, and his training school, Denver Dog Workshas a motto: We have the best and train the best. By employing the processes of NLP in our training programs we too can make your dog one of the best too. This is cutting edge training in the dog training world. Nobody does this and that is why they can not hold claim to our title.
Do you want to see how it works? Here's how. Typically what happen is that there is an external event (your dog getting spooked in the ring) an we then run that event though our internal processing. We then make an Internal Representation (I/R) of that event. That I/R of the event combines with a physiology and that creates a state. "State" refers to our emotional state--a happy state, a sad state, a motivated state, or in our case with our dog in the ring, and anxious state. Our I/R includes our internal pictures, sounds and dialogue and our feelings (for example, whether we feel anxious and challenged in our dog's training and performance). A given state is the result of the combination of an internal representations and a physiology. So what happens is that an event comes through our sensory input channels which I can teach you in NLP training and training your dog to be the best.
After the event becomes an I/R it is how our mind processes this information and the outcome that is achieved. We use filters in our mind to accomplish this and this is where the real power of NLP comes into play. For example I am just going to talk about one: Beliefs. Beliefs are generalizations about how our world is. One of the important elements in the NLP model is to find out a persons beliefs about a particular behavior we are trying to model. Richard Bandler says "Beliefs are those things we can't get around." Beliefs are the presuppositions that we have about the way of the world us that we either create or deny personal power to us. So beliefs are essentially our on/off switch for our ability to do anything in the world. In our dog training example. Make you and your dog the best dog team ever! Wouldn't that be great? Go into the ring and get a qualifying score every time? Heck yes it would!
So if you would like to find out more about mind-body dog training, I highly encourage you to give us a call. We truly to have the best and train the rest. Do you want to win too? Yes you do!
Citation: The Accelerated NLP Practitioner Certification Training Manual
__________________
Dr. Robert Forto is the training director of Denver Dog Works and The Ineka Project. Dr. Forto is also a practitioner of NLP and is the host of a weekly show, The Dog Doctor Radio and can be reached through his website at http://www.denverdogworks.com/
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