Dog Parks: Does Denver Need More?

Dog Parks: Does Denver Need More?
"Why I don't Recommend Them"
By Robert Forto, PhD

I have been a canine behaviorist for the past nineteen years and I have to go on the record and state that I do not like dog parks. I think they are an accident waiting to happen. Many people, especially in Denver, Colorado love these parks and they think they are a tranquil place for their dogs to run, romp, and play with other dogs.

After dealing with aggressive and violent dogs my entire career this is the furthest from the truth. I deal with aggressive dogs every day. It is my specialty. While it may be true that many, and maybe most, dogs will do fine at the dog park, with little if no incidents of a problem, you are just bidding your time. A dog park is not a natural place for dogs to be.

In the news this week, the city of Denver (Colorado) is trying to devise a plan to increase the number of dog parks. There are seven in the city right now and they cannot keep up with the rising demand of dog owners and having a place for their furry friends to run off leash. This is only going to lead to disaster!

If I may quote an article placed on CBS4’s website: “So many people have dogs. I think it’s a good place for bringing dogs,” one owner said on the website. “People who live downtown have dogs in small apartments. They bring them to the dog parks and they learn a lot of necessary stuff from other dogs like how to play, you know when to be rough or when not to.”

Are these people crazy! This couldn’t be farther from the truth! I published this article about this same time last year in the Rocky Mountain News’ Your Hub section and I received an overwhelming response from readers agreeing with what I said.

So I encourage you to read this article from the perspective of the dog, not an owner that needs their dog to have a place to “play”. I welcome all comments and of course criticism. But in my opinion, dog parks, especially more of them, are a bad idea.

The Dangers of Dog Parks

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.
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Robert Forto, PhD is the training director for Denver Dog Works in Colorado and the host of a weekly radio show, The Dog Doctor Radio Show. He specializes in canine aggression. Please check out his website at http://www.denverdogworks.com/. He can be reached anytime at 303-752-2818.
Citation: http://www.CBS4denver.com March 23, 2009

Training Your Dog in the Midst of Chaos

Training Your Dog in the Midst of Chaos
By Robert Forto, PhD
Are you tired of the endless stream of negativity, stress and confusion created by the chaos? I don't care if you are talking about the economy, job, boss, colleague, your dog, or anything else. Thriving in chaos is a decision not to get sucked into a negative spiral. The choice is personal responsibility. There are ten considerations that are vital to thriving in chaos and training your dog in the midst of it. Denver Dog Works is known to have the best trainers in the world and we can train the rest. This is why:

1. Communication. I wrote an entire doctorate dissertation on communicating with dogs and I like to think I am an expert on the subject. I have spent a great deal of my life in the company of dogs and I am a better communicator for it. Are you?

In your personal life do you paraphrase to clarify what you hear? Do you read between the lines or guess a person's intent? Do you ask questions and continue to promote dialogue into a topic? Do you make conversations more about you and less about them?

A dog is such a simple soul. He needs a few rules; some exercise, an education, a balanced diet, a place to rest his weary head, and the companionship of a loving master to make him feel secure and happy. These are important ingredients for preventing dog problems. In communicating with him your tone of voice, your posture, your attitude, your understanding will speak eloquently to him. Above all, remember his mother; be fair, be firm, correct him when necessary, forgive him rapidly and love him well. Don't you wish it was that easy to communicate with people?

2. Flexibility. In these ever changing times where everyone is asking for a bailout or a handout you have to be ready at a moment's notice to shift your thinking and stay open to change.
In training your dog, continue to grow your skills, ask your trainer for additional tasks to work on until your next lesson, and be prepared to work through the challenges.

When Obama was campaigning he preached change, change, change. I haven't seen it yet. Have you? But I have had to become more flexible because of this proposed change in my business and personal life. I have become a flexible thinker. Have you?

3. Empowerment. Dump the entitlement attitude and empower yourself to make a change. Nobody owes you anything, either at work, at home or in dog training. You do owe to yourself to be accountable for your every choice and every outcome.

While I am sure I will get in trouble for saying this from a fellow trainer or dog owner, people come to my school all the time and say that they went to a big-box-pet store and the trainer there was awful, or they didn't teach them anything and their dog is worse now than it was before they started. Is that really true? No. The big-box-pet stores offer a method of training that may or may not fit into every pet owners lifestyle or training goals. But they are good at what they do, and what they do best is socialization. If you want more from your dog training classes sign up for private lessons and let the trainer work with you in developing a program to suit your needs. Don't blame anyone for your transgressions or your lack of practice with your dog. Your dog does not have ESP and neither does your trainer. It takes practice to make perfect and practice takes effort.

4. Responsiveness. To be proactive in today's society you must learn to respond quickly to changes in your daily activities. Reacting is simply knee-jerking, while responding involves learned skills, helping you make decisions more quickly. Never waste time and energy complaining.

When I am teaching people how to become certified canine instructors we discuss what I call the passive method: "Maybe it will go away." Maybe it would not. "Maybe he'll outgrow it." "Maybe he would not." Even if he will, it is a rather poor way to handle a dog problem. How many couches can you afford to lose waiting for him to outgrow the chewing stage? Some dogs left uncorrected, chew their way from birth to senility, but any dog can learn to be happy chewing a bone once he learns the no-no's from the yes-yeses. This method does not work in our daily lives and most certainly does not work in training your dog. Be proactive and tackle that next challenge, no matter what it is, and respond!

5. Learning. You should always support and promote lifelong learning. Train yourself (and your dog) to be a learner by using books, tapes, training classes and other programs to enrich your lives. There is no greater satisfaction that learning something new and applying that knowledge in our daily lives. What was the last thing that you learned and how to you apply it today?

6. Innovate. Find different and better ways to solve problems. Learn how to become more creative by visiting your library or searching the Internet. In your quest in training your dog there are so many different and innovative techniques you can use to work through problems and training dilemmas. We at Denver Dog Works are all experts in learning theory and curriculum innovation. We take the most up to date methods and test them daily to see if what you saw on that National Geographic show really works and if we find that they do, or more importantly, don't, we pass that along to our clients.

7. Cutting Back. In our daily lives we are all looking for ways to cut back on expenses and spending such as travel and entertainment. We are holding off buying new cars, appliances, and clothes. But did you know that Americans spend more on their pets that music, movies and video games combined? While I am not suggesting that you don't pamper your pet. I am sure you do. I do splurge on occasion with mine. Use your money wisely and enroll in a dog training program that will give you a good return on your investment. Basic obedience, while a necessity to most, can save you thousands of dollars if your dog thinks your Italian leather couch is a chew toy, or a sports program such as agility or fly ball will provide you with endless hours of low cost fun for your family and your dog.

8. Energy. Stay enthusiastic and forward thinking. Make work fun and exciting. Allow negative discussion but respond with, "What is the worst thing that can happen?" Times are tough. We all know that. Many people have lost their jobs, their retirement, their 401K, and everything else. As a small business owner I am feeling the fear of this economy but I am not letting me get me down. I am taking advantage of this time to start new marketing programs and training classes. Did you know that the businesses that made it through the great depression of the 1930's did not sit back and have a wait and see attitude? They went for it and challenged the normal way of thinking.

In terms of dog training and energy; make your training fun with your dog. Dog training classes are very affordable and allow you to get out of the drudge of the day-to-day stressors and make a difference in you and your dog's relationship and bond and it just might bring your family closer together as well.

9. Accountability. You should be a role model for others by taking responsibility for every decision that you make. Know that you always have three choices: take it, leave it, or change it. So challenge yourself by asking, "So, what's the plan?" If you are a Denver Bronco fan I am sure you know that our quarterback is not only being a cry baby and asking for a trade because he doesn't like the coach but it also shows that he has no accountability for his actions. In terms of dog training: do you want to be the owner who's dog is always getting into fights at the dog park or who jumps on your friends and family when they come over for dinner? No? Then make a choice and change that behavior and enroll in a dog training class or two.

10. Goals. In your daily life you must have a clear account of your goals and keep them in mind at all times. You will not be able to thrive in the chaotic time if you do not have clear objectives. The same goes with dog training. Often we hear from a client that they want their dog to perform at a certain level in a brief period of time and often that is not possible. There are T.V. shows on that fuel this obsession. We are an immediate gratification culture. We want it all and we want it now. That is not just not possible in dog training, or anything else in life for that matter.

So I encourage you, go out there and make a difference. Go out there and change somebody's life for the better. Make your business better if you are an entrepreneur or your company better if you are an employee. Make your dog happier by giving him the greatest gift of all: training. Yes, times are tough but don't let the chaos change your lives. Go out and empower change because we can't wait for someone else to do it.
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Dr. Robert Forto is the host of The Dog Doctor Radio Show and is 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

Sport Racing

Sport Racing
By Robert Forto, PhD

This Saturday, March, 7th marks the official start of this year’s Iditarod Sled Dog Race in Alaska. The Dog Doctor Radio Show hosted by Dr. Robert Forto and presented by Denver Dog Works in Colorado is hosting a show on the sport of dog sledding and the Iditarod. A special announcement is also being made by Dr. Robert Forto of his intentions to run the Iditarod in 2013. Dr. Robert Forto has been a professional musher since 1990 and had to “retire” from dog sledding for a while when “life got in the way” and he had to follow his wife to Denver when she transferred jobs.

“I encourage all of you to listen to this very special airing of the Dog Doctor Radio Show; it will be a show you won’t want to miss! This article is a segment from my doctorate dissertation titled Chasing the Dream: A History of Human-Canine Communication in the Sport of Dog Sledding. This is a sport that is my passion in life,” says Dr. Forto

The Dog Doctor Radio Show can be downloaded from iTunes or by visiting: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/dogdoctor

Sport Racing


The Beginning

Dog racing began long before the invention of the sled. It goes back to when men first began to use dogs to pull small burdens by a simple leather thong. At that juncture in history a strange phenomenon began to unfold. Man discovered that the dogs are fiercely competitive in the hunt, but are not naturally competitive in a race against time to reach a given point. They will compete to catch a rabbit or other small game, but without incentive of the hunt they merely played at running.

However, once a dog is hitched to any burden with a man behind him, for some reason the dog acquires the competitive spirit to race. When the dogs are harnessed to a sled, they become frantic if another team passes them on the trail—but only when a man is with them.
The annuals of history are replete with indications that primitive man raced dogs against each other—if only one dog against another, dragging burdens by leather thongs around their necks. Every early record of encounters with Native Alaskans mentions dogs, and many allude to the racing of them.

The first race in continental North America was held at the St. Paul Winter Carnival in Minnesota in the early 1900’s. In this area, the fur trade was big business and dogs were used more extensively as the Native Americans began to be involved in commerce, and required transportation of more than just their supplies and their belonging. Then later on, the transportation route between St. Paul, Minnesota and Winnipeg, Canada eventually developed into a race event, the St. Paul Winter Carnival Race, that was made famous in the early 1990’s Disney movie, “Iron Will.”

In Alaska the gold rush brought a lot of people and a lot of international attention to the North. The books of Jack London and the poems of Robert Service made the gold rush in the Yukon, or on the Yukon River and in the Klondike famous. Dogs figured predominately in these literary works. The stories of Buck in The Call of the Wild and White Fang were read by hundreds of thousands of people at the time, and they are still best sellers in some areas.

When the gold rush moved on to Nome, Alaska, many miners and prospectors moved with it. One of those people was Scotty Allan, who had come originally from Scotland as a trainer and handler of horses. When he went to Canada and the Klondike, he got into mushing dogs for a living. When he later went to Nome, he got a job with a mercantile hardware company called The Darling. Darling was the owner’s name, and Allan transported supplies from Nome to the outlying camps using Darling’s sled dogs.

In the American West cities had begun to imagine that they needed to be doing something more, they needed to become cities where children could be raised and people were decent. In the West they would probably have an opera, build an opera house, and start to invite opera companies to come and perform. It was vastly different in Alaska.

All Alaska Sweepstakes

In Nome, Alaska the idea was to develop a kennel club, and races for kids first of all were organized. After a while, they decided they needed a major event like the Kentucky Derby, which would be a social event as much as a sporting event. One of the attorneys in town was from Kentucky, and he and the people of Nome hit on the idea of having a long distance sled dog race, which became the Alaska Sweepstakes. For the first years of the race Scotty Allan was the winner and, if not the winner, he was one of the contenders. Later on there were a number of people who had heard about dogs in Siberia which were claimed to be faster or to have better endurance. Several expeditions brought dogs from Siberia over to Alaska. A lot of them were inbred with the native Alaskan dogs. Some of the people continued to race the dogs that were already there in Alaska, which were crosses between hunting dogs and whatever dogs the gold rush had brought. They did recognize, though, that those dogs from Siberia were a little bit different.

The Alaska Sweepstakes fast became a big media event. As the attention of the world was sometimes drawn to the gold rush in Nome, these races caught the imagination of the journalists, writers and the public who read the newspapers. As the news spread, some of these dogs made it south to California as early as 1914, and some of them were used in races started by the new mushing enthusiasts. Most likely, in 1914 or 1915, races were begun in The Pas, Manitoba and other places that had seasonal snow.

A lot of these races were related to using these dogs as working animals, and of the dogs spent most of their careers working in harness, hauling supplies and people around. Then for a short period every winter and spring, these dog drivers would participate in the races, which was their claim to fame; but racing was not the dogs’ full time profession.

Racing in The “Lower 48”

Then in 1925 came the diphtheria serum run. It brought a lot more attention to the dogs resulting in a statue in Central Park, New York of one of the leaders, Balto. Leonhard Seppala claimed it was Togo who deserved the credit though. But at the time dog mushing had spread across North America, and very soon, there were races in New England and in the western states—California, Idaho, and in The Pas, Manitoba. But racing in Alaska was still a big time event.

In the 1920’s, the famous were Leonhard Seppala and a French Canadian named Emile St. Godard. They had different types of dogs. Seppala had the dogs that would later become known as Siberians, although they were not called Siberians at the time, but he was not concerned with registering them. St. Godard had a cross of the native husky type dogs and long-legged coursing dogs like greyhounds and stagehounds. The mushers would load their dogs into box car trains in The Pas and the mushers in New England would load their dogs and travel to The Pas, and they would all go to race in Ashton, Idaho in a race that was to become the Great American Dog Derby.

At this point dog mushing was on a roll. There was an exhibition sled dog race at the Lake Placid Winter Olympics in 1932. There were major races with a lot of publicity throughout North America. Companies, or a company’s owner with a fair amount of money sponsored many of the teams of that day. A man from Chicago who would come up on vacation to The Pas area sponsored St. Godard. He used to tell St. Godard that he was in the meat packing business. Later on there were some people who claimed that he was actually in the Mafia, and describing his profession as a meat packer was one way of putting it.

Although mushing was popular, there were some in New England who felt there was just not enough activity. They thought it would be a lot simpler to award prizes to the dogs without having to race them, so they created two breeds, which they called the Siberian Husky and the Malamute. Rather than determining which dogs were the best because of their racing performance, they would just write down on a piece of paper a breed standard and award prizes because the dogs looked like they ought to be good. This was the foundation of the breed clubs for both dogs, and they continue to this day under the umbrella of the American Kennel Club.
There is at least one account of a breeder/musher named Eva “Short” Seeley who went through her kennel and picked out dogs and decided arbitrarily that this dog was going to be a Siberian Husky, and that dog is going to be a Malamute. Supposedly, some of the Siberians and Malamutes were in the same litter. Fortunately, in Alaska and other parts of the country where dogs were still being used for working, people did not pay any attention to that. Leonhard Seppala did not either for long. He went on for a while breeding white dogs, but then he decided on another type of dog. This had some consequences. In the next twenty years dog mushing did go into a decline. World War II had something to do with it. There were some uses for dogs during the war, but on a large scale, mushing activities in North America, even after the war ended.

Then the races were restarted in Alaska, along with some in New England. They were restarted in The Pas in the early fifties after a delay related to the war. It was a slow period in the sport, and the hope of its revival, because of national and international publicity in the 1920’s and 30’s and the participation in the Winter Olympics, did not happen.

In the early seventies there was a feeling among some people that the big event or the big part of the sport that needed to be saved in order for the sport to survive was open class mushing. During that time a lot of people were saying that they had to have a lot more participation in the open class; they have got to have more people involved so that they can have more open teams. Many people did not get involved because they were not ready to make the kind of commitment it takes to have thirty or forty dogs in their yard. There were a lot of obstacles in those days, and if a musher was not willing to make the commitment, their efforts would often be fruitless. It was those mushers who did make the commitment, who dedicated themselves to dog mushing, who gave up other professions to be dog mushers even through it was not very profitable, may have sustained or saved the sport.

The Iditarod

Many mushers in the 1960’s big ambition was to win the North American or the Rendezvous, which were the biggest mushing events in the world. It was their thought that if they could become famous, they could make a career out of that. Most of these mushers failed to make ends meet. Then in 1973, the Iditarod started. Some of those same mushers scoffed at it and said that mushers would never make it to Nome. They said, the race was never going to be anything. But it immediately became an event, because in a sense, it was a throwback race. It inspired people like the early dog races did. It was more of what the general public imagined dog sledding should be—that is working together with the dogs for long periods of time. When the Iditarod came along it immediately went into the forefront of the sport, and it helped to publicize the sport and bring people back into it.

A Sled Dog in Every State and Europe

About the same time inflation hit an all time high in the United States, the price of gasoline skyrocketed and dog food prices went up. People could not afford to travel anymore. In the 1980’s some other races came on and expanded the sport. The John Beargrease Marathon in Minnesota and the Alpirod in Europe are just two. Again the naysayers had their reservations. Many were opposed to the idea of racing in Europe saying it was a lot of nonsense, that mushing originated in North America and was going to stay in North America, and nobody was going to claim our glory. What was true is that new ideas were being developed in Europe, and that is still true. If a person was to look through a European sled dog publication, they would see all kinds of crazy ideas, and equipment and things that which have not been developed here in North America.

The Alpirod, the first big stage race in a long time, was a European invention. Maybe North Americans were just a bit too inflexible. We in North America have not thought of ways to promote the sport, and that is still true today.

When the Alpirod ended, because some big political and economic problems in France, it really did not make a big impact. There were other races that started. People in Europe were training dogs races and continue to do so because that is the way they enjoy working with their dogs. People in the United States and Canada, who may have planned to run the Alpirod, had to redirect their efforts, and focused on some new races like the rejuvenated The Pas race and The Yukon Quest. The races in Alaska continued to grow as well.

Today there are many races held throughout the winter months in the United States, as long as there is enough snow. Some notable races are the Race to the Sky in Montana, The UP-200 in Michigan, the Triple Crown races in Colorado, The International Pedigree Stage Stop Race and Atta-Boy 300 stage races in Wyoming and Oregon. Sprint and middle distance races are held each year in Minnesota, Maine, New Hampshire, Washington, Wisconsin and various other cold weather locales.

The future of the sport is very bright. A lot of people are running dogs, people are out having fun—recreational mushers who race small teams are the base of the sport today. Their common thread is they like the outdoors and they like to work with their dogs. Many a recreational mushers run dogs in winter carnivals and events put on by hundreds of breed and sled dog clubs throughout North America and Canada. Racing is being done in countries like Australia and Chilé, were they use three-wheeled carts instead of sleds. And as an added bonus the International Federation of Sled Dog Sports was formed with the sole purpose of getting the sport of dog sledding back into the Olympics. There is resurgence in making the Siberian a dual-purpose working dog, on the trail and in the show ring. These areas are where this researcher’s interest truly lie and is the purpose of this dissertation.

Summary

In summary, mushing has been popular for many hundreds of years. Events like the Alaskan Sweepstakes, the Nome diphtheria epidemic and later the establishments of the Iditarod have all contributed to its lure. Mushing has also been aversely affected to some degree or another by such circumstances as were presented in World War II. In spite of setbacks, the sport of mushing has been able to rebound and flourish today and is in fact becoming a worldwide phenomenon.

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Dr. Robert Forto is the host of a weekly show The Dog Doctor Radio Show it can be heard at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/dogdoctor. Dr. Forto can be reached through his website at http://www.denverdogworks.com

Boarding Your Dog

What to Expect When Your Dog Returns Home after Boarding
By Robert Forto, PhD


One of the most common questions asked to us by our clients at Denver Dog Works is, “will my dog remember we when I pick him up?” Of course we all love our pets and most of us will go to the ends of the earth for them and the thought of leaving them in a strange place brings up connotations of horror. But let me assure you that is not the case. Denver Dog Works, and all reputable boarding kennels/training schools, treat your beloved pet as if they were their own.

“I just can’t be away from my dog…”

I like to tell clients its separation anxiety. No, not from the dog but you! Many clients are concerned that their dogs will not remember them or will become overwhelmed by home sickness, this is never the case. Children often spend more waking hours with their teachers than with their parents yet they never forget where home is. During training your dog is well cared for, very active, and enjoy the training experience. After all, every breed of dog exists today has been selectively bred because they serve a purpose in the service of man. They all have jobs. Today dogs that are not trained develop behavior problems. The reason is most often because they need some discipline, education and purpose in life. Obedience replaces that feeling with a feeling of value and purpose. As for you, rather than dwell on how much you will miss your beloved companion for a few weeks, consider the years of pleasure you and your dog will gain through professional obedience training. There are few things in this world as impressive as a well trained dog working in harmony with their owner.

“I am afraid my dog will only listen to you when he comes home.”
Well, that is a very valid concern. For most trainers there is only one person working with your dog. And when your dog returns he only listens to that person, or at least a person with that skill level (something we see all the time, a dog that has been trained somewhere else doesn't work for the owner, but works like a well trained dog for us). What happens is the dog gets used to being trained with a certain tone, cadence, and quality, so when you say the same things the dog doesn't recognize it. We at Denver Dog Works get around that by having at least 2-3 different experienced trainers a day work with your dog. And to help even more we also use our newer staff members help in training so that they don't sound "perfect" when giving commands. This makes it easy for you because the dog is used to hearing the same words, said MANY different ways. So all you have to do is build some respect, and you're good to go!Then there is the question about Respect that we often hear: “What is ‘Respect’ in dog training, and why is it important?”
Respect is the bond between you and your dog that says to your dog that when something else better is going on, and you say something, he should listen. Think about if your dog has his head in the trashcan, and you tell him to stop. If he stops, every time you say it, then that is respect. If he does not, then we can help with that with a few basic techniques.Follow-up Classes are So Important: “Why do I have to follow up with class?”
During the week(s) of training at Denver Dog Works, your dog is introduced to many new behaviors and skills. And when you get him home he will happily show you these commands when asked. But, it's like any new habit or resolution it's still fragile. So, if you do not follow up with more training the behaviors will begin to break down. So, just at the point when fragile behaviors start to waver, you start class. And during that class experience your dog gets the needed repetition and work to cement those behaviors. So can you be away from your dog for training?
Well, that is definitely one of the hardest parts of boot-camp (ok, its like the hardest part). But, think about it this way, if you are considering boot-camp, or the more intensive board and train, that means you have a special circumstance already that you need help with. If you do not get help now, will it weaken your relationship in the future? Also, if you consider the time you'll spend with your dog during his life, then a week or more to make your relationship better is not that bad.But, if you just can't stand to be away, Denver Dog Works does have our Intensive Day training program. It works as well, but takes longer to produce the results you want since he does not stay with us.

When you do finally get your furry friend home follow these simple steps to make his return most enjoyable:

Your pet will undoubtedly be happy to see you when you pick him up. Following a few simple steps will help ease the transition back to home life.

• Overexcitement may make a dog pant a lot and act thirsty. He is probably not really thirsty and had plenty of water available at the training facility. Give him a few ice cubes to tide him over until he settles down.

• Food: ditto. Be aware that excessive drinking and eating may lead to digestive upsets and bloating. Do not feed your pet for at least three hours after coming home from the pet care facility and then limit the food and water you provide until he has settled back into home life.

• Walk your pet upon arrival or allow access to a yard area. Excitement may also cause a change in urination or bowel movements outside his normal schedule.

• Give your pet some personalized attention — some play time or sitting and petting or brushing him will help him get through the excitement stage and calm down.

• A stay at a pet care facility can be very exciting and some dogs charge around barking at other dogs and having a wonderful time. These dogs often leave the facility exhausted but happy, and sleep a lot for the first couple of days they are home.

• Re-establish home patterns by following a normal schedule. Pets love following a schedule — it makes them feel safe and secure and remember to follow the rules your trainer has given you. Training starts the minute you get your dog home or bad habits will re-surface, Quickly!

I hope this helps. Remember that we are professionals and we love our jobs. Your dog’s care and safety is our first priority rest assured we take this very seriously. A board and train program, a boot-camp, a boarding stay and our day training programs are all ways that we, at Denver Dog Works, can help build a better bond with your furry friend. If you would like to inquire about any of our training programs call us anytime at 303-752-2818. We would be happy to speak with you.

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Robert Forto, PhD is the training director of Denver Dog Works and The Ineka Project in Colorado. He hosts a weekly radio show called The Dog Doctor and can be found on iTunes. Dr. Forto can be reached through his website at www.denverdogworks.com

Mitakuye Oyasin
By Robert Forto, PhD

Mitakuye Oyasin in Lakota means “we are all related” or loosely “as one”. I cannot help to think that today’s historic inauguration of President Barack Obama should bring us closer together as a nation, to make us stronger, to make us the most powerful nation in the world.

But as I look deeper into the eerie eye of politics and the intrigue of the Washington elite I ask myself: “will there really be change as Obama promised or will he alienate the people of this great country and mock our personal ideals and values in his rise to power?”

What brings me to this point, with all the pomp and circumstance that took place this day, with the two million people attending this historic event that will go down as an event like no other, is how Obama approached the whole thing.

Don’t get me wrong, I like Obama. I am interested in his approach and I am interested in what he wants to deliver. I am also a registered Independent. I am not some whacko 15-percenter-partisan-only Democrat or Republican. I vote only after a comprehensive, exhausting research of the candidates and their policies. Did you know that only fifteen percent of the people of this country vote strictly for the political agenda? The rest of us, the true mortal souls, vote for our principles and our beliefs.

What I don’t like is how Obama wrapped himself around Lincoln. Don’t you recall that Obama “chose” not to wear a flag lapel pin and was asked about it in his campaign because he said he was wrapping himself in the American flag? You were not wrapping yourself in the flag President Obama; but you are making a monument out of a man in your references to Lincoln. In using his bible for your oath into office, the train ride to Washington, in the countless pictures of you at the Lincoln memorial. What has Obama done with his approach to this inauguration and the inclusion of the symbolism of one of our greatest presidents, Abraham Lincoln? Obama has wrapped himself around a monument. Not Lincoln the man, but Lincoln the monument. Not the man that he was, and Lincoln was a great man, a great president, a great leader, but Obama is assuming the mantel of the monument of Lincoln and that makes me mad and I don’t want to be.

I remember the events of September 11, 2001 vividly and I know, of course, that these events changed history. It prompted every American to become patriots of our great society and our great nation and we chose to show our pride by placing American flags in our front yards and we wore flag lapel pins on our suit jackets and our coats, among other things. We were proud to be Americans and we rejoiced in the fact that we were a nation of one again. I wrote about this Americana in a research paper while I was earning my doctorate. It was titled The Churchill Controversy (Madison University 2001). I have since researched this more and have changed my views on my opinions of the time but that is not the point. This inauguration brings me eerily back to those days and weeks after 9/11 when we as a nation wanted to feel good again. When we wanted to have something to hold on to, when we wanted to have something to sink our teeth in and say “We are all related!”

But in a campaign where Obama said over and over and over again was not about race, was not about creed and was not about being black or white, the events of today made it clear to me that maybe there was an undercurrent of this that followed through the veins of this great historic event. We took a simple man, Lincoln and made him a rock star and that is not right. Obama skittered in on Lincoln’s coat-tails because he thought that was the right thing to do. I guess he thought that would make America proud again. He thought that it would bring us closer together. He thought that his Lincoln references would heal old wounds. But did they?

But while President Obama is making a mantle of Lincoln does he have the courage to stand by his convictions that we have heard so well in his eloquent MLK-esque speeches and his political promises to bring us closer together or will he choose to parlay the responsibility after it is too late?

Does Obama have the courage to stand up and fight for what he believes in or will he succumb to the same old Washingtonian politics that we have gotten so used to? I don’t want to be mad. I want to be supportive. I want to see this nation overcome our paralyzing weakness in this media-biased, fear based, economy and have the fortitude to stand by our convictions and become One again. I want us to become a nation of equals, a nation of strength and moral values that people all over the world will recognize. I want to be able to look back on this event when my grandkids are in history class and say, yes we triumphed and we are a stronger nation for it.

But I don’t know if that is possible. I think our nation is fractured. I think that we want change. I think we expect it but is Obama the right man for the job or his he just shadowing a monument?

Obama has made himself a mantle to Lincoln and he has become President of the United States. Obama is no longer a man. Obama as President has the responsibility to correct history. Is he up for the challenge? Where Bush is no longer President, he is now just a man. For the past seven years Bush has done everything in his power to keep us safe. That has been a tremendous feat. I am sure he has lost sleep over it. Say what you want about Bush and his failed policies, his ignorant approach to the Iraq War, but one thing you cannot deny is he cared about our safety. But that is now on President Obama’s shoulders. Is he prepared for that burden? Former-President Bush’s job is done. Will he sleep better tonight? I hope so.

Back to our Lakota reference: I have spent many a day in a sweat lodge. I have said many prayers for my friends and my enemies. I have suffered in the inpi for past wrongs and have asked for forgiveness. And when I leave Mother Earth’s womb we are Mitakuye Oyasin, we are all related. So tonight I ask that you say a prayer of thanks for anything that George Bush did do. I ask that you say a prayer of healing for anyone who might feel angry today that they may be their best person possible, and I ask you for a prayer for our military leaders and our troops that they may have bravery, courage, and honor, and one last prayer for our new President that he may have vision.

As actor, Denzel Washington said today, “It’s not about what the President says or does, it’s about all of us”. And I hope we all come out of this: Mitakuye Oyasin.

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Dr. Robert Forto has a doctorate in Communications and is routinely published in local and national publications. He can be reached through his website at www.inekaproject.org

Move Over Cesar...The Dog Doctor Radio Show is Here!

Move Over Cesar... The Dog Doctor Radio Show is Here!
by Robert Forto, PhD

My name is Dr. Robert Forto and I am the training director and the owner of Denver Dog Works and The Ineka Project in Colorado. I am an expert in canine aggression and a canine behaviorist.

Starting on Saturday January 31, 2009 at 9:30 am MST we will be premiering a new radio show on http://www.blogtalkradio.com/. The shows focus will be on canine training, working dogs, and canine sports.I chose to promote my show on http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ for several reasons; first radio time, even on AM radio is very expensive, about $1600.00 a hour on a low range signal. and besides does anyone really listen to terrestrial radio anymore? Especially at 6 am on a Saturday morning?

Second, I want to reach a wide audience with The Dog Doctor radio show and being on http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ it will allow us to reach a world-wide audience and we will have a call in number for people to call in with comments and stories of their dogs.

Third, Cesar Millan, better known as The Dog Whisperer, and his national show on National Geographic has nothing on me. I have been doing this for 19 years and I have seen the worst and been bit by the best! With all due respect to Cesar, I do not have the luxury of a staff of hundreds and a full scale production team.

Cesar and his show, books, videos, flashcards, website, and everything else (he is a marketing genius!) have done wonders for the dog training industry and for canine trainers everywhere and any trainer that would "knock" him is nothing but foolish. Sure I have tested many of his methods and have had mixed results but by having him in our living rooms every Friday it has got to be good for business. And it has!One thing that Cesar and his resounding success has brought to us as trainers, well, at least my training school anyway, is that dog owners are expecting what they see on T.V. and in a limited amount of time and effort and that just is not the case. When I tell prospective clients that their aggressive dog will take "X" number of sessions, sometimes months, and "X" number of dollars, sometimes thousands, I inevitably hear, Cesar did it on his show last week in just one session. Ah...the magic of television! Of course all of us live in a immediate gratification culure and we want it all and we want it now (with as little effort as possible of course). I mean do you really like to diet or sweat to the oldies at the gym? No way, we just to be fixed, right?

I digress, back to my reasons for the radio show: fourth. I want to entertain. I am a musician. I was oh so close to being a rock star and signing that huge record deal back in the hey-day of Nirvana, Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam, and the rest of them but I decided to follow a different path and became a professional musher (dog sledding) instead. Now ten years later I am itching to be behind the mic again. Sure it is not in front of thousands in Thunder Bay Canada, on the Fourth of July (if you followed by band Rainmaker you would know) behind a radio mic will suit my desires. I am an Internet geek at heart. I was the first person on the Internet in my neighborhood in the 1980's when the public Internet consisted of Dow Jones reports (I was 12!) and bulletin boards and a $700.00 phone bill (sorry mom).

The Dog Doctor radio show will entertain, I promise. I have more dog stories than Jack London and I have dealt with dogs that make Marley look like an obedience champion! Our show will have weekly guests and call-in's from all over the world. And with it being an Internet radio show their are no filters. Just raw, un-interrupted radio. (what!!..move over Howard....ah, not quite, at least not yet).

Fifth, all that aside, I am an expert. I have worked for 19 years to hone my training techniques and my philosophies. I have tried them all from clickers to touch free to shock collars, and I know what works. I routinely travel throughout North America to offer training sessions to those requesting my services and we have placed service dogs all over the country. I routinely speak on canine aggression and I am a qualified expert in canine aggression for both plaintiff and defense counsel. I can navigate you through the service dog maze and I can teach you how tro become a certified dog trainer. I am the real deal folks and I am the dog doctor. I have even been given the moniker of The Dog Ninja, but I don't think that would be a good name for a radio show do you?

So, I urge all of you to listen to us live at Denver Dog Works or on the Internet at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ starting on Saturday January 31, 2009 at 9:30 am MST. If you miss us you can always download it to your i-pod and listen to The Dog Doctor radio show while you are at the gym (please refer to the paragraph 6 above).We will also keep the discussion alive with a forum at http://myforum.robertforto.com/ and http://www.personalbordofadvisors.com/ and on these forums we can take your questions, comments and complaints if you have them, for future shows.

So, move over Cesar, The Dog Doctor is here!
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Dr. Robert Forto is the training director of The Ineka Project and Denver Dog Works in Colorado. He can be reached through his website at http://www.denverdogworks.com/

Have You Winterized Your Dog?

Have You Winterized Your Dog?
By Robert Forto, PhD

Cold weather brings its own safety and health concerns for both people and dogs. As a responsible dog owner, it is important to pay attention to your dog’s well-being during the winter. Remember the following precautions to help keep your pet comfortable, healthy and safe all season.

Provide Plenty of Fresh Water

Your dog is just as likely to get dehydrated in the winter as in the summer. Snow is not a satisfactory substitute for water.

Provide Plenty of Food

Feed your dog additional calories if it spends a lot of time outdoors or is a working animal. It takes more energy in the winter to keep the body temperature regulated, so additional; calories are necessary.

Keep Your Dog’s Paws Dry

Rinse your dog’s feet and dry them completely after a walk. This helps avoid tiny cuts and cracked pads. A little petroleum jelly or bag balm may soften the pads and prevent further cracking. Dog booties also work well.

Groom Your Dog Regularly

Your dog needs a well-groomed coat to keep properly insulated. Towel or blow-dry your dog if it gets wet from rain or snow.

Keep Your Dog Warm, Dry and Away From Drafts

Adequate shelter is a necessity. Tiles and uncarpeted areas may become extremely cold. Place blankets and pads on floors in these areas.

Watch Out for Winter Hazards

Cold: Do not leave your dog outside for long periods of time. Wind-chill makes days colder than actual temperature readings, and dogs are susceptible to frostbite on their ears, tails and feet.
Ice and Snow: Be extra careful when walking or playing with your dog outside. Your dog could slip or jump in a frozen lake, river or pond and get seriously injured. Snow can muffle scents and your dog can easily get lost.

Carbon Monoxide: Do not leave your dog alone in the car. It gets too cold, and carbon monoxide from an engine left running is dangerous.

Antifreeze: Although it smells and tastes good to your dog, antifreeze is highly poisonous and can be lethal.

Winter Sports

There are many winter sports that you and your dog can do together. Hiking, snowshoeing, skijoring, jogging, camping, cross-county skiing, mushing or dog sledding and more. Please make sure that you have your dog checked out by your veterinarian and it has a clean bill of health. It you plan to take part in any winter activity please train your dog accordingly and enjoy the snow! Denver Dog Works specializes in canine sports and we can help you and your dog achieve your goals together.

If you would like to schedule a no-cost evaluation to discuss winter sports with your dog please give us a call at 303-752-2818 or email at train@denverdogworks.com

Citation: http://www.akc.org/
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Dr. Robert Forto is the training director of Denver Dog Works in Colorado. He can be reached through his website at http://www.denverdogworks.com/