Culture of Denver Dog Works: Service Availability and Belief
By Robert Forto, PhD
This is the fourth installment in a series on the Culture of Denver Dog Works. I am only only doing this to give our readers an idea of what we are about at Denver Dog Works but also as an exercise for us here at the training center to make sure we are all on the same page and delivering exceptional customer service and training a client's dog to be one of the best trained dogs in the world.
The 10 Elements of Culture as defined by Denver Dog Works are:
Integrity
Professionalism
Development
Service Availability and Belief
Character
Self Development
A Event Culture
Structured Activity
Leadership
Fun
Service Availability and Belief at Denver Dog Works and our Culture:
Along with a strong belief in your own inner voice, you also need laser-like focus combined with unwavering determination. -- Larry Flynt
Yes, I know who Larry Flynt is. That is not up for debate. What I interpret from his quote is that in business you have to belief in yourself in business and if you second guess you will not accomplish your goals.
A lot can be said about the way one business approaches it’s day to day operation over another but you know what? That is what separates the businesses that will succeed and those that will fail.
Service Availability
At Denver Dog Works we designed our business on 40 years of collaborated dog training experience. We pride ourselves on our ability to build you a customized training package with the ability to adjust the program as needed if necessary. Learn how to train your dog with Denver Dog Works and experience the best pet relationship you could ever imagine. At Denver Dog Works you won't feel like your walking through a revolving door. You will feel like your taking your dog to the gym! Our trainers will keep you motivated and wanting to come back. Training is for life! For you and your dog.
Core Beliefs
At Denver Dog Works we truly are a mom and pop business. My wife, Michele, and I work every day to make our business a success and something that we can be proud of. We include our family in our business and if you have stopped in on a Saturday you will see our 12-year old daughter Nicole working right along with us. This is important to us and is what we believe in.
I say that at Denver Dog Works we don’t just train dogs, we change lives. In our work with our service dog training program and our constant reminder of the need for a quick and educated response to canine aggression, we strive to make that our business model. As we have covered in previous articles about our culture; our core beliefs are important to us and they should be important to you.
1.) Integrity: At Denver Dog Works we strive to provide each client with the most up to date thorough training available. We design your training program to fit your needs.
2.) Professionalism: At Denver Dog Works we believe that each client is an individual with individual needs for their dog and their lifestyle. There is no cookie cutter packaging available at Denver Dog Works. Our professional staff takes the time to listen to your goals and concerns during our initial evaluation.
3.) Education: At Denver Dog Works all trainers are certified in canine behavior. All staff members are certified in canine CPR and first aid. We have the best and train the rest! We pride ourselves on continuing our educations and experiences by learning new methods as well as updating old methods. We can teach you how to train your dog for any goal. We specialize in sport training and understand the various methods and tools utilized in sport training.
4.) Quality: At Denver Dog Works we believe in the quality of our training rather than the quantity. There are times when an hour long session isn't going to be enough. In those cases we schedule longer class times to adjust the needs of our clients. We also will address minor behavior issues if they arise in our private lessons and our camp works programs. If it is determined that a larger behavior problem exists we refer you to our canine behaviorist.
Denver Dog Works cares about you and your dog. Our attention to service and customer care gives us the opportunity to expand our availability to you.
I encourage any feedback you may have and of course share the culture of your business as well. I can be reached anytime by email at train@denverdogworks.com
Next Week: Character
__________________
Dr. Robert Forto is the training director of Dog Works Training Centers and the host of a weekly radio program, The Dog Doctor Radio Show which can be heard every Saturday at 9:30 am in the Rocky Mountain West or download it anytime. Dr. Forto can be reached through his website at http://www.denverdogworks.com
Monday, February 8, 2010
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Pet ID Measures
Pet Identification Measures
By Robert Forto, PhD
Pets can unexpectedly escape through an open door or window, from a vehicle, or even by pulling the leash from your hand. Something really interesting on the other side of the fence might just be enough to entice your dog to jump or dig his way out.
Traveling by car with your pet provides a whole new set of circumstances that Fluffy or Fido might not be used to. If your pet escapes while you’re on the road, there may be little chance he could be returned to you if he is not properly identified.
Consider these measures to keep your pet safe and to help him find his way home again:
• Most dogs are used to wearing a collar, so make sure he has an ID tag with your name address and telephone number. If you are traveling, make a temporary tag listing the destination address and telephone number. Consider using a cell phone number that will remain constant, or perhaps list a second number as an alternate. A few dollars for a new ID tag is a cheap investment in case of an emergency.
• A breakaway collar is a good idea for a cat when traveling. Though it would come off if caught on something, at least there’s a chance that someone would find your cat with the collar and ID intact.
• Leave the old license on your dog when moving, at least until you obtain the new one at your destination. Most townships and cities have a database to search the number, so if lost, at least someone could call your old number – and hopefully be directed to your new one.
• Microchip your pet. This is the ultimate identification of an animal, and many countries now require pets to be microchipped. Most shelters, humane societies and animal control agents have a scanner to read Avid and Home Again chips, the two most popular in the USA. The biggest problem is people do not register the chip with complete information (name, address and current phone number). Many pets have been found with chips, but without a contact in the database, little can be done to return them to their owners. Be sure to update your registration if you move.
• Tattooing is not as popular as it once was, but still serves as a method of identification. Most tattoos are done inside the thigh of the rear leg, or under an ear flap. Unfortunately, there is not a registration system for tattoos, nor is there one number for a person finding a pet to call (as with a microchip). You might want to keep a photo of the tattoo as well as of the pet, as proof that he or she is yours.
• When traveling, it’s a good idea to keep photos of your pet with you, just in case you need to make up flyers on short notice.
Source: ABKA
___________________
Dr. Robert Forto is the training director for Denver Dog Works and the host of a weekly radio program, The Dog Doctor Radio Show. Dr. Forto can be reached through his website at http://www.denverdogworks.com
By Robert Forto, PhD
Pets can unexpectedly escape through an open door or window, from a vehicle, or even by pulling the leash from your hand. Something really interesting on the other side of the fence might just be enough to entice your dog to jump or dig his way out.
Traveling by car with your pet provides a whole new set of circumstances that Fluffy or Fido might not be used to. If your pet escapes while you’re on the road, there may be little chance he could be returned to you if he is not properly identified.
Consider these measures to keep your pet safe and to help him find his way home again:
• Most dogs are used to wearing a collar, so make sure he has an ID tag with your name address and telephone number. If you are traveling, make a temporary tag listing the destination address and telephone number. Consider using a cell phone number that will remain constant, or perhaps list a second number as an alternate. A few dollars for a new ID tag is a cheap investment in case of an emergency.
• A breakaway collar is a good idea for a cat when traveling. Though it would come off if caught on something, at least there’s a chance that someone would find your cat with the collar and ID intact.
• Leave the old license on your dog when moving, at least until you obtain the new one at your destination. Most townships and cities have a database to search the number, so if lost, at least someone could call your old number – and hopefully be directed to your new one.
• Microchip your pet. This is the ultimate identification of an animal, and many countries now require pets to be microchipped. Most shelters, humane societies and animal control agents have a scanner to read Avid and Home Again chips, the two most popular in the USA. The biggest problem is people do not register the chip with complete information (name, address and current phone number). Many pets have been found with chips, but without a contact in the database, little can be done to return them to their owners. Be sure to update your registration if you move.
• Tattooing is not as popular as it once was, but still serves as a method of identification. Most tattoos are done inside the thigh of the rear leg, or under an ear flap. Unfortunately, there is not a registration system for tattoos, nor is there one number for a person finding a pet to call (as with a microchip). You might want to keep a photo of the tattoo as well as of the pet, as proof that he or she is yours.
• When traveling, it’s a good idea to keep photos of your pet with you, just in case you need to make up flyers on short notice.
Source: ABKA
___________________
Dr. Robert Forto is the training director for Denver Dog Works and the host of a weekly radio program, The Dog Doctor Radio Show. Dr. Forto can be reached through his website at http://www.denverdogworks.com
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Dog Doctor Radio Show #53
Show Notes: The Dog Doctor Radio Show #53
By Robert Forto, PhD
Week 53 Show
2/06/10
Intro It is a beautiful day here in the Rockies. Its hard to believe that we are heading into February already.
News Notes and Events
Todays Show Pet Airways interview with Founder Dan Weysel
2/13/10 Chris Fuller from Influence Leadership and Mushing in the Olympic Games
2/20/10 Deb Jacobs back on to talk in depth about Animal Hoarding
2/27/10 NO SHOW Topic Yet
3/6/10 Iditarod Special
3/13/10 Dog Doctor Junior Nicole will be back on the air!
3/20/10 Dog Works Training Centers Mushing Recap
5/1/10 Live Remote Broadcast Furry Scurry
6/19/10 Live Remote Broadcast Goose Chase
We update our Blog everyday at http://www.denverdogworks.com
Camp Works Charlie is doing well on his 12 week camp works training program and we are excited to talk to Pet Airways and the trip he took.
Mushing update Starting March 6, 2010 I will be giving daily updates on the Iditarod and I am working out the logistics to be up in Anchorage this year for the start and to attend the Musher’s Ball.
Pet Airways
We introduced Dan Weysel the founder and owner of Pet Airways and how the business was brought about with Dan’s dog Zoe. We spoke about the cities that the airline flies too including Ft. Lauderdale, Denver, Chicago, Omaha, N.Y. City, San Fransico. They are adding new cities each month. We talked about the Pet Lounge and how dogs are dropped off and pick (great customer service!)
Commercial
E-travel Unlimited is our host for studio time. We are proud to be associated with E-travel. They are our travel partner for all of our business and occasional pleasure trips. In fact we are going to be on a cruise booked through E-Travel Unlimited in October. It is a who-done-it-Sleuth Cruise in the Mexican Riviera. If you would like to book this adventure please call Ken or Sandy at 888-770-9225 or visit http://www.etravelunlimited.com
Be sure to fan us on Twitter and Facebook under Denver Dog Works and Team Ineka. and if you like what you hear on the DogDoctor be sure to click that Favorite button on the blog talk site.
Special We are offering and exciting special that just started today. We are offering 15 sessions for $579 that is 38 dollars a session for basic obedience or an intro to a sport such as rally, foundation agility, competition obedience and CGC. We have only a few spots in our schedule for this each day so please call Michele at 303-578-9881. We also have a 99.00 special to introduce you and your dog to training. This is 3 session for this price and are 40 minutes in length and we will work on manners and loose leash walking.
Back to Pet Airways Interview...
We spoke to the founder and owner Dan Wesyel we spoke about plane set up and how the dogs are taken care of as if they were their own by taking the pets out on walks and even allow you to board your pet if there is a delay or flight problems on the “human” end.
Dan talked about the importance of treating our pets as family and not as cargo. It was a great interview! Check out their webpage at http://www.petairways.com and follow them on twitter at http://www.twitter.com/petairways
Canine Sciences and Communication Course info starting in April. As announced this week we are changing the way people become dog trainers. In our next course starting in April we will be offering all students an iPad with their course. We are in the process of re-writting our course book to include interactive video, exams, lessons and projects. This is like no other canine trainer course in the world. If you want to receive a cutting edge education and become one of the best dog trainers in the world give us a call at 303-578-9881.
Iditarod Start
I will be in Anchorage for the Iditarod start and will report nightly on our sister show, Mush! You Huskies http://www.blogtalkradio.com/teamineka I look forward to meeting a lot of new friends and mushers.
Are you ready to change your life? Join us for the Peak Performance Weekend in beautiful Estes Park, CO. Our featured speaker in Traci Brown of http://www.tracibrown.com. Traci Brown is a personal trainer for your mind. Her innovative techniques will change your outlook on life, business, sports, relationships and more. Stay tuned for details!
____________________
Robert Forto is the training director for Denver Dog Works and the host of the Dog Doctor Radio Show which can be heard every Saturday morning at 9:30 am in the Rocky Mountain West or downloaded anytime. Dr. Forto can be reached through his website at http://www.denverdogworks.com
By Robert Forto, PhD
Week 53 Show
2/06/10
Intro It is a beautiful day here in the Rockies. Its hard to believe that we are heading into February already.
News Notes and Events
Todays Show Pet Airways interview with Founder Dan Weysel
2/13/10 Chris Fuller from Influence Leadership and Mushing in the Olympic Games
2/20/10 Deb Jacobs back on to talk in depth about Animal Hoarding
2/27/10 NO SHOW Topic Yet
3/6/10 Iditarod Special
3/13/10 Dog Doctor Junior Nicole will be back on the air!
3/20/10 Dog Works Training Centers Mushing Recap
5/1/10 Live Remote Broadcast Furry Scurry
6/19/10 Live Remote Broadcast Goose Chase
We update our Blog everyday at http://www.denverdogworks.com
Camp Works Charlie is doing well on his 12 week camp works training program and we are excited to talk to Pet Airways and the trip he took.
Mushing update Starting March 6, 2010 I will be giving daily updates on the Iditarod and I am working out the logistics to be up in Anchorage this year for the start and to attend the Musher’s Ball.
Pet Airways
We introduced Dan Weysel the founder and owner of Pet Airways and how the business was brought about with Dan’s dog Zoe. We spoke about the cities that the airline flies too including Ft. Lauderdale, Denver, Chicago, Omaha, N.Y. City, San Fransico. They are adding new cities each month. We talked about the Pet Lounge and how dogs are dropped off and pick (great customer service!)
Commercial
E-travel Unlimited is our host for studio time. We are proud to be associated with E-travel. They are our travel partner for all of our business and occasional pleasure trips. In fact we are going to be on a cruise booked through E-Travel Unlimited in October. It is a who-done-it-Sleuth Cruise in the Mexican Riviera. If you would like to book this adventure please call Ken or Sandy at 888-770-9225 or visit http://www.etravelunlimited.com
Be sure to fan us on Twitter and Facebook under Denver Dog Works and Team Ineka. and if you like what you hear on the DogDoctor be sure to click that Favorite button on the blog talk site.
Special We are offering and exciting special that just started today. We are offering 15 sessions for $579 that is 38 dollars a session for basic obedience or an intro to a sport such as rally, foundation agility, competition obedience and CGC. We have only a few spots in our schedule for this each day so please call Michele at 303-578-9881. We also have a 99.00 special to introduce you and your dog to training. This is 3 session for this price and are 40 minutes in length and we will work on manners and loose leash walking.
Back to Pet Airways Interview...
We spoke to the founder and owner Dan Wesyel we spoke about plane set up and how the dogs are taken care of as if they were their own by taking the pets out on walks and even allow you to board your pet if there is a delay or flight problems on the “human” end.
Dan talked about the importance of treating our pets as family and not as cargo. It was a great interview! Check out their webpage at http://www.petairways.com and follow them on twitter at http://www.twitter.com/petairways
Canine Sciences and Communication Course info starting in April. As announced this week we are changing the way people become dog trainers. In our next course starting in April we will be offering all students an iPad with their course. We are in the process of re-writting our course book to include interactive video, exams, lessons and projects. This is like no other canine trainer course in the world. If you want to receive a cutting edge education and become one of the best dog trainers in the world give us a call at 303-578-9881.
Iditarod Start
I will be in Anchorage for the Iditarod start and will report nightly on our sister show, Mush! You Huskies http://www.blogtalkradio.com/teamineka I look forward to meeting a lot of new friends and mushers.
Are you ready to change your life? Join us for the Peak Performance Weekend in beautiful Estes Park, CO. Our featured speaker in Traci Brown of http://www.tracibrown.com. Traci Brown is a personal trainer for your mind. Her innovative techniques will change your outlook on life, business, sports, relationships and more. Stay tuned for details!
____________________
Robert Forto is the training director for Denver Dog Works and the host of the Dog Doctor Radio Show which can be heard every Saturday morning at 9:30 am in the Rocky Mountain West or downloaded anytime. Dr. Forto can be reached through his website at http://www.denverdogworks.com
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Why Denver Dog Works?
Why Denver Dog Works
By Michele Forto
Lately I have been receiving many inquiries regarding what is Denver Dog Works all about. Dr. Forto has written blog article upon blog article about Denver Dog Works. I’d like to give you a different perspective on what Denver Dog Works is all about.
At Denver Dog Works we perform a detailed evaluation and then I design a training plan and a package to suit your goals and expectations. Because not every person is the same and because not every dog learns at the same pace we have developed a proven process to train you and your dog.
We pride ourselves on the value our training will bring to your dog and your family. The trainers here focus on training everyone involved with your dog not just your dog. We want you to develop a training relationship with your dog. We offer board and trains and can do all of the training for you but we always follow up the training we do with teaching you how to handle your dog as well.
During the evaluation process you will be interviewed and asked specific questions relating to your expectations and goals that you would like to achieve with your dog. Your dog’s behavior will be observed and analyzed. We use this information to analyze your dog for any behavior problems and to assess their strengths and weaknesses. A training plan will be developed and if you are in need of behavior modification a treatment plan will be developed and outlined. The goal of Denver Dog Works is to build your relationship and to strengthen your bond with your dog.
There is not a cookie-cutter approach at Denver Dog Works. We consider each client individually and build each program package to suit their needs and their dog’s abilities. Our style in training is based on operant conditioning, observation of behavior and adjusting the training schedule to meet the dog’s optimum learning levels.
Training with your dog should be fun. It should not feel like a chore. An asset of training with Denver Dog Works is participating in the lifetime group class offered once a week. This class gives you the opportunity to keep your training fresh which keeps your dog on his toes. This class is unique to Denver Dog Works. Having a training center gives us the ability to train you and your dog in a multi-faceted way.
Denver Dog Works is a family friendly training center. We encourage you to include your spouse and your children in the training. Few trainers will allow this. Why would we encourage this type of training? To strengthen the bond between the dog and all family members, not just the person doing the training, we believe the dog should see all humans in the household as its leaders not just one person. Michele works with children as young as two and develops training plans with toddlers and infants to teach the dog boundaries. Toddlers to school aged children learn dog rules and boundaries and a few basic obedience commands.
If you are interested in learning more about Denver Dog Works please visit our website at http://www.denverdogworks.com or give us a call at 303-578-9881.
_______________________
Michele Forto is a certified canine trainer and the business manager at Denver Dog Works. Michele can be reached through her website at http://wwww.denverdogworks.com
By Michele Forto
Lately I have been receiving many inquiries regarding what is Denver Dog Works all about. Dr. Forto has written blog article upon blog article about Denver Dog Works. I’d like to give you a different perspective on what Denver Dog Works is all about.
At Denver Dog Works we perform a detailed evaluation and then I design a training plan and a package to suit your goals and expectations. Because not every person is the same and because not every dog learns at the same pace we have developed a proven process to train you and your dog.
We pride ourselves on the value our training will bring to your dog and your family. The trainers here focus on training everyone involved with your dog not just your dog. We want you to develop a training relationship with your dog. We offer board and trains and can do all of the training for you but we always follow up the training we do with teaching you how to handle your dog as well.
During the evaluation process you will be interviewed and asked specific questions relating to your expectations and goals that you would like to achieve with your dog. Your dog’s behavior will be observed and analyzed. We use this information to analyze your dog for any behavior problems and to assess their strengths and weaknesses. A training plan will be developed and if you are in need of behavior modification a treatment plan will be developed and outlined. The goal of Denver Dog Works is to build your relationship and to strengthen your bond with your dog.
There is not a cookie-cutter approach at Denver Dog Works. We consider each client individually and build each program package to suit their needs and their dog’s abilities. Our style in training is based on operant conditioning, observation of behavior and adjusting the training schedule to meet the dog’s optimum learning levels.
Training with your dog should be fun. It should not feel like a chore. An asset of training with Denver Dog Works is participating in the lifetime group class offered once a week. This class gives you the opportunity to keep your training fresh which keeps your dog on his toes. This class is unique to Denver Dog Works. Having a training center gives us the ability to train you and your dog in a multi-faceted way.
Denver Dog Works is a family friendly training center. We encourage you to include your spouse and your children in the training. Few trainers will allow this. Why would we encourage this type of training? To strengthen the bond between the dog and all family members, not just the person doing the training, we believe the dog should see all humans in the household as its leaders not just one person. Michele works with children as young as two and develops training plans with toddlers and infants to teach the dog boundaries. Toddlers to school aged children learn dog rules and boundaries and a few basic obedience commands.
If you are interested in learning more about Denver Dog Works please visit our website at http://www.denverdogworks.com or give us a call at 303-578-9881.
_______________________
Michele Forto is a certified canine trainer and the business manager at Denver Dog Works. Michele can be reached through her website at http://wwww.denverdogworks.com
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Who Are You? Junior Trainer, Nicole Forto
Who Are You, Anyway? Junior Trainer, Nicole Forto
By Robert Forto, PhD
We are members of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers, and they have one of the best dog training journals around, especially for us in the canine training industry, The APDT Chronicle of the Dog. Each month in their highly acclaimed magazine, they have a member profile edited by Nicole Wilde. While we haven't been privy to be showcased in this column yet, I thought it would be appropriate to showcase each one of our trainers over the next few weeks so that you can get to know us and what we are about.
This week I will be interviewing junior trainer, my daughter and the Dog Doctor Junior, Nicole Forto.
Lets get to know junior trainer, Nicole Forto,
Business Name: Denver Dog Works
Location: Denver, Colorado
Phone: 303-578-9881
Email: nicole@denverdogworks.com
Website: www.denverdogworks.com
Years working with dogs: I’ve worked with dogs since I was two years old. When I was two we had 36 Siberian Huskies.
Personal Training Philosophy: My training philosophy is positive but not treats there are negative parts but I think when a dog isn’t doing one thing change to something you know they can do and go back to that command later.
Nicole, how did you become interested in working with dogs?
I became interested in dogs from my parents I’ve always wanted to help dogs thats why I want to go to CSU and get a degree in Animal Science and then to Vet school.
Have you received any training as a dog trainer?
Yes, my parents have always helped me with my dog Qyain, Qyain is 2 years old and I’ve completed him in basic obedience, Canine Good Citizen, also Level 1 in protection and that is all thanks to my parents they’ve giving me advice on all of these things and how to improve my techniques.
Would you explain what it is like as a day in the life as a junior dog trainer at Denver Dog Works?
A typical day for me at Denver Dog Works starts by me and my mom feeding and pottying all the dogs then we take them on a fifteen minute walk then to groups of two training then we do socialization after this which takes just about an hour we begin our classes for the day.
What breeds have you worked with so far?
I’ve worked with all sorts of breeds from Akbash to Klee Kai’s. The difference you may not be able to understand by the name but an Akbash is pretty much a dog near the size of a horse very much like a great dane just bigger and furrier. Now a Klee Kai is pretty much a Siberian Husky decreased in size by a lot. Now I’ve worked with Labs, Labradoodles, Rottweiler, German Shepherds, Yorkshire Terriers. But, the main breed I’ve always worked with is Siberian Huskies and don’t get me wrong I love siberian huskies but my favorite breed is a Rottweiler.
How has your involvement with dogs changed your life?
The involvement has changed my life because by the time I get to CSU I will have a greater knowledge then most people in how to work with dogs because I’ve already completed dog CPR twice now so its giving me an advantage for my future.
So what’s next on your agenda?
Next on my agenda for my life is I’m going to be starting lacrosse and hopefully this summer I will be able to go and see CSU and for my birthday I’ll hopefully be going to the Mayhem festival and seeing two of my favorite artists Korn and Rob Zombie. In the dog world I will be helping my dad prepare his team for the Iditarod in 2013.
Do you have any advice for other young men and women who might be interested in learning more about training dogs?
Yes, say you should really get into it but I would say what you do isn’t worth doing unless you enjoy what your doing.
What would you say are the top three things you have learned with working around dogs?
The top three things I’ve learned is one always be cautious. I mean the sweetest dog can actually be the dangerous; two as long as your mood is calm and your collected most often the dog will read off of your energy and he or she will be calm and not anxious; three always have fun!!!!
What was your scariest moment with a dog?
When my moms dog Gina who is aggressive tried to attack another dog and I pulled her off and I was scraped pretty badly by her canine tooth. It definitely made me think a lot differently about aggressive dogs.
Are you involved in any dog sports or activities?
At the moment no but soon I will be helping my dad with getting his dog team together for the Iditarod in 2013.
What do you do when you are not training dogs or working at Denver Dog Works?
I do school or sports right now I’m getting ready to start lacrosse and in August I’ll be doing my 6th year of softball.
I hear you are a frequent guest on The Dog Doctor Radio Show, tell us what that is like?
The Dog Doctor Radio show is actually not what you would think of you would think. Its scary being on the radio with hundreds of people listing it really isn’t that bad.
Nicole, thanks so much for taking the time to visit with us, We are sure you will have a long career in anything you choose to accomplish.
Thank you so much for having me.
_________________
Dr. Robert Forto is the training Director for Dog Works Training Centers and the host of a weekly radio program, The Dog Doctor Radio Show that can be heard every Saturday at 9:30 am in the Rocky Mountain West and downloaded anytime. Dr. Forto can be reached through his website at http://www.denverdogworks.com
By Robert Forto, PhD
We are members of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers, and they have one of the best dog training journals around, especially for us in the canine training industry, The APDT Chronicle of the Dog. Each month in their highly acclaimed magazine, they have a member profile edited by Nicole Wilde. While we haven't been privy to be showcased in this column yet, I thought it would be appropriate to showcase each one of our trainers over the next few weeks so that you can get to know us and what we are about.
This week I will be interviewing junior trainer, my daughter and the Dog Doctor Junior, Nicole Forto.
Lets get to know junior trainer, Nicole Forto,
Business Name: Denver Dog Works
Location: Denver, Colorado
Phone: 303-578-9881
Email: nicole@denverdogworks.com
Website: www.denverdogworks.com
Years working with dogs: I’ve worked with dogs since I was two years old. When I was two we had 36 Siberian Huskies.
Personal Training Philosophy: My training philosophy is positive but not treats there are negative parts but I think when a dog isn’t doing one thing change to something you know they can do and go back to that command later.
Nicole, how did you become interested in working with dogs?
I became interested in dogs from my parents I’ve always wanted to help dogs thats why I want to go to CSU and get a degree in Animal Science and then to Vet school.
Have you received any training as a dog trainer?
Yes, my parents have always helped me with my dog Qyain, Qyain is 2 years old and I’ve completed him in basic obedience, Canine Good Citizen, also Level 1 in protection and that is all thanks to my parents they’ve giving me advice on all of these things and how to improve my techniques.
Would you explain what it is like as a day in the life as a junior dog trainer at Denver Dog Works?
A typical day for me at Denver Dog Works starts by me and my mom feeding and pottying all the dogs then we take them on a fifteen minute walk then to groups of two training then we do socialization after this which takes just about an hour we begin our classes for the day.
What breeds have you worked with so far?
I’ve worked with all sorts of breeds from Akbash to Klee Kai’s. The difference you may not be able to understand by the name but an Akbash is pretty much a dog near the size of a horse very much like a great dane just bigger and furrier. Now a Klee Kai is pretty much a Siberian Husky decreased in size by a lot. Now I’ve worked with Labs, Labradoodles, Rottweiler, German Shepherds, Yorkshire Terriers. But, the main breed I’ve always worked with is Siberian Huskies and don’t get me wrong I love siberian huskies but my favorite breed is a Rottweiler.
How has your involvement with dogs changed your life?
The involvement has changed my life because by the time I get to CSU I will have a greater knowledge then most people in how to work with dogs because I’ve already completed dog CPR twice now so its giving me an advantage for my future.
So what’s next on your agenda?
Next on my agenda for my life is I’m going to be starting lacrosse and hopefully this summer I will be able to go and see CSU and for my birthday I’ll hopefully be going to the Mayhem festival and seeing two of my favorite artists Korn and Rob Zombie. In the dog world I will be helping my dad prepare his team for the Iditarod in 2013.
Do you have any advice for other young men and women who might be interested in learning more about training dogs?
Yes, say you should really get into it but I would say what you do isn’t worth doing unless you enjoy what your doing.
What would you say are the top three things you have learned with working around dogs?
The top three things I’ve learned is one always be cautious. I mean the sweetest dog can actually be the dangerous; two as long as your mood is calm and your collected most often the dog will read off of your energy and he or she will be calm and not anxious; three always have fun!!!!
What was your scariest moment with a dog?
When my moms dog Gina who is aggressive tried to attack another dog and I pulled her off and I was scraped pretty badly by her canine tooth. It definitely made me think a lot differently about aggressive dogs.
Are you involved in any dog sports or activities?
At the moment no but soon I will be helping my dad with getting his dog team together for the Iditarod in 2013.
What do you do when you are not training dogs or working at Denver Dog Works?
I do school or sports right now I’m getting ready to start lacrosse and in August I’ll be doing my 6th year of softball.
I hear you are a frequent guest on The Dog Doctor Radio Show, tell us what that is like?
The Dog Doctor Radio show is actually not what you would think of you would think. Its scary being on the radio with hundreds of people listing it really isn’t that bad.
Nicole, thanks so much for taking the time to visit with us, We are sure you will have a long career in anything you choose to accomplish.
Thank you so much for having me.
_________________
Dr. Robert Forto is the training Director for Dog Works Training Centers and the host of a weekly radio program, The Dog Doctor Radio Show that can be heard every Saturday at 9:30 am in the Rocky Mountain West and downloaded anytime. Dr. Forto can be reached through his website at http://www.denverdogworks.com
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Dog Sledding Legends: Arthur Walden
Dog Sledding Legends: Arthur Walden
By Robert Forto, PhD
When sled dog racing started to catch on as a winter sport in New England and Canada, the speedy little Siberian dogs with the great endurance had not yet been introduced outside of Alaska. These crossbred dogs still held the inside track. Arthur Walden and Emile St. Godard won many races in New England and Canada during the 1920’s; Walden’s dogs were the big golden Chinooks, a freighting dog, and St. Godard’s were hound-husky crosses, bred for speed.
For his part in the promotion of the sport in New England, Arthur Walden held the inevitable title, “Father of New England Sled Dog Racing.” For nearly twenty years he traveled all over the Northeast, including Canada, driving his teams in races and exhibitions, at schools and fairs. For much of that time his famous dog, Chinook, was on lead, and was a welcome companion at ball games, lectures, and promotional visits. With a breeding program that included not selling any dog that could not reproduce to Walden’s standards, he developed his unique dogs and sold them as sled dogs and pets.
In 1928, Walden, age fifty-six, and with his special breed of sled dog, ventured from New Hampshire and his New England Sled Dog Club, from the races and the farm where he taught dog driving, and joined Admiral Byrd’s Antarctic Expedition. His position was that of dog handler, his chief assistant was his faithful lead dog, Chinook. Chinook did not make it back to New England from his trip to Antarctica and the Manchester (New Hampshire) Union Leader newspaper carried a tribute story to this fine sled dog on January 24, 1929.
Walden returned to New Hampshire and remained a popular speaker on sled dogs. His life touched all the aspects, from dog punching to racing, from kennel manager to explorer. He brought the spirit of the gold rush dog team from Alaska and he instigated sport races a continent away from their original home.
Walden lived to be ninety-one years old, straddling the animated decades from the 1870’s into the 1960’s. Without Arthur Walden, the lore and the lure of the sled dog would be much less than it is.
_______________________
Dr. Robert Forto is a professional musher and training for his first Iditarod racing under Team Ineka. Dr. Forto can be reached through his website at http://www.teamineka.com
By Robert Forto, PhD
When sled dog racing started to catch on as a winter sport in New England and Canada, the speedy little Siberian dogs with the great endurance had not yet been introduced outside of Alaska. These crossbred dogs still held the inside track. Arthur Walden and Emile St. Godard won many races in New England and Canada during the 1920’s; Walden’s dogs were the big golden Chinooks, a freighting dog, and St. Godard’s were hound-husky crosses, bred for speed.
For his part in the promotion of the sport in New England, Arthur Walden held the inevitable title, “Father of New England Sled Dog Racing.” For nearly twenty years he traveled all over the Northeast, including Canada, driving his teams in races and exhibitions, at schools and fairs. For much of that time his famous dog, Chinook, was on lead, and was a welcome companion at ball games, lectures, and promotional visits. With a breeding program that included not selling any dog that could not reproduce to Walden’s standards, he developed his unique dogs and sold them as sled dogs and pets.
In 1928, Walden, age fifty-six, and with his special breed of sled dog, ventured from New Hampshire and his New England Sled Dog Club, from the races and the farm where he taught dog driving, and joined Admiral Byrd’s Antarctic Expedition. His position was that of dog handler, his chief assistant was his faithful lead dog, Chinook. Chinook did not make it back to New England from his trip to Antarctica and the Manchester (New Hampshire) Union Leader newspaper carried a tribute story to this fine sled dog on January 24, 1929.
Walden returned to New Hampshire and remained a popular speaker on sled dogs. His life touched all the aspects, from dog punching to racing, from kennel manager to explorer. He brought the spirit of the gold rush dog team from Alaska and he instigated sport races a continent away from their original home.
Walden lived to be ninety-one years old, straddling the animated decades from the 1870’s into the 1960’s. Without Arthur Walden, the lore and the lure of the sled dog would be much less than it is.
_______________________
Dr. Robert Forto is a professional musher and training for his first Iditarod racing under Team Ineka. Dr. Forto can be reached through his website at http://www.teamineka.com
Monday, February 1, 2010
Culture of Denver Dog Works: Development
Culture of Denver Dog Works: Development
By Robert Forto, PhD
This is the third installment in a series on the Culture of Denver Dog Works. I am only only doing this to give our readers an idea of what we are about at Denver Dog Works but also as an exercise for us here at the training center to make sure we are all on the same page and delivering exceptional customer service and training a client's dog to be one of the best trained dogs in the world.
The 10 Elements of Culture as defined by Denver Dog Works are:
Integrity
Professionalism
Development
Service Availability and Belief
Character
Self Development
A Event Culture
Structured Activity
Leadership
Fun
Development at Denver Dog Works and our Culture:
"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore, Dream, Discover." - Mark Twain
We are on the cutting edge of the dog training world at Denver Dog Works. Everything that we do, whether it be new technology, development of individualized training plans, our customer service team, and our attention to detail, all says our tag-line loud and clear: We Have the Best and Train the Rest.
Sure many companies proport to be the best in their industry. I am sure many of them have won awards from their peers and comrades in their respective businesses, but do you really know what it means to be the best? In my humble opinion it means that you take a moment each day to look at what you are doing right and more importantly what you are doing wrong and you tweak your system to address your challenges.
Sure, this media-biased economic downturn has hurt us all small business owners but we have held steadfast to our belief that we are the best and we continue to evolve every day. We took advantage of the downturn in the economy and the abundance of extra hours in our work weeks and got as much training as we possibly could. We attended a great program that changed the way we do business forever by working with David Sandusky and his Your Brand Plan, I attended training to become a neuro-linguistics practitioner and what a difference that has made in being able to work with my clients and help them be the best they can be and reach their full potential. We hold weekly sales meetings and innovative presentations on how we can work together as a team and work together to be the best.
As I said, the opportunity to take David’s Your Brand Plan program has changed the face of Denver Dog Works. The first way this happened is we found David and hired him as a professional facilitator and allowed him to make the tough decisions that build upon the perceived strengths and weaknesses of our leadership team. This team, mainly me, had trouble seeing the forest for the trees and the work with David allowed me to take a look at it from a different perspective. After doing that, he then helped contain a message that we transmitted and transferred down the rank and file of all that are involved in our business. This has taken us from a mediocre canine training school to one that is sought out all over the world based on the way that we conduct our daily business affairs.
In our course development we truly are cutting edge. I will admit that I have always been a bit of a technology geek and I had a cell-phone when it cost three dollars a minute and I was the first on my block on the Internet in the early 1980’s studying the Dow Jones wires and amassing a $700.00 phone bill that got me in hot water with my parents. In the coming months we are re-working our canine career training course and implementing the new iPad technology to support it. We will be including an iPad in every new student’s package and our course will be fully interactive with video, lecture, webinars, video chat, exams and business development tools. Sure you can do this the old way by writing it all down on paper, but who has time for that? A person told me a long time ago, in order to be a good dog trainer you need to train a lot of dogs. True, but if you don’t have something innovative to offer then you will just be another dog trainer and they are a dime a dozen. It is funny because the person who told me that proports he is an “old school” style trainer and the same three clients and their dogs are still on the trainers homepage as “success stories.”
Some other key areas that we strive to continue to develop and stay abreast of are:
Financial literacy. At Denver Dog Works we must understand budgets, cash flow, bookkeeping and working with other business partners and vendors is a must for any entrepreneur.
We continue to work on our leadership. We recognize that we are the only one in charge of our business. We are not looking for a “bail out” or a promise of a loan. We also recognize that pressures abound since a single decision can grow a business or cripple it.
We at Denver Dog Works strive to stay focussed and committed to the financial success of our company and that spells the difference between success and failure. Yes, we love to train dogs. It is our passion but we also recognize that we are in this to make a living. While we will not ever drive luxury cars or fly on private jets, we love what we do and are proud we chose this as a career.
As we stated in a previous article, integrity is a hallmark of our business. we handle, care for and train other peoples dogs and they are looked upon as a member of their family. We also handle a client’s money and they have contracted us for our services.
We continue to develop our sales techniques, our marketing plans and how to brand ourselves in a very competitive industry. We continue to exercise sound business judgment and allocating our resources with great care. We also know that we must re-charge our own batteries so we can maintain an edge by offering company training and retreats such as white-water rafting as a team building exercises and attending sporting events as a group to build camaraderie.
As I say all the time, all you need to be a dog trainer is a business card, a leash and a smile. But it takes a savoy businessperson to live through the highs and learn from the lows to be one of the greatest dog trainers in the world. We at Denver Dog Works, truly believe we are and that is what sets us apart.
I encourage any feedback you may have and of course share the culture of your business as well. I can be reached anytime by email at train@denverdogworks.com
__________________
Dr. Robert Forto is the training director of Dog Works Training Centers and the host of a weekly radio program, The Dog Doctor Radio Show which can be heard every Saturday at 9:30 am in the Rocky Mountain West or download it anytime. Dr. Forto can be reached through his website at http://www.denverdogworks.com
By Robert Forto, PhD
This is the third installment in a series on the Culture of Denver Dog Works. I am only only doing this to give our readers an idea of what we are about at Denver Dog Works but also as an exercise for us here at the training center to make sure we are all on the same page and delivering exceptional customer service and training a client's dog to be one of the best trained dogs in the world.
The 10 Elements of Culture as defined by Denver Dog Works are:
Integrity
Professionalism
Development
Service Availability and Belief
Character
Self Development
A Event Culture
Structured Activity
Leadership
Fun
Development at Denver Dog Works and our Culture:
"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore, Dream, Discover." - Mark Twain
We are on the cutting edge of the dog training world at Denver Dog Works. Everything that we do, whether it be new technology, development of individualized training plans, our customer service team, and our attention to detail, all says our tag-line loud and clear: We Have the Best and Train the Rest.
Sure many companies proport to be the best in their industry. I am sure many of them have won awards from their peers and comrades in their respective businesses, but do you really know what it means to be the best? In my humble opinion it means that you take a moment each day to look at what you are doing right and more importantly what you are doing wrong and you tweak your system to address your challenges.
Sure, this media-biased economic downturn has hurt us all small business owners but we have held steadfast to our belief that we are the best and we continue to evolve every day. We took advantage of the downturn in the economy and the abundance of extra hours in our work weeks and got as much training as we possibly could. We attended a great program that changed the way we do business forever by working with David Sandusky and his Your Brand Plan, I attended training to become a neuro-linguistics practitioner and what a difference that has made in being able to work with my clients and help them be the best they can be and reach their full potential. We hold weekly sales meetings and innovative presentations on how we can work together as a team and work together to be the best.
As I said, the opportunity to take David’s Your Brand Plan program has changed the face of Denver Dog Works. The first way this happened is we found David and hired him as a professional facilitator and allowed him to make the tough decisions that build upon the perceived strengths and weaknesses of our leadership team. This team, mainly me, had trouble seeing the forest for the trees and the work with David allowed me to take a look at it from a different perspective. After doing that, he then helped contain a message that we transmitted and transferred down the rank and file of all that are involved in our business. This has taken us from a mediocre canine training school to one that is sought out all over the world based on the way that we conduct our daily business affairs.
In our course development we truly are cutting edge. I will admit that I have always been a bit of a technology geek and I had a cell-phone when it cost three dollars a minute and I was the first on my block on the Internet in the early 1980’s studying the Dow Jones wires and amassing a $700.00 phone bill that got me in hot water with my parents. In the coming months we are re-working our canine career training course and implementing the new iPad technology to support it. We will be including an iPad in every new student’s package and our course will be fully interactive with video, lecture, webinars, video chat, exams and business development tools. Sure you can do this the old way by writing it all down on paper, but who has time for that? A person told me a long time ago, in order to be a good dog trainer you need to train a lot of dogs. True, but if you don’t have something innovative to offer then you will just be another dog trainer and they are a dime a dozen. It is funny because the person who told me that proports he is an “old school” style trainer and the same three clients and their dogs are still on the trainers homepage as “success stories.”
Some other key areas that we strive to continue to develop and stay abreast of are:
Financial literacy. At Denver Dog Works we must understand budgets, cash flow, bookkeeping and working with other business partners and vendors is a must for any entrepreneur.
We continue to work on our leadership. We recognize that we are the only one in charge of our business. We are not looking for a “bail out” or a promise of a loan. We also recognize that pressures abound since a single decision can grow a business or cripple it.
We at Denver Dog Works strive to stay focussed and committed to the financial success of our company and that spells the difference between success and failure. Yes, we love to train dogs. It is our passion but we also recognize that we are in this to make a living. While we will not ever drive luxury cars or fly on private jets, we love what we do and are proud we chose this as a career.
As we stated in a previous article, integrity is a hallmark of our business. we handle, care for and train other peoples dogs and they are looked upon as a member of their family. We also handle a client’s money and they have contracted us for our services.
We continue to develop our sales techniques, our marketing plans and how to brand ourselves in a very competitive industry. We continue to exercise sound business judgment and allocating our resources with great care. We also know that we must re-charge our own batteries so we can maintain an edge by offering company training and retreats such as white-water rafting as a team building exercises and attending sporting events as a group to build camaraderie.
As I say all the time, all you need to be a dog trainer is a business card, a leash and a smile. But it takes a savoy businessperson to live through the highs and learn from the lows to be one of the greatest dog trainers in the world. We at Denver Dog Works, truly believe we are and that is what sets us apart.
I encourage any feedback you may have and of course share the culture of your business as well. I can be reached anytime by email at train@denverdogworks.com
__________________
Dr. Robert Forto is the training director of Dog Works Training Centers and the host of a weekly radio program, The Dog Doctor Radio Show which can be heard every Saturday at 9:30 am in the Rocky Mountain West or download it anytime. Dr. Forto can be reached through his website at http://www.denverdogworks.com
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