On this episode of One Minute Dog Training Tips, Nicole Forto discusses: Thanksgiving Manners for Your Dog

Products We Use for Dog Works Radio

Note: these may contain affiliate links, so I get a small percentage of any product you buy when using my link.

Dog Works Radio is a podcast education show brought to you by Dog Works Radio and is hosted by Nicole Forto. If you enjoy the show, I'd love for you to leave a rating or review on your favorite podcast app!

And please let your friends and other podcasters know they can listen for free on Spotify and Apple Podcasts

In this episode of Dog Works Radio, Robert Forto interviews Sam Spoto, an ER veterinary professional who now works in the pet insurance world. Sam shares how years in emergency medicine shaped the way she thinks about insurance, unexpected vet bills, and the tough decisions dog owners are forced to make when money and medical care collide.

Listeners will learn when pet insurance makes sense, why timing is crucial, and how to avoid surprises hidden in the fine print of a policy.

• Sam's background in ER veterinary medicine and how she moved into the insurance side

• What she saw families struggle with most in the emergency room

• The real purpose of pet insurance (and what it's not meant to do)

• Why enrolling your dog while they're young and healthy matters

• How pre-existing conditions are defined and why they're such a sticking point

• How much families are typically asked to put down before treatment in an emergency

• Practical questions to ask before you pick a policy

• How to talk to your vet and your insurance company so you actually understand your coverage

• What Sam wishes every new puppy owner knew about insurance

• Sam's own podcast, "Tell Me About Your Dog," and how she's helping people choose the right dog and be better prepared.

On this episode of One Minute Dog Training Tips, Nicole Forto discusses: Separation Anxiety Tips for Dogs of All Ages

Products We Use for Dog Works Radio

Note: these may contain affiliate links, so I get a small percentage of any product you buy when using my link.

Dog Works Radio is a podcast education show brought to you by Dog Works Radio and is hosted by Nicole Forto. If you enjoy the show, I'd love for you to leave a rating or review on your favorite podcast app!

And please let your friends and other podcasters know they can listen for free on Spotify and Apple Podcasts

Everyone's a dog trainer these days, or at least, that's what social media makes it look like. But long before the hashtags, flashy reels, and influencer trainers, Alaska Dog Works was already out in the snow and mud, helping families build lasting relationships with their dogs.

In this episode, Michele Forto reflects on more than three decades in the dog training world and what that kind of experience really teaches you. From pre-internet clients to pandemic-era challenges, she shares how consistency, structure, and leadership have always been the foundation of effective training, regardless of what's trending online.

• The early days of dog training before social media

• How the pandemic changed the industry overnight

• What 3,000+ dogs have taught Michele about human behavior

• Why structure actually gives your dog more freedom

• Four timeless lessons every dog owner should know

If you've ever felt overwhelmed by conflicting advice online or wondered what separates real trainers from internet experts, this episode will reset your perspective. Michele breaks down what true, experience-based training looks like, and why it still matters more than ever.

🎧 Listen now: Dog Works Radio

What if your dog came when called every single time—not because you had a treat, but because they wanted to?

In this episode of Dog Works Radio, Michele Forto reveals the three foundational keys to a truly well-trained dog that every handler can use:

Win your dog's mind: build focus and trust Motivate your dog: make obedience exciting Encourage the right behavior: reward what you want to see again

You'll also hear real-life success stories from Alaska Dog Works programs like the Lead Dog Service Dog Training and Peak Performance Membership, where families, therapy dog handlers, and service dog trainers learn how to go beyond obedience into partnership.

Tune in and learn how to turn training sessions into confident teamwork.

Visit AlaskaDogWorks.com to schedule a strategy call today.

Suggested internal links to add in the episode blog post:

• Lead Dog Service Dog Training Program

• DAWGS Therapy Dog Program

• The Pack Membership

• Dog Works Radio Homepage

Products We Use for Dog Works Radio

Note: these may contain affiliate links, so I get a small percentage of any product you buy when using my link.

Dog Works Radio is a podcast education show brought to you by Dog Works Radio and is hosted by Michele Forto. If you enjoy the show, I'd love for you to leave a rating or review on your favorite podcast app!

And please let your friends and other podcasters know they can listen for free on Spotify and Apple Podcasts

On this episode of One Minute Dog Training Tips, Nicole Forto discusses: the Arctic Puppy Foundation Program at Alaska Dog Works

Products We Use for Dog Works Radio

Note: these may contain affiliate links, so I get a small percentage of any product you buy when using my link.

Dog Works Radio is a podcast education show brought to you by Dog Works Radio and is hosted by Nicole Forto. If you enjoy the show, I'd love for you to leave a rating or review on your favorite podcast app!

And please let your friends and other podcasters know they can listen for free on Spotify and Apple Podcasts

On this episode of One Minute Dog Training Tips, Nicole Forto discusses: Mental Stimulation Games for Dogs

Products We Use for Dog Works Radio

Note: these may contain affiliate links, so I get a small percentage of any product you buy when using my link.

Dog Works Radio is a podcast education show brought to you by Dog Works Radio and is hosted by Nicole Forto. If you enjoy the show, I'd love for you to leave a rating or review on your favorite podcast app!

And please let your friends and other podcasters know they can listen for free on Spotify and Apple Podcasts

In this heartfelt episode of Dog Works Radio, host Robert Forto reconnects with long-time friend and author Dorothy Wills-Raftery, known to many as the FiveSibes Mom. Together they discuss her touching new children's book Wolfie, What Is the Rainbow Bridge? a gentle story written with her grandson to help children understand the loss of a beloved pet.

Dorothy shares the real-life inspiration behind Wolfie, the emotional bond between her grandson and their Siberian Huskies, and how writing and illustration became a form of healing. The conversation also explores her ongoing work in canine epilepsy awareness, pet loss support, and her award-winning books like What's Wrong with Gibson and Buddy the Christmas Husky.

Learn more about Dorothy's work:

• Blog: FiveSibes.blogspot.com

• Facebook: FiveSibes: Siberian Husky Canine News & Reviews

• Instagram: @FiveSibesMom

• APLB Pet Loss Resources: aplb.org

Products We Use for Dog Works Radio

Note: these may contain affiliate links, so I get a small percentage of any product you buy when using my link.

Dog Works Radio is a podcast education show brought to you by Dog Works Radio and is hosted by Michele Forto. If you enjoy the show, I'd love for you to leave a rating or review on your favorite podcast app!

And please let your friends and other podcasters know they can listen for free on Spotify and Apple Podcasts

In this bonus episode, of The Bark. Nicole and Michele Forto dive deeper into task training for service dogs.

On this episode of One Minute Dog Training Tips, Nicole Forto discusses: Decompression in Dogs

Products We Use for Dog Works Radio

Note: these may contain affiliate links, so I get a small percentage of any product you buy when using my link.

Dog Works Radio is a podcast education show brought to you by Dog Works Radio and is hosted by Nicole Forto. If you enjoy the show, I'd love for you to leave a rating or review on your favorite podcast app!

And please let your friends and other podcasters know they can listen for free on Spotify and Apple Podcasts