As 2025 comes to a close, we’ve spent some time reflecting on what this year revealed about dogs, training, and the people committed to doing things the right way.
One thing stood out clearly.
Dog owners are overwhelmed. Advice is everywhere, confidence is often loud, and real-world experience is harder to find. More than ever, people are looking for clarity instead of shortcuts and leadership instead of trends.
That reality shaped everything we did this year at Alaska Dog Works.
What We Saw on the Training Floor in 2025
Behind every podcast episode, blog post, and training program is the same foundation: daily, hands-on work with real dogs and real people.
This year we worked with families navigating their first puppy, handlers training service dogs with serious responsibilities, therapy dog teams entering professional environments, and experienced owners trying to undo months or years of well-meaning but ineffective advice.
Across all of those situations, the needs were consistent.
Dogs needed structure. Owners needed confidence. Both needed guidance grounded in reality, not social media soundbites.
Education Over Entertainment
Whether through private training, group programs, or our conversations on Dog Works Radio, our focus in 2025 stayed intentionally narrow.
We prioritized education over entertainment. Long-term outcomes over quick wins. Honest conversations over easy answers.
That meant talking openly about the true cost of dog ownership, the commitment required for service and therapy dog work, and the importance of foundational training that holds up in real environments. Alaska is not a controlled setting, and neither is life. Good training has to work everywhere.
Why Trust Matters
Training dogs is not just about techniques. It’s about trust.
Clients trust us with their dogs, their goals, and often their frustrations. That trust carries responsibility. It requires us to be clear when expectations are unrealistic and supportive when the work feels hard. It also means standing firm when popular advice conflicts with what experience tells us actually works.
In 2025, that trust allowed us to continue building programs rooted in leadership, experiential learning, and accountability. It also allowed us to keep our standards high, even when it would be easier to lower them.
Carrying This Momentum Forward
As we look toward 2026, our direction remains steady.
We will continue to develop thoughtful training programs for pet dogs, service dogs, and therapy dog teams. We will keep educating owners who want a deeper understanding of their dogs, not just better behavior. And we will continue sharing what we learn through training, coaching, and media so others can make informed decisions.
Most importantly, we will continue respecting the people who choose experience, patience, and commitment over shortcuts.
Thank You for Being Part of Our Community
To every client, listener, reader, and supporter who walked alongside us this year, thank you. Your willingness to learn, ask questions, and stay the course makes this work meaningful.
Dogs deserve thoughtful leadership. Owners deserve honest guidance. We’re grateful to do this work with you and look forward to what the next year brings.
—
The Alaska Dog Works Team
Where to Listen to Dog Works Radio
Dr. Robert Forto
is Alaska Dog Works’ training director.
Michele Forto
is the lead trainer for Alaska Dog Works.
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