Some of our Happy Clients!
With over 30+ Years of experience, Dog Works Training Company has developed a well-respected reputation for dog training in Alaska, the Pacific Northwest, and beyond. To date, Dog Works Training Company has trained over 1,200 dogs and is the trusted professional for all your dog training needs.
Our Certified Dog Trainers specialize in Puppy Training, Obedience, Aggression, Anxiety, and Working Dogs.
Dog Works Training Company has spent years developing our programs.
Dog Works Training Company offers unique programs fully customized to match each individual client and dog. We will discuss your individual needs further during your consultation to develop a training plan tailored to your needs and goals.
These programs have been designed unlike any other. From the moment the dog sets foot into Camp, everything changes. We begin a bond with your dog, which will last a lifetime, as well as start a new beginning of learning and understanding what will be expected of them from here forward. We begin by removing bad habits, building confidence, and educating the dog on what is expected of them. We hold the dogs accountable for their actions; this is the key to our success.
Note: Before we proceed, please check your email folders (including junk/spam/promotional) and confirm that you want to receive emails from us.
This is our most popular program for the everyday family dog. We have taken everything we have learned about designing training programs in our 30+ years and developed a program that is totally unique.
Many dog training programs fail because there is no extended follow through. Many dog trainers offer a board and train where your dog stays with them for a period of time, and you meet with the trainer when you pick them up and that is usually it. Well, in our program we meet not only when you pick your dog up, but two or three weeks later depending on your program, then at six months and then at one year. Imagine if that dog trainer that you used before gave you the option of working with them well after your lessons were over?
This program includes two lessons before coming to a 14 day Camp. These two lessons get you started. This Camp focuses on the foundations of obedience. Your dog will learn on leash focusing on the following commands: sit, down, place, heel, and recall. You’ll no longer have to ask your dog several times to do a simple task, this will be instilled in your dog over hundreds of reps while here for training. The majority of the time we see behavioral issues is when the dog does not know these basic commands, therefore owners are not able to redirect the problem behavior, instead, it just leads to frustration. We take the frustration out by making sure the dog has a very clear understanding of what is being asked, therefore the frustration is removed by an obedient dog willing to do the task at hand. Once your dog has finished this program you will have complete control of your dog no matter the situation or environment.
This is hands down the best way to start your pup off the right way! If you’ve recently brought home a new puppy, you know the struggle can be real. We take the headache out of puppy training for you! Allow us to help you get past the accidents, crate training, mid-night potty breaks, destructive chewing, nipping, leash chewing, jumping on you and guest, etc.
We call this Denali because we believe that you and your dog can soar to new heights. This is our top-of-the-line program and designed to teach you and your dog to be the very best.
Many dog training programs fail because there is no extended follow through. Many dog trainers offer a board and train where your dog stays with them for a period of time, and you meet with the trainer when you pick them up and that is usually it. Well, in our program we meet not only when you pick your dog up, but afterward at four weeks, then at six months and then at one year. Imagine if that dog trainer that you used before gave you the option of working with them well after your lessons were over?
This program includes two lessons before coming to an extended Camp. These two lessons get you started. This Camp focuses on the foundational obedience, on and off-leash work, field trips, manners, socializing with other dogs and more.
This package is more geared towards dog owners that want to take their dogs anywhere and everywhere. The most popular clients who purchase this are the city dog owners or those who frequently travel with their dogs. We train the basic obedience and then spend week 4 to 6 strictly outbound training in parks, beaches, warehouses, department stores, hotels, outdoor cafes, etc.
We can also arrange travel to and from your location, anywhere in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska and travel with your dog in a safe and secure manner. No other dog training company is offering this level of service.
In this program, we coach you and your dog on how to be the best! There is no other program in Alaska like this. It is the best of both worlds–online training and private sessions. In this tweleve-week program, you will meet with your trainer every other week and also have access to our amazing online tools with your very own PupPortal. This helps establishes the right relationship with your dog, helps your dog become a problem solver and make the right choices, and helps both you and your dog work together as a team.
This program is highly recommended for rescue/shelter dogs.
The 5-scheduled private sessions must be completed by no more than 12 weeks from your start date, barring a major medical emergency.
Repeated class cancellations that run you past 12 weeks from the time you started may result in forfeiture of the remaining lessons without a refund.
If you have found your way to this page you have done your research and are interested in working with Alaska Dog Works. Here we have our proven programs that will help take you and your dog to the next level from teaching advanced applications to helping clients with small issues. We have excelled at a high level due to the education and the experience of our staff.
When you speak to us on the phone be sure to ask us about any special offers or discounts that are available.
Pro Tip: Subscribe to our podcast, Dog Works Radio and if you listen closely you will hear a special offer code!
Our number one priority is client satisfaction and we will deliver immediate results. Whether you want your dog to listen to you at any time around any distraction, be competitive in the obedience ring or be a well-mannered dog at home, we can help you make your dog one of the best-trained dogs in Alaska.
As you may have already read, there are a lot of great trainers out there. What sets us apart is that we have a proven system for dog training and that is almost unheard of in our industry.
What many dog trainers try to do is either hyper-customize their programs or provide a basic solution that is often ineffective. What that means is dog owners never know what to expect when hiring a trainer.
If that doesn’t sound like you, we may not be the best dog training company for you. But for dog owners that love to work with their dogs, we decided to stop doing any sort of just basic dog training. We stopped trying to convince people who did not want those four things to use our training.
Instead, we designed a system so that any dog of any age could see fantastic and consistent results through our Peak Performance Program.
If you live on the road system in Alaska we would love the chance to show you how we can help you make your dog one of the best!
If you have a dog that is five months or older, you are in the right place.
It has been used by dog owners across Alaska and nationwide.
It has been successful with both big dogs and small dogs. It has worked for experienced dog owners and first-time pet parents alike.
Our Peak Performance Program has achieved MAJOR success in addressing a wide range of behavioral issues as well.
Problems like anxiety (whining, barking, pacing, separation), house training problems, destruction problems, jumping, not coming when called, leash pulling, and so much more.
This program has been effective for dogs ranging from five months old to twelve years old.
The reason why we have so much success is that it sets the proper foundation.
It helps your dog think right and teaches you how to understand your dog.
Most dog training programs and dog trainers address the problem as it occurs.
While this isn’t wrong, it ignores the root of the problem.
It helps establish the right relationship with your dog, enables your dog to become a problem solver and make informed choices, and facilitates both you and your dog working together as a team.
Companion Dog (AKC Novice) is a 10-week private lesson course, taught by Robert Forto. There is very limited availability for this option. This course will teach you and the dog essential obedience skills. This is a “homework-intensive” course. During this course please expect to dedicate 60 minutes a day 6 days a week for 10 weeks to your homework. In this course, he will teach foundational skills all dogs should have. All dogs must be at least 6 months old, unless approved by the instructor.
DO NOT enroll in this course unless you are committed to completing the work and are open to learning from it yourself.
Please do not enroll in this course if you have mobility issues. Contact the instructor if unsure about any of the above.
This course will include practical instruction in both in-person and online formats, available exclusively to you. All homework will be submitted by videos you can create with any phone. Homework is required and will be forwarded to a closed Facebook group for critique by the trainer.
Your dog will learn to sit, automatic-sit, sit-stay, down, down-stay, stand, stand-stay, recall, and, of course, heeling on and off-leash without the use of remote collars.
We also cover physical handling drills and a variety of other topics.
Should you desire to enroll in this program, it will prepare you for the Novice level Companion Dog (CD) test by the American Kennel Club.
This will include all necessary equipment and access to online coaching and coursework.
Private lesson slots with Robert Forto are available only on Wednesdays and Fridays during regular daytime work hours.
The 10 scheduled private sessions must be completed within 12 weeks, barring a major medical emergency.
Repeated class cancellations that run you past 12 weeks from the time you started may result in forfeiture of the remaining lessons without a refund.
An opportunity to dive into answers & information around a specific topic, technique, or issue you’re facing. We can provide powerful solutions and immediate action steps, as well as information regarding training tools and methods tailored to best suit your dog, and counsel you on a long-term plan of action to achieve the results you desire.
In a post-pandemic world, you have likely seen other dog trainers offering virtual training programs. That’s great, but we bet they are new to the game. We have refined our virtual dog training program to meet the needs of our clients here in Alaska and beyond. We promise you, there is no other program like this in the country.
In Alaska, distance is an issue. We know because we have trained dogs from Bethel to Barrow, to Ketchikan, and everywhere in between. Through our unique virtual dog training program, which utilizes Zoom/video chat consultations, we can help your dog become one of the best.
For one-time sessions, topics often include:
Puppy Selection Know-How
Whether to Keep or Re-Home Your Dog
What to Look For in an Adoptable Adult Dog
Which breed is best for you?
Crate Training Issues
Potty Training Issues
Nutrition / Health / Feeding Consultation
Understanding Canine Behavior
How to Fit or Select Specific Training Tools:
We also offer programs, including the Lead Dog Service Dog Program, D.A.W.G.s Therapy Program, and more. Call for details.
Let’s jump on a call together and let’s get started on making your dog one of the best!
With more than 20 years of experience working with clients, I am the one you will most likely speak to right at the start. I am the Lead Trainer for Dog Works Training Company. I am also the co-host for Dog Works Radio a podcast that has been producing content for 14+ years. With tenacity and nurturing I will help you develop a better relationship with your K9 Buddy.
I hold a master’s degree in strategic coaching, and certifications in experiential learning, and I’m pursuing a doctorate degree. My goal is to build a program that sets YOU up for success.
Do you remember high school sports? Our own, Robert Forto played hockey and football – there was a LOT of training involved in both.
The great thing about organized sports is that you have a coach. You have teammates. And your coach and your teammates all not only hold you accountable but push you to go beyond your comfort zone and reach your potential.
Working alone, we often lack the discipline to push ourselves.
Whether you want to train your dog more frequently, improve the quality of your relationship with your K9 Buddy, or both – Our membership programs provide the accountability and push you need to achieve your potential and leverage the best of your abilities.
I’m obsessed with peer groups of historical figures. Did you know that the founders of Apple, Google, and Oracle were all friends?
Even in our groups, dog owners have their own small groups of peers who all push one another.
Not only to achieve their best, but they even amplify the work of their friends!
Basically, creators without a community are playing on Hard mode.
This community works together to not only push each other to grow and improve, but we amplify each others work as well.
There’s also a mathematical advantage to working within a group. MrBeast explains it well…
Dog Works Radio has generated more than 2 million downloads from dog owners around the world
Our primary email list has more than 7700 subscribers
We have worked with over a hundred different breeds and many mixed breeds. We have seen almost every behavior
Since our start way back in 1994 we have worked with more than 10K clients from around the world
Every dog owner is busy. Every single one of us.
Our program is designed to create a routine, not a chore.
Of course, if you spend time leveraging the resources (Pack Sessions, Workshops, 1:1 Coaching, and Sessions) you will get the most out of it. If you simply use the membership as a place to get inspiration, work through training roadblocks, or get feedback from other dog owners just like you, you’re going to get a lot out of it.
Most members tell us within weeks of joining they have already seen measurable results with their dogs and are getting their money’s worth.
You don’t have to dedicate hours per week to your dog’s training.
…but I bet you’ll choose to spend more time than you think. It is intoxicating to see your dog learn and grow. Plus it’s fun!