Some of our Happy Clients!
The Next Revolution in Dog Training
" I highly recommend their training services for all dogs!"
Alaska Dog Works has been fantastic. Michele, Robert, and Nicole are awesome trainers.
Bobby CarrollShadow 
Let's Jump on a Call!
What Our Customers Have Said About Us
Thank You For Trusting Us for Your Dog Training Needs
A complete immersion dog training program
With over 25+ 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 are the trusted dog training professionals for all of 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 further during your consultation to see what your individual needs are and develop a training plan to fit your needs and goals.
These programs have been designed is unlike no other. From the moment the dog steps 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 the 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 go any further, please check your email folders (junk/spam/promotional) and make sure that you confirm that you want to receive emails from us.
Our Most Popular Programs, Prices and Benefits
Click on the tabs to learn more about the programs
Peak Peformance
Cadet Pup
Scout Pup
Susitna
Denali
Ascent
Peak Peformance
Peak Performance
Length: 12 Weeks Cost: $2295 Enrollment Age: 6 Months and Older
This is our most popular program for the everyday family dog. We have taken everything we have learned about designing training programs in our 25+ 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.
- Kick-Off Session
- Two sessions before your dog comes to camp
- At Camp we focus on foundational obedience and manners: sit, down, stay, heel, come, proper greeting of new people
- Field Trips: to include crate training, car rides, stand for exam, grooming
- 2 weeks of lodging
- Progress reports on what your dog has learned
- Pictures and/or videos
- Training treats
- Daily walks morning/afternoon/evening
- Grooming (Bath and Brush) before going home
- Go home lesson at day 14
- Follow up Lesson after 2 weeks
- Follow up Lesson (if needed can be by Zoom/in-person/etc.) at 6 months
- Access to PupPortal, The Pack private FB group, video coaching and summer group lessons
Cadet Pup
Cadet Pup
Length: 2 Weeks Cost: $1595 Enrollment Age: 8 to 16 Weeks
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.
- Puppy Consultation
- 14 days of lodging
- Intro to housebreaking
- Teaching your puppy to go potty outside
- Introduction to the crate
- Progress reports on what your puppy has learned
- Pictures and/or videos
- Training treats
- Daily walks morning/afternoon/evening
- Grooming (Bath and Brush) before going home
- Foundational Obedience: sit, down, recall, walking on a loose leash, house breaking, crate training
- Go home Lesson at Day 14
- Access to PupPortal, The Pack private FB group and summer group lessons
Scout Pup
Scout Pup
Length: 4 Weeks Cost: $2095 Enrollment Age: 16 Weeks to 6 Months
This program is designed for those who want to bring home that puppy without all the work that goes into puppyhood. Or maybe you have realized that you got in way deeper than you have thought and the puppy you’ve brought home has you at your wit’s end, it’s okay, we are here to help!
This package is all about starting and finishing your puppy to be the absolute best dog as they grow into the adolescent stages and adulthood. This is the program in which we start our service dogs. With decades under our belt and having a system down, we can guarantee you this package is worth every penny!
- Puppy Consultation
- Puppy Obedience: sit, down, stay, heel, come, proper greeting of new people
- Puppy training to include crate training, housebreaking, car rides, stand for exam, grooming
- 4 weeks of lodging
- Progress reports on what your dog has learned
- Pictures and/or videos
- Training treats
- Daily walks morning/afternoon/evening
- Grooming (Bath and Brush) every week before going home
- Go home lesson at day 28
- Follow up Lesson after 2 weeks
- Follow up Lesson at 6 months
- Follow up Lesson at 1 year
- Access to PupPortal, The Pack private FB group and summer group lessons
Susitna
Susitna
Length: 3 Weeks Cost: $2795 Enrollment Age: 6 Months and Older
This is perfect for our clients that live off of the road system, slope workers, busy families, and those that are traveling and want their dog trained professionally, not just sit in a boarding kennel while you are away.
The program that has been designed is unlike no other. From the moment the dog steps 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 the 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.
- Kick-Off Call
- At Camp we focus on foundational obedience and house manners: sit, down, stay, heel, come, proper greeting of new people
- Field Trips: to include crate training, car rides, stand for exam, grooming
- 3 weeks of lodging
- Progress reports on what your dog has learned
- Pictures and/or videos
- Training treats
- Daily walks morning/afternoon/evening
- Grooming (Bath and Brush) every week before going home
- Go home lesson at day 21
- Follow up Lesson after 3 weeks
- Access to PupPortal, The Pack private FB group and summer group lessons
Denali
Denali
Length: 4 to 6 Weeks Cost: Tailored Enrollment Age: 6 Months and Older
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.
- Kick-Off Call
- Two sessions before your dog comes to Camp
- At Camp we focus on obedience and house manners: sit, down, stay, heel, come, proper greeting of new people, reaction to distractions and much more!
- Field Trips: to include crate training, car rides, stand for exam, grooming
- 4 to 6 weeks of lodging
- Progress reports on what your dog has learned
- Pictures and/or videos
- Training treats
- Daily walks
- Grooming (Bath and Brush)
- Go home lesson at 4 to 6 week mark
- Follow up Lesson after 4 weeks (By zoom or even travel to your location to work in-person)
- Follow up Lesson at 6 months (By zoom/travel to your location to work in-person)
- Follow up Lesson at 1 year (By zoom/travel to your location to work in-person)
- Access to PupPortal, The Pack private FB group and summer group lessons
Ascent
Ascent Program
Length: 12 Weeks Cost: $997 Enrollment Age: 6 Months and Older
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.
Learn More About Our Programs...
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.
In Alaska most dog trainers are failing their clients
There is a much better way.
We designed our programs from the ground up. We knew that dog owners that we worked with wanted to reach four big goals:
- They want great control of their dog on leash. They want to visit pet stores, farmer’s markets, the vet, and take walks in the neighborhood.
- They want their dog to listen. To listen at home, on the hiking trail, and at the park.
- They want great manners. No barking, digging, jumping, and good house manners.
- They want to get rid of or avoid anxiety, aggression, or fear problems.
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!
Our Peak Performance Program is One-of-a-Kind
If you have a dog that is five months or older you are in the right place.
If you have a puppy that is younger than five months, click here.
It has been used by dog owners across Alaska and around the country.
It has been successful with big dogs and little dogs. It has worked for owners that are experienced with dogs to first time pet parents.
Our Peak Performance Program has had MAJOR success in solving all sorts of behavioral problems too!
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 worked for dogs that are five months old all the way to a twelve-year-old dog.
The reason why we have so much success is that it sets the right 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.
Our Peak Performance program solves the root cause.
It helps establish 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.
Other Programs
Virtual Training Program
Now that we are all practicing social distancing, you probably have seen all of the other dog trainers try and offer some form of a virtual training program. 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 everyplace in between. In our unique virtual dog training program in the form of Zoom/video chat consultations, we can help your dog become one of the best.
This program can be great for new puppy raisers, service dog clients, families wanting specific assistance on one issue or many. We can also assist you with puppy selection, successful first weeks and months of puppy ownership, and more.
Companion Dog Novice Private Sessions
Companion Dog (AKC Novice) is a 10-week private lesson course under the instruction of 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 need to be 6 months or older unless approved by the instructor.
Please do not enroll in this course unless you are committed to doing the work AND are open to learning 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 both in person as well as in an online format only available to you. All homework will be submitted by videos you can create with any phone. Homework is required and will be submitted 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 much more.
Should you desire this 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 only available on Wed-Friday during normal daytime work hours.
The 10-scheduled private sessions must be completed by no more than 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.
Online Consultations
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, information regarding training tools and methods to best suit your dog, and counsel you on a long-term plan of action to achieve the results you desire.
Video consults can be done by means of FB Video Messenger, Zoom, etc.
For one time sessions, topics often include:
Puppy Selection Know-How
Troubleshooting Problems with Use of Training Tools
Whether to Keep or Re-Home Your Dog
How to Set Your Puppy Up for Success
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:
Prong collars, remote collars, clickers, etc.
and More..
We also have customizable programs including our Level Up, Lead Dog Service Dog Program, D.A.W.G.s Therapy Program and more. Call for details.
Are you ready to get started?
Let’s jump on a call together and let’s get started on making your dog one of the best!
More Happy Clients!
Choose your Membership
You will be charged for the plan after we speak to you on your Discovery Call
Ascent
$
999
Year
-
5 private lessons
-
Access to The Pack
-
Access to all workshops
-
Access to live video coaching
Base Camp
$
1999
Year
-
Two week camp
-
7 private sessions
-
Access to priority booking
-
Access to The Pack
-
Access to all courses
-
Access to live video coaching
-
Quarterly 1:1 call with our Team ($500 value)
-
Access to all workshops
-
Priority feedback and support
Popular
Peak
$
2999
year
-
Two week camp
-
15 private sessions
-
One week camp ($1295 value)
-
Access to VIP booking
-
Access to The Pack
-
Access to all courses
-
Access to live video coaching
-
Bi-monthly 1:1 call with our Team ($750 value)
-
Access to all workshops
-
Access to all master camps
-
VIP feedback and support
About Michele Forto (that's me!) 👋
I build relationships
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.
🧨💥🚀 Reach Your Potential
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.
The team at Alaska Dog Works Training is fantastic! Michele and Nicole have both been exceptional at training our dog and, importantly, helping us understand how to respond with the dog at home.
Our dog, Jackie, is a very social malamute/husky mix. They are knowledgeable m, clearly love dogs, and techniques they’ve shown us work. We have also had great success boarding her with them.
I highly recommend their services!
Kim Erickson
Jackie
🤜✨🤛 Lift each other up
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…
More about us...
2,200,000+ downloads
Dog Works Radio has generated more than 2 million downloads from dog owners around the world
7K+ email subscribers
Our primary email list has more than 7700 subscribers
100+ breeds
We have worked with over a hundred different breeds and many mixed breeds. We have seen almost every behavior
10,000+ clients
Since our start way back in 1994 we have worked with more than 10K clients from around the world
If you've made it this far...
But what if you don't have much time?
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!