Last week on Dog Works Radio, we explored the strange topic of "zombie dogs" and how real diseases can influence canine behavior. This week, we tackle another uncomfortable but honest question: would your dog eat you if you died at home?

In this episode, we break down what forensic science reveals about post-mortem scavenging in dogs, how survival instincts override emotional bonds, and why this conversation matters especially for dog owners in Alaska. From remote cabins to winter road closures, delayed response times can change the equation.

You'll learn:

• What documented forensic cases show

• How and why scavenging behavior begins

• The role of canine survival instincts

• Practical emergency planning steps for dog owners

• How training and independence affect resilience

If you live alone, off-grid, or in rural Alaska, this is a conversation worth having. Preparation is not fear—it is responsible dog ownership.

For help with obedience, separation anxiety, board-and-train programs, or service dog development, visit AlaskaDogWorks.com or call (206) 752-3647.

Other Episodes You Will Love

· Zombie Dogs

Support the Show

This episode was recorded on the Shure SM7B and a Rodecaster Pro II

Like this episode? Share it with your dog training friends!

Love this episode? Say thanks in true dog training podcasting style by leaving a review.

Take our Understanding Drive Behaviors quiz to see exactly what drive your dog is in and how to begin to train for it.

Join the On-Air Dog Training Coaching waitlist for a chance to be coached on the air by Dr. Robert or Michele Forto and get your dog training questions answered in real time.

Sign up now for 20% off our Group Coaching Program and learn how to build the best relationship possible for your dog.

Take your dog training to the next level by enrolling in our Peak Performance membership.

Follow Dog Works Radio for more dog training tips: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn

©2009-2026 by Dog Works Training Company® All Rights Reserved.

In this episode of One Minute Dog Training Tips, Nicole Forto of Alaska Dog Works Discusses Resource Guarding.

Other Episodes You Will Love

• How to Get the Best Results from Dog Training Sessions

• This episode was recorded on the Shure SM7B and a Rodecaster Pro II

  Support the Show

  Like this episode? Share it with your dog training friends!

  Love this episode? Say thanks in true dog training podcasting style by leaving a review.

  Take our Understanding Drive Behaviors quiz to see exactly what drive your dog is in and how to begin to train for it.

  Join the On-Air Dog Training Coaching waitlist for a chance to be coached on the air by Dr. Robert or Michele Forto and get your dog training questions answered in real time.

  Sign up now for 20% off our Group Coaching Program and learn how to build the best relationship possible for your dog.

  Take your dog training to the next level by enrolling in our Peak Performance membership.

  Follow Dog Works Radio for more dog training tips: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn

  ©2009-2026 by Dog Works Training Company® All Rights Reserved

Got a puppy for Christmas? Two months later is when real training begins. Learn what to focus on now, how to prevent bad habits, and how to build a well-mannered dog before adolescence hits.

Other Episodes You Will Love

• How to Get the Best Results from Dog Training Sessions

• This episode was recorded on the Shure SM7B and a Rodecaster Pro II

  Support the Show

  Like this episode? Share it with your dog training friends!

  Love this episode? Say thanks in true dog training podcasting style by leaving a review.

  Take our Understanding Drive Behaviors quiz to see exactly what drive your dog is in and how to begin to train for it.

  Join the On-Air Dog Training Coaching waitlist for a chance to be coached on the air by Dr. Robert or Michele Forto and get your dog training questions answered in real time.

  Sign up now for 20% off our Group Coaching Program and learn how to build the best relationship possible for your dog.

  Take your dog training to the next level by enrolling in our Peak Performance membership.

  Follow Dog Works Radio for more dog training tips: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn

  ©2009-2026 by Dog Works Training Company® All Rights Reserved

puppy training, new puppy advice, dog training podcast, Christmas puppy, dog behavior help, stop puppy biting, leash training puppy, dog training tips, Alaska dog trainer, first-time dog owner

Your dog knows "sit."
They just don't know why it matters.

If your cues fall apart the moment distractions show up, the issue isn't intelligence. It's clarity, context, and how the behavior was built.

In this episode of Dog Works Radio, Michele Forto breaks down the four core commands, sit, stay, down, and drop it, and explains why they are not about obedience at all. They're about impulse control, trust, calmness, and safety.

You'll learn:

• Why "sit" is really about impulse control
• How to build a stay that doesn't collapse under pressure
• Why down lowers energy and create calm
• How to teach drop it without confrontation
• Why behaviors don't automatically generalize to new environments
• How to make core cues reliable in the real world

Other Episodes You Will Love

• The Real Zombie Virus: Rabies, Cujo, and the Science of Mind Control

Support the Show

This episode was recorded on the Shure SM7B and a Rodecaster Pro II

Like this episode? Share it with your dog training friends!

Love this episode? Say thanks in true dog training podcasting style by leaving a review.

Take our Understanding Drive Behaviors quiz to see exactly what drive your dog is in and how to begin to train for it.

Join the On-Air Dog Training Coaching waitlist for a chance to be coached on the air by Dr. Robert or Michele Forto and get your dog training questions answered in real time.

Sign up now for 20% off our Group Coaching Program and learn how to build the best relationship possible for your dog.

Take your dog training to the next level by enrolling in our Peak Performance membership.

Follow Dog Works Radio for more dog training tips: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn

©2009-2026 by Dog Works Training Company® All Rights Reserved

Is rabies the closest thing to a real zombie virus?

In this episode of Dog Works Radio, we explore the science behind rabies as a behavioral manipulation virus, inspired by Cujo and modern films like 28 Days Later. We discuss how rabies alters the brain, increases aggression and salivation to spread infection, and why it has terrified humans for thousands of years.

We also dive into toxoplasmosis and other parasites that literally change animal behavior to benefit transmission.

Most importantly, we explain what dog owners need to understand about sudden aggression, neurological changes, and the difference between a training issue and a medical emergency.

Sometimes the scariest stories aren't fiction. They are biology.

Other Episodes You Will Love

• How to Get the Best Results from Dog Training Sessions

• This episode was recorded on the Shure SM7B and a Rodecaster Pro II

  Support the Show

  Like this episode? Share it with your dog training friends!

  Love this episode? Say thanks in true dog training podcasting style by leaving a review.

  Take our Understanding Drive Behaviors quiz to see exactly what drive your dog is in and how to begin to train for it.

  Join the On-Air Dog Training Coaching waitlist for a chance to be coached on the air by Dr. Robert or Michele Forto and get your dog training questions answered in real time.

  Sign up now for 20% off our Group Coaching Program and learn how to build the best relationship possible for your dog.

  Take your dog training to the next level by enrolling in our Peak Performance membership.

  Follow Dog Works Radio for more dog training tips: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn

  ©2009-2026 by Dog Works Training Company® All Rights Reserved

On this episode of One Minute Dog Training Tips by Dog Works Radio, Nicole Forto discusses Proofing Your Dog for Real Life

Other Episodes You Will Love

• Winter Training Tips for Your Dog

• This episode was recorded on the Shure SM7B and a Rodecaster Pro II

  Support the Show

  Like this episode? Share it with your dog training friends!

  Love this episode? Say thanks in true dog training podcasting style by leaving a review.

  Take our Understanding Drive Behaviors quiz to see exactly what drive your dog is in and how to begin to train for it.

  Join the On-Air Dog Training Coaching waitlist for a chance to be coached on the air by Dr. Robert or Michele Forto and get your dog training questions answered in real time.

  Sign up now for 20% off our Group Coaching Program and learn how to build the best relationship possible for your dog.

  Take your dog training to the next level by enrolling in our Peak Performance membership.

  Follow Dog Works Radio for more dog training tips: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn

  ©2009-2026 by Dog Works Training Company® All Rights Reserved

Does your dog panic, bark, or resist going into the crate?

Here's the truth: your dog doesn't hate the crate. They hate confusion.

In this episode of Dog Works Radio, Robert and Michele Forto break down why crate training fails for so many families and how to fix it using their proven Three C's framework: Criteria, Consequences, and Consistency.

You'll learn:

• Why crates are misunderstood
• How to introduce the crate without stress
• The biggest mistakes dog owners make
• How crate training supports house training
• How the crate builds independence and reduces separation stress
• Why structure creates confidence

When done correctly, the crate becomes more than containment. It becomes security, clarity, and calm.

If you want a dog that travels better, settles faster, and handles real life with confidence, this episode is for you.

🎯 Use promo code DogWorks at AlaskaDogWorks.com to save 20% on your training program.

On this episode of One Minute Dog Training Tips by Dog Works Radio, Nicole Forto discusses Winter Training Games 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