Eric Roberts

CCDT - Certified Dog Trainer, CATCH Canine Trainers Academy Fear Free Certified Professional - Fear Free Pets AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Evaluator - American Kennel Club AKC Temperament Test (ATT) Evaluator - American Kennel Club

Forged Canine Academy provides private, in-home, and community-based dog training throughout North Texas, primarily serving Little Elm, Frisco, Prosper, Celina, Aubrey, Denton, The Colony, Plano, McKinney, and surrounding communities. Our primary service area includes Denton and Collin Counties, with additional service availability throughout the greater Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex on a case-by-case basis. Training sessions are conducted at clients' homes, in appropriate public environments, and at designated training locations based on each dog's individual needs and training goals.

Common behavioral issues we address include: Leash Reactivity: Barking, lunging, pulling, or overexcitement when encountering other dogs, people, or environmental triggers. Fear, Anxiety & Insecurity: Fearful responses to unfamiliar people, dogs, noises, environments, handling, or new experiences. Resource Guarding: Protective or defensive behaviors involving food, toys, resting areas, personal space, or valued individuals. Excessive Barking: Alert barking, demand barking, and barking associated with excitement, frustration, or environmental triggers. Jumping & Impolite Greetings: Overexcitement, jumping on visitors, rushing doors, and difficulty remaining calm during greetings. Impulse Control & Overarousal: Difficulty settling, excessive excitement, frustration, poor emotional regulation, and challenges maintaining focus. Leash Pulling & Poor Walking Manners: Pulling, inconsistent engagement, difficulty following handler direction, and distraction-related challenges. Separation-Related Behaviors: Distress associated with being alone, difficulty settling independently, and challenges developing comfortable separation routines. Crate Training & Confinement Challenges: Reluctance to enter crates, difficulty settling, and stress associated with confinement. House Training & Puppy Behaviors: Potty-training challenges, inappropriate chewing, mouthing, nipping, and age-appropriate developmental behaviors. Poor Recall & Distraction Sensitivity: Difficulty responding to cues around other dogs, people, wildlife, or stimulating environments. Handling & Veterinary-Related Fear: Discomfort with grooming, nail trimming, physical examinations, and routine veterinary procedures. FCA also provides individualized behavioral assessments and training plans for dogs displaying defensive behaviors, including growling, snapping, and bite-related concerns. These cases require careful evaluation, appropriate safety management, and training tailored to the individual dog and household.

At Forged Canine Academy (FCA), our training philosophy is built around three principles: Calm. Clear. Reliable. We believe successful dog training begins with understanding the individual dog, establishing clear communication, and developing confident, capable handlers. Our approach combines evidence-informed, reward-based training methods, behavioral assessment, structured skill development, and practical application in real-world environments. We recognize that every dog learns differently, and training programs are tailored to each dog's temperament, behavioral history, learning ability, and the handler's goals. Initial Consultation & Behavioral Assessment Training begins with an evaluation of the dog's behavior, training history, daily environment, and the owner's concerns and objectives. Depending on the dog's needs, assessments may include: Reviewing behavioral history, previous training, and known triggers. Observing body language, stress signals, confidence, and responses to environmental stimuli. Evaluating foundational obedience, engagement, motivation, and handler communication. Identifying potential contributing factors such as fear, frustration, overarousal, or insufficient training. Establishing realistic training goals and appropriate safety considerations. For more complex behavioral cases, including reactivity, resource guarding, and bite-related concerns, we prioritize safety, management strategies, and identifying when veterinary or specialized behavioral support may be necessary. Individualized Training Plans Following the assessment, FCA develops a structured training plan based on the dog's needs and the handler's objectives. Training plans incorporate clearly defined goals, progressive exercises, practical homework assignments, and measurable milestones. Skills are introduced in manageable steps and gradually developed through increased duration, distance, and distractions as the dog demonstrates readiness. Our objective is to establish a strong foundation before advancing to more challenging environments or behaviors. Training Methods & Techniques FCA emphasizes humane, evidence-informed training practices designed to encourage desired behaviors while supporting the dog's emotional well-being. Methods may include: Positive Reinforcement: Rewarding desirable behaviors through food, toys, play, praise, and other meaningful reinforcers. Marker Training: Using clickers or verbal markers to clearly communicate when a dog performs a desired behavior. Luring, Shaping & Capturing: Teaching new skills through guided movements, reinforcing gradual progress, and recognizing naturally occurring behaviors. Desensitization & Counterconditioning: Gradually introducing triggers at manageable intensities while developing more positive emotional associations. Environmental Management: Adjusting surroundings and routines to reduce opportunities for unwanted behaviors and support successful learning. Impulse Control & Emotional Regulation: Teaching dogs to settle, maintain engagement, and make appropriate choices in stimulating environments. Generalization & Proofing: Practicing learned skills across different locations, distractions, and everyday situations. Training progresses according to the individual dog's comfort, understanding, and demonstrated ability rather than a rigid timeline. Handler Education & Participation A central component of FCA's philosophy is that training the handler is just as important as training the dog. During sessions, handlers learn how to recognize canine body language, communicate clearly, deliver reinforcement effectively, manage challenging situations, and maintain consistency. Our sessions typically combine trainer demonstrations, guided handler practice, constructive feedback, and opportunities to apply new skills. Homework & Progress Tracking Training continues between scheduled sessions through individualized homework and consistent practice. Clients receive exercises appropriate to their dog's current skill level, along with guidance on repetition, reinforcement, and progression. We monitor training performance, review challenges, and adjust exercises as necessary to support continued improvement. Real-World Application As foundational skills become reliable, training transitions into practical environments appropriate to the dog's needs. These may include the home, neighborhood walks, public parks, pet-friendly locations, and controlled environments where distractions can be introduced safely. For service-dog training, we additionally emphasize appropriate public behavior, reliable task performance, handler communication, and individualized public-access preparation. Our Commitment At Forged Canine Academy, we do not believe in one-size-fits-all training or guaranteed behavioral outcomes. We focus on understanding the dog, teaching practical skills, addressing the factors contributing to behavioral challenges, and providing owners with the knowledge and tools needed for long-term success. Forging Reliable Dogs, Building Confident Handlers. Train with Purpose.

My journey into professional dog training grew from a passion for understanding canine behavior and the unique relationship between dogs and people. As a U.S. Army veteran and former Airborne Infantryman, I learned the importance of discipline, communication, trust, and adaptability. Over time, I recognized how many of those same principles apply to working with dogs, particularly the importance of clear expectations, consistency, patience, and mutual understanding. What drew me to dog training wasn't simply teaching dogs to follow commands. It was the opportunity to understand why dogs behave the way they do and help people develop the knowledge and confidence to communicate effectively with them. That passion eventually led me to pursue professional education and certification and establish Forged Canine Academy. My commitment to veterans also influenced the direction of my work. Through The Battleforged Foundation, I have the opportunity to combine my passion for dog training with my dedication to supporting fellow veterans, particularly through psychiatric service dog training. I became a dog trainer because I believe that when we take the time to understand our dogs, teach them clearly, and build relationships based on trust, we can make a meaningful difference in both their lives and ours.

My favorite part of being a dog trainer is watching the moment everything finally clicks-not just for the dog, but for the handler. There's something incredibly rewarding about watching a dog that once struggled with fear, frustration, or distractions begin to develop confidence and make better choices. But what I enjoy even more is seeing the handler recognize that progress and realize they're capable of guiding their dog through those challenges. I don't measure success solely by how well a dog follows commands. I measure it by the relationship being built, the confidence developing on both ends of the leash, and the skills that carry over into everyday life. Whether it's a puppy learning its first cues, a reactive dog learning to remain calm, or a future service dog developing the skills to support its handler, every breakthrough matters. For me, the most rewarding part isn't simply training dogs. It's helping people become the handlers their dogs need them to be. That's what Forging Reliable Dogs, Building Confident Handlers means to me.

My #1 dog training tip: Be consistent, be patient, and reward the behaviors you want to see repeated. Dogs are constantly learning, whether we're intentionally training them or not. Every interaction is an opportunity to reinforce good habits, build confidence, and strengthen communication. One of the biggest mistakes I see is expecting a dog to perform a behavior reliably before we've taken the time to teach it properly. Just because a dog understands a command in the living room doesn't mean it can perform that same command in a park surrounded by distractions. Start with small, achievable steps. Set your dog up for success, reward the right choices, and gradually increase the difficulty as their understanding and confidence develop. Most importantly, remember that training isn't just about teaching your dog what to do. It's about learning how to communicate in a way your dog understands. Calm. Clear. Reliable. Train with Purpose.