Today we’d like to introduce you to Eric Roberts.
Hi Eric, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My journey to founding Forged Canine Academy really started long before the business itself existed.
I’m a U.S. Army veteran, and like many veterans, one of the hardest parts of leaving the military wasn’t the job change, it was the loss of purpose, structure, and brotherhood. Over the years I lost several close friends and fellow veterans to suicide. Those losses had a profound impact on me and ultimately led me to start a nonprofit called The Battleforged Foundation, which focuses on supporting veterans and their families through community, purpose, and service dog programs.
Through that work, I saw firsthand how powerful the bond between a person and a well-trained dog can be. For many veterans struggling with PTSD, anxiety, or the challenges of transitioning back to civilian life, a properly trained service dog can provide stability, confidence, and a renewed sense of independence.
That experience pushed me to pursue professional dog training more seriously. I enrolled in the CATCH Canine Trainers Academy to develop a structured and professional approach to training that could serve both the public and the service dog work we were doing through the foundation.
That training and experience ultimately led me to launch Forged Canine Academy, a Dallas Fort Worth based training program built around the belief that strong dogs are forged through clear leadership, trust, and consistency. My focus is not just training dogs but teaching owners how to communicate effectively with their dogs so they can build a reliable relationship that lasts long after the training sessions are over.
Today, Forged Canine Academy works with dogs across a wide range of needs, from basic obedience to complex behavior cases, including dogs that other trainers may consider too difficult or too far gone. Those are often the cases that matter most to me, because helping the right dog and owner stay together can change both of their lives.
Forged Canine Academy also plays an important role in supporting the mission of The Battleforged Foundation by helping train service dogs for veterans. Being able to serve both the public and the veteran community allows the work to come full circle.
At the end of the day, the mission is simple: help people build stronger relationships with their dogs, create safer and more confident dogs, and use that work to make a positive impact in the community.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t been a completely smooth road, but that’s part of starting something meaningful from the ground up.
Forged Canine Academy is still a new business, so a lot of the challenge has been building the foundation. That means everything from developing training systems and documentation to establishing credibility in the community and earning the trust of dog owners. When someone brings you their dog, they’re trusting you with a member of their family, and that trust has to be earned.
Another challenge is that many of the dogs are already dealing with serious behavioral issues. Behavior modification cases often involve fear, reactivity, or aggression, and those situations require patience and careful work with both the dog and the owner. It’s not just about training the dog, it’s about helping the owner understand how to communicate and lead their dog in a way that creates lasting change.
At the same time, I’m also building this alongside the mission of The Battleforged Foundation, which is working toward training service dogs for veterans. That adds another level of responsibility because service dog work requires extremely high standards and a lot of long-term commitment.
Even though the road hasn’t been perfectly smooth, the challenges are also what make it worthwhile. Every dog that improves, every owner who gains confidence, and every step toward building something that helps both the public and the veteran community makes the effort worth it.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
At Forged Canine Academy, my work focuses on helping dogs and owners build clear communication, structure, and trust so they can function confidently in the real world. While we offer foundational obedience training, much of the work centers on behavior modification. Dogs that are struggling with reactivity, fear-based behaviors, or aggression, especially cases where owners feel like they have run out of options.
One of the core ideas behind my training philosophy is that lasting change does not come from quick fixes. It comes from helping owners understand how their dogs think and how to communicate leadership and structure in a way the dog can clearly understand. When that relationship improves, the behavior improves.
To build a strong professional foundation for that work, I completed the Master Program through CATCH Canine Trainers Academy. I also hold credentials through Fear Free and the American Kennel Club, and I am a member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers. These organizations emphasize humane, evidence informed training practices and continuing education for professional trainers.
What I am most proud of is being able to combine this work with the mission of The Battleforged Foundation, which I founded to support veterans and their families. Through that effort, we are working toward training service dogs for veterans who are dealing with PTSD and other challenges. Being able to use dog training not just as a profession but as a way to continue serving the veteran community is incredibly meaningful to me.
What sets Forged Canine Academy apart is the philosophy behind the training. My focus is not simply on teaching commands. It is about building confident dogs, capable owners, and relationships that hold up outside the training sessions. Every dog is different, every owner is different, and the goal is always to create a training plan that works for that specific team.
At the end of the day, the work is about helping people and dogs succeed together. Seeing a dog that once seemed unmanageable become calm and reliable, or watching an owner regain confidence in their dog, is what makes the work truly rewarding.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
There are a few books, podcasts, and professional resources that have been really influential for me, both as a trainer and as someone building a mission driven business.
On the dog training side, I tend to gravitate toward resources that focus on understanding how dogs think and learn. Books like The Other End of the Leash by Patricia McConnell and Don’t Shoot the Dog by Karen Pryor are great because they break down the science of behavior and communication between humans and animals. A lot of modern dog training builds on those principles of learning theory and reinforcement.
I also enjoy podcasts and educational content from experienced trainers in the field. Shows like Shaped by Dog with Susan Garrett or Canine Conversations with Robert Cabral cover everything from behavior modification to working with difficult dogs and real-world training situations.
A major part of my development has come through formal education as well. Completing the Master Program through the CATCH Canine Trainers Academy gave me a structured, hands-on foundation in modern, humane training methods, behavior modification, and working with dogs across a wide range of environments and challenges. That program helped bridge the gap between theory and real-world application, which is critical in this field.
Beyond that, staying involved with professional organizations like the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT) is a big part of how I continue to grow. APDT provides access to continuing education, industry research, and a network of experienced professionals, which helps ensure I’m staying aligned with current best practices and evolving standards in dog training. I’ve also pursued certifications through the American Kennel Club (AKC), which reinforce strong obedience foundations and real-world handler communication both of which are critical in building reliable, well-balanced dogs.
Outside of dog training, a lot of what keeps me grounded comes from experiences and lessons from military service and from building The Battleforged Foundation. The ideas of discipline, consistency, and leadership apply just as much to working with dogs as they do to leading people or building an organization.
I’m also currently working on developing an app and online community portal for Forged Canine Academy to better support clients between sessions and give them ongoing access to training guidance and resources.
At the end of the day, the biggest resource for me is simply continuing to learn. Every dog is different, every case teaches something new, and staying curious and committed to improving is one of the most important parts of being a trainer.
I’d also be remiss if I didn’t mention the support of my wife and family. Building a business and pursuing this kind of work demands a lot and having them behind me is a big part of what keeps me steady and able to keep showing up every day.
Pricing:
- In-Home Private Training Packages • Foundation Package (3 sessions) – starting at $350 • Momentum Package (6 sessions) – starting at $650 • Reliability Package (10 sessions) – starting at $1,050
- Puppy Training Programs • Puppy Starter Package (4 sessions) – $450 • Puppy Pathway Package (6 sessions) – $650 • AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy Pathway Package (7 sessions + AKC test) – $700
- Obedience Training • Obedience Foundations Package (4 sessions) – starting at $500 • Everyday Reliability Package (6 sessions) – starting at $650
- Advanced Obedience Training • Real World Focus Package (6 sessions) – starting at $750 • Public Access Reliability Package (8 sessions) – starting at $900
- Behavior Modification Programs • Behavior Assessment & Strategy (2 sessions) – $300 • Behavior Progress Package (6 sessions) – starting at $750 • Behavior Transformation Package (10 sessions) – starting at $1,200
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.forgedcanineacademy.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forged_canine_academy/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61587104949849
- Twitter: http://twitter.com/forged_canines
Image Credits
Photos taken by Forged Canine Academy
