Month: May 2019

“Leashes? We don’t need no stinking leashes!” – Good Manners and Maine State Law Says That You Do

< A version of this article was published in the June 2019 issue of Downeast Dog News >

< A short link to this article – http://bit.ly/Leashes-YES >

Muppy enjoying an off-leash romp in a fenced yard

Dogs love to explore and run; both things they cannot enjoy while on a leash. For those and many other reasons, many of us look for opportunities where we can let our dog experience being free of the restrictions of being confined or tethered continuously to us. Watching a dog romp, zoom, and play is a joyous event for both you and your dog. However, allowing our dogs to be off-leash comes with serious responsibilities and obligations, which far too often are ignored.

Once the snow is gone people start walking their dogs again, tourists flood into Maine, and I start hearing complaints from clients, friends, and professional colleagues about dogs running loose and out of control in public places. These dogs and the people who enable them are often causing severe problems for people, other animals, and ultimately themselves. They are also triggering many communities to be more restrictive about where they will allow dogs to be off-leash. Before allowing your dog off-leash, please consider how doing so will affect others.

Some people allow their dog to run at-large because they believe their dog is “friendly.” They need to understand that not every person enjoys having a strange dog charge into their space and sniff and jump on them in a bout of “unrestrained enthusiasm.”  The fact is, some people are afraid of dogs, and a friendly dog that is out of control can cause them emotional trauma.

Also, the dog owners view of their dogs intent, “he just really likes people” does not matter if the dog’s interactions are perceived by others as being threatening < FMI – Dangerous Dogs! – http://bit.ly/Dangerous-Dogs > Remember, even if someone is not afraid of dogs, a rampaging juggernaut can cause serious physical injury to a child, a senior citizen, and others. There is no valid excuse for allowing this to happen.

Dogs that are off-leash and not under control may also pose a serious threat to other people who have a dog that is afraid of other dogs that violate their space. I know of many people with reactive dogs who are diligently working with their dog to help them overcome their fears. They depend on being able to walk their dogs in areas where they will not encounter other dog’s off-leash. When you allow your off-leash dog to charge a dog that is trying to work through their fear, you may have just significantly lengthened that dogs recovery program.

If you cannot keep your dog close to you and under control, they should not be off-leash except when they are on your property. Allowing your “friendly dog” to charge other dogs is not only unlawful but is disrespectful to others.

A dog that is allowed off-leash and is not adequately trained can instantly meet a tragic end if they run into the road. If you allow your dog to be off-leash, you need to be confident that you can recall your dog in ANY emergency. If not, you are putting your dog’s life at risk. Remember, you and your dog will not be the only victim if your dog is killed because they ran in front of a car. Whoever was in the vehicle when the accident occurred will also be subject to the trauma of taking a life. Is that fair to them?

So What Are Your Legal Responsibilities If You Allow Your Dog Off-Leash?

Maine law states, “it is unlawful for any dog, licensed or unlicensed, to be at large, except when used for hunting.” The law defines “at large” to be “off the premises of the owner and not under the control of any person whose personal presence and attention would reasonably control the conduct of the animal.” < FMI – 7 MRS §3911 & 7 MRS §3907 >.

While “reasonable control” is not defined in the law, I believe that any dog training professional would explain it as “the dog immediately responds to a single visual or verbal cue from the owner in all situations and environments.” To prepare a dog to recall at that level takes time, but I encourage every pet parent to make that commitment. However, be patient, do not expect a four-month-old puppy to have a reliable recall by the time they are six months old.

The best way to get your dog to off-leash reliability is to work with a trainer dedicated to Pain-Free, Force-Free, and Fear-Free training. < FMI – http://bit.ly/MEDogTrnrs >. The following link will take you to an article on my blog that will give you some tips on starting to teach a reliable recall < FMI – http://bit.ly/Come-Recall >

Should I Leash My Dog?

If you want guidance on deciding when your dog should be on-leash, I encourage you to print this infographic created by Jenny D. Williams < FMI – http://bit.ly/ShouldILsh-PDF >. This visual decision-tree will give you a convenient way to assess if your dog and your community will be safe in various scenarios where you might allow your dog to be off-leash.

Please, think of others when you allow your dog off-leash. It is the right thing to do.

Recommended Resources

Articles on Don’s Blog
( http://www.words-woofs-meows.com )

Dangerous Dogs! – What Shelters, Rescues, Prospective Adopters, and Owners Need to Know – http://bit.ly/Dangerous-Dogs

Maine Dog Trainers We Recommend – http://bit.ly/MEDogTrnrs

Teaching Your Puppy to Come When Called – Starting Points – http://bit.ly/Come-Recall

Other Online Resources

Maine State Law §3911. Dogs at large – http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/statutes/7/title7sec3911.html

Maine State Law §3907. Definitions in Chapter 717: Animal Welfare Act – http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/statutes/7/title7sec3907.html

Should I Leash My Dog Infographic – http://bit.ly/ShouldILsh-PDF

________________________________________________________________________
Don Hanson is the co-owner of the Green Acres Kennel Shop ( greenacreskennel.com ) in Bangor, ME where he has been helping people with their pets since 1995. He is a Bach Foundation Registered Animal Practitioner (BFRAP), Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC), Associate Certified Cat Behavior Consultant (ACCBC), and a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA). Don is a member of the Pet Professional Guild (PPG) and is committed to PPG’s Guiding Principles and the Pain-Free, Force-Free, and Fear-Free training, management, and care of all pets. Don produces and co-hosts a weekly radio show and podcast, The Woof Meow Show, that airs on Z62 Retro Radio WZON (AM620) and WKIT 103.3-HD3 and is streamed at http://bit.ly/AM620-WZON every Saturday at 9 AM. Podcasts of the show are available at http://woofmeowshow.libsyn.com/, the Apple Podcast app, and at Don’s blog: www.words-woofs-meows.com.  The opinions in this post are those of Don Hanson.

©30-May-19, Donald J. Hanson, All Rights Reserved
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The Shock-Free Coalition: What’s Next?

Don Hanson explains how to keep the momentum going once you have signed the Shock-Free Pledge

<A version of this article was published in the March 2018 issue of Barks from the Guild, a publication of the Pet Professional Guild>

< A short link to this page – http://bit.ly/BARKS-ShockFreeMAR2018 >

I have been waiting for an organization of pet professionals to take a stand against the use of shock collars since 2002, so when PPG launched the Shock-Free Coalition on September 25, 2017, I was more than ready to sign the pledge to eliminate shock devices from the supply and demand chain. However, I also knew that signing the pledge, while an important step, was not going to be sufficient to stop the use of shock collars. Signing the pledge is just the beginning of what will very likely be a long campaign.

In addition to signing the pledge, as many of us as possible must commit to educating others in our profession, other pet professionals, and pet parents about the dangers of shock. This educational effort will also require that many of us become advocates and publicly speak on behalf of dogs, who cannot speak for themselves.

Critical elements of being an advocate involve writing and public speaking and presenting logical and scientifically-based arguments for our position while being respectful of those that disagree with us. I know there are many reasons that not everyone in our profession is comfortable being an advocate. Some may have a fear of public speaking, an instinct to avoid confrontation of any kind, or a concern about how taking a position on what some consider to be a controversial issue, may affect their relationship with current and prospective clients and their business’s bottom line. These are all real concerns, and if they describe you, I understand. On the other hand, if you want to try to overcome these issues, know that there are others ready to help you.

How, then, do you get over the concern regarding how publicly taking a position may affect your business? This is not always easy. I have been in the pet care business for 22 years and started as a traditional trainer talking about dominance and alpha rolls, all while using a choke collar and corrections to train a dog. After teaching my first clicker class as an experiment, I knew I could never in good conscience show people how to train with force again. I threw out our existing curriculum, scrambled to create a new one, and our classes became force-free, pain-free, and fear-free. This change was made in spite of the fact that I feared we would lose many of our training clients and veterinary referrals.

I have to thank my friend Gail Fisher of All Dogs Gym in Manchester, New Hampshire for giving me the courage to do this. Fisher had a massive investment in correction-based training, both as an author and pet care professional, yet she made a complete transition to clicker training because she believed it was the best option for her clients and their dogs. As a result of my choosing to transition entirely to clicker training, my business has grown, and most of the veterinarians in our community became convinced of our kind, compassionate approach’s efficacy. Also, I could sleep at night because I was no longer teaching people to “strangle their dog.”

While I am comfortable speaking, writing, and arguing for a just cause, I know that ending shock will require similar actions by many of us. I am a firm believer in the concepts, “think globally, act locally” and that “many hands make light work.” I thus decided to launch a Shock-Free Coalition in Maine where I live.

My first step was to contact all the PPG members in Maine and to invite them to join me. This was a logical first step as PPG members have already indicated their commitment to ending the use of shock collars simply by joining the organization. Indeed, Section One of PPG’s Guiding Principles states: “Pet Professional Guild members understand force-free to mean: no shock, no pain, no choke, no fear, no physical force, no compulsion-based methods are employed to train or care for a pet.” (Pet Professional Guild, 2017). Like I said, all PPG members have essentially committed to the pledge simply by becoming members.

I know many pet professionals in Maine who are not yet PPG members. However, because I was confident that they felt the same way about shock collars as I did, I invited them to join our cause. My second recommendation, then, is to contact other pet professionals in your community whom you know are already opposed to shock. If you get them to join your coalition, invite them to join PPG as well.

I have taken several actions as an individual, all of which anyone can do, and I suspect many PPG members have already done too:

  • I sent out a press release with the news that my business, Green Acres Kennel Shop, has joined the Shock-Free Coalition. PPG makes this easy for us by offering a template.
  • I wrote an article for the October 2017 issue of Downeast Dog News titled Is Your Dog Your Best Friend or a Family Member? If Yes, Then Please Join Me and Take the Pledge which I also published on my blog. If you have a dog newspaper in your community, write an article and submit it. If you do not have a newspaper that focuses on dogs or pets, try your local weekly or daily paper. If you do not have a blog, start one.

I shared a link to my article, as well as an older article I had written (The Unintended Consequences of Shock Collars), on my personal Facebook page as well as my business pages (  https://www.facebook.com/GreenAcresKennelShop/  & https://www.facebook.com/WoofMeowShow/  & https://www.facebook.com/WordsWoofsandMeows/  ), and continue to do so on a regular basis. Share your articles and blogs on why shock-free is important, and do it more than once. There are some great software tools available to allow you to post to Facebook and Twitter on an automated basis. My favorite is Post Planner.

  • I included an article on the Shock-Free Coalition in the email newsletter my business sends to our clients and asked them to join us by taking the pledge. No matter how you stay in touch with your clients, keep them aware of the shock-free movement and your part in it.
  • I changed my profile picture and cover on my Facebook page, and those of my business pages, to encourage people to take the pledge. This is one of the easiest ways you can make others aware of the shock-free movement and your commitment to it.
  • I put up signage in our store promoting the Shock-Free Coalition and our commitment to the “No Pain, No Force, No Fear” philosophy. I also include PPG’s “No Pain, No Force, No Fear” logo on much of our printed literature.
  • There is a large banner hanging on the lower half of our outdoor sign, proclaiming we have joined the Shock-Free Coalition.

The following are things I have done to promote the Shock-Free Coalition as an individual which may not be as easy for others, but they are worth exploring:

  • I invited Niki Tudge, PPG’s founder, to be a guest on my weekly radio show, The Woof Meow Show, where we discussed the shock-free movement. If you do not have a radio show, find out who in your community does. Community-based radio programs are always looking for guests. In addition to hosting Tudge on my show, I have also been a guest on two other shows in our area that gave me an opportunity to discuss why shock-free is so important.
  • My co-host and I recorded a radio show/podcast titled The Unintended Consequences of Shock Collars as a companion piece to my blog post with the same title. I find it valuable to provide information in a variety of formats as some people prefer to listen to something rather than reading.

Our first group project in Maine was to place a full-page, color advertisement in the November 2017 issue of Downeast Dog News, a state-wide dog-centric newspaper. A total of 12 pet care professionals participated in the ad where we publicly announced our commitment to ending the use of shock and invited other pet care professionals and pet parents to join us. Since then, we have had an animal rescue organization join our cause, and I am in the midst of discussions with a large animal shelter and two veterinarians about joining us for our next advert.

My eventual hope is that other pet care professionals who might be on the fence will see the benefit to their bottom line if they take the pledge.

In addition to the ad, I have cobbled together a website describing our coalition’s mission, providing a directory of shock-free pet professionals for pet parents, and announcing our next educational and advocacy events. Meanwhile, we are discussing our next steps as to how to grow our group and get more people actively participating.

If you have already signed the Shock-Free Pledge, thank you! If you have not signed it yet, it is imperative that you do so.

All of us that want to see shock eliminated as an option in pet training and behavior modification have much work to do. I will try to keep you informed of what we are doing in Maine, sharing what works and what does not. In the meantime, please share your stories with other PPG members so we can all benefit from what others are doing. Together

we can make the world shock-free!

References

Pet Professional Guild. (2017). Guiding Principles. Available at: bit.ly/PPGGuidingPrinciples

Resources

Hanson, D. (2017, October 1). Is Your Dog Your Best Friend or a Family Member? If Yes, Then Please Join Me and Take the Pledge. Available at: http://bit.ly/BestFriendsAndShock

Hanson, D. (2017, October 22). The Unintended Consequences of Shock Collars. Available at: http://bit.ly/ShockCollars

Shock-Free Coalition: https://www.shockfree.org/

Shock-Free Coalition News Release Template: bit.ly/ShockFreeCoalitionNews

Say No To Shock! (A List of Scientific Articles and More) – http://bit.ly/SayNoToShock

Shock-Free Coalition of Maine Facebook Page: http://bit.ly/ShockFreeMEFB

Shock-Free Coalition Sign the Pledge: https://www.shockfree.org/Pledge

Maine Pet Care Professionals We Recommend –  http://bit.ly/MEPetPros

The Woof Meow Show (Producer). (2017, September 30). The Pet Professional Guild and the Shock-Free Coalition with Niki Tudge [Audio Podcast]. Available at: http://bit.ly/PodCastShockFree-NikiTudge-2017

The Woof Meow Show. (Producer). (2017, October 21). The Unintended Consequences of Shock Collars [Audio Podcast]. Available at: http://bit.ly/ShockPodcast

Don Hanson ACCBC BFRAP CDBC CPDT-KA is the co-owner of the Green Acres Kennel Shop ( greenacreskennel.com ) in Bangor, ME where he has been helping people with their pets since 1995. He is a Bach Foundation Registered Animal Practitioner (BFRAP), Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC), Associate Certified Cat Behavior Consultant (ACCBC) and a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA). Don is a member of the Pet Professional Guild (PPG) and is committed to PPG’s Guiding Principles and the Pain-Free, Force-Free, and Fear-Free training, management, and care of all pets. Don produces and co-hosts a weekly radio show and podcast, The Woof Meow Show, that airs on Z62 Retro Radio WZON (AM620) and WKIT 103.3-HD3 and is streamed at http://bit.ly/AM620-WZON every Saturday at 9 AM. Podcasts of the show are available at http://woofmeowshow.libsyn.com/, the Apple Podcast app, and at Don’s blog: www.words-woofs-meows.com.  The opinions in this post are those of Don Hanson.

 

©01MAR18, Donald J. Hanson, All Rights Reserved
< Click for Copyright and Use Policy >

Maine Pet Care Professionals That We Recommend

< Updated 19NOV19 >

< A Short Link for this page –  http://bit.ly/MEPetPros >

Before recommending another pet care professional or pet-related business or non-profit organization, I need to know that when I do so that they will NEVER intentionally use or recommend anything designed to cause a pet pain or fear. Preferably I will know this based on personal experience with someone, but I may also rely on their being a member of The Pet Professional Guild (PPG) as their membership requires them to abide by the  PPG’s Guiding Principles.

The pet care professionals listed below are all individuals in Maine that are either members of the PPG or that I know are committed to the philosophy of No Pain, No Force, and No Fear.

When looking for a pet care professional, I recommend that you use the Find A Professional feature at the PPG website.

If you are a pet care professional or pet-related business or organization in Maine and want to be included in this, please contact me.

Membership in the PPG and the corresponding compliance with The Guiding Principles are a critical factor in determining who I recommend.  – Don Hanson, The Woof Meow Show, & Green Acres Kennel Shop.

Veterinary Behaviorists

Maine Veterinary Medical Center
Christine Calder, DVM, DACV
Patricia Koven, LVT, KPA-CTP
Scarborough, 885-1290
https://www.mvmc.vet/vets/Christine-Calder

Dog Trainers & Behavior Consultants

Bessey’s Positive Paws
Erin Bessey CPDT-KA
Whitefield, 485-0851
besseyspositivepaws.com

Canine Behavior Counseling
Judy Moore CDBC, CPDT-KA
Cumberland, 232-5007
caninebehaviorcounseling.com

Canine Insights
Breanna Norris KPA-CTP
Pittsfield/Waterville, 487-1361
canineinsightsllc.com

Center for Canine Excellence
Lisa Walker CBATI, CCC
Freeport, 653-0993
centerforcanineexcellence.com

Gooddogz Training
Nancy Freedman-Smith CDBC, CBATI
Scarborough 671-2522
gooddogztraining.com

Green Acres Kennel Shop
Don Hanson CDBC, CPDT-KA
Kate Dutra, CPDT-KA
Lindsay Ware, CPDT-KA
Ashley Charpentier
Nicole Crocker
Bangor, 945-6841
greenacreskennel.com
Words-woofs-meows.com
WoofMeowShow.com

Haulin Aus Dog Training
Patricia Koven, LVT, KPA-CTP
Gardiner/Augusta
haulinausdogtraining@gmail.com

Keep Your Pet
Royan Bartley
Rockport, 975-4605
keepyourpet.net

Mr. Dog Training
Sara Sokol
West Bath, 798-1232
mrdogtraining.com

Oh My Dog!
Annette MacNair
Camden, 542-1843
Oh, My Dog!

Pawsitive Canine Care & Training
KT Bernard CPDT-KA
Windham, 893-8676
PawsitiveCanineCare.com

PupStart
Diana Logan CPDT-KA
North Yarmouth, 252-9352
dianalogan.com

Raising Canine Dog Training
Mallory Hattie CPDT-KA
Scarborough, 642-3693
raisingcaninemaine.com

Right on the Mark Dog Training
Stephani Morancie
Belfast, 355-4094
RightOnTheMarkDogTraining

Salty Dogs Obedience
Whitney Thurston
Blue Hill, 659-9547
saltydogsobedience.com 

Sit Stay Play
Larissa Savage
Freeport, 751-9458
sitstayplaymaine.com

The Capable Canine
Jessica Robichaud, CPDT-KA
Arundel, 604-0480
http://www.thecapablecanine.com/

The Familiar Canine
Naomi Smith CPDT-KA
South Berwick, 251-8168
thefamiliarcanine.com

The Silver Paws Project
Jessica O’Donoghue
752-2500
silverpawsproject.org

Tree Frog Farm Dog Training
Elizabeth Langham
North Yarmouth, 837-1613
treefrogfarmdogtraining.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shared News Story – An Exposé on Prescription Diets from WJLA ABC7 News

How lab tests show prescription pet food ingredients are no better or cleaner than off-shelf brands

< A short link to this blog post >

< Updated 13MAY21 >

In this news story dated 22MAY19, and broadcast by WJLA ABC News 7 in Washington, senior investigative reporter Lisa Fletcher examines prescription pet food sold through veterinary offices. This is what Fletcher said about this story in a Tweet: “You pay a lot for prescription pet food. Wonder what’s in it? Bet you didn’t know you might be buying arsenic, lead, pesticides and BPA for your sick pet. We tested 125 top products. Results tonight, only on @ABC7News.”

Notable quotes and information in this report are listed below.

  • “There is no medicine in prescription pet foods. There’s nothing ‘prescription’ in the food at all,” said Dr. Karen Becker. “There are no drugs, there’s no medicine, there’s no herb,” said Becker. “So, “by prescription” means you have to buy it from your veterinarian. But the list of ingredients on the back of the food is usually not much different than regular pet food.“
  • In fact, “Prescription Diet” is a marketing term, trademarked by Hill’s, the maker of Science Diet. That trademark is the reason other “prescription” pet food manufacturers alternatively label their prescription products “therapeutic” or “veterinary” diets.
  • WJLA had Ellipse Analytics, a specialized lab in Denver, tested 125-prescription pet foods from four leading brands: Hill’s Science Diet, Royal Canin Veterinary Diet, Blue Buffalo Veterinary Diet, and Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diet. They tested for 130-contaminants including heavy metals like mercury and arsenic, antibiotics, pesticides, and mycotoxins, produced by certain molds, that can cause illness and even death. The results were compared to similar tests on more than 14-hundred traditional pet foods. Overall, prescription pet foods performed no better than their off-the-shelf counterparts.
  • And in some cases, prescription brands performed worse.
    • Our tests showed 40% of prescription pet foods contained pesticides, one of the highest incidence rates of any category the lab has tested.
    • The lab also found glyphosate, the controversial weed killer that is the active ingredient in Roundup, in some of the products.
  • For more than two years, Ellipse Analytics has compiled a comprehensive data set containing more than 2,000 pet food products. The lab believes it is the largest and most detailed data set of its type, giving their scientists a unique vantage point.
    • “Pet food products tend to be significantly more contaminated when it comes to heavy metals when it comes to pesticides and things like that than what you’d find in a human food product, which is a concern because humans have a varied diet,” said Callan. “Whereas, when you’re talking about pet food, you’re feeding the animal the same thing every day, multiple days in a row and in the case of prescription pet food, you’re feeding a sick animal the same thing every day, multiple days in a row. So, what would be, with us, something that could be spread out over the course of the diet, ends up being a concentrated event.”
  • Several lawsuits have alleged in class actions that Mars, Purina, Hills, and others deceptively sold prescription pet food in violation of state and federal laws. One such claim, in California, was dismissed by the trial court and is now on appeal in the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. A decision is expected by the end of the year. Two cases are pending in Kansas and Missouri.
  • “These types of test results that you have discovered are not only not shocking to me it’s very frustrating because it causes pet parents to lose faith not only in the veterinarian but in pet food companies across the board.” – Veterinarian, Dr. Karen Becker

To see the story <click here> < https://local12.com/news/around-the-web/whats-really-in-prescription-pet-food >

Recommended Resources

Articles on Don’s Blog

( http://www.words-woofs-meows.com )

Pet Nutrition – What Should I Feed My Pet? – http://bit.ly/What-Should-I-Feed-My-Pet

What do you feed your dog? – http://bit.ly/WhatDoYouFeedYourDog

Pet Nutrition: Some Myths and Facts – My story with Gus – http://bit.ly/Gus-Nutrition

Pet Nutrition – Should I Feed My Pet A Raw Diet? – http://bit.ly/ShouldIFeedMyPetARawDiet

Nutrition – Why Rotating Diets Makes Sense – http://bit.ly/DietRotation

Video – The Science and Dogma of Pet Nutrition with Dr. Richard Patton – A video of animal nutritionist, Dr. Richard Patton’s presentation, The Science and Dogma of Pet Nutrition, presented for Green Acres Kennel Shop in Bangor, ME on April 28th, 2016.  – http://bit.ly/Video-Dr-Richard-Patton

Book Review – Ruined by Excess, Perfected by Lack – The paradox of pet nutrition by Richard Patton – http://bit.ly/RuinedByExcess-BookReview

Book Review – Natural Nutrition for Cats: The Path to Purrfect Health by Kymythy Schultze – http://bit.ly/NatNutritionCats-BookReview

Podcasts from The Woof Meow Show

( http://www.woofmeowshow.com )

What do you feed your pets? – http://bit.ly/WhatDoYouFeedYourPets-Podcast

Podcast – Pet Nutrition with Dr. Richard Patton – http://bit.ly/DrPatton-Podcast

Podcast – Pet Fooled – A Look Inside A Questionable Industry with Kohl Harrington – http://bit.ly/WfMw-Pet-Fooled

Podcast – Pet Nutrition with Kymythy Schultze Author of Natural Nutrition for Cats: The Path to Purrfect Health – http://bit.ly/KymythySchultzeCatNutrition-Podcast

Other Resources

Prescription pet food — Food as medicine or feed-grade scam? – Healthy Pets with Dr. Karen Becker – https://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2019/06/10/pet-food-prescription.aspx?

Podcast – Dog Training and Dog Smart: Evidence-based Training with The Science Dog, an interview with Linda Case, Part 2

< Click to Listen to Podcast >

< Shareable Short Link to this page >

In this second of a two-part series, Kate and Don interview dog trainer and author Linda Case about her book Dog Smart: Evidence-based Training with The Science Dog. In the last episode, we focused on foundational material covered in the book. This week we get into the nitty-gritty of dog training and talk about:

  • The benefits of working with a professional dog training instructor.
  • Qualities to look for in a dog training instructor and what to avoid.
  • Why it is so important to teach students how a dog learns and the most important things we can teach them on this topic.
  • What is clicker training and why it is so useful when training a dog?
  • The power of using food as a reward when training a dog.
  • How we help students address undesirable behaviors, they experience with their dogs.
  • The four most valuable behaviors we teach our students to train their dogs.

If you want to learn about your dog and how to live together happily, you will want to listen to this show and read Linda’s book.

You can hear The Woof Meow Show on Z62 Retro Radio, AM620, and WKIT HD3 at 9 AM on Saturday. If you are not near a radio, listen on your computer at http://streamdb7web.securenetsystems.net/ce/index.cfm?stationCallSign=WZON or your smartphone or tablet with the free WZON 620 AM app. A podcast of the show is typically posted immediately after the show. You can download this show and others at http://woofmeowshow.libsyn.com/ and the Apple iTunes store.

< Click to Listen to Podcast >

#WoofMeowShow #LindaCase #ScienceDog #DogTraining

Contact Info

Linda P. Case, MS
AutumnGold Consulting and Dog Training Center
Mahomet, IL

(217) 586-4864

Autumngoldconsulting.com

https://www.facebook.com/pg/LindaCaseAutumnGold/posts/

https://thesciencedog.wordpress.com/

Recommended Resources

Articles on Don’s Blog ( http://www.words-woofs-meows.com )

Book Review – Dog Smart: Evidence-based Training with The Science Dog by Linda P. Case – http://bit.ly/BkRvw-Case-DogSmart

What Is Dog Training? – http://bit.ly/WhatIsDogTraining

How to Choose a Dog Trainer – http://bit.ly/HowToChooseADogTrainer

Understanding Dog Behavior, How Dogs Learn, and the Most Humane (Best) Ways to Train Them, P.A.W.S. Animal Adoption Center, Camden, Maine – 10NOV18 – http://bit.ly/PAWS-Camden-10NOV18

What Is Clicker Training? – http://bit.ly/WhatIsClickerTraining

Reward Based Training versus Aversives –  http://bit.ly/RewardVSAversive

Help! My Dog is Aggressive, Reactive, Fearful, Anxious, etc. – What do I do? – WWM – APR2017 – http://bit.ly/HelpDogAggx

Teaching the ATTENTION or LOOK Behavior – http://bit.ly/GAKS-Attention

Teaching Your Puppy to Come When Called – Starting Points – http://bit.ly/Come-Recall

How Do I Get My Dog to Walk Politely Instead of Pulling on the Leash? – http://bit.ly/WalkingPolitely

Podcasts from The Woof Meow Show
( http://www.woofmeowshow.com )

Dog Training and Dog Smart: Evidence-based Training with The Science Dog, an interview with Linda Case, Part 1 – http://bit.ly/WfMw-LCase-11MAY19

Is Feeding A Grain-Free Food to Our Dogs Dangerous?, with Linda Case, MS – http://bit.ly/Podcast-FDA-Grain-Free-LindaCase-29SEP18

How to Choose A Dog Trainer (2017) – http://blog.greenacreskennel.com/2017/01/08/how-to-choose-a-dog-trainer/

Podcast – The Benefits of Training Your Dog and 2019 Classes at Green Acres – http://bit.ly/WfMw-Training2019

©18MAY19, Donald J. Hanson, All Rights Reserved
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Websites We Like – Should I Leash My Dog?

Jenny D. Williams’s website http://www.shouldileashmydog.com/ offers some great resources that will help you assess whether or not your dog should be on a leash. Listed below is a short-link to an infographic that you can use to assess your dog. This visual decision-tree (see below) will give you a great way to assess if your dog and your community will be safe in various scenarios where you might allow your dog to be off-leash. If you frequent public areas where dogs are required to be off-leash but are often not, you might want to suggest they print this graphic as a poster to help educate people on what it means to be a responsible dog owner.

< Click to download a Printable PDF of Should I Leash My Dog >

 

Maine Dog Trainers That We Recommend

< A Short Link for this page – http://bit.ly/MEDogTrnrs >

The dog training professionals and the facilities where they practice listed below are committed to the care, management and training of pets that is free of pain, force, and fear and are members of The Pet Professional Guild (PPG) who have agreed to abide by PPG’s Guiding Principles.

When asked by clients to recommend other pet care professionals, the first place I look is PPG’s membership directory. Membership in the PPG and the corresponding compliance with The Guiding Principles are a critical factor in determining who we recommend.  – Don Hanson, The Woof Meow Show, & Green Acres Kennel Shop.

Bessey’s Positive Paws
Erin Bessey CPDT-KA
Whitefield, 485-0851
https://www.besseyspositivepaws.com/

Canine Behavior Counseling
Judy Moore CDBC, CPDT-KA
Cumberland, 232-5007
https://caninebehaviorcounseling.com/

Canine Insights
Breanna Norris KPA-CTP
Pittsfield/Waterville, 487-1361
https://www.canineinsightsllc.com/

Center for Canine Excellence
Lisa Walker CBATI, CCC
Freeport, 653-0993
http://centerforcanineexcellence.com/

Gooddogz Training
Nancy Freedman-Smith CDBC, CBATI
Scarborough 671-2522
https://www.gooddogztraining.com/

Green Acres Kennel Shop
Don Hanson CDBC, CPDT-KA
Kate Dutra, CPDT-KA
Ashley Charpentier
Sarah Vickers
Lindsay Ware
Bangor, 945-6841
https://www.greenacreskennel.com/

Keep Your Pet
Royan Bartley
Rockport, 975-4605
https://www.keepyourpet.net/

Mr. Dog Training
Sara Sokol
West Bath, 798-1232
http://mrdogtraining.com/index.html

Oh My Dog!
Annette MacNair
Camden, 542-1843
http://www.ohdog.us/

Pawsitive Canine Care & Training
KT Bernard CPDT-KA
Windham, 893-8676
https://www.pawsitivecaninecare.com/

Pawsitive Play
Christina Loveland-Dupuis
New Gloucester, 619-2414
https://www.facebook.com/PawsitivePlayME/

PupStart
Diana Logan CPDT-KA
North Yarmouth, 252-9352
http://dianalogan.com/

Raising Canine Dog Training
Mallory Hattie CPDT-KA
Scarborough, 642-3693
https://raisingcaninemaine.com/

Right on the Mark Dog Training
Stephani Morancie
Belfast, 355-4094
https://www.facebook.com/RightOnTheMarkDogTraining/

Salty Dogs Obedience
Whitney Thurston
Blue Hill, 659-9547
http://saltydogsobedience.com/

Sit Stay Play
Larissa Savage
Freeport, 751-9458
https://www.sitstayplaymaine.com/

The Capable Canine
Jessica Robichaud, CPDT-KA
Arundel, 604-0480
http://www.thecapablecanine.com/

The Familiar Canine
Naomi Smith CPDT-KA
South Berwick, 251-8168
https://www.thefamiliarcanine.com/

The Silver Paws Project
Jessica O’Donoghue
752-2500
https://silverpawsproject.org/

Tree Frog Farm Dog Training
Elizabeth Langham
North Yarmouth, 837-1613
https://www.treefrogfarmdogtraining.com/

 

Products We Recommend – Earth Animal Tick & Flea Control

The days of not needing to worry about ticks are long gone as the reports of ticks, and tick-borne diseases are mounting.  Green Acres has declined to carry many of the products available on the market promoted for flea and tick control due to the nature of the chemicals in these products and the potential toxicity for your pets. We continue to believe that it is in your pet’s best interest to purchase products containing insecticides directly from your veterinarian as they are equipped to discuss the benefits of those products as well as the risks. However, we are pleased to now offer several products from Earth Animal for protection from ticks and fleas that are both effective and safe.

Who Is Earth Animal?

Earth Animal is an American company owned by veterinarian Dr. Bob Goldstein and Susan Goldstein. Since 1979 they have been dedicated to helping thousands of dog and cat parents achieve their pets’ health and healing objectives with natural products. If your dog is a fan of No-Hide® dog chews, the safe alternative to rawhide, then you are already familiar with Earth Animal and have an understanding of their commitment to quality.

Earth Animal’s Approach to Tick & Flea Control

Earth Animal flea and tick products are NOT toxic pesticides designed to kill fleas and ticks. Instead Earth Animal uses a two-step protocol using herbs, essential oils, flower essences, nutrients, vitamins and minerals to repel ticks and fleas from both the inside and outside of your pet. All of these products are 100% satisfaction guaranteed.

Green Acres Experience with Earth Animal

We started evaluating the Earth Animal flea and tick products with our own pets (and ourselves) late last summer. We liked the results we saw, along with the company’s satisfaction guarantee and commitment to quality and safety. We know that many of you, just like us, are looking for a non-toxic, yet effective product for keeping your precious pet free of fleas and ticks.

Earth Animal Flea & Tick Products In-Stock

Internal Products

Daily Herbal Internal Powder (Yeast Free) – This product is made with a blend of organic herbs to change your pet’s odor so that fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes do not like the scent of the blood. This odor change is undetectable to humans.

Daily Internal Powder – Made with a blend of vitamins, nutrients, and brewer’s yeast that changes your pet’s odor so that fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes do not like the scent of the blood, thus taking your pet off the menu. This odor change is undetectable to humans.

Organic Daily Herbal Drops – Made with a blend of organic herbs to help guard your pet against fleas and ticks. These drops also help to quiet reactions from flea bites.

 

 

External Products

Flea & Tick Collar – This natural alternative to synthetic chemical collars is infused with herbs and essential oils and has a fresh, minty fragrance. The key ingredients are Cedarwood Oil and Peppermint Oil, which is non-offensive to our pets but repulsive to fleas, ticks, and other biting insects.

Flea & Tick Spot-On – This is the alternative to topical repellents made with chemicals and insecticides.  It is a natural blend of Peppermint oil, Cedarwood oil and Almond oil which are non-offensive to our pets but repel fleas, ticks, and other biting insects.

Herbal Bug Spray – Made with a blend of essential oils, this spray helps to guard against fleas, ticks, and other biting insects, while remaining free of DEET and other pesticides and insecticides,

It is important to remember that Earth Animal products are designed to repel fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes as opposed to many other products that contain insecticides which are intended to kill these pests.

Click to view and print a PDF – FAQ’s About Earth Animal Tick & Flea products

©15MAY19, Donald J. Hanson, All Rights Reserved
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Podcast – Listener Questions No. 34

< Click to Listen to Podcast >

In this episode of The Woof Meow Show from March 30th, 2019 Kate and Don answer questions we have received from listeners and clients. In this show we answer:

  1. How do I keep my cat off counters & tables?
  2. How do I know how often and how much to feed my puppy?
  3. When should I stop feeding puppy food and switch to adult food?
  4. How do we stop our dog from chasing that cat?
  5. What do we do when the cat chases our dog?
  6. Is daycare good for all dogs?
  7. Do dogs age out of daycare?
  8. We have two cats and free feed both dry and canned food. One is getting a bit plump. What do we do so the one cat does not get obese?
  9. I have a 6-month-old Golden Retriever and just moved back home with my parents who have two cairn terriers, one of which is 13 years old. What do I need to do to make sure they get along?

< Click to Listen to Podcast >

#WoofMeowShow #ListenerQuestions

You can hear The Woof Meow Show on Z62 Retro Radio, AM620, and WKIT HD3 at 9 AM on Saturday. If you are not near a radio, listen on your computer at http://bit.ly/AM620-WZON or your smartphone or tablet with the free WZON 620 AM app. A podcast of the show is typically posted immediately after the show. You can download this show and others at http://woofmeowshow.libsyn.com/, at Don’s blog http://bit.ly/Words-Woofs-Meows and the Apple iTunes store.

Contact Info

Green Acres Kennel Shop
1653 Union Street, Bangor, ME 04401

207-945-6841

Website – https://www.greenacreskennel.com/
Facebook Page – https://www.facebook.com/GreenAcresKennelShop/

Blog – https://www.words-woofs-meows.com

©30MAR19, Donald J. Hanson, All Rights Reserved
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Podcast – Dog Training and Dog Smart: Evidence-based Training with The Science Dog, an interview with Linda Case, Part 1

< Click to Listen to Podcast >

< Shareable Short Link to this page >

In this first of a two-part series, Kate and Don interview dog trainer and author Linda Case about her book Dog Smart: Evidence-based Training with The Science Dog. When Don read and reviewed Linda’s book last December < Click to read review > he stated “If you love dogs or work with those who love dogs, you need to read this book!” and he knew we needed to get Linda to talk about her book on The Woof Meow Show.

In this first episode we discuss some of the foundational material in the book such as the damage done by the myth of dominance, pack hierarchy and violence focused training, why your dogs breed matters, the importance of socialization and how it is often misunderstood, and the importance of understanding canine body language.

If you want to learn about your dog and how to live together happily, you will want to listen to this show and read Linda’s book.

You can hear The Woof Meow Show on Z62 Retro Radio, AM620, and WKIT HD3 at 9 AM on Saturday. If you are not near a radio, listen on your computer at http://streamdb7web.securenetsystems.net/ce/index.cfm?stationCallSign=WZON or your smartphone or tablet with the free WZON 620 AM app. A podcast of the show is typically posted immediately after the show. You can download this show and others at http://woofmeowshow.libsyn.com/ and the Apple iTunes store.

< Click to Listen to Podcast >

#WoofMeowShow #LindaCase #ScienceDog #DogTraining

Contact Info

Linda P. Case, MS
AutumnGold Consulting and Dog Training Center
Mahomet, IL

(217) 586-4864

Autumngoldconsulting.com

https://www.facebook.com/pg/LindaCaseAutumnGold/posts/

https://thesciencedog.wordpress.com/

Recommended Resources

Articles on Don’s Blog ( http://www.words-woofs-meows.com )

Dog Training and Dog Smart: Evidence-based Training with The Science Dog, an interview with Linda Case, Part 2 – http://bit.ly/WfMw-LCase-18MAY19

Book Review – Dog Smart: Evidence-based Training with The Science Dog by Linda P. Case – http://bit.ly/BkRvw-Case-DogSmart

Things I Wish I Had Known Before I Started Training Dogs – Gus, the Dominance Myth, An Alpha Roll, and a Damaged Relationship – WWM-SEP2018 – http://bit.ly/Things-Gus-Dominance

Dominance: Reality or Myth –  http://bit.ly/Dominance-RealityorMyth

Things I Wish I Had Known Before I Selected My First Dog – Aversives are Unnecessary and Counter-Productive When Training A Dog – Part 1 – WWM-JAN2019 –  http://bit.ly/Things-Aversives-1

Things I Wish I Had Known Before I Selected My First Dog – Aversives are Unnecessary and Counter-Productive When Training A Dog – Part 2 – WWM-FEB2019 –  http://bit.ly/Things-Aversives-2

Dog Training – Reward Based Training versus Aversives –  http://bit.ly/RewardVSAversive

Puppy Socialization and Habituation – http://bit.ly/SocializationPuppy

Does My Dogs Breed Matter? – Parts 1, 2 & 3 – WWM JUL2017 thru WWM SEP2017 – http://bit.ly/DoesDogBreedMatter

Introduction to Canine Communication – http://bit.ly/CanineComm

Podcasts from The Woof Meow Show ( http://www.woofmeowshow.com )

Podcast – The Dominance and Alpha Myth (2010) – http://bit.ly/WfMw-Dominance-2010

Podcast – Is Feeding A Grain-Free Food to Our Dogs Dangerous?, with Linda Case, MS – http://bit.ly/Podcast-FDA-Grain-Free-LindaCase-29SEP18

©12MAY19, Donald J. Hanson, All Rights Reserved
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