Don Hanson – Page 14 – Green Acres Kennel Shop Blog

Podcast – Especially for New Puppy Parents – Part 2

This episode of The Woof Meow Show from March 9^th, 2019 is the second show in a three-part series. Kate and Don discuss; play biting, roughhousing, the importance and benefits of starting a Puppy Headstart class by the time the puppy is 10-weeks old, handling for grooming and routine care, managing kids and a puppy, growling, stealing, play, and chewing. You can find a list of links to corresponding articles on Don’s blog labeled as:

Especially for New Puppy Parents – http://bit.ly/EspcNewPuppyParents

Part one in this series addressed things you will want to consider before you bring a puppy home; like choosing a veterinarian and a dog trainer and getting signed up for a training class that uses pain-free, force-free, and fear-free methods. Then Kate and Don move on to things you will need to do when you bring that cute ball of fluff home, and the first thing they emphasize is the need for patience. Kate and Don conclude the episode by addressing these critical puppy topics; socialization, alone training, and housetraining. This episode is available as a podcast at Podcast – Especially for New Puppy Parents – Part 1 – http://bit.ly/WfMw-Esp_Pups1

The third show in this series will address the initial training tasks you will want to focus on with your new puppy. That includes; handfeeding for attention, food as a powerful reward and motivator, and how to use life rewards. They will also address the importance of learning how to keep yourself and other people from inadvertently rewarding behavior that you do not like, such as jumping. Based on their experience teaching thousands of people how to train their dogs Kate and Don discuss why training takes time, commitment, and consistency and how to avoid common training mistakes.

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.

< Click to Listen to Podcast >

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

Recommended Resources

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

Especially for New Puppy Parents – http://bit.ly/EspcNewPuppyParents

Biting and Bite Thresholds – http://bit.ly/Puppy-Biting

Help! My Puppy’s A Land Shark! – http://blog.greenacreskennel.com/2015/03/01/canine-behavior-help-my-puppys-a-land-shark/

Book Review – A Kids’ Comprehensive Guide to Speaking Dog! by Niki Tudge – http://bit.ly/BkRvw-KidsGuide-Tudge

Book Review – Living with Kids and Dogs…Without Losing Your Mind: A Parent’s Guide to Controlling the Chaos by Colleen Pelar – http://bit.ly/BkRwv-LvngKidsDogs-Pelar

What Should I Do When My Dog Growls? – http://bit.ly/DogGrowls

What Should I Do When My Dog Does Not Let Me Take Something They Have Stolen and Snaps or Tries to Bite Me? – http://bit.ly/StealGuardGrowlSnap

Chewing – http://bit.ly/DogsChewing

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

Podcast – Kids & Dogs with Colleen Pelar – part 1 – http://traffic.libsyn.com/woofmeowshow/WoofMeowShow-2007-02-11-LivingwithKidsDogs-part-1.mp3

Podcast – Kids & Dogs with Colleen Pelar – part 2 – http://traffic.libsyn.com/woofmeowshow/WoofMeowShow-2007-02-18-LivingwithKids-Dogs-part2.mp3

Podcast – Dogs and Babies with Jennifer Shryock from Family Paws Parent Education – http://traffic.libsyn.com/woofmeowshow/WoofMeowShow-2013-08-17-Dogs_and_Babies_w-Jennifer_Shryock_.mp3

Podcast – Especially for New Puppy Parents – Part 1 – http://bit.ly/WfMw-Esp_Pups1

Podcast – Especially for New Puppy Parents – Part 2 – http://bit.ly/WfMw-Esp_Pups2

Podcast – Especially for New Puppy Parents – Part 3 – http://bit.ly/WfMw-Esp_Pups3

Podcast – Especially for New Puppy Parents – Part 1

< Click to Listen to Podcast >

This episode of The Woof Meow Show from March 2^nd, 2019 is the first show in a three-part series, Kate and Don discuss several things that prospective puppy owners and people who have just brought home a puppy will want to know. Don and Kate base the discussion on their knowledge as Certified Professional Dog Trainers, experience with pups that they have raised, and the assistance they have provided to hundreds of new puppy parents over the past twenty-four years.

In episode #1 they suggest things you will want to consider before you bring a puppy home; like choosing a veterinarian and a dog trainer and getting signed up for a training class that uses pain-free, force-free, and fear-free methods. Then they move on to things you will need to do when you bring that cute ball of fluff home, and the first thing they emphasize is the need for patience. Kate and Don conclude the episode by addressing these critical puppy topics; socialization, alone training, and housetraining. You can find a list of links to corresponding articles on Don’s blog labeled as:

Especially for New Puppy Parents – http://bit.ly/EspcNewPuppyParents

Episode two in this series will address; play biting, handling for grooming and routine care, managing kids and a puppy, growling, stealing, play, and chewing.

< Click to Listen to Podcast >

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

Recommended Resources

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

Especially for New Puppy Parents – http://bit.ly/EspcNewPuppyParents

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

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

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

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

The misunderstanding of time by Nancy Tanner – http://bit.ly/Patience-Dogs

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

Alone Training – http://bit.ly/AloneTraining

Housetraining – http://bit.ly/HousetrainingYourDog

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

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

Podcast – Especially for New Puppy Parents – Part 1 – http://bit.ly/WfMw-Esp_Pups1

Podcast – Especially for New Puppy Parents – Part 2 – http://bit.ly/WfMw-Esp_Pups2

Podcast – Especially for New Puppy Parents – Part 3 – http://bit.ly/WfMw-Esp_Pups3

Podcast – Infectious Diseases and Parasites & Your Pet with Dr. Mark Hanks from Kindred Spirits Veterinary Clinic

< Click to Listen to Podcast >

Don talks with Kindred Spirits Veterinary Clinic’s Dr. Mark Hanks about infectious diseases and parasites that affect our pets. We discuss Canine Lyme Disease and Anaplasma and other tick-borne diseases including diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. We also discuss parasites, and Dr. Hanks recommended annual fecal testing for pets. Tick-borne diseases have become a serious health issue for pets in people and Maine. If you want to learn more, you will not want to miss this show.

< Click to Listen to Podcast >

To Contact Dr. Hanks

Kindred Spirits Veterinary Clinic
857 River Road
Orrington, ME 04474-3603

(207) 825-8989

Email – reception@kindredvet.com

Website – http://www.kindredvet.com/

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/kindredspiritsvet/

Shared Blog Post – Why You Should Avoid On-Leash Meetings

A great poster from SpiritDog Training on the importance of avoiding on-leash meetings between dogs.

Seminar – CATS! NOT The Musical

Links for more information

< Last Updated – 08MAR19 >

< short link to this page – http://bit.ly/PresCATS-NOT >

This seminar presented by Don Hanson of Green Acres Kennel Shop addresses the following topics:

Our Responsibilities to Our Cat(s)
The Natural History of the Cat
Feline Behavior
Feline Body Language
Problem Behaviors
- Socialization & Fearful Behavior
- Aggression
- Litterbox Challenges
- Safely Transporting Your Cat
Feline Nutritional Needs
Other Resources

Recommended Resources

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

Brambell’s Five Freedoms

These two articles discuss Brambell’s from a dogs perspective but much also applies to the cat. I will be writing an article specific to how Brambell’s Five Freedoms in the future.

Animal Welfare – Assessing Pets’ Welfare Using Brambell’s Five Freedoms – http://bit.ly/Brambells-APDT2014

Brambell’s Five Freedoms – Parts 1 thru 5 as a printable PDF file – WWM JAN2018 thru WWM MAY2018 – http://bit.ly/Brambell-1thru5-PDF

Cat Welfare

Your Pet’s Behavioral Health Is As Important As Their Physical Well-Being – http://blog.greenacreskennel.com/2015/08/01/pet-health-and-wellness-your-pets-behavioral-health-is-as-important-as-their-physical-well-being/

Shared Blog Post – (Declawing Cats) Still Common in the US, yet Banned in Several Countries – Why Is This Happening? – http://blog.greenacreskennel.com/2017/08/23/shared-blog-post-declawing-cats-still-common-in-the-us-yet-banned-in-several-countries-why-is-this-happening/

The Natural History of the Cat

Shared Blog Post – Cats Domesticated Themselves, Ancient DNA Shows – from National Geographic – http://blog.greenacreskennel.com/2017/06/26/shared-blog-post-cats-domesticated-themselves-ancient-dna-shows-from-national-geographic/

Cat Behavior

Inappropriate Elimination (Urination & Defecation) – http://bit.ly/Cat-Inapp-ElimUrin

Cat Litter: Who Gets to Choose? – http://bit.ly/CatLitter-Choices

Make Your Life Easier – Get Your Cat to Love Their Carrier – http://bit.ly/Cats-Carriers

Shared Facebook Post – Cats, Carriers & Transport – http://blog.greenacreskennel.com/2019/01/20/shared-facebook-post-cats-carriers-transport/

Pet Behavior and Wellness – Pet Behavior as an Essential Component to Holistic Wellness – http://bit.ly/PetBhxWellness

Shared Blog Post – Cats, Boxes & Other Small Spaces – http://blog.greenacreskennel.com/2015/06/13/cats-boxes-other-small-spaces/

Shared Blog Post – A Telltale Sign Your Cat Is Stressed – It is the Right Ear! – http://blog.greenacreskennel.com/2018/01/25/shared-blog-post-a-telltale-sign-your-cat-is-stressed-it-is-the-right-ear/

Shared Blog Post – Stress and your cat’s health – a new study explores the connection – Mikel Maria Delgado – http://blog.greenacreskennel.com/2018/05/08/shared-blog-post-stress-and-your-cats-health-a-new-study-explores-the-connection-mikel-maria-delgado/

Cat Body Language

Body Language of Feline Anxiety – Dr. Sophia Yin – https://drsophiayin.com/product/body-language-of-feline-anxiety-poster-handouts/

Cat Language – Lili Chin – https://www.dropbox.com/sh/r591fa82pnmm690/AAAsoy9Qdvc5QxfOqLOJMHzRa?dl=0

RSPCA – What does my cat’s behaviour mean? – https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/cats/behaviour/understanding

Signs of Anxiety and Fear from Dr. Marty Becker – http://blog.greenacreskennel.com/2018/01/17/signs-of-anxiety-and-fear-from-dr-marty-becker/

Cats & Nutrition

Book Review – Natural Nutrition for Cats: The Path to Purrfect Health by Kymythy Schultze – http://blog.greenacreskennel.com/2017/07/31/book-review-natural-nutrition-for-cats-the-path-to-purrfect-health-by-kymythy-schultze/

Things I Wish I Had Known… The Importance of What I Feed My Pets – bit.ly/Things-Nutrition-1

Shared Blog Post – Dogs and Cats Are Dying Daily Because Their Owners Aren’t Aware of This – http://blog.greenacreskennel.com/2017/10/15/shared-blog-post-dogs-and-cats-are-dying-daily-because-their-owners-arent-aware-of-this/

Pet Care Providers

Pets, Who Cares for Them When You Are Away? – http://blog.greenacreskennel.com/2015/09/01/pets-who-cares-for-them-when-you-are-away/

Selecting A Pet Care Provider – Yes! A Trend Towards Kinder and Gentler Professional Pet Care – Green Acres Kennel Shop’s “Pet-Friendly” Philosophy – Part 1 – http://blog.greenacreskennel.com/2015/04/02/yes-a-trend-towards-kinder-and-gentler-professional-pet-care-green-acres-kennel-shops-pet-friendly-philosophy-part-1/

Selecting A Pet Care Provider – Yes! A Trend Towards Kinder and Gentler Professional Pet Care – The PPG – Part 2 – http://blog.greenacreskennel.com/2015/05/02/selecting-a-pet-care-provider-yes-a-trend-towards-kinder-and-gentler-professional-pet-care-the-ppg-part-2/

Selecting A Pet Care Provider – Yes! A Trend Towards Kinder and Gentler Professional Pet Care – A Veterinary Perspective – Part 3 – http://blog.greenacreskennel.com/2015/06/30/selecting-a-pet-care-provider-yes-a-trend-towards-kinder-and-gentler-professional-pet-care-a-veterinary-perspective-part-3/

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

Pet Nutrition with Kymythy Schultze Author of Natural Nutrition for Cats: The Path to Purrfect Health – http://blog.greenacreskennel.com/2017/07/31/podcast-pet-nutrition-with-kymythy-schultze-author-of-natural-nutrition-for-cats-the-path-to-purrfect-health/

Listener Questions No. 26 All About Cats with Dr. Mike McCaw from Veazie Veterinary Clinic – http://blog.greenacreskennel.com/2016/10/22/podcast-listener-questions-no-26-all-about-cats-with-dr-mike-mccaw-from-veazie-veterinary-clinic/

Respiratory Disease in Cats-Dr. Mike McCaw – Veazie Veterinary Clinic – http://blog.greenacreskennel.com/2016/08/23/podcast-respiratory-disease-in-cats-dr-mike-mccaw-veazie-veterinary-clinic/

Urinary Health in Cats-Dr. Mike McCaw – Veazie Veterinary Clinic – http://blog.greenacreskennel.com/2016/05/01/podcast-the-woof-meow-show-urinary-health-in-cats-dr-mike-mccaw-veazie-veterinary-clinic/

Pet Care Options When You Go Away: Pet Sitter, Neighbor, Boarding Facility – http://blog.greenacreskennel.com/2015/09/05/podcast-pet-care-options-when-you-go-away-pet-sitter-neighbor-boarding-facility/

Cats & Cerebellar Hypoplasia with Stephanie Fournier of Cerebellar Hypoplasia Advocates of Maine – http://blog.greenacreskennel.com/2018/02/10/podcast-cats-cerebellar-hypoplasia-with-stephanie-fournier-of-cerebellar-hypoplasia-advocates-of-maine/

Books

Cat Sense: How the New Feline Science Can Make You a Better Friend to Your Pet, John Bradshaw, Basic Books, 2013 – I first read John Bradshaw’s two previous books on cats; The True Nature of the Cat and The Behaviour of the Domestic Cat back in 2003. Cats, and specifically cat behavior is still under-researched compared to dogs, but Cat Sense nicely sums up what we do know. Bradshaw also discusses how the cat and society are changing and suggests what that means for the cats future. Bradshaw has asked some important questions and concerns about neutering and breeding which merit further discussion and action.

Training Your Cat, Dr. Kersti Seksel, Hyland House Publishing, 1999. Written by an Australian veterinarian, this book is an excellent primer on cat behavior, care, and training. While many people think cats cannot be trained, this book demonstrates exactly how easy training a cat can be.

Nutrition for Cats: The Path to Purr-fect Health, Kymythy Schultze, Hay House, 2008

Feline Nutrition: Nutrition for the Optimum Health and Longevity of your Cat, Lynn Curtis, CreateSpace, 2011

________________________________________________________________________
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.

Shared Blog Post – The Tucson Dog – Arizona Region Shock-Free Coalition

< A short link to this page >

In this article from the 28FEB19 issue of The Tucson Dog, Kim Silver, the Arizona Regional Coordinator of The Shock Free Coalition discusses electronic shock collars that are used to train dogs and explains why The Shock-Free Coalition is working to end the practice of administering electric shock for the purposes of training, management, and caring for pets. Silver addresses the misconceptions many pet parents have about the use of shock to solve behavior problems and explains why experts in dog behavior believe shock collars do serious harm and should never be used. < Click to read the full article >

If you would like to help The Shock-Free Coalition educate pet parents about the danger of electric shock, I encourage you to join us by taking the Shock-Free pledge at https://www.shockfree.org/Pledge

Listed below you will find links to several helpful articles, podcasts and websites that explain the dangers of using electric shock to train, confine, or care for a dog.

Recommended Resources

Articles on Don’s Blog

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

The Unintended Consequences of Shock Collars – http://bit.ly/ShockCollars

Celebrating the 1st Year of the Shock-Free Coalition – +R Rocks – WWM NOV2018 – http://bit.ly/Shock-FreeRocks

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

Is Your Dog Your Best Friend or a Family Member? – WWM-OCT2017 – http://bit.ly/BestFriendsAndShock

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 – Reward Based Training versus Aversives – http://bit.ly/Things-Aversives-2

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

Shock-Free Maine Coalition Ad in November 2017 Downeast Dog News – http://bit.ly/Shock-FreeME-Ad-NOV18DEDN

Pet Professional Guild – Pet Training, Management and Care: We Now Know Enough to Stop Shocking Our Pets – An Open Letter to Pet Industry Representatives Regarding the Use of Shock in Animal Training – http://bit.ly/2mUEj4Q

Podcasts from The Woof Meow Show

( http://www.woofmeowshow.com )

Podcast – The Unintended Consequences of Shock Collars – http://bit.ly/ShockPodcast

Podcast – The Woof Meow Show: The Pet Professional Guild and the Shock-Free Coalition with Niki Tudge – http://bit.ly/PodCastShockFree-NikiTudge-2017

On-Line Resources

Shock-Free Maine Coalition Facebook page – http://bit.ly/ShockFreeMEFB

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

Take the Shock-Free Pledge – https://www.shockfree.org/Pledge

The Shock Free Coalition on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/shockfreecoalition/

Shared Article – The emotional toll of a reactive dog by Jay Gurden-Dogs Today

< a short link to this post – http://bit.ly/SharedGurenEmotional >

I recently came across this article on Facebook and had to share it. I too have lived with a reactive and severely aggressive dog and can testify that it is not easy and there is a huge emotional toll. I have no regrets because with lots of help and guidance we cured my dog ( FMI – Tikken – Vaccines, Aggression, OCD, & Homeopathy – http://bit.ly/TikkensAggxStory ) and she lived several more year without any behavioral problems. However, in many ways, my situation made living with a reactive dog easier than it would be for most people. Caring for Tikken during her behavioral issues was a multi-year project, and I have no regrets about doing it. However, Paula and I were able to do it because; we did not have any children to worry about, we both worked at a business attached to our home, so one of us was always there 24//7, and the architecture of our home is such that it was easy to compartmentalize areas where Tikken was allowed unsupervised. That being said, it was emotionally draining. If we had not been fortunate enough to have all of those advantages, Tikken’s life may have had a very different ending. I think it is essential for all pet care professional to realize and understand that not all pet parents will be able to manage and care for a reactive dog and accept that fact, along with the fact that the number of people looking to adopt such a dog is very small.

I cannot thank Jay Gurden enough for writing this article because I believe it is one that should be read by anyone with a reactive dog. < click to read >

Recommended Resources

Articles on Don’s Blog

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

Tikken – Vaccines, Aggression, OCD, & Homeopathy – http://bit.ly/TikkensAggxStory

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

Things I Wish I Had Known… The Importance of What I Feed My Pets

< A version of this article will be published in the March 2019 issue of Downeast Dog News >

< A short link to this article – bit.ly/Things-Nutrition-1 >

When I brought home my first puppy in 1975, I bought the dog food recommended by her veterinarian. When I got married, and both my dog and Paula’s dog came to live with us, our only thought about dog food was budgetary. I now know that feeding the food that costs the least per pound can have significant hidden health costs.

In 1991 my wife and brought home our first puppy as a couple. On the advice of Paula’s employer, a veterinarian, we fed him a premium pet food. Within a year Gus developed a chronic urinary infection which his veterinarian believed was related to how he processed food. Thus begin our journey of learning about pet nutrition. Late in 1995, we relocated to Maine where we became the new owners of the Green Acres Kennel Shop. Gus was still struggling with urinary and bladder issues, and we were committed to learning all that we could about the best nutrition for our pets and those of our clients. Eventually, we found a food that helped Gus, and we also begin to look very critically at every pet food we sold. (FMI – http://bit.ly/Gus-Nutrition).

I am often asked by clients how they can learn more about their pet’s nutritional needs, something I encourage every pet parent to consider, and these are the resources I recommend.

Books

Ruined by Excess, Perfected by Lack, by Dr. Richard Patton. While very technical, I believe this book does the best job of explaining the science and rationale for feeding our pets a biologically appropriate diet. ( FMI – Podcast – http://bit.ly/DrPatton-Podcast, Video – http://bit.ly/Video-Dr-Richard-Patton, Book review – http://bit.ly/RuinedByExcess-BookReview ).

Dog Food Logic – Making Smart Decisions For Your Dog In An Age Of Too Many Choices, by Linda Case. A good review of dog nutrition, the pet food industry and what dog parents should look for and even more importantly, look to avoid.

Natural Nutrition for Dogs and Cats – The Ultimate Diet, by Kymythy Schultze. If you want to learn how to feed your pets a raw and natural diet that you make, from ingredients that you choose, this is the best place to start. NOTE: I specifically recommend against anyone feeding their pets a homemade diet if they have not done adequate research. If you fail to formulate an appropriate diet, you can harm your pet. This book provides sound advice.

See Spot Live Longer, by Steve Brown and Beth Taylor. By the founder of Steve’s Real Food for Pets, this book is an excellent introduction for anyone considering feeding a raw diet. Steve’s second book, Unlocking the Canine Ancestral Diet, is also another excellent book for understanding the benefits of feeding raw, even if it is not for every meal. ( FMI – Podcast http://bit.ly/WfMw-SteveBrown-2010 ).

Dr. Pitcairn’s Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats by Richard H. Pitcairn, DVM, Ph.D. This book was the one that initiated our search for natural healthcare and nutrition alternatives for Gus. The recipes for pet food are sound, but a bit biased towards grain and carbohydrates.

The Truth About Pet Foods by Dr. Randy Wysong. This book by Dr. Wysong dramatically changed my view of the pet food industry. It went from my naïve presumption that all pet food companies must be trustworthy to one of “buyer beware. A veterinarian and the owner of a pet food company, Wysong’s approach is very non-conventional. In this book, he states “It seems that the ideal would be for people to make their own pet foods.” Wow! The owner of a dog food company suggesting that pets will be healthier if their owners make their food from fresh, whole ingredients instead of feeding commercial dog food. Dr. Wysong is someone I can respect and trust. He was also the first person to help me understand the importance of rotating what we feed our pets and the reasons not to food them the same food day after day. (FMI – Why Rotating Diets Makes Sense – http://bit.ly/DietRotation ). (FMI – download the book for free – http://bit.ly/WysongTheTruthAboutPetFoods-pdf )

Videos

Pet Fooled – A Look Inside A Questionable Industry is a 2016 documentary film about the pet food industry. Everyone I know who has seen Pet Fooled has a new attitude about what they feed their pet. The film is available on Netflix and other video-on-demand services listed at the Pet Fooled web site ( https://www.petfooled.com/ ). The filmmaker also maintains a Facebook page with valuable information on the pet food industry (

https://www.facebook.com/petfooled/ ). You can listen to an interview with Kohl Harrington, the director of Pet Fooled at http://bit.ly/WfMw-Pet-Fooled

The Science and Dogma of Pet Nutrition with Dr. Richard Patton – This is a video of a presentation that Dr. Patton did for Green Acres Kennel Shop in April of 2016. ( http://bit.ly/Video-Dr-Richard-Patton )

Podcast – Spaying and Neutering Your Pet with Dr. Mark Hanks from Kindred Spirits Veterinary Clinic

< Click to Listen to Podcast >

< A short link to this article http://bit.ly/WfMw-Spay-Neuther2019 >

Spay and Neuter Awareness Month starts on February 1st. Because this is such an important topic, we do a show on it every year. Ten years ago, the decision of whether to spay and neuter and when to do so was much more straightforward. As new information has become available spaying and neutering has gotten a bit more confusing, especially the timing of spaying and neutering. Don has been known to say that if you ask five pet care professionals about spaying and neutering, you may get seven different opinions. Spaying and neutering have implications for animal welfare as well as physical and behavioral health, and it is a topic that every pet owner needs to discuss with their veterinarian. Today, Don will be talking to Dr. Mark Hanks from the Kindred Spirits Veterinary Clinic to help end some of the confusion of this critical topic. If you have a pet that is not spayed or neutered, you will not want to miss this show.

< Click to Listen to Podcast >

To Contact Dr. Hanks

Kindred Spirits Veterinary Clinic
857 River Road
Orrington, ME 04474-3603

(207) 825-8989

Email – reception@kindredvet.com

Website – http://www.kindredvet.com/

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/kindredspiritsvet/

Recommended Resources

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

Shared Article – The Neutering Controversy Understanding Data on Hormones, Behavior, and Neoplasia – < Click to Read >

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

Podcast – The Importance of Spaying and Neutering with Dr. Katie Carter of the River Road Veterinary Hospital (2018) – < Click to Access >

Podcast – Spaying and Neutering with Dr. David Cloutier from Veazie Veterinary Clinic (2017) – < Click to Access >

Articles on the Web – Spaying and Neutering

Risks and Benefits to Spaying/Neutering Your Dog – The Whole Dog Journal – by Denise Flaim – updated June 19, 2018 – < Click to Read >

Spaying and Neutering – AVMA Website – < Click to Read >

Spay/Neuter Your Pet – ASPCA Website – < Click to Read >

Spaying/Neutering – American Humane Website – < Click to Read >

Articles on the Web – Spaying and Neutering & Behavior

Are There Behavior Changes When Dogs Are Spayed or Neutered? – Psychology Today, Stanley Coren PhD., DSc, FRSC – < Click to Read >

Behavioral and Physical Effects of Spaying and Neutering Domestic Dogs (Canis familiaris) Summary of findings detailed in a Masters thesis submitted to and accepted by Hunter College by Parvene Farhoody in May 2010. – < Click to Read >

Academic Papers

Neutering Dogs: Effects on Joint Disorders and Cancers in Golden Retrievers – Torres de la Riva et al. – < Click to Read >

Podcast – The Benefits of Training Your Dog and 2019 Classes at Green Acres

< A short link to this page – http://bit.ly/WfMw-Training2019 >

< Click to Listen to Podcast >

In this episode of The Woof Meow Show from December 8^th, 2018 Kate and Don discuss the many benefits of training your precious pup. They consider how teaching your dog to have some basic manners can allow your dog to be with you more often and in more places. They address how training will help keep your dog safe and how it can strengthen the bond between you and your canine companion. Next Don and Kate discuss what to look for in a dog trainer and what to avoid. They also help you learn what to look for in a dog training class. Lastly, they review the dog training classes Green Acres Kennel Shop has scheduled for 2019.

< Click to Listen to Podcast >

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

Recommended Resources

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

How to choose a dog trainer – http://bit.ly/HowToChooseADogTrainer

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

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

Green Acres Kennel Shop Position Statement on Pet-Friendly, Force-Free Pet Care – http://bit.ly/GAKS_Pet-Friendly

Green Acres Kennel Shop Position Statement on the Use of Dominance and Punishment for the Training and Behavior Modification of Dogs – http://bit.ly/GAKS-Pos-NoPain-NoForceNoFear

The Unintended Consequences of Shock Collars – http://bit.ly/ShockCollars

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

How to choose a dog trainer – Kate and Don discuss what to look for when selecting a dog trainer and dog training class, as well as what to avoid. Dog training and recommended approaches to training a dog have changed dramatically as we have learned more about canines. As a result, we now know that some long-standing methods used to train a dog in the past, are in fact detrimental and can cause severe and long-term harm to your dog. Learn what to look for so that you and your dog have the best experience possible.