Blog – Green Acres Kennel Shop

Please Be A Good Neighbor

Don Hanson — Sun, 06 Sep 2026 14:35:56 +0000

Please Be A Good Neighbor

This is for Dog Lovers and Those Who Dislike Dogs

By Don Hanson, PCBC-A, BFRAP

< A version of this article was published on the Green Acres Kennel Shop blog >

< A version of this article was published in the September 2026 issue of Downeast Dog News >

< Updated 2026-09-06 >

< The link to this page – https://www.forcefreepets.com/beagoodneighbor/ >

Being neighborly is simply being friendly, kind, and considerate to those in your community. Considering there are approximately 90 million dogs and 134 million households in the US, the odds of you having a neighbor with a dog are high. Whether you love dogs or dislike them, it is essential that we all get along and be neighborly.

Unneighborly Cases 1 & 2

A friend with a new rescue dog was taking his dog for a walk in their neighborhood when a neighbor’s dog charged out of a yard into the street and began barking and lunging at my friend and his now-very-frightened dog.

An elderly woman is afraid to walk on her own street because one of her neighbors’ dogs has charged her many times. She is afraid to take a walk in her own neighborhood. That is unacceptable.

The owners of the dogs in the above incidents, which charged a person with their dog and a woman walking alone, were not only failing to be good neighbors but also failing their dogs and, most seriously, threatening public safety and violating the law.

Maine “Dogs at Large” Rule (7 M.R.S. § 3911) – Definition: It is illegal for any dog to be “at large,” which means off the owner’s property and not under the control of a person whose presence and attention reasonably control the dog.

In both cases. The dogs charged off their property in the presence of their owners and had to be physically returned by them. Therefore, the dogs were clearly “at large” and not under reasonable control. Also, under (7 M.R.S. § 3907(12-D)) both dogs could be considered to be a “dangerous dog” (A dog that causes a reasonable and prudent person (who is legally present in a public or non-trespassing area and acting in a non-aggressive manner) to fear imminent serious bodily injury by assaulting or threatening to assault that person or their domesticated animal). If someone believes a dog could cause them or their dog serious bodily injury and reports it to the police, the threatening dog may be legally declared dangerous.

If you have a reactive dog, you have a responsibility to keep the community safe by keeping your dog on a leash or ensuring your dog is contained in a secure, escape-proof enclosure on your property. A reactive dog is suffering emotionally, and you also have a responsibility to seek treatment for your dog from a veterinary behaviorist or veterinarian to help your dog feel better.

Unneighborly Case 3

In the example below, the person with the reactive dogs is on public property.

A client who was walking their puppy in one of Bangor’s parks was charged by two large, off-leash dogs, and their “owner” was at least 100 feet away, casually approaching while his dogs were lunging and growling at the puppy and her guardian.

The owner of these two dogs was also in violation of Maine’s “Dogs at Large” Rule (7 M.R.S. § 3911), as both dogs were off-leash and out of control. A good neighbor would have kept both of their dogs on leashes, since they were in a public space. They would have also sought help for their clearly unsettled dogs.

Your Neighborly and Legal Responsibilities if You Have a Dog

If you have a reactive dog, you have a responsibility to keep the community safe by keeping your dog on a leash or by ensuring your dog is contained by a secure, escape-proof enclosure on your property. If your dog has been legally determined to be dangerous, you may face additional requirements. A reactive dog is suffering emotionally, and you also have a responsibility to seek treatment from a veterinary behaviorist to help your dog feel better.

Additional Ways You Can Be A Good Neighbor

Whether you like dogs or not, please understand that not all dogs like being approached and petted by strangers. Always ask before approaching or petting any dog, and if the person with the dogs declines your interaction, accept it and cheerfully move on. If they accept your offer to interact with the dog, remain stationary and allow the dog to decide whether to approach you.

The booms and bright flashes of fireworks can be extremely distressing to many people, pets, and wildlife. The neighborly thing to do is to forgo fireworks at your home. Instead, go to the fireworks display put on by your community.

Reflections on “The Rainbow Bridge”

Don Hanson — Sun, 06 Sep 2026 13:22:23 +0000

Reflections on “The Rainbow Bridge”

By Don Hanson, PCBC-A, BFRAP

< A version of this article was published on the Green Acres Kennel Shop blog >

< A version of this article was published in the July 2026 issue of Downeast Dog News>

< Updated 2026-09-06 >

< The link to this page – https://www.forcefreepets.com/therainbowbridge/ >

My recent articles about Muppy’s passing and the reference to The Rainbow Bridge have sparked some thoughtful questions from friends, so I decided to research the poem and discuss it here.

For those of you who are not aware, The Rainbow Bridge is a poem that addresses where our pets go when they pass and leave this earthly realm. I’ve known about the poem for many years, and it has always brought me comfort when a pet passes.

Most agree that “The Rainbow Bridge” is a natural, beautiful place that meets all our pets’ physical, mental, and emotional needs, and where they go when they pass. Restored to their youthful vigor, our furry friends play, enjoy one another’s company, and have amazing adventures, all while waiting for us to reunite with them when we leave this earthly realm. It is basically a paradise for our pets, but without us.

I love the general concept because it captures exactly what I want for all the furry companions who have been part of my life. The only thing I would add is that I hope my pets can continue to watch over me and show up in a dream or in some other manner to spark fond memories. Incidentally, I’ve had two such wonderful dreams since Muppy passed.

Some of you who know that I am not religious might be thinking, “Don, the Rainbow Bridge, really?” While not beholden to any specific religion, I do consider myself spiritual and believe that all the good energy in the universe is interconnected. All of those I have loved and who have loved me will be together again in some form we do not yet understand.

Many of us, me included, have mistaken “the Rainbow Bridge” for pet heaven. However, if we look closely at the first line, “Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge,” the author clearly intended that the bridge leads into heaven, and that our pets wait for us on this side so we can cross over together.

If I look at The Rainbow Bridge from a non-human-centric point of view, I see no reason our pets should have to wait for us before crossing into heaven. In fact, I have seen some hilarious cartoons in which all pets automatically go to heaven because they have had to tolerate humanity. So, in my version, my pets are waiting for me in a wonderful afterlife, hoping I don’t mess up so I can join them someday. Now you know why I want them to keep looking out for me.

The History of The Rainbow Bridge

Over the years, various versions of The Rainbow Bridge have been published with no author cited. And in that time, countless people who were not the author took credit for a beautiful poem and copyrighted The Rainbow Bridge.

The search for the real author was documented in National Geographic on February 22, 2023, by Rachel Nuwer in The ‘Rainbow Bridge’ has comforted millions of pet parents. Who wrote it? Nuwer’s article discusses how Paul Koudounaris, a big fan of the poem, tracked down the original author, Edna Clyne-Rekhy. It was 1959, and the author, then 19, wrote The Rainbow Bridge as she grieved the passing of Major, her Labrador Retriever. Her mother suggested she write about Major to help deal with her grief, and the result was The Rainbow Bridge.

Over the years, Clyne-Rekhy typed out copies of the poem that she shared with a few friends, never listing herself as the author or claiming copyright. For obvious reasons, the poem was widely shared, and in 1994, someone sent a copy to Dear Abby, who published it in her column. Suddenly, The Rainbow Bridge was everywhere as people who had lost a pet or who knew someone mourning a furry friend shared it to help a friend deal with their grief.

Unfortunately, due to a lack of clarity on copyright issues regarding The Rainbow Bridge, I cannot include Edna Clyne-Rekhy’s beautiful poem in my article; however, you can read the National Geographic article I cited above and see it in its entirety at https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/rainbow-bridge-poem-pet-death-mourning-origin-revealed

Please Be Polite to Your Dog

Don Hanson — Mon, 31 Aug 2026 15:20:23 +0000

Please Be Polite to Your Dog

By Don Hanson, PCBC-A, BFRAP

< A version of this article was published on the Green Acres Kennel Shop blog >

< A version of this article was published in the February 27, 2026 issue of Downeast Dog News >

< Updated 2026-08-31 >

< The link to this page – https://www.forcefreepets.com/Please-Be-Polite/ >

In my November 2025 Words, Woofs and Meows column in Down East Dog News, I indicated that Jean Donaldson’s book, The Culture Clash, played a major role in refuting the dominance myth. However, her most astute observation is in the title, The Culture Clash. If we don’t take the time to understand and learn to accept our differences, we cannot develop the best possible relationship with our dog. No matter how much we want our dogs to be furry, four-footed humans, they are a distinct species with their own needs, behaviors, and means of communication.

Minimally, culture as it relates to a species is “All group-typical behavior patterns, shared by members of animal communities, that are to some degree reliant on socially learned and transmitted information“. – Google AI

Just like people, dogs have social norms for identifying behavior as acceptable or rude. Unfortunately, over the years, people have been taught that dogs must accept our rude behavior, and that is where our species most often clash.

In the Spring of 2023, the San Diego Humane Society released a one-minute video titled “How Would YOU Like It?” which illustrates some of these cultural conflicts noted below. Sometimes, these aren’t cultural conflicts—people dislike them, too; we just aren’t taught that dogs find such behaviors rude, too. To prevent a dog from being abused in this video, a woman plays the dog’s part, while a man plays the rude human. FMI – https://forcefreepets.com/shared-video-howwouldyoulikeit/

Bothered while eating – Unfortunately, years ago, people were taught to play with their dog’s food while the dog was eating, and even to take it away. This was terrible advice and is an excellent way to provoke a bite. Taking their food away or playing with it while they eat is only likely to create resource guarding. Please, allow your dog to eat in peace.

Startled you while sleeping – Dogs don’t like being startled out of a sound sleep any more than a normal human. While it may seem like a fun prank, it is, in fact, bullying, and when you do it to a dog, you may get bitten. It was NOT the dog’s fault. If your dog is sleeping, stand at a respectable distance, quietly say their name, and let them wake gently.

Teased while playing with a toy – There is no good reason to tease a dog or a child playing with a toy, especially by taking it away and taunting them. This type of behavior is unkind and unnecessary. It also qualifies as bullying.

Yanked you around while you were sniffing something – One of a dog’s greatest joys in life is an ambling walk to sniff and explore. No one likes being yanked around by someone else, but especially when it denies them one of their greatest joys in life. Follow your dog’s lead and take the time to enjoy the surroundings. It is good for both of you. FMI – Walking the Dog–Please Make It Enjoyable for Your Dog!

Used you as a pillow – Sadly, I remember trying this a couple of times as a kid. Most dogs will get up and walk away. Your dog is not a pillow and must never be used as one.

Greeted you by sticking their hand in your face – The number of people who will greet a dog by sticking their hand up to a dog’s nose is unbelievable. With a dog’s vastly superior sense of smell, they can smell you from across the room. The polite way to greet a dog, especially when you do not know them, is to allow them to approach, and if the dog chooses not to interact, that is their right.

Greeted you by grabbing you, picking you up, and hugging you – This is one step beyond sticking your hand in the dog’s face and is even ruder. There is ample data to suggest that most dogs abhor being hugged or kissed, which is why you should not hug or kiss your dog. Even if your dog tolerates this behavior from you, it is unlikely to accept this behavior from someone else. If a child sees you hugging your dog and then tries to hug the dog, they could get bitten. Don’t put your dog in that situation.

The video ends by making the statement, “How would you like it if someone didn’t respect your choice…You Wouldn’t Like it At All!”

I believe that adults and children must understand these concepts before they ever add a dog to their family. That is why I encourage shelters, rescues, and breeders to teach everyone these simple principles before anyone takes a dog home. It can all be done with this amazing 1-minute video available on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G775ppK3VEM

You can find additional resources to help you better understand your dog on my blog at Resources on Canine Body Language & Communication – https://forcefreepets.com/resources-on-canine-body-language-communication/

The Woof Meow Pet Tip at Star 977 with Don Hanson – 8-31-26 – The Importance of Being Present

Don Hanson — Mon, 31 Aug 2026 13:56:01 +0000

The Woof Meow Pet Tip at Star 977 with Don Hanson – 8-31-26 – The Importance of Being Present

< Updated 2026-08-31 >

< The link to this page – https://www.forcefreepets.com/wfmwtip-2026-08-31/ >

/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Woof-Meow-Aug.-31-to-Sept.-13-2026-Being-Present-take-2.mp3

MIKE DOW: – Welcome to Woof Meow with Don Hanson here on Star 977. When it comes to pets, how to best care for them, how to teach them, and how to make that bond with your pet even stronger, do what so many people in Maine do: they go to Don Hanson at Green Acres Kennel Shop, 1653 Union Street in Bangor, and online at ForceFreePets.com.

DON: – Being present, often called mindfulness, simply means having your mind, senses, and attention fully anchored in the current moment. Mindfulness is essential when communicating with family members, co-workers, clients, students, and yes, even your pets. Just like any other family member or your best human friend, our pets deserve 100% of our attention when they need us or when we are teaching them something. After the break, I’ll give you some tips to help you stay focused on those you communicate with, both human and non-human.

MIKE DOW: – Since 1995, Don has owned Green Acres Kennel Shop at 1653 Union Street in Bangor, offering pet food and supplies, boarding, daycare, and grooming. Learn more at greenacreskennel.com. Don also offers education for pets and their people at forcefreepets.com.

DON: – We pay a price when we are not present. It sends a very clear message to the person or pet we are engaging with that they are NOT very important to us when we choose to ignore them in favor of that ~ping~ from our phone. If you want to be fully engaged with whoever you are talking to, please silence or turn off your smartphone and watch. Please be fully engaged with your dog at feeding time, when playing with them, or when taking them for a walk. Most importantly, if you are not focused on your dog during training, why should they remain focused on you? Every day, carve out individual time to spend with each of your dogs. For more information, read The Importance of Being Present on the ForceFreePets.com blog.

MIKE DOW: – Animal lovers listen for Woof Meow with Don Hanson each Monday at 4:20, and at various times during the week, only on Star 977

I maintain two blogs, where I write about a variety of topics related to dogs and cats, or with a “Woof and Meow” theme. You can explore either by clicking on the links below. I also often share links to articles written by others that I believe you will find interesting. If you like what you see, please subscribe. You can unsubscribe at any time. If you think friends and family members would like what I’m writing about, please share the link. – Don Hanson, PCBA-A.
ForceFreePets Blog –
https://forcefreepets.com/blog/

Green Acres Kennel Shop Blog –
https://www.greenacreskennel.com/blog/

The Importance of Being Present

Don Hanson — Sat, 22 Aug 2026 15:32:15 +0000

< A version of this article was published on the Green Acres Kennel Shop blog >

< A version of this article was published in the August 2026 issue of Downeast Dog News>

< Updated 2026-08-22 >

< The link to this page – https://www.forcefreepets.com/being-present/ >

This post is based on an educational talk I was asked to present to a business networking group. It is a topic important to anyone who interacts with other sentient beings.

Being present, often called mindfulness, simply means having your mind, senses, and attention fully anchored in the current moment. Mindfulness is essential when communicating with family members, co-workers, clients, students, and anyone else with whom you are having a meaningful conversation. Very few people appreciate being suddenly ignored in the middle of such a conversation. When someone abruptly disengages from us, for no obvious reason, we may feel slighted, which can lead to frustration and even anger.

There are many things that can happen during an interaction that “break” presence. Those insidious smartphones we all carry, and the smartwatches some of us wear, are psychologically engineered to demand our attention the moment they ping, buzz, or flash. Did you know that your electronic device triggers a dopamine response in your brain and has trained you to treat it as more important than anything else in your life? If you don’t believe any of that is true, just start watching people.

If you want to be fully engaged with another living being, please silence or turn off your smartphone and watch.

How we feel can also affect our ability to be mindful. If we are ill, in pain, or overstressed, the polite thing to do is to be honest and simply say, “Now’s not a good time for me; I’m not feeling well.” Sometimes the environment is too noisy or distracting, in which case it’s best to move the conversation to a location where all parties will be comfortable. There will be times when you cannot fully engage; just be honest about it and make sure to set aside time for mindful communication soon.

We pay a price when we are not present. It sends a very clear message that you are not very important to the person you just chose to ignore. Your action may cause them to react the same way towards you in the future. Failure to be present can damage relationships between family members, friends, business partners, students & teachers, you and your clients, and yes, even between you and your pets.

Being present when interacting with your dog is just as important as being mindful when interacting with any other non-human family member. Over the years, many of my students have come to me because they want their dog to pay attention to them, yet they clearly don’t understand that their dog would like the same from them. Respect goes both ways.

Your dog, who will remain equivalent to a human toddler forever, shares these characteristics with a human toddler. They are prone to emotional outbursts due to joy, anger, frustration, and fear. Both prefer routine, and changes in that routine can trigger anxiety or an emotional outburst. They have poor impulse control and often act without thinking. When we ignore them when they are hungry, want to play, need to go out, or are training them, they may see our sudden withdrawal of attention as a punishment, and science has proven time and again that punishment has no place in the training of a sentient being. Your dog is even more likely to resent your lack of engagement than other family members do, especially if they experience it frequently.

We bring dogs into our family to be companions. I recommend that you commit to carving out several moments each day to be your dog’s companion and to give your dog your undivided attention. That means the phone, the TV, the radio, anything that emits sound, is turned off. Great times for doing so are:

When preparing and feeding your dog their daily meals.
When playing with your dog, doing something that you both enjoy, either indoors or outdoors.
When taking your dog for a walk, focus on watching them as you allow them the freedom to follow their nose and to stop and sniff as long as they want. Be aware of what is happening in your environment to keep your dog safe.
When you are training them and acting as teacher, and they are your student. Learning will be most effective when you are both focused on one another and working in an environment with few or no distractions.
If you have a dog that likes to snuggle, and not all do, you can both relax and connect just by touch alone. However, please remember, snuggling with us is a choice your dog gets to make. If they don’t choose to snuggle, you need to respect their choice.

Thank You! Trivia, Gus, & PPG Too!

Don Hanson — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 13:46:47 +0000

Thank You! Trivia, Gus, & PPG Too!

By Don Hanson, PCBC-A, BFRAP

May 2017 issue of Barks from the Guild, a publication of the Pet Professional Guild>

< A version of this article was published in the February 2021 issue of Downeast Dog News and on the Green Acres Kennel Shop blog.

< Updated 2026-08-17 >

< The link to this page – https://www.forcefreepets.com/thanks-trivia-gus-ppg/ >

This article has been published in many places under various titles since it was first published in the May 2017 issue of BARKS from the Guild, a publication of the Pet Professional Guild. I’ve updated it again because it is, in a sense, my origin story as a pet care professional. It describes not only who I am today, but also how I got there, who helped steer my journey, and where I hope to go next.

The photo on the right is me with my first dog-crush, Desirae, a standard Poodle who belonged to our friends, the Jenson’s. I was between three and four at the time. Since they lived about 6 hours north of us in Wisconsin, I only saw Desirae about once a year. However, from that first meeting in the summer of 1961, I wanted a dog. My parents understood but knew they had to be practical. They both worked. We lived in everything from a very small house to an apartment until the fall of 1974, when we moved into the largest home we ever lived in. I was a junior in high school, and for some reason in December of 1974 my parents allowed me to start looking for a dog. One of the questions I wished I had asked them before they passed was “Why did you let me get a dog when Dad was a few months from retirement, and I would be going off to college within 18 months?” You know who played a major role in caring for “my” dog for several years, and it was not me. Mom and Dad, thank you!

In January of 1975, I brought home a cute little puff of black fur. The pet store where I found her said she was a mix of Keeshond/Poodle and “we never caught the father”. I knew nothing about dogs. While my parents had dogs on the farm, they were not pet people and knew very little about them. Neither the pet store nor the veterinarian where I took my puppy offered much advice beyond “These are the shots she needs, and this is the food you should feed her.” They did not suggest any books for me to read, offer me any handouts, or say anything about taking her to a training class. Other than some basic housetraining, Trivia had no real training during her life.

I named her Trivia, but she was far from a trivial part of my life, as she still influences me today. She was a happy dog who liked everyone and was with us for 14 wonderful years. However, I believe that the life Trivia and I shared could have been so much better if I had known then what I know now. I am thankful that PPG exists today because they are an excellent resource for anyone who has just adopted their first dog.

My last dog was Muppy. More than once, I thought Muppy was Trivia reincarnated, coming back so I could do things better this time. They were similar in size, and both had a way of making anyone smile.

My first venture into training a dog was when my wife Paula and I got our first puppy as a couple. It was the spring of 1991. We had just purchased our second home, and on the advice of Paula’s boss, a veterinarian, we went looking for a Cairn Terrier puppy. We found one and named him Laird Gustav MacMoose, calling him Gus. Also, on the advice of Paula’s boss, we immediately enrolled ourselves and twelve-week-old Gus in a puppy kindergarten class offered by the local dog club. We also purchased and read both Mother Knows Best and How to Be Your Dog’s Best Friend because they were the two dog-training books recommended at the time.

Our first night in puppy class was a complete disaster. Things went downhill the moment I was told to “command” Gus to sit, and Gus failed to comply. Now, this was not a big deal to us nor a surprise, as Paula and I knew Gus had not been trained to sit. That’s why we were taking the class. However, it was a huge deal to the two instructors. They told me, in no uncertain terms, that Gus is exerting his dominance and that I had to alpha-roll him to show him that I was the boss. The “alpha rollover” was explained in the books we were reading, so, not knowing any better, I did as I was told. As I grabbed Gus by the scruff and pinned him, he immediately began thrashing around underneath me, growling and snapping, and trying to connect his teeth with any part of me, so that I would let him go. I now know that he was terrified and could not understand why his friend (me) had instantly become a threat to his well-being.

When I was told to grab his muzzle and to “hold it shut,” I again, naively, complied. That is when Gus taught me that the dog’s teeth will ALWAYS be faster than the human’s hand. Gus instinctively sank his canines deep into my palm. I said something inappropriate and immediately let go and began to bleed profusely all over the floor. As one instructor ran to get me some ice for my hand, the other gave me a dirty look and continued teaching the class. I handed the leash to Paula, disappointed in Gus and even more disappointed in myself.

After we had gone home, it was evident that the relationship between Gus and me was severely damaged. I was no longer being asked to “throw the ball” by the Cairn, who had a tennis ball in his mouth and a vibrating tail. Gus did not trust me, and I did not trust him. I let Paula handle him for the remainder of his puppy classes, and when she moved on to the next level of classes with a different training club, I chose not to participate. I am thankful that the Pet Professional Guild (PPG) exists today and can guide a young couple with a dog in finding a qualified trainer who will teach them how to build and maintain a relationship based on trust. I am grateful that PPG can also recommend which books to read and, equally important, which to avoid.

Over time, Gus and I learned to trust one another again. Paula and I adopted a second dog, and we were fortunate to discover Dr. Patricia McConnell and her Dog’s Best Friend Training facility, where we learned about the wonders of reward-based training. I worked with Gus, and Paula handled Shed, and the four of us learned a great deal, but more importantly, we also had lots of fun. This is also when I started reading Dr. McConnell’s books, which have been a great influence.

While Gus and I had learned to trust one another again, in many ways he remained a conundrum throughout his life.

A few months after we brought him home, we learned his breeder had been sanctioned by the AKC.
Gus developed chronic urinary tract infections that lasted for 7 years and were allegedly due to an “unidentified nutritional imbalance”. FMI – Pet Nutrition – Our Story with Gus
He started trying to bite people when they left our home.
Gus began reacting to thunderstorms. Not hiding, but desperately wanting to go outdoors to bark and kill them.
He wanted to kill the windshield wipers when they were in motion.
Gus started having idiopathic seizures.

However, Gus’s quirks inspired both Paula and me to start learning everything we could about canine nutrition, reactive behavior, behavior modification (Thank you, Dr. McConnell), epilepsy, and alternative healthcare options for pets.

As all this was going on, Paula and I were working every day, all while also running a nature store on the side for the Madison Audubon Society. We really enjoyed doing this, and when our plans to start our own store didn’t pan out, we had the crazy thought of building a boarding kennel. We ended up buying an existing facility and moving ourselves, three dogs, and three elderly parents to Green Acres Kennel Shop in Bangor, Maine in 1995.

Gus was a major catalyst for our getting into the pet care services industry. His behavioral issues led to my interest in canine behavior. His bladder and urinary problems, determined to be due to his diet, led us both to focus on learning everything we could about pet nutrition. When Gus developed epilepsy, he sparked our interest in complementary medicine. Thank you, Gus! You were quite the teacher as well as a fabulous, furry friend. Even before it was “acceptable,” we considered you and the other canines in our lives to be family members.

In the fall of 1995, we moved from Wisconsin to Maine after purchasing the Green Acres Kennel Shop. Paula and I jumped right into our new business. Having learned the value of professional organizations in my previous career, I found and joined both the American Boarding Kennel Association (ABKA) and the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT). Through the APDT email list, I met several people, many of whom are now wonderful friends, and I started reading books they recommended. I also began attending seminars and worked with our existing trainer, Kate, to develop my training skills. Kate taught me one of the most important things I’ve ever learned when she kicked Gus and me out of class, exclaiming, “You are both miserable. Neither you nor Gus are having fun, so please, rather than training, go do something that’s fun for both of you.” FMI – Accepting Your Dog for Who They Are

In 1998, I attended my first APDT conference in Valley Forge, PA, and stepped right into my first debate over shock collars. A shock collar company was exhibiting at the APDT trade show, and there was a significant debate over whether it should be allowed to do so. I was firmly in the anti-shock camp. After that conference, APDT adopted a policy prohibiting the promotion of shock collars at its conferences.

I was also recruited to join the APDT’s new Education Committee, which was tasked with developing a certification exam for dog trainers that would demonstrate they had the necessary knowledge to teach people how to train and care for their dogs. The exam we developed resulted in the formation of the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT), which administered the first exam in 2001. I was one of the first certificants.

Three years later, I was encouraged to run for the APDT Board of Trustees and started my first three-year term on the Board in 2002. Hoping to expand upon the ban on promoting shock collars at the conference, in July of 2002, I proposed that the APDT adopt a resolution defining dog-friendly dog training. At the core of my proposal was the statement, “Dog-friendly training” does not include the use of tools or methods that cause pain, physical injury, suffering, or distress.” Sadly, my motion died for lack of a second. I was very disappointed that no one was even willing to discuss my proposal.

I served on the APDT Board for two consecutive terms, waiting for an opportunity to get APDT to take a more assertive position on dog-friendly practices, but it never happened during those six years. I was again encouraged to run for the Board in 2010 and was elected to another three-year term. Sadly, it was evident that the APDT was still not ready to take a stand. I do believe that APDT has done many good things for our profession, but it disappoints me that they had never been willing to take a strong position against the use of force, fear, and pain until 2023.

In 2014, I discovered the Pet Professional Guild (PPG), applied for membership, and let my APDT membership expire. Earlier, I stated that professional organizations are important. To me, membership in such an organization demonstrates an individual’s and a business’s commitment to best practices in their profession. For that reason, as soon as a staff member at Green Acres completes their probationary training period, I enroll them in the PPG, regardless of their role here. Every trainer, pet care technician, groomer, customer service associate, and manager is a PPG member and is expected to uphold the PPG Guiding Principles. It is a condition of employment. These principles are part of our own ethics policies at Green Acres Kennel Shop and ForceFreePets.

I am so thankful that I finally found a cohort of like-minded pet care professionals who are committed to the same things that I am: treating our pet family members with kindness, as supported by science. Thank you, PPG, and thank you, Niki Tudge, for starting PPG.

I joined the PPG’s Advocacy division in 2016, became co-chair in 2018, and chair in 2019. In 2021, I was appointed to the PPG Board of Directors, where I continue to chair the Advocacy Task Force.

While the CPDT-KA credential I helped develop was a first step, I became disenchanted with the organization because it was also not keeping up with the science. In 2022, I replaced my CPDT credential with one from the Pet Professional Accreditation Board for two reasons: my accreditation as a professional canine behavior consultant covers not only training, but behavior modification, and not only covers knowledge but also skills, but it also comes from an organization that is current on their science and ethics and prohibits those with their credential to treat dogs the way Gus was treated.

I’ve been a pet care professional since October 1996. Changing careers was a big decision that I have never regretted. I have learned a great deal, much of which has been taught to me by my canine and feline family members (Trivia, Gus, Shed, Queenie, Sandy, Tyler, Tikken, Crystal, Dulcie, Thelma, Louise, Batman, Hanger, Muppy and Boomer), and I hope to continue doing all I can to improve the well-being of the pets we include all include in our families.

Woof Meow Pet Tip for August 17, 2026 at Star 977 with Don Hanson – New Science About Cats & Dogs

Don Hanson — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 12:31:31 +0000

Woof Meow Pet Tip for August 17, 2026 at Star 977 with Don Hanson – New Science About Cats & Dogs

< Updated 2026-08-17 >

< The link to this page – https://www.forcefreepets.com/wfmwtip-2026-08-17/ >

https://www.forcefreepets.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Woof-Meow-August-17-to-Aug-31-2026-New-Science-About-Cats-and-Dogs.mp3

MIKE DOW: – Welcome to Woof Meow with Don Hanson here on Star 977. When it comes to pets, how to best care for them, how to train them, and how to make that bond with your pet even stronger, do what so many people in Maine do: they go to Don Hanson at Green Acres Kennel Shop, 1653 Union Street in Bangor, and online at greenacreskennel.com, and at the ForceFreePets website at forcefreepets.com

DON: – At Green Acres Kennel Shop and Force Free Pets, it is our mission to provide humane, ethical, and empathetic pet care and education based on SCIENCE. We do that by attending webinars, conferences, and reading scientific journals. This week I’m going to discuss two papers that recently appeared in some of those journals. The first is about cats. We’ve all seen a cat grooming another cat by licking, which appears affectionate. However, a new study at Ghent University in Belgium found that such licking, known as allogrooming, is not always affectionate. It can also be a form of bullying where one cat licks another until the one being licked moves away. I’ll discuss the dog study after the break.

DON: – Scientists have been investigating a dog’s ability to recognize the emotional state of both other dogs and humans for several years. A paper published by iScience on August 10, 2026 revealed that by looking at our faces, dogs can determine whether we are happy or afraid. This is important because if you and your dog are both happy during training, you’ll be a better teacher, and your dog will learn faster. Your dog can also tell if you are angry or sad. You can read articles about both studies on my blog at ForceFreePets.com, where you will also find links to both studies.

MIKE DOW: – Animal lovers listen for Woof Meow with Don Hanson each Monday at 4:20, and at various times during the week, only on Star 977

Cats Grooming One Another Is NOT Always Affectionate – https://www.forcefreepets.com/shared-2026-08-03/

Dogs Understand Our Mood Based on Our Facial Expressions – https://www.forcefreepets.com/shared-2026-08-16/

Green Acres Kennel Shop Blog –
https://www.greenacreskennel.com/blog/

Shared Blog Post-Dogs Understand Our Mood Based on Our Facial Expressions

Don Hanson — Sun, 16 Aug 2026 15:23:22 +0000

< Updated 2026-08-16 >
< A version of this article was also published on the Green Acres Kennel Shop blog >
< The link for this page – https://www.forcefreepets.com/shared-2026-08-16/ >

Scientists have been investigating a dog’s ability to recognize the emotional state of both other dogs and humans for several years. A paper published by iScience on August 10, 2026 [ Hernández-Pérez et al., 2026, iScience, 116900, 2026 © 2026 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc – https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2026.116900 ] has increased that knowledge as indicated below:

By looking at our faces, dogs can determine whether we are happy or afraid. They can also tell if we are angry or sad, but the study did not indicate whether dogs can differentiate between the two. Further studies may indicate whether dogs use aspects of our body, other than our face, to assess whether we are sad or angry.
When a dog sees a happy human face, it triggers activation in parts of their brain called the temporal cortex and caudate nucleus. The latter is the brain’s primary reward center, suggesting that a happy human face has emotional and motivational value for our dogs.
The study also indicated that dogs could assess a person’s emotional states even if they were unfamiliar with the person.

So why is this important?

Over the years, I have spent countless hours training my own dogs, but even more time watching my students train theirs. The people who enjoyed working with their dogs were happy, and their dogs were happy, and learning occurred faster and more easily. When the people were unhappy, the dog was uncomfortable or stressed in their presence, and often no learning took place, frustrating both the people and their dog.

Other papers, listed below, have indicated dogs can discriminate between human faces expressing happiness and those expressing anger,^6,7 fear,⁸ sadness,⁹ disgust,¹⁰ or neutrality^11,12, as well as between angry^6,7 and neutral faces.¹²

⁶Albuquerque, N., Guo, K., Wilkinson, A., Savalli, C., Otta, E., and Mills, D. (2016). Dogs recognize dog and human emotions. Biol. Lett. 12, 20150883. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2015.0883.
⁷Müller, C.A., Schmitt, K., Barber, A.L.A., and Huber, L. (2015). Dogs can discriminate emotional expressions of human faces. Curr. Biol. 25, 601–605. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2014.12.055.
⁸Merola, I., Prato-Previde, E., Lazzaroni, M., and Marshall-Pescini, S. (2014). Dogs’ comprehension of referential emotional expressions: Familiar people and familiar emotions are easier. Anim. Cognit. 17, 373–385. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-013-0668-1.
⁹Morisaki, A., Takaoka, A., and Fujita, K. (2009). Are dogs sensitive to emotional state of humans? J. Vet. Behav. 4, 49. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/248577149_Are_dogs_sensitive_to_the_emotional_state_of_humans..
¹⁰Buttelmann, D., and Tomasello, M. (2013). Can domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) use referential emotional expressions to locate hidden food? Anim. Cognit. 16, 137–145. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-012-0560-4.
¹¹Nagasawa, M., Murai, K., Mogi, K., and Kikusui, T. (2011). Dogs can discriminate human smiling faces from blank expressions. Anim. Cognit. 14, 525–533. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-011-0386-5.
¹²Deputte, B.L., and Doll, A. (2011). Do dogs understand human facial expressions? J. Vet. Behav. 6, 78–79. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/241118368_Do_dogs_understand_human_facial_expressions

Articles in the Scientific Press About the Papers

Dogs know when humans are happy—and it shows in their brains, By Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American – 2026-08-10 – https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/can-dogs-read-your-facial-expressions-it-depends-on-your-mood/
Sad or afraid? Dogs may be able to read your face, By Meghan Rosen, ScienceNews – 2026-08-10 – https://www.sciencenews.org/article/dogs-understand-emotions-humans-face
Dogs can distinguish between fearful and angry or sad human faces, brain scans suggest, The Guardian – 2026-08-10 – https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/aug/10/dogs-distinguish-fearful-angry-sad-human-faces-brain-scans

Cats Grooming One Another Is NOT Always Affectionate

Don Hanson — Tue, 04 Aug 2026 14:50:13 +0000

Cats Grooming One Another Is NOT Always Affectionate

< A version of this article was published on the ForceFreePets Green Acres Kennel Shop blogs >

< Updated 2026-08-03 >

< A short link for this page – https://www.forcefreepets.com/shared-2026-08-03/ >

We’ve all seen a cat grooming another by licking, which appears affectionate. However, a new study by Morgane Van Belle at Ghent University in Belgium found that such licking (allogrooming) can sometimes be a form of bullying: one cat licking another until the one being licked moves away. The study was published in the Applied Animal Behavior Journal – Unravelling (sp?) feline social dynamics – A video-based observational study on allogrooming in domestic cats – https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168159126001292

The study examined video interactions among 106 cats from 53 households. The study concludes that allogrooming in domestic cats is part of social bonding or affiliation, or a way of coping with social tension.

The paper allows the image below to be downloaded, which illustrates their findings.

Articles in Popular Media

The Independent – The sinister motivation behind cats licking each other – https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/cats-animal-behaviour-licking-science-study-b3014486.html

The Brussels Times – Belgian researcher uncovers the disturbing truth behind why cats groom each other – https://www.brusselstimes.com/belgium/2230916/belgian-researcher-uncovers-the-disturbing-truth-behind-why-cats-groom-each-other

CBC Radio: Cats don’t always lick each other out of affection – https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/cat-grooming-passive-aggressive-9.7272755

Woof Meow Pet Tip for August 3, 2026 at Star 977 with Don Hanson – Questions to Ask Yourself BEFORE Adding a Dog to Your Family

Don Hanson — Mon, 03 Aug 2026 14:26:50 +0000

Woof Meow Pet Tip for August 3, 2026 at Star 977 with Don Hanson – Questions to Ask Yourself BEFORE Adding a Dog to Your Family

< Updated 2026-08-03 >

< The link to this page – https://www.forcefreepets.com/wfmwtip-2026-08-03/ >

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DON: – Adding a puppy or dog to a family is no small matter. The decision to do so will affect all family members, and the dog will be affected by everyone else in the home, humans and non-humans alike. Therefore, to be fair to the dog and all other family members, everyone in the home needs to consider the following: Are you ready to live with a companion that will be emotionally and cognitively equivalent to a human toddler its entire life? If you have any experience with human toddlers, you know that their innocence and curiosity can be charming and usually outweigh any mischievous or undesirable behavior. However, while most adult toddlers mature into responsible adult humans, a puppy, or even an adult dog, does not. After the break, I’ll list some more things for you to consider.

DON: – Additional questions to ask yourself before adding a dog to the family are: Do you have the time, energy, and knowledge to manage human and non-human toddlers in your home? If you are living with elderly family members or others with health issues, would a puppy or dog be a benefit or a nuisance? Is it fair to an existing dog or cat to bring a new dog into the home? Do you have the financial ability to care for a dog? Please note, I’ve just scratched the surface of this important topic. For more things to consider, check out Questions to Ask Yourself BEFORE Adding a Dog to Your Family on my blog at ForceFreePets.com.

MIKE DOW: – Animal lovers listen for Woof Meow with Don Hanson each Monday at 4:20, and at various times during the week, only on Star 977

Green Acres Kennel Shop Blog –
https://www.greenacreskennel.com/blog/