Maine Dog Trainers That We Recommend

< A Short Link for this pagehttp://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/

 

What Is Dog Training?

< A version of this article was published in the February 2017 issue of Down East Dog News>

< Updated 10FEB19 >

< A short link to this article – http://bit.ly/WhatIsDogTraining >

If you were to ask three people to define dog training, you would probably get as many different answers, even if those people were professional dog trainers. The fact is individuals have various views on what training a dog entails. Some believe training is only for competition or working dogs and is not necessary for a pet, or companion dog. Others see training as nothing more than teaching a dog to sit and walk nicely on a leash. In my mind, dog training entails everything we need to do to ensure that our dogs can be included in our lives as much as possible and that they can have a long, enjoyable life free of fear, force, and pain.

For years our definition of dog training at Green Acres has been “Dog training is a process where we motivate our dog to offer a specific behavior when given a specific cue while having fun.” As I look at that definition today, I recognize that while accurate, it is incomplete, only addressing a small part of what training entails.

In my estimation a complete description of dog training would be:

“Dog training is a process where we teach our dog not only to respond reliably to cues but to live free of fear in a human-centric world. Training also involves managing the dog and its environment to prevent behaviors we dislike. As we get to know our dog we need to learn to accept them for the unique individual that they are. To optimize our dog’s ability to learn, we create teaching scenarios where they are setup to succeed and are motivated to offer behaviors we like. We reward them for desirable behavior, eventually teaching them to perform a specific behavior when given a particular cue, all while having fun. All of this is accomplished without the use of pain, force, fear or intimidation.”

First and foremost is the importance of recognizing that training a dog is a process made up of many steps that all take time. The length of time will depend upon several factors, including the dog, the environment and the handler. Typically the trainer that is the most patient will be the most successful and will have the happiest dog.

Equally critical is the acceptance and appreciation of dogs as a unique species with very different needs and understandings about what constitutes normal and acceptable social interactions. When dogs enter into our families, we have a responsibility to help them learn to live in our homes as well as our hectic world, free of fear and anxiety. That starts with socialization and habituation with a young puppy and may involve months of gentle, tolerant rehabilitation with a rescue dog.

Managing a dog to prevent undesirable behavior is just as much a part of the training process as teaching a dog to perform the desired behaviors. From a behavioral perspective, the more a behavior is practiced and rewarded the stronger the behavior will become, whether we like it or not, prevention is critical.

The actual act of training a dog requires certain skills and knowledge. There are as many ways to train dogs as there are to teach children arithmetic. Taking the time to acquire this knowledge and these skills and then consistently implementing them can make the training process go much more smoothly and quickly. This allows for the effective and humane teaching of our dog’s certain behaviors they need to know to be successful in our human world. One of the best ways to acquire these skills and knowledge is to work with a certified, professional dog trainer. Read “How to choose a dog trainer.” for tips on what to look for in a professional dog trainer.

Last but certainly not least, make sure the training process is fun and enjoyable for all.  Isn’t companionship one of the major reasons humans choose to have dogs in their lives? Studies and common sense tell us that if we enjoy something, like training the dog, we are more likely to do it and more likely to be successful.

Recommended Resources

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

How to Choose a Dog Trainerhttp://bit.ly/HowToChooseADogTrainer

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

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

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

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

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/

The Benefits of Training Your Dog and 2019 Classes at Green Acreshttp://bit.ly/WfMw-Training2019

Don Hanson and Dr. Dave Cloutier on Puppy Socialization and Vaccinationhttp://traffic.libsyn.com/woofmeowshow/Pet_Tip_-Don_Hanson_and_Dr._Dave_Cloutier_on_Puppy_Socialization_and_Vaccinations.mp3

Pet Behavior, Vets & The AAHA Canine and Feline Behavior Management Guidelines with Dr. Dave Cloutier from Veazie Veterinary Clinichttp://traffic.libsyn.com/woofmeowshow/WoofMeowShow2016-03-12-Pet_Behavior-Vets_AAHA_Bhx_GuidelinesDave_Cloutier.mp3

©10FEB19, Donald J. Hanson, All Rights Reserved < Click for Copyright and Use Policy >

No Pain, No Force, & No Fear – AVSAB Adopts Position Statement on Positive Veterinary Care

(Updated 29APR17)

The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) has adopted a new position statement on positive veterinary care. This document emphasizes the importance of making visits to the veterinarian free of stress, anxiety, and fear. This statement outlines why fear-free veterinary visits are so important and provides guidelines for veterinary practices, as well as other pet care professionals, as to how they can make this happen. I believe that making the care and training of a pet free of pain, force, and fear is equally essential for animal shelters, boarding kennels, daycares, dog trainers, dog walkers, groomers, pet sitters, and rescue organizations, as it is for veterinarians and their staffs.

I encourage every pet parent/guardian/owner, whatever you call yourself, as well as every pet care professional to read and implement these guidelines. Please share this position statement with those that have pets and anyone that cares for your pet.

You can access the position statement at this link – https://avsab.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Positive-Veterinary-Care-Position-Statement-download.pdf

 

Recommended Resources

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

Green Acres Kennel Shop Position Statement on Pet Friendly, Force-Free Pet Care – <Click Here>

Green Acres Kennel Shop Position on the Use of Dominance and Punishment for the Training and Behavior Modification of Dogs <Click Here>

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 – <Click Here>

Selecting A Pet Care Provider – Yes! A Trend Towards Kinder and Gentler Professional Pet Care – The PPG – Part 2 – <Click Here>

Selecting A Pet Care Provider – Yes! A Trend Towards Kinder and Gentler Professional Pet Care – A Veterinary Perspective – Part 3- <Click Here>

Shared Blog Post – Are You Failing Your Patients in This Major Way? – <Click Here>

Pet Behavior and Wellness – Pet Behavior as an Essential Component to Holistic Wellness – <Click Here>

Podcast – ENCORE: Pet Behavior, Vets & The AAHA Canine and Feline Behavior Management Guidelines – Dr. Dave Cloutier – Veazie Veterinary Clinic – <Click Here>

Canine Behavior – Myths and Facts – Part 1, Where do we get our knowledge about dogs? <Click Here>

Dog Training – How science and reward-based training have pulled dog training out of the dark ages – <Click Here>

Pet Care Services – Please Be Cautious When Choosing Who Cares For Your Pets – <Click Here>

Canine Behavior – Understanding, Identifying and Coping with Canine Stress – <Click Here>

Animal Welfare – Understanding Behavior; Why It Matters – <Click Here>

Pet Health and Wellness – Your Pet’s Behavioral Health Is As Important As Their Physical Well-Being – <Click Here>

Dogs – The Unintended Consequences of Shock Collar – <Click Here>

Web Sites

AVSAB Position Statement on the Use of Dominance Theory in Behavior Modification of animals.  <Click Here>

AVSAB Position Statement – Punishment Guidelines: The use of punishment for dealing with animal behavior problems. <Click Here>

 

©30DEC16, Donald J. Hanson, All Rights Reserved <Click for Copyright and Use Policy>