Green Acres Kennel Shop

For Immediate Release

Friday, February 01, 2013

Contact:  Don Hanson
Green Acres Kennel Shop
945-6841

[Bangor]¾ Episodes of The Woof Meow Show, a Maine based radio show all about pets, is now available as a podcast at http://woofmeowshow.libsyn.com/webpage and at the Apple iTunes store. The show is on every Saturday at 7:30AM and every Sunday at 8:30PM on the Voice of Maine WVOM, 103.9FM & WVQM 101.3FM. First airing in 2005, the show is hosted by Don Hanson and Kate Dutra of the Green Acres Kennel Shop in Bangor, Maine. The show focuses on educating dog and cat parents about their dogs and cats. Topics in the past have included: Dealing with a Barking Dog, Picking the Perfect Pet, Insurance Issues for Pets, Veterinary Acupuncture, Estate Planning for Pet Parents, Pet Nutrition, the Benefits of Spaying and Neutering, Litter Box Training and many others. Past guests on the show have been veterinarians (Dr. Mark Hanks, Dr. Judy Herman, and Dr. David Cloutier), authors (Steve Brown, Kathryn Miles, Pat Miller, and Joel Walton), representatives from various pet food and pet product companies and experts on behavior, training and pet care.

Hanson, who also produces the The Woof Meow Show, stated “Kate and I are really excited to have the show available via podcast so that it can be accessible to those that don’t live in Maine or those outside of the WVOM and WVQM broadcast area. While some of our shows are local in nature, most cover topics that will be of interest to pet parents anywhere. In fact, many of our guests are from outside of Maine. For example, our most recent guest was Professor Chad Montrie, the Massachusetts filmmaker behind the documentary Tough Love: A Meditation on Dominance and Dogs. In the five days since that episode was broadcast we’ve had over 140 people, from all over the world,  download it as a podcast.“ Hanson indicated that the current library of podcasts goes back to October of 2012, but that he will be uploading older shows as time permits. 

Hanson is the co-owner of the Green Acres Kennel Shop and a Bach Foundation Registered Animal Practitioner, Certified Dog Behavior Consultant and Certified Professional Dog Trainer. Dutra is Green Acres’ Operations Manager and a Certified Professional Dog Trainer. Their lengthy experience with a wide variety of dogs, cats and their people, over 20+ years, gives them a solid foundation for providing educational and entertaining shows. For more information about the show, please call 945-6841 or visit www.greenacreskennel.com.

For Immediate Release

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Contact:  Don Hanson
Green Acres Kennel Shop
945-6841

[Bangor]¾ Three to four million dogs and cats are euthanized in animal shelters each year, surrendered by owners who didn’t know how to deal with their pets’ behavior problems and couldn’t find a reliable resource to help them. Each, year, the Association of Pet Dog Trainers designates the month of January as National Train Your Dog Month to bring awareness to the importance of socialization and training, and most of all, to inform the public that training your dog can be simple and fun! The APDT selected January because so many dogs and puppies are adopted and brought home during the winter holidays. By providing education and resources, new pet owners can start off the New Year with their newest family member in the best way possible.

Green Acres Kennel Shop will be participating in National Train Your Dog Month in several ways. On Saturday, January 5^th we will be offering a Canine Body Language seminar from 10AM until Noon, and a free “Ask the Trainer” session  from 1PM to 4PM. This is an opportunity for people to stop by and talk to our training staff and ask questions. We will repeat this event from 10AM until Noon on Saturday, January 12^th; followed by dog training demonstrations by our trainers between 1PM and 4PM.

On Saturday, February 9^th we will host a screening of Tough Love: A Meditation on Dominance and Dogs. This documentary, by filmmaker and history professor Chad Montrie, examines the history of the dominance construct and the theory of pack hierarchy and the “alpha dog” in the dog training world. The film looks at how these flawed theories came about and how there has been a resurgence in this approach by some celebrity “trainers”, even though it is contraindicated by science. The film includes interviews with a wide variety of dog experts (Gail Fisher, Paul Owens, Dr. Sophia Yin, Nicole Wilde, and others) who describe their own cathartic moment when they realized that being dominant towards their dogs was not only unnecessary but was often damaging to the relationship between dog and person. You can learn more about this film at: http://www.anchorholdfilms.com/#

We will also be featuring a daily dog training tip on our FaceBook page (https://www.facebook.com/GreenAcresKennelShop) and on several local radio stations. Our weekly radio show, The Woof Meow Show (https://www.facebook.com/WoofMeowShow) will be featuring dog training advice on the last weekend in December and all shows airing in through 10th.

The Association of Pet Dog Trainers is also offering several free activities for dog owners at their web site http://www.trainyourdogmonth.com/

Located in Greenville, SC, the APDT is a professional educational organization of trainers who are committed to becoming better trainers through using positive, dog friendly methods based on sound scientific principles. With over 6,000 members worldwide, the APDT’s mission is to represent and advance the dog training profession through education and advocacy. For more information, visit the APDT Web site at www.apdt.com.

In business since 1965, Green Acres Kennel Shop at 1653 Union Street is a Pet Care Services Association (PCSA) accredited facility offering boarding, daycare and grooming for dogs and cats, as well as pet behavior consultations and training classes. Voted Best Kennel every year since 2002, Best Pet Store every year since 2007, and Best Dog Trainer every year since 2011, the Green Acres retail store offers a wide variety of wholesome pet foods, treats and quality supplies. For more information, please call 945-6841 or visit www.greenacreskennel.com.

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Contact:  Don Hanson
Green Acres Kennel Shop
945-6841

 [Bangor]¾ For the eleventh year in a row, Green Acres Kennel Shop has been voted the Bangor Regions Best Kennel in a survey conducted by Market Surveys of America and the GKM Independent Survey Co. Green Acres was also voted the Bangor Regions Best Pet Store for the sixth consecutive year and the Best Dog Trainer for the second consecutive year.

Green Acres co-owner, Don Hanson stated “My wife Paula and I are fortunate to have a great staff and wonderful clients that continue to utilize our services and vote for us year after year. In October we’ll be celebrating our seventeenth year as Green Acres and every year is better than the last. Thank you!”

Market Surveys of America is a survey company independent of any newspaper or magazine publication. Their “Best of the Best” winners are determined by tallied public ballots taken throughout each specific region, and by their website (http://www.bestofsurveys.com).

In business since 1965, Green Acres Kennel Shop at 1653 Union Street is a Pet Care Services Association (PCSA) accredited facility offering boarding, daycare and grooming for dogs and cats, as well as pet behavior consultations and training classes. Voted Best Kennel every year since 2002, Best Pet Store every year since 2007, and Best Dog Trainer in 2011 and 2012, the Green Acres retail store offers a wide variety of wholesome pet foods, treats and quality supplies. For more information, please call 945-6841 or visit www.greenacreskennel.com.

Photo by Bell Imaging & Design, www.bellphotostudio.com, Operations Manager Kate Dutra, Owners Don & Paula Hanson

For Immediate Release

Wednesday, October 03, 2012

Contact:  Don Hanson
Green Acres Kennel Shop
945-6841

[Bangor]- Green Acres Kennel Shop will be holding a fundraiser for the Eastern Area Agency on Aging Furry Friends Food Bank from October 1^st through November 30^th. Customers will be asked for a donation when making purchases and if over $1000 is raised, Green Acres Kennel Shop will match the donations dollar for dollar. All funds raised will be used to buy pet food, at wholesale prices, for distribution by the Eastern Area Agency on Aging Furry Friends Food Bank.

Green Acres Kennel Shop owner Don Hanson states: “This is one of the most important fundraising drives we do every year. Many of the seniors in our community, as well as others on a fixed income, have to make choices between feeding their pet or feeding themselves during Maine’s long winter. The bond between people and their pets plays a vital role in the physical and mental health of both, especially those that are isolated. Sometimes a pet may be the only living thing a person interacts with on a daily basis. By helping them feed their pets, the Furry Friends Food Bank helps keep pet and person together and keeps both healthier. At this time of year when we reflect on all that we have to be thankful for, Green Acres wants to encourage everyone to consider the joy they can create by helping keep a pet and person together by donating to the Eastern Area Agency on Aging Furry Friends Food Bank.”

Interested parties may follow the activities of the fundraising drive on the FaceBook page for the Friends of EAAA Furry Friends Food Bank at (https://www.facebook.com/GAKS.FFFFB)

The Eastern Area Agency on Aging is an independent, nonprofit 501(c)3 organization serving Penobscot, Piscataquis, Hancock, and Washington counties dedicated to providing seniors, adults with disabilities and caregivers with a variety of options, opportunities, resources and referrals. (http://www.eaaa.org).

In business since 1965, Green Acres Kennel Shop at 1653 Union Street is a Pet Care Services Association (PCSA) accredited facility offering boarding, daycare and grooming for dogs and cats, as well as pet behavior consultations and training classes. Voted Best Kennel every year since 2002, Best Pet Store every year since 2007, and Best Dog Trainer every year since 2011, the Green Acres retail store offers a wide variety of wholesome pet foods, treats and quality supplies. For more information, please call 945-6841 or visit www.greenacreskennel.com.

For Immediate Release

Friday, May 04, 2012

Contact:         Don Hanson
Green Acres Kennel Shop
945-6841

[Bangor]-Kate Dutra, Operations Manager at Green Acres Kennel Shop and a Certified Professional Dog Trainer, was recently certified as an Evaluator in the new Canine Life and Social Skills (C.L.A.S.S.) program. Kate has been a trainer at Green Acres since 1992

C.L.A.S.S. is an educational program designed to promote training focusing on the use of positive reinforcement and to strengthen relationships between humans and their canine companions. The mission of C.L.A.S.S. is to promote positive relationships through positive training methods. This approach both develops and safeguards harmonious relationships by maintaining trust and mutual respect.

Developed by the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT), the C.L.A.S.S. program is designed to benefit pet owners and their canine companions, dog trainers and others who work with dogs, animal shelters, and the community overall. In a series of real-life activities through which an owner accompanies his dog, C.L.A.S.S. Evaluators will assess a dog/owner team’s core training skills, with options to test advanced training skills. There are three C.L.A.S.S. levels: the Bachelor’s (B.A.), Master’s (M.A.), and Doctorate (Ph.D.). Successfully completing each C.L.A.S.S. level is like earning an academic degree in real-life skills with your dog.

The Objectives of C.L.A.S.S. are to:

•              Promote reward-based training

•              Strengthen dog/owner relationships through shared activity and fun, positive training

•              Encourage dog owners to participate in ongoing training and activities with their dogs

•              Value the real-life skills of dog/owner teams

•              Educate pet owners in dog behavior

C.L.A.S.S. Evaluators are Full and Professional Level APDT members. Evaluators administer C.L.A.S.S. assessments and score performances of teams, and provide feedback to teams on how to improve their training skills. In order to become an Evaluator for the program, a Full or Professional level APDT member must pass a series of online tests on their training knowledge and on the rules of the program, train a minimum number of hours per year to qualify, and receive regular training on program updates.

To learn more about C.L.A.S.S., visit the program web site at www.mydoghasclass.com.

The APDT is a professional educational organization of trainers who are committed to becoming better trainers through using positive, dog friendly methods based on sound scientific principles. With over 6,000 members worldwide, the APDT provides professional dog trainers with a respected and concerted voice. The APDT promotes caring relationships between dogs and people and works to increase public awareness of dog-friendly training techniques. For more information, visit the web site at www.apdt.com.

In business since 1965, Green Acres Kennel Shop at 1653 Union Street is a Pet Care Services Association (PCSA) accredited facility offering boarding, daycare and grooming for dogs and cats, as well as pet behavior consultations and training classes. Voted Best Kennel every year since 2002, Best Pet Store every year since 2007, and Best Dog Trainer in 2011, the Green Acres retail store offers a wide variety of wholesome pet foods, treats and quality supplies. For more information, please call 945-6841 or visit 

For Immediate Release

Sunday, April 29, 2012

Contact:  Don Hanson
Green Acres Kennel Shop
945-6841

[Bangor]¾ Don Hanson, co-owner and Director of Behavior Counseling and Training at the Green Acres Kennel Shop in Bangor, has completed 26 hours of continuing education, while attending the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC) annual conference in Warwick, RI. Some of the sessions Hanson attended include; A Brilliant Disguise: Illnesses that Look Like Behavior Problems by Dr. Emily Levine, Critical Periods of Social and Psychological Development by Gail Fisher, Current Nutrition Controversies: The Science Behind Feeding Fido and Fluffy by Linda Case, Behavioral Relapse in Animals: Mechanisms of Extinction and Response Recovery by Dr. Ruth Colwill and Essential Components of Effective Behavior Change for All Species of Learners by Dr. Susan Friedman.

The IAABC is working to standardize and support the practice of companion animal behavior consulting, while providing resources for pet owners needing advice. Their conference provides educational and networking opportunities for practicing animal behavior consultants and those wishing to learn more. For more information visit their website at: http://iaabc.org/

Hanson is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer, Certified Dog Behavior Consultant, and Bach Foundation Registered Animal Practitioner. He and his training staff first introduced clicker training and the concept of “dog-friendly” training to the Bangor area in 1997. An experienced speaker, he has lectured on pets, behavior and the Bach Flower remedies in the USA, Canada, the Caribbean and Japan. He has been educating the public via “The Woof-Meow” show since 2005. Broadcast on WVOM, 103.9FM & WVQM 101.3FM, the show airs on Saturday mornings at 7:30AM and Sunday nights at 8:30PM.

In business since 1965, Green Acres Kennel Shop at 1653 Union Street is a Pet Care Services Association (PCSA) accredited facility offering boarding, daycare and grooming for dogs and cats, as well as pet behavior consultations and training classes. Voted Best Kennel every year since 2002, Best Pet Store every year since 2007, and Best Dog Trainer in 2011, the Green Acres retail store offers a wide variety of wholesome pet foods, treats and quality supplies. For more information, please call 945-6841 or visit www.greenacreskennel.com.

For Immediate Release

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Contact:  Don Hanson
Green Acres Kennel Shop
945-6841

 [Bangor]- On Saturday, March 31^st at 10:00AM Green Acres Kennel Shop will be hosting a free seminar that will focus on optimal nutrition for pets. Don Hanson, BFRAP, CDBC, CPDT-KA and co-owner of Green Acres Kennel Shop will discuss common myths about pet food and how to choose the best pet food for your pet while staying within your budget. He will help pet parents differentiate between the important information on a bag of pet food and the hype. Don will also demonstrate how to calculate the true cost of a pet food.

The seminar is free but donations of cash or pet food for the Eastern Area Agency on Aging Furry Friends Food Bank will be accepted gratefully.

In business since 1965, Green Acres Kennel Shop at 1653 Union Street is a Pet Care Services Association (PCSA) accredited facility offering boarding, daycare and grooming for dogs and cats, as well as pet behavior consultations and training classes. Voted Best Kennel every year since 2002, Best Pet Store every year since 2007, and Best Dog Trainer in 2011, the Green Acres retail store offers a wide variety of wholesome pet foods, treats and quality supplies. For more information, please call 945-6841.

For Immediate Release

Wednesday, March 07, 2012

Contact:   Don Hanson
Green Acres Kennel Shop
945-6841

[Bangor]- Amber Horr and Paula Alexander will be joining the Green Acres staff on March 15th as Green Acres’ new grooming team. Committed to Green Acres pet friendly and holistic philosophies, Paula and Amber will be providing dogs and cats with the quality grooming that helps them feel and look their best. 

Paula Alexander has been grooming professionally since 1997 and has worked in both kennels and salons like Green Acres, as well as in a pet superstore. Paula first developed her love for all things canine while watching the Merv Griffin show and seeing the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show group winners make a guest appearance. After active duty in the Navy during the Gulf War, and several years employed in large corporations, the single mom needed to find more family friendly employment and apprenticed for four years to become a Master Pet Stylist. Fifteen years later Paula is every bit as passionate about the profession, the clients she serves and, of course, their pets. For many years Paula has bred and shown Standard Poodles under Tasseltop Kennels. Her last standard Vanna and her two feral cats, Pearla and Smidgeon, reside with her and her son. When asked what she likes best about grooming Paula stated "I love the end of my day when I get to watch the pets leave with a strut of pride, all happy to have wowed their pet parents with their new hair-do."

Amber Horr graduated from grooming school in 2006 and has worked as a professional groomer in a kennel, a veterinary hospital and a pet superstore. While growing up Amber was constantly learning everything she could about dogs and cats so a career in grooming was the perfect way for her to fulfill her love of animals. Amber is married and has two children and a Standard Poodle named TyTy and a miniature Schnauzer named Robin. When asked what she likes best about grooming Amber stated" It gives me an opportunity to help dogs and cats feel and look better. I love seeing how happy both the pet and pet parents are when I send them home after a grooming." 

Effective Monday, March 15th, Green Acres will be offering grooming seven days a week. They will be open for boarding pick-ups and drop-offs, grooming, and retail sales from 7AM until 6PM Monday through Friday, and from 8AM until 5PM on Saturday and Sunday.

In business since 1965, Green Acres Kennel Shop at 1653 Union Street is a Pet Care Services Association (PCSA) accredited facility offering boarding, daycare and grooming for dogs and cats, as well as pet behavior consultations and training classes. Voted Best Kennel every year since 2002, Best Pet Store every year since 2007, and Best Dog Trainer in 2011, the Green Acres retail store offers a wide variety of wholesome pet foods, treats and quality supplies. For more information, please call 945-6841 or visit www.greenacreskennel.com.

For Immediate Release

Friday, January 06, 2012

Contact:     Don Hanson
Green Acres Kennel Shop
945-6841

[Bangor]- Don Hanson, co-owner and Director of Behavior Counseling and Training at the Green Acres Kennel Shop in Bangor, has been reelected Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT). Hanson previously served two terms on the APDT Board from 2002 through 2007, and was Board Vice Chair in 2005 and 2006, and Board Chair in 2007. Reelected to the Board in 2011, Hanson served as Vice Chair the first half of 2011 and was elected Chair for the last half of 2011. Hanson has now been elected to serve as Chair for 2012.

Headquartered in Greenville, SC, the Association of Pet Dog Trainers is the largest organization of dog training and behavior professionals in the world. Founded in 1993, the mission of the 6000+ member APDT is “To represent and advance the dog training profession through education and advocacy.” More information on the APDT is available at http://www.apdt.com/.

Hanson is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer, Certified Dog Behavior Consultant, Bach Foundation Registered Animal Practitioner and Therapy Dog Evaluator. He and his training staff first introduced clicker training and the concept of “dog-friendly” training to the Bangor area in 1997. An experienced speaker, Don has lectured on pets, behavior and the Bach Flower remedies in the USA, Canada, the Caribbean and Japan. He has been educating the public via “The Woof-Meow” show since 2005. Broadcast on WVOM, 103.9FM & WVQM 101.3FM, the show airs on Saturday mornings at 7:30AM and Sunday nights at 8:30PM.

In business since 1965, Green Acres Kennel Shop at 1653 Union Street is a Pet Care Services Association (PCSA) accredited facility offering boarding, daycare and grooming for dogs and cats, as well as pet behavior consultations and training classes. Voted Best Kennel every year since 2002, Best Pet Store every year since 2007, and Best Dog Trainer in 2011, the Green Acres retail store offers a wide variety of wholesome pet foods, treats and quality supplies. For more information, please call 945-6841 or visit www.greenacreskennel.com.