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
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."
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