- educating you about canine behavior – what’s normal, what’s not, and what your dog needs to be a happy and well mannered companion,
- explaining how your dog uses its body to give you visual cues and how you can communicate with them through body language,
- discussing the importance of preventing unwanted behavior through sound management, and
- demonstrating how to train your dog with the most effective and most humane method of animal training available – clicker training.
Our Training Philosophy
What Is Clicker Training
Class Requirements
Download a copy of material below as a PDF
Our Training Philosophy
Green Acres’ classes are DOG FRIENDLY. We never use pain, intimidation, alpha rolls, scruff shakes, prong, choke or shock collars. We are committed to treating animals humanely and know that training methods which cause fear or pain are totally unnecessary, counter-productive, and inhumane.
Class sizes are small, so you and your dog get the attention you need and deserve. Each class has both an instructor and an assistant to provide ample opportunity for individual support and questions. Typically there is one instructor per three students.
We offer a relaxed, supportive atmosphere. Our instructors know that there are times when you are frustrated with your dog. They have successfully lived through similar situations and are here to help you move past the aggravation so that you and your dog become best friends for life.
We encourage family attendance. You brought a dog into your home to be part of the family; as such it is important that all family members participate in the care and training of your new friend.
We use scientific, proven, effective training methods for all dogs and breeds. As professionals, the Green Acres’ training staff remains current on all of the latest research on animal training. We introduced clicker training to the Greater Bangor area in 1997 and continue to offer the widest variety of dog training classes in central and northern Maine.
Our program is supervised by Certified Pet Dog Trainers. Don Hanson, Green Acres’ Director of Behavior Counseling and Training, was one of 20 nationally known dog training professionals and behaviorists selected by the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) to research and develop the first comprehensive written certification examination for dog trainers in 2000. Today this examination is administered by the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT) as a way of helping to ensure that dog trainers have demonstrated competence in humane teaching practices and are knowledgeable about the latest scientific information on dog training. Don Hanson, Kate Dutra, Becky Ruggiero, and Christie Mahaffey have all been certified and others on the training staff are working towards their certification.
Our classes include a comprehensive course handbook. We cover a great deal of material which is why all students in our Basic Manners class get a copy of our course handbook, Best Friends for Life. This 100+ page book provides a convenient reference on every subject we cover as well as information on canine health and nutrition.
At Green Acres you will find happy, motivated people and dogs learning while having fun. Training is one of the most important things you can do to make certain that you and your dog become best friends for life so it is imperative that both you and the dog enjoy the training process.
What Is Clicker Training
The underlying principle of clicker training is that when behaviors are rewarded they are made stronger and occur more frequently. Clicker training makes use of a small mechanical device to audibly mark the precise instant your dog is performing a behavior as cued. The “click,” or event marker, is then followed by a treat to reward the behavior. Clicker training is the same successful teaching method used to train dolphins and whales at Sea World.
Clicker training makes our dogs active partners in the training process. While using the “clicker” may seem like an extra step, animal trainers with years of experience with thousands of animal species have learned that clicker training is the most effective training modality to date. By having to think about what we want, dogs generally learn more quickly, retain lessons better and have more fun doing so.
We will teach you how to get your dog to respond to both verbal cues and hand signals. The clicker is only used during the training process to help your dog understand the desired behavior, and once learned the use of the clicker can be phased out. In the past 10 years clicker training has become the predominant training method used by humane dog trainers.
Class Requirements
The primary handler in our classes must be at least 14 years old, or have been pre-approved by the instructor.
All dogs attending our classes need to be current on vaccinations for distemper, rabies and canine cough (bordetella). You will need to provide a copy of your pet’s most recent vaccination record before the first class. Due to their age, puppies are not expected to have been vaccinated for rabies.
Classes are held indoors at Green Acres. We also hold some classes outdoors when the dogs are ready for extra distractions and the weather permits.
Our classes are small and fill very quickly, so we suggest you register as soon as possible. To reserve a place, fill out the appropriate registration form, sign the waiver of liability on the back, and return it with the class fee. Please indicate your second choice for class dates and times, in case your first choice is not available. If you would like to observe a class before registering, please give us a call at 945-6841 to make arrangements.
Your registration will be confirmed as soon as we have payment. You may withdraw from a class and receive a refund (minus a $10 handling fee) anytime up until 14 days before the first class. After this time your registration fee becomes non-refundable.
Call us at 945-6841 and request our training brochure or print it right now by clicking here (Introductory Brochure or Level 2/3 brochure. Find out why thousands of your neighbors have selected Green Acres for training classes.
