Training Staff at Green Acres Kennel Shop

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Green Acres Training Staff Don Hanson, Director – Behavior Counseling & Training, BFRP, CDBC, CPDT Kate D., Training Manager & Behavior Counselor, CPDT Becky R., Lead Instructor, CPDT Christie M., Lead Instructor, CPDT Joel M., Lead Instructor, CPDT Adam M., Lead Instructor Angela A., Lead Instructor Aaron C. Assistant Instructor Brenda M., Assistant Instructor Jay H., Assistant Instructor Jessica H., Assistant Instructor Lori C., Assistant Instructor Rachel M., Kennel Manager & Assistant Instructor   LEAD INSTRUCTORS Don Hanson, BFRP, CDBC, CPDT Don Hanson is the co-owner of the Green Acres Kennel Shop in Bangor, Maine, where he is also the Director of Behavior Counseling and Training. As a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC), Certified Pet Dog Trainer (CPDT) and Bach Foundation Registered Practitioner (BFRP) animal specialist, Don assists guardians and their dogs and cats with everything from minor training issues to serious behavioral problems such as separation anxiety, fear, and aggression. Don is also a certified evaluator for Therapy Dogs International, testing dog and guardian teams who wish to bring canine companionship to nursing homes and hospitals. A member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) since 1995, in 1998 Don was recruited by Dr. Ian Dunbar to serve on the APDT’s Education Committee. As a member of that committee, Don was one of 20 nationally known dog training professionals and behaviorists selected by the APDT to research and develop the first comprehensive written certification examination for pet dog trainers. He became one of the first trainers certified by the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers in September of 2001. Don is very involved in the pet community. He has served on the Bangor Humane Society Board of Directors since 1996 and was its President from 1998 through 2003. In 2001 he was elected to the APDT Board of Directors where he has served as the Board advisor to the Ethics Committee, Rally-O Committee, and Scientific Task Force. He was elected to a second, three year term on the APDT Board in the fall of 2004, serving two years as Vice President and serving as President in 2007. Don was appointed to the Maine Animal Welfare Advisory Council by Governor Baldacci in 2007 where he represents boarding and breeding kennels. Whether he’s writing, lecturing or talking to people on his radio show, educating others about proper pet care is very important to Don. An experienced speaker, Don has lectured on pets, behavior and the Bach Flower remedies in the USA, Canada, the Caribbean and Japan. He is the author of Best Friends for Life, the book used in our introductory training classes and the soon to be published A Quick Reference to Bach Flowers for Pets. Since January of 2005 he has been on WVOM-FM every Sunday night with “The Woof-Meow” show with co-host Kate Dutra. The mission of the show is to educate listeners how to care for and train their pets. Don’s interests go well beyond training to nutrition and holistic and complementary health care for pets and people. Committed to continuing education, on average, he attends 18 days of seminars annually, on topics as diverse as animal behavior, nutrition, homeopathy, herbal medicine, and flower remedies. To see a list of recent seminars he’s attended, click here. In November of 2003, Don completed the coursework necessary to become the first Bach Foundation Registered Practitioner (BFRP) animal specialist in the United States. Don is a certified member of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC), a professional member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT), and a member of the International Institute for Applied Companion Animal Behavior (IIACAB), and the Dog Writers Association of America (DWAA). In early 2008 Don was asked by the American Boarding Kennel Association (ABKA) and the Canadian Association of Professional Pet Dog Trainers (CAPPDT) to give a presentation on his career in the pet services industry. A companion article to those presentations, Trends in Training – The Evolution of a Pet Care Professional, can be found by clicking here. Don and his wife share their lives with two dogs (Tikken – Golden Retriever and Dulcie – Cairn Terrier) and three cats (Batman, Thelma and Louise).   Kate D., CPDT Kate joined the Green Acres staff in 1992 and was our Kennel Manager until she returned to her studies at the University of Maine in 2002. Kate is a Certified Pet Dog Trainer and is qualified to teach all of our group classes. She also does private training sessions. Kate also works closely with Don on pet behavior consultations, assists with therapy dog testing and is a regular co-host on the Woof-Meow Show. Having worked the retail side of Green Acres for many years, Kate is also very knowledgeable about our products and pet nutrition. Kate and her family share their lives with Jasmine, a Lab mix and Emily the cat. Becky R., CPDT Becky first walked into Green Acres in January of 1999 after adopting her first dog, a 10 month-old Sheltie she named Lady. Becky and Lady enrolled in Green Acres Basic Behaviors class in March of 1999, and Becky has been training dogs ever since. Since officially joining the Green Acres training staff in August of 1999, Becky has earned her Certified Pet Dog Trainer (CPDT) accreditation and attended Bob and Marion Bailey's infamous "chicken camp" for animal trainers. Becky says the best things about teaching dog training classes is "seeing the joy and increased companionship that results when dogs and their guardians truly "get" the clicker training method." Becky and her family share their home with four dogs, Lady, Caspian, Narnia, and Minnie. Becky admits she has a special fondness for rescue dogs. She teaches Basic Manners, Manners for the Real World, Clicks and Tricks, and CGC/Therapy Dog classes.   Christie M., CPDT Christie joined the Green Acres training staff in 2002. A graduate student by day, she teaches Basic Manners, Manners for the Real World and CGC/Therapy Dog classes in her free time. Christie became a Certified Pet Dog Trainer in 2007. She also leads our weekly training sessions for instructors and assistants. She and her husband Joel, one of our other trainers, share their lives with Willow, a Bassett Hound and Ember, a Red Bone Coon Hound. They enjoy outdoor activities with their dogs, especially hiking in Acadia National Park and barking at red squirrels. Joel M., CPDT Joel has been on staff since the spring of 2003. A graphic designer by day, Joel teaches Basic Manners, Manners for the Real World, Clicks and Tricks, and CGC/Therapy Dog classes at night. He became a Certified Pet Dog Trainer in 2008. Joel also enjoys watching Willow and Ember bark at red squirrels. Adam M., CAPCT Adam worked at Green Acres has a Pet Care Technician in 2000 and then worked for us as Kennel Manager from 2002 until the fall of 2006. During that time Adam started working as an Assistant Instructor and became a Lead Instructor in 2005. Adam teaches Basic Manners classes when he’s not working his other job in grocery management. Having worked the retail side of Green Acres, Adam is also very knowledgeable about our products and pet nutrition. He and is family share their home with Roxie, a Lab and Pepper, a Standard Poodle. Adam is a Certified Advance Pet Care Technician. Angela A., CPCT Angela joined the Green Acres team in 2001 as a Pet Care Technician, when she was still in High School. It was soon after that she became involved in our training program as an assistant. A UMO graduate student by day, Angela became a Lead Instructor in 2007, teaching Basic Manners and assisting with our Manners for the Real World and CGC/Therapy Dog classes. Angela is a Certified Pet Care Technician. ASSISTANT INSTRUCTORS All of our instructors started as students in our classes. As part of their instructor training, they will rotate through various schedules working with all of our lead instructors. Aaron C. Aaron became an assistant in the fall of 2007 after attending several of our classes with Labrador Retrievers Zephyr and Phoebe. By day, Aaron teaches math at Bucksport High School. Aaron and his wife Lori, another of our assistant instructors enjoy hiking and camping with their dogs in their free time. Zephyr and Aaron became a TDI Therapy Dog team in 2006. Brenda M., CPCT Brenda has been a full-time Pet Care Technician at Green Acres since 1997 and joined our training staff as an assistant in 2006. If your dog comes here for Daycare, they probably know Brenda well as she is our senior playtime supervisor. Brenda and her partner share their home with four dogs; Sasha, Desiree, Barley and TJ all lively little dogs. Brenda is a Certified Pet Care Technician. Jay H. Jay has been a client of Green Acres for many years and a student with his chocolate Labrador Retriever Maddie. Jay and Maddie are also training to be a search and rescue team. Jessica H. Jessica started as an assistant in 2006 and works for us when she’s not working in her art studio. Jessica and her husband share their home with Bacchus, a Golden/Lab mix and Green Acres graduate. Lori C. Lori became an assistant in the fall of 2007 after attending several of our classes with Labrador Retrievers Zephyr and Phoebe. She’s an administrative assistant at SVH Rehab by day.  During her free time, Lori enjoys hiking and camping with her dogs as well as her husband, Aaron who is also an assistant trainer here at Green Acres. Rachel M., CPCT, LVT Rachel first walked into a Green Acres training class with her Lab, Blaze, when she was still in high school. She joined our team as a Pet Care Technician in 2003. Rachel was promoted to Green Acres Kennel Manager in the summer of 2006, shortly after graduating from University of Maine’s Veterinary Technician program. Rachel is a Certified Pet Care Technician and a Licensed Veterinary Technician.

Last Updated July 2, 2008
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