Training Staff at Green Acres Kennel Shop

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Green Acres Training Staff Don Hanson, Director – Behavior Counseling & Training, BFRP, CDBC, CPDT-KA Kate D., Operations Manager & Behavior Counselor, CPDT-KA Becky R., Senior Lead Instructor, CPDT-KA Christie M., Lead Instructor, CPDT-KA Joel M., Lead Instructor, CPDT-KA Angela A., Lead Instructor, CPDT-KA Adam M., Lead Instructor Aaron C. Assistant Instructor Hilary W., Assistant Instructor Lori C., Assistant Instructor Tracy H., Assistant Instructor   LEAD INSTRUCTORS Don Hanson, BFRP, CDBC, CPDT-KA | Don's Credentials | Don's CV | Don's Publications | Don's Speaking Engagements | 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 Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA) 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 professional 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 and 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, he attends as many as 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 Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT), and the Association of Animal Behavior Professionals (AABP), and a member of the Dog Writers Association of America (DWAA), the Pet Care Services Association (PCSA formerly ABKA), and Truly Dog Friendly (TDF). 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-KA 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. In the fall of 2008 she became our Operations Manager. Kate is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer and is qualified to teach all of our group classes. She also does private training sessions. Kate works 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 Lizzie, a Hound mix and Emily and Guido their cats. Becky R., CPDT-KA 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 Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA) accreditation and attended Bob and Marion Bailey's infamous "chicken camp" for animal trainers. Today she is our Senior Lead Instructor. 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 Puppy Headstart, Basic Manners classes and our Level 2 and Level 3 Workshops.   Christie M., CPDT-KA Christie joined the Green Acres training staff in 2002. A graduate student by day, she teaches Basic Manners, Puppy Headstart and our Level 2 and Level 3 Workshops in her free time. Christie became a Certified Professional Dog Trainer in 2007. 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-KA Joel has been on staff since the spring of 2003. A graphic designer by day, Joel teaches Basic Manners and our Level 2 and Level 3 Workshops at night. He became a Certified Professional Dog Trainer in 2008. Joel also enjoys watching Willow and Ember bark at red squirrels. Angela A., CPCT, CPDT-KA Angela joined the Green Acres team in 2001 as a Certified 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 nurse by day, Angela became a Lead Instructor in 2007 and a Certified Professional Dog Trainer in 2008. She teaches Basic Manners, Puppy Headstart and our Level 2 and Level 3 Workshops. Angela and her husband share their home with their dogs Elaine and Vito.   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 his family share their home with Roxie, a Lab and Pepper, a Standard Poodle. Adam is a Certified Advanced Pet Care Technician.   ASSISTANT INSTRUCTORS Some of our instructors started as students in our classes and others started as pet care technicians working with our boarding and daycare guests. 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 is a teacher by day. 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. Hilary W., CPCT Hilary joined our kennel staff in the fall of 2008 where she cares for our boarding and daycare guests as a Certified Pet Care Technician. She quickly developed an interest in training and is now working as an assistant instructor in training while completing her studies at the University of Maine in Augusta. She shares her home with her dog Gemma.   Lori C. Lori became an assistant in the fall of 2007 after attending several of our classes with Labrador Retrievers Zephyr and Phoebe. Phoebe and Lori became a TDI Therapy Dog team in 2008. Both also enjoy retrieving competition. Lori’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.  Tracy H., CPCT Tracy joined the Green Acres team in February of 2007, working with our boarding and daycare guests as a Certified Pet Care Technician. An Animal Sciences graduate from UMO, she joined our training team late in 2008 and is now an assistant instructor in training. Tracy shares her home with her dog Romey.

Last Updated November 21, 2009
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