Published: 05MAY12 <click for a printable PDF version>
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Green Acres distributes two different editions of its newsletter; a version posted on our webpage and on our FaceBook pages (this one) and, a version which is emailed. The email edition includes valuable coupons for Green Acres services and products usually not offered in this edition. Your information will not be made available to third parties and will only be used for the purposes of sending you a newsletter electronically. To subscribe, visit our webpage at (http://www.greenacreskennel.com/information/newsletters.html) and look in the lower right hand corner for an area that looks like this.
Expanded Sunday Hours
We are now open on Sundays from 8AM until 5PM! We will be open for boarding pick-ups and drop-offs, grooming, and retail sales.
In This Issue
- Refer Your Friends and Get Rewarded
- Pet Food Recall
- Pet Photo Contest
- Featured Dog Food: California Natural Grain-Free
- Featured Cat Food: b.f.f.
- Featured Treat: Bravo Training Treats
- Featured Product: Front Connect Harnesses
- Featured Service: Smoothies for Dogs - Cool Treats
- Training Class Availability
- Why Rotating Your Pets Diet Makes Sense
- APDT Canine Life and Social Skills Classes & Don's C.L.A.S.S. Challenge
- FREE Dog Bite Prevention Seminar
- FREE Canine Body Language Seminar
- Pet First Aid Seminar
- Kate Dutra Certified as APDT C.L.A.S.S. Evaluator
- Don Hanson Attends IAABC Conference
- Farewell to Becky!
- March Staff Champions
- Staff Anniversaries
- Our Latest Poll
- Woof Meow Show Schedule
- Businesses We Use and Recommend: Chute Contracting
- Links We Like
- Coupons
Please Refer A Friend!
Refer your friends, family members and co-workers to Green Acres with the coupon below and we'll reward them and you! It’s worth either $10 off a new client’s first purchase of product or services in excess of $50 or $5 off a new client’s first purchase of product or services in excess of $25. If your friend, family member or co-worker uses that coupon by the expiration date (June 30th), we will email you a coupon good for $5 off of your next purchase or service as a finder’s fee.
New Client Coupon
I am a new client
______________________________________________________________________
Full Name - email address
That was referred by
______________________________________________________________
Full Name - email address
$10 OFF – your first purchase of services or products where the total is in excess of $50
GN-0512-01
OR
$5 OFF – your first purchase of services or products where the total is in excess of $25
GN-0512-02
For new clients only. Coupon must be filled out completed, printed and presented in its entirety at time of redemption.
One per family. Not valid with other coupons, discounts or special offers.
This coupon valid until June 30, 2012.
Pet Food Recall Announced May 4th
One of our distributors has notified us of several brands of pet food that were voluntarily recalled on May 4th for possible salmonella contamination. Green Acres does not sell any of these particular foods, but just in case some of you feed them, we thought it was important to pass this information along. This information is preliminary. If you feed any of these foods we would suggest you check the store where you purchased the food or check the manufacturer's website for more information.
Diamond Pet Dry Dog & Cat Food Brands
To determine if what you have is affected, you should check the production codes on the back of bags that have a number "2" or a "3" in the 9th or 10th digit and an "X" in the 11th digit.
The best-before dates for the recalled brands are December 9, 2012 through
April 7, 2013. Please note- not all Diamond brands were produced on the affected plant manufacturing lines. No cat or can skus are affected.
- Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul - All skus
- Country Value - All Skus
- Diamond - All Skus
- Diamond Naturals - All Skus
- Premium Edge - All Skus
- Professional - All Skus
- Taste of the Wild - All Skus
Wellness
Wellness Complete Health Super5Mix Large Breed Puppy in 15 pound and 30 pound with a Best by Date of January 9, 10, & 11th 2013. No other Wellness skus were affected. Please note that no salmonella cases have been reported on WellPet. They are recalling for the safety of the pet and the pet parent.
Natural Balance
- 5 LB Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Venison Dog; Best By Date: December 12, 2012; December 13, 2012; March 12, 2013
- 15 LB Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Venison Dog; Best By Date: December 12, 2012; December 13, 2012; December 14, 2012; March 5, 2013; March 6, 2013
- 28 LB Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Venison Dog; Best By Date: December 12, 2012; December 13, 2012; December 14, 2012; March 5, 2013; March 6, 2013; March 7, 2013; March 8, 2013; March 12, 2013
- 5 LB Natural Balance Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Dog; Best By Date: December 10, 2012; December 21, 2012; December 22, 2012
- 15 LB Natural Balance Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Dog; Best By Date: December 10, 2012; December 21, 2012; December 22, 2012
- 28 LB Natural Balance Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Dog; Best By Date: December 10, 2012; December 21, 2012; December 22, 2012
- 5 LB Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Bison Dog; Best By Date: December 17, 2012; December 18, 2012; December 28, 2012; December 29, 2012
- 15 LB Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Bison Dog; Best By Date: December 9, 2012; December 17, 2012; December 18, 2012; December 28, 2012; December 29, 2012
- 28 LB Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Bison Dog; Best By Date: December 9, 2012; December 17, 2012; December 18, 2012; December 28, 2012; December 29, 2012
- 5 LB Natural Balance Vegetarian Dog; Best By Date: December 9, 2012
- 28 LB Natural Balance Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Dog Large Breed Bites; Best By Date: December 12, 2012; December 20, 2012; December 21, 2012
- 5 LB Natural Balance Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Dog Small Breed Bites; Best By Date: December 21, 2012
- 12.5 LB Natural Balance Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Dog Small Breed Bites; Best By Date: December 21, 2012
Please note that no salmonella cases have been reported on Natural Balance. They are recalling for the safety of the pet and the pet parent.
Canidae
The below Canidae skus with production codes that have both a number "3" in the 9th or 10th digit and an "X" in the 11th digit with a best before dates of December 9, 2012, through January 31, 2013 which are being recalled.
- Canidae Dog, All Life Stages
- Canidae Dog, Chicken Meal & Rice
- Canidae Dog, Lamb Meal & Rice
- Canidae Dog, Platinum
Please note that no salmonella cases have been reported in Canidae. They are recalling for the safety of the pet and the pet parent.
Pet Photo Contest Has Started!
Do you have some great photos of your pets? Would you like to see these images immortalized in a Green Acres’ calendar and on our website? Would your pet like to be like Belle and receive a winner notification letter? If so, you should be entering our photo contest which started May 1st!
Contest Rules
- Entrants may only submit photos taken by themselves or an immediate family member.
- Pet subjects must be owned by the entrant or an immediate family member.
- Entrants must be Green Acres Kennel Shop clients.
- All submissions must be made electronically as a jpg, png, or gif file via the Green Acres’ website.
- Photos should be in a landscape/horizontal format.
- Resolution needs to be sufficient for an 8x10 print.
- Photos entered should be of pets only, no people.
- You may submit up to 3 entries per category;
- •Dogs & Puppies: Any photo of dog(s) of any age,
- •Cats & Kittens: Any photo of cat(s) of any age,
- •Pet Friends: A pet interacting with another pet or pet(s)
All entries must include:
- Your full name,
- A valid email address,
- A mailing address
- A title for your photo
Contest Details
- •By submitting an entry you are granting Green Acres Kennel Shop the right to use the image in any and all forms of promotional materials (online, printed, projected, etc.).
- •You may submit an entry anytime between May 1st and June 30th. All entries will be displayed for online voting on Green Acres Kennel Shops’ website from July 5th through July 31st.
- •Green Acres Kennel Shop will select the top four winners in each category based on public votes and the votes of Green Acres Kennel Shops panel of judges. Winning entries will be used as a monthly image in Green Acres Kennel Shops 2013 Calendar project and will be displayed on our website.
- •The Grand Prize winner will be selected from the four winners from each category displayed on our website for voting between August 12th and 25th.
Prizes
Twelve winners will:
1) have their photo included as the pet of the month in our 2013 calendar,
2) have their photo included in the rotator on our websites’ homepage,
3) have their photo included as the cover on our Facebook page
3) receive a free calendar, and
4) receive a $25 gift certificate from Green Acres Kennel Shop.
One of the twelve will also be selected as the grand prize winner. In addition to the above prizes;
- 1)their image will be displayed on the cover of the calendar,
- 2)and a Green Acres Kennel gift bag worth over $150.
Featured Dog Food: California Natural Grain-Free
Because of California Natural's healthy, natural ingredients and the fact that they use so few ingredients in their formulas, California Natural pet foods have always been one of our first recommendations for pets that have food allergy or intolerance issues. Their foods are limited to 3 central ingredients. For example the Chicken Meal and Rice formula includes; chicken meal, brown rice, rice and sunflower oil. A pet food can't be much simpler.
Since California Natural comes in three adult formulas (chicken, lamb, and herring) it has also been an excellent choice for pet guardians that want to rotate between different protein and carbohydrate sources; a practice we have been recommending for healthy dogs since 2005 (see Alternating Your Dogs Food Makes Sense at our web site at http://bit.ly/gUbwX2 and read Kate's tip below - Why Rotating Diets Makes Sense). This process is now even easier and with more variety, with the introduction of California Natural’s five grain free formulas (chicken, lamb, salmon, venison, and kangaroo). California Natural recognizes the value of rotational feeding (http://www.rotatewithconfidence.com/rotational.php) and its benefits; minimization of pickiness and boredom with diet, reduced development of food sensitivity and food intolerance, and the more diverse intake of macro and micronutrients.
For the above reasons and more, California Natural is a popular choice for our clients. Natura, California Natural's parent company, provides Green Acres with a frequent buyer program which allows us to provide you with a free bag of food after you purchase 10 bags of food. All we need to do is to clip the barcode off your bag at the time of purchase and when we have accumulated 10 barcodes for you, we send it to Natura and they send you a coupon good for free product at Green Acres.
So how can you learn more about California Natural?
- Stop by and talk to our staff 7AM to 6PM, Monday thru Friday or 8AM to 5PM Saturday and Sunday.
- Tune into the Woof Meow Show on WVOM 103.9FM or WVQM 101.3FM on Saturday May 5th at 7:30AM or on Sunday, May 6th at 8:30PM when Kate and Don interview Dr. Nathaniel Cook of Natura about California Natural and pet allergies. On Saturday, May 20th and Sunday May 21st we will talk more with Dr. Cook about California Natural's new grain-free diets and the benefits of dietary rotation.
- Stop by on Saturday, May 19th and talk to Erin, one of our Natura reps who will be here with literature and samples.
- Check out the California Natural web site at: http://www.californianaturalpet.com/
- Learn more about the ingredients used in Natura pet foods at: http://www.seebeyondthebag.com/
- Learn more about rotating diets at: http://www.rotatewithconfidence.com/rotational.php
Check our coupon section for a special offer on California Natural Grain-Free Dog Food
Featured Cat Food: b.f.f.
b.f.f. (best feline friend) is an all natural, grain free, tuna based canned food made in a human food facility by the same makers of Weruva pet foods. Available in 8 recipes and three sizes 3 oz, 5.5 oz and 10 oz cans, our experience has been that
cats find this food simply irresistible! The meat used in b.f.f. comes from hand cut filets of Skipjack Tuna, not the scraps used in so many other pet foods. The Skipjack Tuna used in these formulas is a small, surface dwelling tuna that’s population is considered to be healthy and abundant. The redder color flesh of this tuna is less visually appealing to the western market (which translates into lower cost for the consumer); however the tuna itself contains all of the same wonderful nutrients as the whiter meat found in some other tunas. An added bonus to the Skipjack Tuna is that since it resides closer to the surface and is smaller in size there is not the same concern for the fish being laden with toxins and heavy metals.
Check our coupon section for a special offer on b.f.f - buy three cans and get one FREE
Featured Treat - Bravo Training Treats
High quality training treats are an essential component of any dog training program as well as your dog's daily training. The typical grocery store treat is filled with grains, preservatives, colors, and maybe even added sugar and salt. They're not only unhealthy, but they are not as powerful and rewarding as a high-quality, high-value meat based treat.
Green Acres currently carries three formulas of Bravo Training Treats; All-Beef Hot Dogs, Turkey Bites, and Buffalo Bites. These treats are made from 100% muscle meats and are freeze dried so they are not greasy in your hands or pocket. They are tasty enough to make a valued reward but also small enough so they don't overwhelm your dog with calories. We have been doing a comparison with freeze dried liver and for many dogs these Bravo treats are every bit as powerful. They are an ideal option to use for recall, desensitization and any other behavior where you need a high-value treat. And they are not just for dogs! Kate, our Operation’s Manager, has indicated that her cat equally enjoys these treats and he is regularly rewarded with a little bit of All-Beef Hot Dog when he comes in from the outside (and who said cats can’t be trained?)
Check our coupon section for a special offer on Bravo Training Treats
Featured Product - Front Connect Harness
The weather has been great and it's time to start walking for our benefit and our dogs. However, if walking the dog means the dog is choking and gasping for breath and the joints in your arm are being stretched to the point of discomfort – You 
need help!
Taking a walk with your canine companion should be a fun and enjoyable experience for both of you. Dogs can learn to walk politely on a leash, but it takes a lot of rewards, patience, consistency and time on your part. Until you have taught your dog this important lesson, tools such as the SENSE-ible Dog Harness™, Easy Walk Harness and Gentle Leader® Head Halter can help you both enjoy your walk in good health and safety. Unlike choke collars and prong collars they give you control without causing the dog pain and discomfort – just what you want for your furry friend!
This month we are offering an additional $2 discount off of our already low prices* for the SENSE-ible Dog Harness™, Easy Walk Harness and Gentle Leader® Head Halter and we will give you another $2 discount if you trade in your choke collar or prong collar (see coupon below).
*Green Acres prices are consistently $8 to $10 less expensive for these products than the big box stores on Stillwater.
Check our coupon section for a special offer on a Front Connect Harness or Gentle Leader
Featured Service - Cool Treats
As the warmer weather approaches, cool treats are a great snack option that we offer for our canine guests. Cool Treats are an all natural, no sugar added frozen fruit blend. Hailed as a smoothie for dogs, Cool Treats are a perfect option for those pets that struggle with weight as they are low in both fat and calories. Offered for $0.95 per serving, Cool Treats are available once a day, every other day, or a specific number of times during your dog's visit.
Training Class Availability
Our Puppy Headstart classes are available on an open enrollment basis on Tuesday evenings at 6PM and Saturdays at 8AM. With the open enrollment system, you will be able to begin the class typically within a week or two rather than having to wait a lengthy time before the first class.
We still have openings in our Basic Manners classes starting Monday, June 4th and Saturday, June 23rd. Classes are small and tend to fill quickly as we get closer to the start date, so don't delay enrolling.
You can learn more about these classes at: http://www.greenacreskennel.com/training/introductory-classes
Pet Feeding Tip
Why Rotating Diets Makes Sense
Change - not a word that many pet food manufacturers wanted to hear, but definite music to our dogs’ ears and overall heath. The change that we are referring to is dietary rotation. When we first began discussing dietary rotation several years ago, many of our pet food manufacturers were livid! Today however, largely to meet consumer demand, many pet food manufacturers now are producing diets within their food lines that are designed for convenient rotation.
For years, the pet food companies have been successfully convincing many of us that changing our pet’s diet will result in digestive upset. And if you ever did try to switch foods, they were quite often proven correct and you would never make that mistake again! But when you step back and think about it from a canine evolutionary standpoint, does it even make sense? Dogs are scavengers. In its feral state a dog’s gastrointestinal tracts should be equipped to handle a variety of different foods in rapid succession – there is nobody providing a slow transition to a new diet.
So what has caused this change in our domesticated dog’s gastrointestinal tract? The answer in short is that, with the help of the pet food manufacturers, we have caused it. Let’s say for example that you purchase a 30# bag of dog food and it takes your dog 6 weeks to eat it. So for 6 weeks, aside from the occasional snack here and there, your dog eats nothing else. You were so pleased with the results of this food, that when you returned you purchased another 30# bag of the same food again and again. So now, for several months your dog has consumed only that one specific type and brand of food. Now I ask, if you were to only eat one thing for several months, even if it was of great quality, and you suddenly changed, would there not be a high probability that you too would be suffering from digestive upset?
The benefits of dietary rotation are many. The first that comes to mind is simply a decrease in food boredom; imagine what it would be like to eat the same thing every day for a week, yet we often ask our dogs to do it for a lifetime. Secondly is that by alternating diets we have the opportunity to broaden our dogs’ exposures to other meat, fat, grain, fruit and vegetable sources, thus introducing different macro and micronutrients for optimal long-term health; with increased exposure comes a healthier gut and the ability to handle a wider variety of foods without digestive upset. Thirdly, by rotating diets we can potentially decrease long term exposure to harmful pathogens and microbes found in some grains which can lead to chronic illness that may not appear until later in life.
Thankfully, many of the pet food companies are now offering lines that give the consumer the ability to easily rotate diets. This however does not mean that you need to stay within a specific brand line, even though the manufacturer wants you to. We actually would encourage the rotation of brands as well as food ingredients whenever possible, as different companies make use of different vitamin packs and sourcing for their primary ingredients. But if you are not comfortable with this, your dog will still benefit from change within a brand as opposed to no change at all.
When you do change you may notice some differences. In some case stools may be smaller and firmer, other times larger and softer. There will be some foods your dog prefers over others and you can note that preference. (I actually had a lab that HATED the duck formulas – go figure)! As you and your dog try out the foods, you will find that you will both develop a preference for certain ones and use those in your rotation. The key is to not be afraid to try something new; the pet food industry is always coming out with great new stuff, it’s not just chicken anymore! Remember, if your dog has a healthy gut and is accustomed to new foods, they will be able to handle the change.
Diet rotation is not for every dog, however. Although rare, there are some dogs with true food allergies that may be best left on the same diet. Others are on prescription diets or have specific health concerns and dietary changes should not be attempted until discussed with a veterinarian. But if you believe your dog would benefit from dietary rotation we encourage you to start today. If your dog has been consuming the same food for an extended period of time, chances are you will have to slowly transition to any new diet, but hopefully with a little patience and some yogurt you will be able to help your dog’s gut develop and regain optimal health, allowing you to transition foods rapidly with little to no mixing.
NOTE: We typically do not encourage rotation of dry diets for cats, particularly neutered males as there is the potential for a change in the pH of the urine which could lead to the formation of crystals in their urine.
Introducing APDT C.L.A.S.S
Canine Life and Social Skills (C.L.A.S.S.) is a new program developed by the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) based on input from both dog owners and non-dog owners, shelter workers, and professional dog trainers. C.L.A.S.S. has been designed in an effort to benefit not just pet owners and dogs, but the community as a whole!
C.L.A.S.S. has some similarities to the AKC Good Citizen Test or therapy dog testing, but in many ways it is also very different. It is a three-level evaluation in which dog guardians can demonstrate the real-life skills of their dogs, as well as demonstrate their own understanding of basic dog handling, training and care. There are three levels to C.L.A.S.S. (B.A., M.A., and Ph.D.), each requiring a higher level of training
The APDT developed C.L.A.S.S. with several end goals in mind. One of the major themes in the Canine Life and Social Skills program is to promote positive, ongoing training resulting in a stronger owner/dog bonds. Rather than focus on skills that are not often required in day to day life, C.L.A.S.S. emphasizes the need to train real-life practical skills and polite behaviors such as waiting until cued to exit a vehicle or building, calmly settling when asked to do so and walking nicely on a leash. Education of not just the dog, but also the human, is at the forefront of this program as it requires clients to become educated about canine behavior thus helping them to make appropriate choices for their canine companions when in social situations. As more and more student teams complete C.L.A.S.S., it is hoped that there will be more opportunities for well-behaved pets in society in general. We here at Green Acres are very excited about this program and look forward to its continuing addition to our training curriculum. Currently Green Acres is offering a specific C.L.A.S.S. class (I know that sounds silly). Green Acres’ Operations and Training Manager Kate Dutra is an APDT C.L.A.S.S. Instructor and Evaluator.
To learn more about C.L.A.S.S. tune into the Woof Meow Show on WVOM 103.9FM or WVQM 101.3FM on Saturday May 19th at 7:30AM or on Sunday, May 20th at 8:30PM. You can also learn more at the APDT's C.L.A.S.S. website: http://www.mydoghasclass.com.
Don's C.L.A.S.S. Challenge
To give our training class students some motivation to complete the APDT C.L.A.S.S. program, Don has created a contest. The only requirement is that participants must be Green Acres’ clients and have successfully completed at least our Basic Manners training class.
- $25 Green Acres Gift Voucher to the first Green Acres student team to complete their C.L.A.S.S. B.A. by the end of 2012.
- $50 Green Acres Gift Voucher to the first Green Acres student team to complete their C.L.A.S.S. M.A. by the end of 2012.
- $100 Green Acres Gift Voucher to the first Green Acres student team to complete their C.L.A.S.S. Ph.D. by the end of 2012.
Upcoming Events
FREE Seminar: Dog Bite Prevention
May 20th thru May 26th is National Dog Bite Prevention week. According to the web site of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), 4.7 million people in this country are bitten by dogs every year and children are the most common victims with senior citizens being the second most common dog bite victims. Medical attention is required for 800,000 Americans every year, approximately half of them children, who are far more likely to be severely injured. Most bites received by children occur during everyday activities while the child is interacting with a dog it knows.
Dog bites can be greatly reduced by education, so Green Acres will be offering a FREE Dog Bite Prevention seminar, geared towards children and adults, On Saturday, May26th at 2:30PM and Sunday, June 3rd at 1PM.
FREE Seminar: Canine Body Language (SAT June 9th-10AM)
If you want your dog to safely interact with other dogs or other people this seminar is for you. Just like our dogs are not born understanding English, we are not born understanding dog. If we want to have the best relationship with our dog we need
to learn their language. On Saturday, June 9th at 10AM Certified Professional Dog Trainer, Kate Dutra, will help you to become more aware of what your dog is communicating to you and others through the use of its body. She will also discuss what your body is saying to your dog and will describe how you can use your body for more effective management and training.
This seminar is for anyone who has a dog in their life and the information presented will be applicable to a variety of interactions with humans as well as other animals. Limited seats our available, so call us at 945-6841 to reserve your spot today.
Seminar: Pet First Aid (SAT June 16th-12PM)
What would you do if your dog sustains a serious injury while out hiking? Do you know what to do if your cat stops breathing? Knowing how to perform basic pet first aid and CPR could help you save your pet’s life.
On Saturday, June 16th, at Noon, Green Acres Kennel Shop will be hosting a Pet First Aid & CPR seminar taught by Certified Pet Tech Instructor, Tracy Haskell. This 4-hour PetSaver Program will teach participants Pet First Aid, Pet CPR, and basic care and handling that can be used in the event of emergencies. At the completion of the program participants will have the resources they need to keep their pet safe, healthy, and happy. Whether your pets just hang around at home with you or live an active and adventurous life, the knowledge you gain in this class may possibly save your pet’s life.
The seminar will run from 12PM until 4PM and includes hands on instruction and a useful reference guide. The fee for the class is $50, with $10 from each enrollment being donated to the Eastern Area Agency on Aging Furry Friends’ Food Bank. A maximum of 10 spots are available, so don’t delay! Call Green Acres at 945-6841 to register.
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Staff News
Kate Dutra Certified APDT C.L.A.S.S. Evaluator
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.
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.
Hanson Attends IAABC
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/
Good Luck Becky!
In January of 1999 Becky Ruggiero came to Green Acres with her 10-month old Sheltie to discuss training, as well as some behavioral issues that she had observed in Lady. Becky enrolled herself and Lady in our Basic Manners class and 
continued on through many of our other classes as she and Lady learned more about one another. Becky demonstrated a passion for learning and teaching which lead to me inviting her to join our training staff as an assistant in August of 1999. She assisted with at least one night per week and all day Saturday and was learning more all the time. Becky was eventually promoted to Lead Instructor and then as soon as she met the necessary prerequisites, she sat for and passed her certification exam, becoming one of the first Certified Professional Dog Trainers on Green Acres staff.
Since January of 1999, Becky has added four more dogs to her life, rabbits, kittens, chickens, a husband and three children. She has been offered an expanded teaching opportunity at the University of Maine and sadly will be leaving Green Acres. We want to thank Becky for her years of service, congratulate her on her new job, and let her know that she will be missed. We hope that as time permits Becky will again join our training staff at Green Acres.
Staff Champions
Every month the Green Acres staff chooses two Staff Champions; someone who has done an exceptional job and someone who has publicly recognized another employee for doing an exceptional job. Hearty congratulations and thank you to our latest champions!
March – Brenda M. & Tracy H.
Staff Anniversaries
Not overly shy, our two feline retail associates, Thelma and Louise will be celebrating their 11th anniversary with us on May 15th. Thank you girls!
Our Latest Poll
Once developed, do you plan on using the Bangor Dog Park? Vote Here - http://bit.ly/K7E4uO
Results from Our Last Poll
Pets are:
Family Members - 5
Property - 0
More than property but not quite family members - 1
Tune in to The Woof Meow Show
The Woof Meow Show airs twice a week –
7:30AM on Saturdays and 8:30PM on Sundays
on WVOM 103.9FM and WVQM 101.3FM.
- 5MAY12 - 6MAY12 - Pet Food Allergies and Intolerance's and California Natural Pet Food w/Dr. Nathaniel Cook of Natura
- 12MAY12 - 13MAY12 - Rotating Your Pets Food and California Natural Grain-Free Diets w/Dr. Nathaniel Cook of Natura
- 19MAY12 - 20MAY12 - APDT Canine Life And Social Skills (C.L.A.S.S.) w/Mychelle Blake
- 26MAY12 - 27MAY12 - ENCORE: Grooming: Meet Our Professional Pet Stylists - Amber & Paula - part 1 (original Air Date 24MAR12 & 25MAR12)
- 2JUN12 - 3JUN12 - ENCORE: Grooming: Meet Our Professional Pet Stylists - Amber & Paula - part 2 (original Air Date 31MAR12 & 1APR12)
- 9JUN12 - 10JUN12 - NutriSource Grain Free Formulas
- 16JUN12 - 17JUN12 - Summer Pet Tips
- 23JUN12 - 24JUN12 - The Importance of Annual Health Exams for Pets w/Dr. David Cloutier from Veazie Veterinary Clinic
- 30JUN12 - 1JUL12 - Pet Vaccinations w/Dr. David Cloutier from Veazie Veterinary Clinic
Keep up with the Woof Meow Show at our FaceBook page - https://www.facebook.com/WoofMeowShow
Businesses We Use and Recommend
Green Acres, as well as Paula and I personally, use the products and services of a number of area businesses. Like Green Acres most of them are small and locally owned. Many, but not all are members of the Paul Bunyan Chapter of Business Networks International (http://www.bni.com/) an organization where we all help each other grow our businesses. This space in our newsletter will be used to recognize some of those businesses and their products.
Chute Contracting
Randy Chute and his crew at Chute Contracting have completed several maintenance and construction projects for us personally and for our business, Green Acres Kennel Shop. They’ve torn down and replaced a mud room, reroofed and resided our home, rebuilt a laundry room, removed a deck and replaced it with a sun room with full basement and an attached deck, as well as countless, smaller maintenance projects.
You hear horror stories about contractors that never show up on time, that go over budget, or just don’t produce quality work. You never need to worry about that with Randy. His attention to detail and his insistence on quality work by his crew and any and all subcontractors will give you a home or addition you will treasure for years. And while it’s a small issue to some, when Randy and his crew are done they clean-up after themselves so all you need to do is to enjoy what they’ve created.
If you are considering a construction project, whether small or large, you owe it to yourself to talk to Randy Chute at Chute Contracting. - 989-6787/356-7515
Links We Like
Dog Behavior & Training
An Article and Video on the Dog Whisperer in the Huffington Post - http://www.huffingtonpost.com/anna-jane-grossman/the-dog-whisperer-technique_b_1406337.html
Dumbed down by dominance, Part 2
An excellent article from Dr. Karen Overall (faculty member at the University of Pennsylvania, diplomate of the American College of Behavior Medicine (ACVB) and board-certified Applied Animal Behaviorist) in the April 1st, 2012 DVM News Magazine in which she explains an alternative to the dominance construct and pack hierarchy. -
http://veterinarynews.dvm360.com/dvm/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=767068
Welfare in Dog Training
This website in the UK has several great articles that discuss the fallacy of the dominance construct, how to correctly describe dog social interactions, and how to deal with behavior problems.
What's wrong with using 'dominance' to explain the behaviour of dogs? - http://www.dogwelfarecampaign.org/why-not-dominance.php
So how do we explain social behaviour - http://www.dogwelfarecampaign.org/if-not-dominance.php
What are the implications of training techniques which induce fear or pain in dogs? http://www.dogwelfarecampaign.org/implications-of-punishment.php
Should I follow status reduction programmes with my dog? - http://www.dogwelfarecampaign.org/status-reduction-programmes.php
Find Us On the Internet
Green Acres Website – www.greenacreskennel.com
Green Acres FaceBook – www.facebook.com/GreenAcresKennelShop
Bach Flowers for Pets Website- www.greenacreskennel.com/bach-flowers-for-pets
Bach Flowers for Pets FaceBook - www.facebook.com/BachFlowersForPets
Woof Meow Show FaceBook – www.facebook.com/WoofMeowShow
Friends of Furry Friends Food Bank FaceBook - www.facebook.com/GAKS.FFFFB
May Coupons
California Natural Grain Free Dog Food
________________________________________________
full name & email
$3 OFF any single 30lbs Bag of California Natural Grain-Free Dog Food
GN-0512-03
OR
$2 OFF any single 15lbs Bag of California Natural Grain-Free Dog Food
GN-0512-04
OR
$1 OFF any single 5lbs Bag of California Natural Grain-Free Dog Food
GN-0512-05
Coupon must be completed, printed and presented in its entirety at time of redemption.
One bag per family. Not valid with other coupons, discounts or special offers.
This coupon valid until June 16, 2012.
b.f.f. Cat Food
________________________________________________
full name & email
Buy 3 5.5oz cans of b.f.f. cat food and get 1 FREE
(up to a maximum of 4 FREE cans)
GN-0512-06
Coupon must be completed, printed and presented in its entirety at time of redemption.
One per family. Not valid with other coupons, discounts or special offers.
This coupon valid until June 16, 2012.
Bravo Training Treats
________________________________________________
full name & email
$1.00 OFF any 1 package Bravo Training Treats
GN-0512-07
Coupon must be completed, printed and presented in its entirety at time of redemption.
One per family. Not valid with other coupons, discounts or special offers.
This coupon valid until June 16, 2012.
SENSE-ible Dog Harness™, OR
Easy Walk Harness OR
Gentle Leader® Head Halter
________________________________________________
full name & email
$2 OFF – One of the above
GN-0512-08
$4 OFF – One of the above w/trade in of choke or prong collar
GN-0512-09
Coupon must be completed, printed and presented in its entirety at time of redemption.
One per family. Not valid with other coupons, discounts or special offers.
This coupon valid until June 16, 2012.
Published by
Green Acres Kennel Shop
1653 Union Street
Bangor, ME 04401-2204
207-945-6841
www.greenacreskennel.com
Photographer Debra Bell, owner of Bell Imaging & Design in Hermon, will offer a free seminar on photographing your pets at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 22, at Green Acres Kennel Shop at 1653 Union St.
myths about pet food and how to choose the best pet food for your pet. 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.
We want you to have the opportunity to meet and talk with both Amber and Paula in person. Please join us Sunday, April 29th from 1PM to 5PM for our "Welcome to Green Acres” Reception and Open House.
Green-Bones are a new product from our friends at NutriSea, located right down the coast in Stonington, Maine. They are more than a bone-shaped treat. Green-bones are a long lasting, nutritious dental bone that is wheat-free and highly digestible. Designed to promote oral health and fresh breath, Green-Bones include decaffeinated Green Tea for its excellent antioxidant properties and Sea Cucumber is added for joint health. If you are currently using that other green bone, you might want to give NutriSea Green-Bones a try!
At Green Acres we encourage regular, consistent nail trims for our canine and feline friends. This keeps their nails short and also keeps our furry friends comfortable. Additionally, by ensuring your pets nails are trimmed frequently, they become more accustomed to the process and hence more relaxed over time. However, we recognize that many of you prefer to have us trim your nails which is why we offer a monthly Pet Pedicure Pass.
Once again it's time to vote for the best businesses in the greater Bangor area in the annual survey by Market Surveys of America. We'd appreciate it if you would consider voting for Green Acres Kennel Shop in the following four categories; Best Dog Trainer, Best Kennel, Best Pet Groomer and Best Pet Store. All you need to do to vote is to go to this website 
Don is in the process of updating our collection of photographs of our boarding and daycare clients at play. These are the photos that are displayed in the store. As Don completes a batch of photos he will be posting them in the photo section of our FaceBook page (
Eagle Pack's original formulas are great premium foods at a great price point. We've been selling Eagle since 1998 and have seen countless dogs thrive on these two formulas. Both have meat as a first ingredient and use whole grains rather than grain fragments. In the past year there have been more and more companies advertising that they are now adding beneficial probiotics to their brand. You haven't heard that from Eagle because they've been adding this important ingredient since before 1998! While they may not be a brand that is heavily advertised, they continue to manufacturer an innovative premium food at a very reasonable cost.
The Wobbler is a KONG-shaped food dispensing toy and feeder that sits upright until pushed with a dog's paw or nose, then dispenses treats or kibble as it wobbles, spins and rolls. The unpredictable movement keeps the toy challenging, even for seasoned Wobbler users. Use the Wobbler as an alternative to a dog bowl, and help to extend meal time and exercise your dog. The Wobbler is made of FDA food-approved, high-strength, plastic polymer and is Dishwasher safe. The top screws off from bottom for easy filling. The Wobbler comes in two sizes: Small (fits 1/2 cup of food), Large (fits 2 cup of food).
With Spring almost upon us, now is the perfect time to enroll yourself, your dog and the whole family in a dog training class at Green Acres. We have several classes starting in March.
On Saturday, March 31st 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. 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.
Whether a business is small or large, having a website is becoming increasingly important. At the same time more and more people and companies, some of them of questionable repute, are contacting businesses to help them create their web presence. 
Solid Gold, established in 1974, was one of the first companies in the United States to use natural ingredients in their pet foods. The company takes a holistic approach to health care and thus considers every part of your pet when designing a nutritious diet. To maintain optimum health, every one of the pet's internal systems needs to be functioning properly. When proper nutrition is not met, one or more of these systems is compromised, resulting in an unhealthy, unhappy animal. For this reason, Solid Gold has developed "non-allergenic" foods which boost the immune system and protect your pet from disease.
coconut, apricot and kiwi in their ingredients. I can tell you first hand that they taste as good as they sound! Pumpkin crunchers feature pumpkin and blueberries. Give them a try with your dogs today!
Paula and I have been using DentaTreat™ with our pets since it first came out several years ago. We will be the first to admit that we are not very diligent about brushing our pet's teeth. It's a difficult habitat to establish and so easy to break. That's what makes DentaTreat perfect for people like us - you just sprinkle it on the pet's food at every meal and... Voila! The dental-active natural cheeses, minerals, and apple polyphenols in DentaTreat go to work, keeping their mouths clean and healthy. Yeah, we know... that sounds way to good to be true, but the fact is when we use DentaTreat with the fur kids it has greatly reduced our need for cleanings at the veterinarians. If you want all of the technical details, you can read more at - 
nor is it a good practice if you have a dog with food guarding issues. We, however, have routinely fed raw bones over the years and our dogs have loved them and we believe they have contributed to better dental health. Here at Green Acres, we sell Bravo Raw Bones in the store because we feel they offer a superior product to what you might get at the supermarket. Before feeding raw bones you might want to review this article on the Bravo website - 
The Woof Meow Show
Pet food manufacturers use different ingredients in different amounts to formulate their products. Some use high quality ingredients which are also more expensive. Because these high quality ingredients contain more nutrition per pound, you can feed your pet less.
Rachael started as a Pet Care Technician at Green Acres Christmas week back in 2006. She's now completed her studies and graduated from the University of Maine and has moved on to a new fulltime position in her chosen career. If you don't know Rachael personally, your pets do. Without hesitation I know they enjoyed her care as much as she enjoyed caring for them. So long Rachael, you have lots of people and furry friends here at Green Acres that will miss you. We all wish you the best of luck and happiness in your new endeavor!
Green Acres Kennel Shop and The Woof Meow Show are proud to be supporters of the Association of Pet Dog Trainer's* (APDT) 3rd annual National Train Your Dog Month. The APDT has designated January as National Train Your Dog Month to bring awareness to the importance of socialization and training for all dogs! January was selected as the perfect month because so many animals are adopted and brought home during the winter holidays.
sell for $20 and contain the following coupons:
Solid Gold has two new treat products: L.A. Treats which are 100% dehydrated lamb lung and Petzyme Green Beef Tripe which are 100% dehydrated green beef tripe. Both are healthy, tasty, come in re-sealable bags and would make an excellent higher value training treat, on par with freeze dried liver for some dogs.
Shuffle Bone. Each different game challenges your dog with a puzzle that once solved rewards them with a tasty morsel. Help your dog survive cabin fever and pick up a Seek-A-Treat toy today. If our 15 year old Golden Retriever enjoys this toy, I bet your dog will too!
Over the past several years food companies, pet and human alike, have been emphasizing the importance of feeding natural foods. Unfortunately the word “Natural” has no legal definition for pet food so it can be misleading. Pet food companies not only use the word “Natural” on their bags but they also use photographs and illustrations on the bag and in their advertising to create an illusion that the bag is filled with natural, fresh, whole food like beef and vegetables. For example a "natural" pet food found in most supermarkets is illustrated to the left.
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