Woof Meow Pet Tip for July 6, 2026 at Star 977 with Don Hanson – Inch by Inch & Patience
< Updated 2026-07-06 >
< The link to this page – https://www.forcefreepets.com/wfmwtip-2026-07-06/ >
MIKE DOW: – Welcome to Woof Meow with Don Hanson here on Star 977. When it comes to pets, how to best care for them, how to train them, and how to make that bond with your pet even stronger, do what so many people in Maine do: they go to Don Hanson at Green Acres Kennel Shop, 1653 Union Street in Bangor, and online at greenacreskennel.com, and at the ForceFreePets website at forcefreepets.com
DON: – I recently heard Mike and Paul, when Paul quoted his father as saying, “Inch by inch, life’s a cinch, yard by yard, life is hard.” The same principle applies to teaching your dog! Too many people expect their dog to learn too many things far too quickly, expecting yard-by-yard progress. That’s like expecting your 5-year-old child to attend six weeks of summer school and be ready to start their PhD in college that fall. It’s unrealistic, puts unnecessary stress on both you and your dog, and is not helpful in any way. The best thing for your relationship with your dog is to be patient and kind. I’ll discuss how to do that after the break.
MIKE DOW: – Since 1995, Don has owned Green Acres Kennel Shop at 1653 Union Street in Bangor, offering pet food and supplies, boarding, daycare, and grooming. Learn more at greenacreskennel.com. Don also offers education for pets and their people at forcefreepets.com.
DON: – The teaching of people and training of pets is a science. The first step I recommend any dog parent take is to work with a canine behavior consultant who has completed coursework in animal behavior and training, has experience teaching people and training pets, and has passed a credentialing exam administered by an independent certification body. Such an individual will have the knowledge and skills to coach you and your dog throughout the training process. They will encourage you to be patient, to go at your dog’s pace, and to always put a nurturing relationship between you and your dog first. You can find many such individuals at the Pet Professional Guild. [ https://www.petprofessionalguild.com/find-a-ppg-professional/ ]
MIKE DOW: – Animal lovers listen for Woof Meow with Don Hanson each Monday at 4:20, and at various times during the week, only on Star 977
I maintain two blogs, where I write about a variety of topics related
to dogs and cats, or with a “Woof and Meow” theme. See what I did there? You can explore either by clicking on the links below. I also often share links to articles by others that I believe my subscribers will find interesting. If you like what you see, please subscribe. You can unsubscribe at any time. If you think friends and family members would like what I’m writing about, please share the link. – Don
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ForceFreePets Blog – https://www.forcefreepets.com/blog/
Green Acres Kennel Shop Blog – https://www.greenacreskennel.com/blog/
