Woof Meow Pet Tip for August 3, 2026 at Star 977 with Don Hanson – Questions to Ask Yourself BEFORE Adding a Dog to Your Family
< Updated 2026-08-03 >
< The link to this page – https://www.forcefreepets.com/wfmwtip-2026-08-03/ >
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: – Adding a puppy or dog to a family is no small matter. The decision to do so will affect all family members, and the dog will be affected by everyone else in the home, humans and non-humans alike. Therefore, to be fair to the dog and all other family members, everyone in the home needs to consider the following: Are you ready to live with a companion that will be emotionally and cognitively equivalent to a human toddler its entire life? If you have any experience with human toddlers, you know that their innocence and curiosity can be charming and usually outweigh any mischievous or undesirable behavior. However, while most adult toddlers mature into responsible adult humans, a puppy, or even an adult dog, does not. After the break, I’ll list some more things for you to consider.
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: – Additional questions to ask yourself before adding a dog to the family are: Do you have the time, energy, and knowledge to manage human and non-human toddlers in your home? If you are living with elderly family members or others with health issues, would a puppy or dog be a benefit or a nuisance? Is it fair to an existing dog or cat to bring a new dog into the home? Do you have the financial ability to care for a dog? Please note, I’ve just scratched the surface of this important topic. For more things to consider, check out Questions to Ask Yourself BEFORE Adding a Dog to Your Family on my blog at ForceFreePets.com.
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. You can explore either by clicking on the links below. I also often share links to articles written by others that I believe you 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 Hanson, PCBA-A.
ForceFreePets Blog –
https://forcefreepets.com/blog/
Green Acres Kennel Shop Blog –
https://www.greenacreskennel.com/blog/
©Donald J. Hanson, PCBC-A, All Rights Reserved
