Woof Meow Pet Tip for May 4, 2026 at Star 977 with Don Hanson – Beyond Bell Rubs No3
< Updated 2026-05-04 >
< The link to this page – https://forcefreepets.com/wfmwtip-2026-05-04/ >
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: – In my last tip, I discussed the importance of recognizing when your dog is stressed so you can alleviate their stress. That leads right into today’s tip: creating optimal conditions for your dog to learn. Number one on the list is that you, your dog, and the room are stress-free. Both humans and dogs learn best in an environment with little or no distractions. The best place to start teaching your dog is in a quiet room in your home, with no other pets, no other people, and no toys or other interesting things in the environment; just you, the dog, and some meaty treats to use as rewards. Once the dog starts to understand what you want in the first room, move on to the next room, then another. I’ll offer additional tips 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: – When teaching any behavior, you do not add a visual or verbal cue until the dog freely offers the behavior in many places. A credentialed, fear-free, pain-free, force-free trainer can help coach you on how and when to add the cues. No training sessions for your dog should last longer than 5 minutes. It’s also better to quit on a high note rather than push too far and take a gigantic step backward. After your dog understands what you are teaching them in several rooms in your home with all family members involved, start practicing in several areas outside on your property that also have very few distractions. Remember, training must ALWAYS be fun for the dog and the family members who are training them. You can find more tips in my article and videos in my post Why Your Pet Wants You to Read Beyond Belly Rubs at the ForceFreePets dot com blog.
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
There are links to three short videos and an article where you can learn more about why I want you to read Beyond Belly Rubs at https://forcefreepets.com/readbeyondbellyrubs/
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://forcefreepets.com/blog/
Green Acres Kennel Shop Blog – https://www.greenacreskennel.com/blog/
