Woof Meow Pet Tip for September 15, 2025 at Star 977 with Don Hanson – Dogs and Public Events

Woof Meow Pet Tip for September 15, 2025 at Star 977 with Don Hanson – Dogs and Public Events

< Updated 2025-09-15 >

< The link to this page – https://forcefreepets.com/wfmwtip-Dogs-PublicEvents/>

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 [9 lines]: – We often force our dogs into situations that they find very stressful by assuming they will enjoy everything we do. For example, I expect that some of you will love nothing better than a mass of people close to one another and all talking at the same time. Likewise, I know that a number of you prefer a quieter setting with just yourself and a few family members or friends. In my experience, most dogs fall in the latter category and find the presence of many unknown people, and their loud, unpredictable behavior very stressful if not extremely frightening. If you love your dog, you have the responsibility of keeping them out of these situations. After the break, I’ll explain how you can tell if your dog is stressed.

MIKE DOW: – For 30 years, Don has been owner and operator of Green Acres Kennel Shop, 1653 Union Street in Bangor, offering pet supplies, boarding, daycare, and grooming. Learn more at greenacreskennel.com. Don also offers education for pets and their people at forcefreepets.com.

DON [9 lines]: – If you see your dog barking and lunging at others at an event, that is a sure sign you should immediately take them home. Your dog will be more comfortable, and you don’t need to worry about anyone getting bitten. However, the dog that is sitting or standing totally still, mouth closed, frozen in place, is equally terrified and begging you to take them home. I lost my taste for attending events like these many years ago because I saw so many dogs crying out for help, and when I tried to help their people understand this, the people tried to bite my head off. If your dog, just like a toddler, is uncomfortable in a situation, your first responsibility is to the toddler or dog. To learn more about this topic, please check out my blog at ForceFreePets.com under the heading Mental Health.

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 written by others that I believe my subscribers will find of interest. 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, share the link. – Don

ForceFreePets Blog – https://forcefreepets.com/blog/

Green Acres Kennel Shop Blog – https://www.greenacreskennel.com/blog/