Words, Woofs & Meows

A monthly look at animal and dog issues, including best owner practices, behavior and much more!
Recent Column Posts (1 - 13) Additional Posts (14 - 56)
Things I Wish I Had Known Before I Started Training Dogs
By Don Hanson, ACCBC, ... - Feb 01Last month, I described how in 1991 I had been told to use a choke collar to train our dog Gus and how that damaged our relationship. I defined ...
If You Love Dogs or Work with Those Who Love Dogs, You Need to Read This Book!
By Don Hanson, ACCBC, ... - Nov 30What we know about the science of canine behavior and dog training is continually evolving. As such, every year I like to select a new book to ...
Barking - How Do I Get My Dog to Stop?
By Don Hanson, ACCBC, ... - Oct 01Barking is very normal behavior for any dog, and to expect a dog to be silent is an unrealistic expectation. It is one of many forms of vocalizatio...
Help! My Dog Gets Distracted (And Sometimes Wild and Crazy!!!) in Public
By Don Hanson, ACCBC, ... - Aug 01When we put our dogs into new situations, they often divert their attention away from us and toward anything and everything but us. Sometimes they ...
Unreasonable Expectations and Misleading Advertising
By Don Hanson, ACCBC, ... - Jun 01When we bring a new dog into our home, things do not always work out the way we want. I find that there are two common reasons this occurs; we ...
Helping Your Dog Thrive
By Don Hanson, ACCBC, ... - Apr 01In the past three months, we have examined the first three of Brambell's Five Freedoms; Freedom from Hunger and Thirst, Freedom from Discomfort, ...
Helping Your Dog Thrive
By Don Hanson, ACCBC, ... - Feb 01Last month I introduced you to Brambell's Five Freedoms and how they provide a valuable reference point for assessing a dog's quality of life. I ...
Things I Wish I Had Known Before I Started Training Dogs
By Don Hanson, ACCBC, ... - Dec 28In September I wrote the 1st of a series of columns entitled “Things I Wish I Had Known Before I Started Training Dogs” [ FMI – ~ ] This month I ...
Celebrating the 1st Year of the Shock-Free Coalition
By Don Hanson, ACCBC, ... - Nov 01It was a year ago that I first wrote about the formation of the Shock-Free Coalition, an international initiative that “…believes that pets have ...
Things I Wish I Had Known Before I Started Training Dogs
By By Don Hanson, ACCBC, ... - Sep 01In the spring of 1991, we adopted a 12-week old Cairn Terrier named Gus. I had no knowledge of dog training, but a desire to learn. I started to ...
How Hemp-Derived Phytocannabinoid Nutraceuticals May Help Your Dog
By Don Hanson, ACCBC, ... - Jul 01Marijuana and hemp-based products are being promoted for medical reasons for dogs. Research indicates that phytocannabinoid nutraceuticals can be ...
Helping Your Dog Thrive
By Don Hanson, ACCBC, ... - May 01This is the last of a five-part series in which I have discussed Brambell's Five Freedoms and how they provide a valuable reference point for ...
Helping Your Dog Thrive
By Don Hanson, ACCBC, ... - Mar 01In the past two months, I have been addressing Brambell's Five Freedoms and how they provide a valuable reference point for assessing a dog's ...