Force Free Pets

16/11/2024

PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD – Ticks and tick-borne diseases are becoming more of an issue for people and their pets in Maine. In this article, Don discusses his family's personal experiences with these diseases and summarizes what you need to know about ticks in Maine, including the symptoms of these diseases and how you can keep yourself and your pet safe and healthy.

READ IT AT – https://forcefreepets.com/ticks-and-tick-borne-diseases-keeping-you-and-your-dog-healthy/

16/11/2024

PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD– Thank you to our friends at Mighty Dog Graphics for reminding us that our pets are sentient beings who can perceive or feel things.
In other words, inflicting physical or emotional trauma by using methods or tools that are intended to cause pain or fear is unnecessary and most certainly INHUMANE & CRUEL!

You can download “Sentient” at - https://scontent-bos5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/458470850_923459936480270_6402709358298601904_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=127cfc&_nc_ohc=cHi-Mxz0FWIQ7kNvgFKWpek&_nc_ht=scontent-bos5-1.xx&_nc_gid=Ab1RXcVCGM_O3X2It8W8e0h&oh=00_AYCUTSENQfwgDqdd_YFMoUZ1dcZL_AYWwnFqpk_Qm4YVCg&oe=66E4C1D4

15/11/2024

SHARE IF YOU AGREE - Starting your day with your dog is a better boost than coffee

&Don

11/11/2024

PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD – Pets and Their People is a FREE online publication for people with pets. The articles are written by the best pet professionals in the field and access is FREE. I recommend that all of my clients at Green Acres Kennel Shop and Force Free Pets subscribe. FMI - https://petsandtheirpeople.education/

People

08/11/2024

Green Acres Kennel Shop and ForceFreePets.com are two companies with one mission; to provide humane, ethical, and effective pet care and education based on science while prioritizing the needs and welfare of our client's pets.are two companies with one mission; to provide humane, ethical, and effective pet care and education based on science while prioritizing the needs and welfare of our client's pets.

08/11/2024

PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD – Moving to a new home, whether it’s across the state or across the country, is always exciting and challenging. Not only do we need to move our stuff, but we also need to get settled into a new community. In addition to finding new healthcare providers for the human members of our family, we also need to ensure that our pets will receive proper care in our new location. There is a shortage of veterinarians in most parts of the USA, so many veterinarians are NOT taking on new clients. I encourage everyone to establish a relationship with a local veterinarian soon after your move so your pet will have a veterinarian when needed. Do the same with other pet care professionals your pet may need, such as a kennel, daycare, groomer, trainer, pet sitter, or dog walker.

07/11/2024

PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD–If your dog trainer, or anyone, ever suggests you do something to your dog that you would NEVER do to a human toddler, FIND A NEW DOG TRAINER!

The use of pain, force, and fear, tools like shock, prong, and shock collars, as well as sq**rt bottles and shake cans, are inhumane, cruel, and unnecessary.

If you are unable to find a humane dog trainer, check out the trainer search at the Pet Professional Guild - https://www.petprofessionalguild.com/find-a-ppg-professional/

06/11/2024

Put your hand out... just let him sniff your hand ❌
She's nervy with anyone new, just crouch down ❌
Oh heck no....
I appreciate approaching a dog is also unique to each individual dog and the situation you are in at the time but please don't approach a dog you do not know with an outstretched hand or crouch down.
There are reasons hands and faces are the most bitten parts on a human.
Crouching down puts you in a position where you are unable to move quickly, and because you don't know this dog (and they do not know you).....you may need to move away very quickly.

A sniff of a hand is NOT permission from a dog to touch them.
It doesn't mean you are now friends and have built trust, it means they sniffed your hand which was thrust right in front of them.

Many dogs will very warily get closer and sniff an outstretched hand then immediately back off if they sense you are suddenly nervous around them, they register your respiration/heart rate has changed (some are aware your adrenaline has risen too).... and they may bite that same hand if they feel threatened enough.

Your hand is in very easy reach for them.
As is your face if you crouch down.....

🙂Unmarked graphics are available for $ 1.20 USD or $ 2 NZD each (approx), these are then able to be used off Facebook for client handouts, posters etc. Please visit ABC Dogs Patreon Shop for our collection of graphics.
Everyone is free to share these posts on social media, however off social media use is protected.
Screen shots are a violation of copyright.
Please respect that these graphics take time and effort to make . All graphics belong to ABC Dogs NZ and are under copyright.

06/11/2024

Animal sentience is an animal’s ability to experience positive and negative emotions such as joy, pleasure, pain, fear and distress.

06/11/2024

06/11/2024

WHEN SECONDS COUNT

This post is not advocating that dogs meet every other dog, but about how to go about it, if and when it does happen, in a safer way.

The 3 second rule for dogs meeting each other is used as a guideline to help foster positive introductions, prevent either dog from feeling overwhelmed or trapped and prevent any potential reactivity and stress.

A short 3 second introduction is enough time to provide important information to both dogs.

Enough information for dogs to know – “are you a threat?”, “do I like you?”, “do I want to learn more about you?”, “do I really dislike you?”, “do I need you to go away?” etc. Both dogs may not feel the same way – one may not be happy to engage while the other may want to.

All interactions should ideally happen like this, not just initially. Just like us, dogs can have off days – things like pain, trigger stacking, lack of sleep or a host of other reasons can influence whether a dog wants to interact or not.

There are countless times I have witnessed meetings or introductions between dogs that have gone on just a few seconds too long and have not ended well. This can have long lasting effects on future behaviour when meeting other dogs.

Understanding body language is critically important. If we are going to share our lives with another species, protect them, advocate for them and help them feel safe, then we need to understand and respect their language.

The examples in this post of red and green flags are just a few general ones to look out for – there are many more and these will differ depending on the individual dog, context and circumstances.

Here are some resources and links to learn more about body language -
On Talking Terms With Dogs - Calming Signals, 2nd Edition by Turid Rugaas
https://www.dogwise.com/on-talking-terms-with-dogs-calming-signals-2nd-edition/?srsltid=AfmBOoqj8ruQJx5bCP7qWb03TqCyAGfmAvCj988UuWk_L1_UHbYcZsES

The Veterinary Behaviour Centre
https://www.heska.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/TVBC-Canine-Dog-Body-Language-handout.pdf

Make sure those first 3 seconds count – they can make all the difference.

05/11/2024

Your friends at Green Acres Kennel Shop and Force Free Pets are ready to help you and your dog become best friends for life.

30/10/2024

PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD – If your pet care professional isn't talking about; Choice, Communication, Compassion, Consent, Emotions, Empathy, Partnership, Respect, and Trust; you NEED a NEW pet care professional. Before training a dog, you must have a relationship based on compassion, empathy, and respect. To achieve that, you must be able to understand your dog's needs, emotions, and how they communicate. Having the ability to make choices and to give consent is essential to the mental health of every living thing. We can develop a lifelong partnership with our dog only after we understand all these things.

30/10/2024

ForceFreePets.com and Green Acres Kennel Shop are two companies with one mission; to provide humane, ethical, and effective pet care and education based on science while prioritizing the needs and welfare of our client's pets.

29/10/2024

PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD– Halloween can be a scary and unsafe time for our pets. This blog post from Don Hansonat Green Acres Kennel Shop and Force Free Pets offers tips to keep you and your pets safe and happy during this crazy holiday.

FMI –

Halloween can be a scary and unsafe time for our pets. This post offers tips to keep you and your pets safe and happy during this crazy holiday.

29/10/2024

Boomer Hanson and I got home last night, and he's doing well this morning. He is experiencing a bout of gastroenteritis of unknown origin. Thank you for your thoughts and positive energy.

Thank you to PetMedic Urgent Care Vet Clinic - Portland for their care yesterday.

My body is telling me I need a day off, so home, but not doing much today.

28/10/2024

With Shock-Free Coalition – I just got recognized as one of their top fans! 🎉