BANGOR - Green Acres Kennel Shop will be hosting the first Maine screening of the new documentary “Tough Love: A Meditation on Dominance and Dogs” on Saturday, Feb. 9 at 2 p.m. Seating is limited, so please pre-register by calling 945-6841.

It’s a commonly accepted idea that dogs are “man’s best friend.” We give them a special place in our lives and they are, in turn, loyal companions. At the same time, many modern dog owners also believe that they are meant to establish themselves as the “alpha dog” in relation to their pets. This is a status supposedly achieved through attitudes and acts of domination, varying by emphasis on physical restraint and disciplinary “correction.”

For Maine native John O’Hurley, Thanksgiving would not be the same without the company of dozens of dogs, their handlers and upwards of 25 million people welcoming them into their homes.

Best known for his portrayal of “Seinfeld’s” J. Peterman, a fictionalized version of the real life fashion and accessory catalog magnate, O’Hurley will preside over his 11th consecutive “National Dog Show” telecast on Thanksgiving day beginning at 12 noon on NBC.

New wearable pressure wrap can help storm phobic pooches

BANGOR - Thunderstorms can be a pet owner's worst nightmare, and this time of year it's almost impossible to get away from them.

"You may have some dogs that hide behind a chair or under a bed. Some dogs may bolt out of any opening, even a window, breaking the glass. Then you can have the real odd dogs, like our Gus, who growled, barked and snarled, wanting to get to whatever it was [making the noise] and tear it apart," explained Don Hanson, owner of Green Acres Kennel Shop in Bangor.

Fortunately, there's now a new tool available locally to help ease the anxiety of pooches who fear thunderstorms.

Dog owners unite for weekly walks in Bangor area

BREWER - We all know exercise is good for us and our four-legged friends. So a handful of area residents that have formed the group Bangor Area Boston Terriers, or BABT, are making walking together a part of their weekly routine.

"Our leader Claire started the group because she was alone with her two Boston Terriers and she wanted to meet new people and get her dogs together with other terriers," BABT group member Lisa Andersen explained. "She actually met her husband through her terriers. He was looking for a dog, thought her dogs looked interesting and so he got her phone number and they eventually got married."

The BABT group has been meeting at the Spring Street park in Brewer on Saturdays where they set out on a stroll with other dog walkers complete with leash, water, doggy treats and waste bags in hand.

Dogs have always been dubbed "man's best friend," but that old adage should be updated to "right-hand man" when you're talking about service dogs. So many well-trained service dogs are allowing disabled Mainers to live on their own by being able to open and close doors, fetch a telephone or even help their owners get back on their feet should they fall.