The Successful Mix, LLC

About Me

Hello! I'm Karen Mast, owner of The Successful Mix. Thank you for taking the time to learn more about me and my work.

My lifelong love of animals began in childhood. At age five, my family adopted our first kitten, Patches, and by age nine I had brought home my first puppy, Pam, from a shelter. Over the years, our household also included gerbils, bunnies, and guinea pigs. As a teenager, I began horseback riding lessons, which fueled a deep appreciation for learning from animals of all kinds.

In my early 20s, I adopted a kitten named Steffi, who was with me through many milestones--moving away from home, starting a new life in another state, getting married, and welcoming more pets into the family. During this time of transition, I acquired a horse, Max, who I competed in hunt seat with and who also moved with me from Pennsylvania to Virginia, eventually to my own farmette in Virginia where Max was joined by the acquisition of another Thoroughbred, Lady and a pony, Fire.

In 1993, my husband and I adopted two adult dogs and immediately enrolled in training classes. We felt it was important to learn from professionals. Since the adoption of these first two dogs and a household frequently filled with three or four of our own dogs in future years plus adding some foster pets into the mix I've had dogs in my home who have struggled with aggression, anxiety, or fear. My career path has been shaped by helping these dogs to overcome their behavioral challenges using positive reinforcement training. I even use clicker training to communicate with and train my own cats and pets I've fostered! My years of fostering pets for the local SPCA and rescue groups taught me how to integrate a wide variety of animals into my home, lessons I bring forward when helping clients.

Driven by a passion for continuing education, I've enrolled in courses, attended conferences, seminars, training camps, and webinars routinely since 1998, learning from many of the top names in animal behavior and positive reinforcement training. In 2001, I founded The Successful Mix, where I've been fortunate to work with and improve the lives of hundreds of clients and their dogs.

Along the way, I've earned professional certifications through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CPDT) by passing written exams and submitting videos for skills assessments. The CCPDT is the only independent, standardized certification for dog training professionals. Maintaining certification requires that I earn a minimum of approved continuing education credits every three years. I always exceed the minimum by a generous number of credits. I also became a Certified Control Unleashed® Instructor through mentorship and video submissions.

My Philosophy

I believe training is not a luxury--it's key to a successful partnership between you and your pet.

As Ken Ramirez writes in The Eye of the Trainer:
"Training is not a luxury. Training should be a key component of any good animal-care program. Behavior management, which includes training and enrichment, should be a cornerstone of good animal care."

For me, training is about more than teaching skills. It's about creating successful relationships between people and their pets. When dogs and their guardians can communicate effectively, life at home becomes more harmonious, joyful, and successful.

I love guiding my clients toward this harmony by helping them understand not just what to do, but how to do it thoughtfully, kindly and effectively. Training allows both humans and dogs to express their needs in a polite, respectful way--strengthening their bond and leading to a more satisfying and successful life together.

Pebbles, my dog with a history of leash reactivity lunging and barking directed towards other dogs competes in dog agility at the national level	Tricks are a great way to mentally and physically engage dogs. See examples from my dogs, Whisper and Dash	Tricks are a great way to mentally and physically engage with my kitty, Bob

Chicken Camp, Summer, 2013 for 3 weeks To improve skills of observation, timing and reinforcement delivery A camp led by Bob Bailey. Bob is a well-known pioneer in the field of operant conditioning with close ties to B.F. Skinner	Dog and Dogs and Dogs and Cat Learning how to get along	Working with other species, my horse, Lady, a targeting behavior - nose touch to frisbee

	The Successful Mix, LLC Pet Behavioral Counseling and Dog Training Private behavioral counseling personalized to meet the needs of you and your pet. Appointments made in Rockingham County: Keezletown facility, Virginia (near Harrisonburg). Email: thesuccessfulmixllc@yahoo.com

About Me Hello! I'm Karen Mast, owner of The Successful Mix. Thank you for taking the time to learn more about me and my work. My lifelong love of animals began in childhood. At age five, my family adopted our first kitten, Patches, and by age nine I had brought home my first puppy, Pam, from a shelter. Over the years, our household also included gerbils, bunnies, and guinea pigs. As a teenager, I began horseback riding lessons, which fueled a deep appreciation for learning from animals of all kinds. In my early 20s, I adopted a kitten named Steffi, who was with me through many milestones--moving away from home, starting a new life in another state, getting married, and welcoming more pets into the family. During this time of transition, I acquired a horse, Max, who I competed in hunt seat with and who also moved with me from Pennsylvania to Virginia, eventually to my own farmette in Virginia where Max was joined by the acquisition of another Thoroughbred, Lady and a pony, Fire. In 1993, my husband and I adopted two adult dogs and immediately enrolled in training classes. We felt it was important to learn from professionals. Since the adoption of these first two dogs and a household frequently filled with three or four of our own dogs in future years plus adding some foster pets into the mix I've had dogs in my home who have struggled with aggression, anxiety, or fear. My career path has been shaped by helping these dogs to overcome their behavioral challenges using positive reinforcement training. I even use clicker training to communicate with and train my own cats and pets I've fostered! My years of fostering pets for the local SPCA and rescue groups taught me how to integrate a wide variety of animals into my home, lessons I bring forward when helping clients. Driven by a passion for continuing education, I've enrolled in courses, attended conferences, seminars, training camps, and webinars routinely since 1998, learning from many of the top names in animal behavior and positive reinforcement training. In 2001, I founded The Successful Mix, where I've been fortunate to work with and improve the lives of hundreds of clients and their dogs. Along the way, I've earned professional certifications through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CPDT) by passing written exams and submitting videos for skills assessments. The CCPDT is the only independent, standardized certification for dog training professionals. Maintaining certification requires that I earn a minimum of approved continuing education credits every three years. I always exceed the minimum by a generous number of credits. I also became a Certified Control Unleashed® Instructor through mentorship and video submissions. My Philosophy I believe training is not a luxury--it's key to a successful partnership between you and your pet. As Ken Ramirez writes in The Eye of the Trainer: "Training is not a luxury. Training should be a key component of any good animal-care program. Behavior management, which includes training and enrichment, should be a cornerstone of good animal care." For me, training is about more than teaching skills. It's about creating successful relationships between people and their pets. When dogs and their guardians can communicate effectively, life at home becomes more harmonious, joyful, and successful. I love guiding my clients toward this harmony by helping them understand not just what to do, but how to do it thoughtfully, kindly and effectively. Training allows both humans and dogs to express their needs in a polite, respectful way--strengthening their bond and leading to a more satisfying and successful life together.
Professional Memberships and Certifications: Member of Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) Certified Professional Dog Trainer - Knowledge and Skills Assessed (CPDT-KSA) Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CPDT) TAGteach Level 1 Certification TAGteach International Member of Mid-Atlantic Association of Positive Professional Pet Trainers (MAAPPPT) now renamed to Animal Positive Coalition (APC) Certified Control Unleashed Instructor (CCUI) Control Unleashed® protocols by Leslie McDevitt Certificate of Completion in Good Standing, course: Living & Learning with Animals Behavior Works LLA with Dr. Susan Friedman, Ph.D.
Email me today to start your dog's successful training journey!


Click here to see the pets who I share my life with. The stories of my pets that I've learned from. The stories that may mirror YOUR STORY. I CAN HELP!

Experienced with both dogs and cats in a multi-pet household since childhood.		Steffi, my feline companion for 19.5 years, when he was a kitten, Me, pre-teen, playing tug with my dog Pam Steffi and Pam laying on the couch with Pam, the Collie/Spaniel/BeagleX I grew up with. Pam was adopted from Animal Friends in Pittsburgh, PA in 1971


		Karen advocates positive reinforcement, operant and classical conditioning training techniques. Methods that build up your pet's self-confidence. Methods that develop a sense of teamwork between the pet and pet owner. NO pushing and pulling. NO collar jerking. Errorless-Learning training set ups. Exercises designed to eliminate the use of no reward markers.

Email me today to start your dog's successful training journey!

Programs and conferences attended for continuing education.

The pets who I learn from and share my life with.

The Successful Mix, LLC

Pet Behavioral Counseling and Dog Training