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The Successful Mix, LLCPet Behavioral Counseling and Dog TrainingPrivate behavioral counseling personalized to meet the needs of you and your pet.
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My Pets |
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See some of my story through the pets I've shared my life with in these pictures below. |
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Dash - adopted as a puppy in 2014 from a VA rescue group. The first day in my home at 9 weeks of age he attacked my one year old dog, Ricki. Dash lunged forward with a growl and grabbed the fur around her neck. I had to pull him off her. The rescue group told me in their presence he acted like a "normal" puppy. Yes, I'm gullible sometimes too. I kept training him thinking I could "fix" him and that my eyes deceived me. The rescue group led by people I was told were experienced trainers convinced me he had great potential for agility competition. I trained. Dash and I started to compete. He qualified often, obtained titles, we competed at the Masters level. Despite all the work I put into training and behavior modification, Dash became too dangerous with the high arousal levels at competitions. I pulled him from trials for two years and worked on teaching him skills to improve his focus with an emphasis on teaching behaviors associated with the emotions of being happy and relaxed. I worked on his retrieve skills and fun tricks to keep him physically and mentally stimulated which is very important for every dog. In 2021 we returned to competition. Dash safely and successfully competes now at one ring agility events where he cannot access other dogs during his runs off-leash. I'm proud to share that today we qualify frequently in competition. |
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Whisper is my fun trick dog! Whisper has a large repetoire of tricks including turning on light switches and cooperative care related behaviors such as offering each side of her mouth for dental care. Whisper also enjoys accompanying me on shopping trips to Petsmart, Tractor Supply and Lowes! |
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Candle, a Border Collie, joined the family in Dec, 2023. She is first puppy I've ever adopted from a breeder. Candle's breeder is an old friend of mine from agility competition. I loved Candle's grandma, Arie! Candle's best talent is finding Jolly Balls in the yard and bringing them to you for play! Developing her other talents such as manners, agility and rally obedience are a continuous work in progress. |
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My Pets Waiting at the Bridge |
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 Yukon, the dog who started Karen's adventure into wanting to help dogs learn to learn, and improve their self-confidence. Yukon was adopted from the RH SPCA in 1994. He was a young adult shelter stray. |
 Aspen, our first Siberian Husky from a re-home situation. Because it was the traditional way to train, we tried corrections with her. She gave us a big thumbs down. When Karen discovered training for treat reinforcement, Aspen was eager to learn. The sparkle returned to her clear blue eyes. In the Mast household we definitely miss Aspen's sweet "woo woo". |
 Nakiska, mixed breed, adopted from RH SPCA in 2001. She earned a USDAA Starters Jumper title and successfully competed in the Advanced level Jumper class. Nakiska has passed away, but the lessons she has taught Karen about motivation live on. |
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 Kato was an adult shelter stray adopted in February, 2000. He was estimated to be 14-15 years old, maybe older, when he left us on May 12, 2013. Kato established himself for several years as the family couch-potato and household comedian. |
 In Jan, 2009 - Karen got Kato up off the couch - at approximately 11 yrs of age Kato earned his first qualifying leg in Dog Agility competition in April, 2009. Nobody can tell this dog he can't learn a new trick!!! Karen understands that there is no way she could have shaped this dog to be trial-ready so quickly without the use of the clicker in her all-positive training preparation. Karen has learned a lot from her agility instructors about giving the dog clear and timely information. Kato is TITLED now! as of the end of June, 2009 Kato earned his PI Standard Title. Kato earned another Jumpers leg in 2010, and competed in a Veteran's class in the Spring of 2011. He is pictured here happily doing some low jumps in his teen years to stay fit! |
 Tunnel fun in the backyard never gets old! Karen turned her focus to less physically demanding interactions with Kato keeping his mind sharp in his senior years with trick training and fun Nose Work exercises for her comic Siberian! |
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McKinley was a shy puppy. I used positive and motivational clicker training
techniques and successfully competed him in agility to give him a fun outlet for his nervous energy. McKinley has achieved
Masters and Champion "Bronze" level titles in USDAA and Elite level titles in NADAC dog agility.
He is now my steady barn chore buddy. McKinley continues to have fun doing his
form of agility. He is eager to run up a dogwalk ramp to walk back into the house where a step entry is
too difficult on a daily basis. McKinley, my heart dog, passed from this life on Nov 12, 2013 at age 15.5 years. |
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 Pebbles was an impulsive young dog who wanted to take on the world when she was adopted as an adolescent stray from the RH SPCA in Mar, 2003. Pebbles, an amazing dog, left this world with my heart on Nov 3, 2018 at 16 years. |
 Pebbles jumping at the 2012 NE Regional competition |
 Pebbles racing to the end of the dogwalk at the 2012 NE Regional competition |
 Pebbles' team with Barry Longenecker's Casey and Cliff Anderson's Zaney took Second Place in this very competitive event of 63 teams total. Pebbles placed 3rd individually for Team Events of the 22" jumping dogs. The 22" jump height class is one of the most competitive. There were more than 100 dogs competing on teams in the 22" jump height at this competition In 2013 the team took 3rd place at the Mid-Atlantic Regional event. |
 Shermy heading for the mat he's been clicker trained to target |
 Shermy on his mat. Waiting for his treat. |
 Shermy running into the carrier and waiting on his treats before his scheduled Veterinary appointment. |
 Shermy learning to slither through his weave poles. |
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Ricki-Ricochet - my rebound dog was a 5 month old pup sitting on stray hold at RH SPCA
when I met her just days before McKinley died. When I first met her she displayed a huge grin. Ricki is not the classic "trainer's dog", she's not the dog with natural focus that is a workaholic. Ricki was slow to mature and full of games of her own design. Ricki was easily excited by her environment and was quite enthusiastic in her greetings. Ricki always made us laugh throughout her life. Ricki taught me a lot. I found it useful to develop new approaches to her training that I'd not explored before. I found ways to communicate with and to motivate her that worked for her. I like to say there are no stubborn dogs, only dogs that are sometimes challenging for the human to motivate. At 10 years of age Ricki was diagnosed with cancer and passed away within a week after diagnosis. |
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The Horses |
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 Fire, Max and Lady coming at ya! |
 When he was younger, Max and I competed in huntseat. He celebrated his 33rd birthday on Apr 29, 2014. He passed away Feb, 2015. |
 Lady practicing her target training. A useful way to relax her after a tense veterinary procedure. |
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