Canine Karma

06/12/2023

Welcome to Eden Zook LLC! Check out the first addition of our newsletter and subscribe today!- https://mailchi.mp/803b190a40cd/welcome-to-eden-zook-llc

06/05/2023

** PLEASE NOTE: As June 1st 2023 Canine Karma LLC is permanently CLOSED. If you have a canine companion who is struggling with fear, reactivity, anxiety, or aggression please visit www.edenzook.com and I would be more than happy to assist you. If you would like to be on my mailing list for all the animal related services I now offer through Eden Zook LLC; send an email to [email protected] with the subject line "add to mailing list". I am truly filled with gratitude for the incredible community that has supported Canine Karma and me for the last 8 years. **

Here is my new business page: www.facebook.com/edenzook ; please feel free to "like" and "follow" for news and services 🐾😊

05/01/2023

The End of an Era...

Hey all, it's Eden!

I have written and re-written this message for what seems likes a thousand times; trying to find the "right" words. No matter how I say it; this is very bittersweet. On June 1st of this year; Canine Karma LLC will be officially closing it's doors. The decision to close the business was a tough one. Due to personal health reasons along with going back to my roots with homeless animals; it has come time for the next chapter in my professional life.

I will continue to help animals and humans heal their relationships with one another; but using a more holistic approach in my "new-er" business Eden Zook LLC ( http://www.edenzook.com or www.facebook.com/edenzook); more services will be added to the website this week). This also means that I, personally, will continue to offer private dog training/ behavior modification services for dogs dealing with aggression, fear, and reactivity; but on a very limited basis after June first via Eden Zook LLC. Sara Placy will be pursuing a career in Veterinary Rehab and Becky Woodworth will be furthering her training career through No Monkey Business Dog Training in Concord. I wish them nothing but the very best in their future endeavors. These two ladies have been such a great addition to the Canine Karma Family these past 8 years.

If you are currently using any of our private training services to help with your canine companion(s) please note we intend to complete any training/pre-paid packages in the coming month. So please reach out to us to schedule those sessions. If you foresee needing further assistance, please reach out to me (Eden) directly at [email protected] and I will be happy to either schedule something or recommend you to another trainer/behavior specialist in the field.

Now, what I really; REALLY want to talk about.... YOU GUYS! I truly can't find the words to express how grateful I am for all your trust, kindness, compassion, and of course business over the past 8 years. It is because of the amazing clients we have that we are able to be such an incredibly successful dog training business. You and your dogs have taught me so much on this journey. Many of you have become more like friends and family to me. Knowing that you have trusted us with your most beloved family members (both two and four legged) is an honor I cannot put into words. Thank you, from the bottom or my heart for allowing me the privilege of helping humans and dogs better understand each other and live in harmony. I will be forever filled with gratitude.

With love, light, and thanks,
Eden Zook 🐾♥️

04/19/2023

04/16/2023

🎓🎓🎓🎓 Congratulations to our latest Puppy and Manners graduates!
Diego ❤️ Baxter ❤️ Tessa❤️ and Charlie ❤️

04/16/2023

It's not always just about WHAT we use for reinforcement, sometimes HOW we give that reinforcement can make a big impact too!

We know that reinforcement based training is the most effective and psychology sound approach to training animals. But we often get stuck with delivering food reinforcement by hand! And for some dogs this can create conflict, perhaps because the dog is uncomfortable taking snacks from the hand, or the dog becomes too over aroused by treats and a little chompy about it. But also because we sometimes limit our options when we think of food reinforcement as having to be delivered by hand. So here are a few ways in which I will delivery food reinforcement for dogs that doesn't involve directly giving it to the dog myself. As a bonus! These methods of delivering reinforcement can be used with other animals, and are especially effective when it comes to working with extra large animals like horses!

04/10/2023

This can happen in a second. Fixation/hyper fixation is an escalation in awareness and if you have a reactive dog....usually there is barking, lunges, whining and "digging" in immediately after fixation.....and unfortunately that reaction can happen just seconds after a "locked on" gaze.

The good news is there are ALWAYS "tells" that your dog has gone from looking to hyper fixation.

If you have a reactive dog, learning all those subtle and not so subtle tells are SO very important. You need to start to read these changes in posture and behaviour so you can act.

Ears change, softness in the body changes, mouths often "slam" closed and there may be a leaning in with a long lowered neck.

Not all dogs show all these changes and the graphic is a generalisation...but it lists many common signs that your dog has become aware of a trigger.

Your dogs coat may never be raised when they see a trigger, they may have a shorter, curlier coat.
There may not even be any changes in the tail for some breeds as they may have little to none or a tightly curled tail.

BUT....there WILL be signs that your dog has just changed from looking to fixating.
A good way to get a better idea of the changes is to have someone film you and your dog when you are nearing a trigger for your dog.....whether that be a cyclist, person, dog or cat. Have someone film it for you.

Watch the video and look at what happens in a split second or seconds leading up to fixation...
Leash tension.
Lowering neck.
Straining forward.
Mouth shutting.
Tail tucking or in a high flagging position.

This is ALL information you can use to lessen reactions and prepare an action plan for when you see those tell tale signs.

Reactivity is a beast.
It is complex and very individual....but if you learn all the signs your dog does give you.....you are on your way to making a real and positive change for you and your dog.

All the best on your reactive journey.

04/09/2023

❤️😆🐾

03/31/2023

EVERY meal! It is fun, he has to think, and he has to use his body, plus the toy slows down his eating. It doesn’t take long though, because HENRY is brilliant🤓😂🐾

03/29/2023

Nova did a great job today! She’s so freaking sweet and smart!

03/29/2023

Take time to think of everything you love about your dog! Focus on the positive experiences. It makes all your trying experiences worth it. ❤️🐾

Take An Inventory.

It is easy to focus on the problematic behaviors and things you and your dog need to work on but today take an inventory of what is working.

✍️Really. It's time to take notes. Grab a pen and paper or your phone or laptop.

🐕List behaviors that you enjoy that your dog does.
🐕Note things you enjoy or find easy, funny, likeable that your dog does.

👍And last but not least take an inventory of what you have done.
👏What management have you put in place that you like. Have you implemented treat jars, gates, a fenced yard, window film, enrichment toys, Sniff spots or other management that has made you and your dog's lives better?
👏What about training that you have been practicing? What's working? Include things that you did a year or years ago that you don't even think about now.

⭐Bonus game! ⭐
Every time you notice your dog doing one of those behaviors you like or find yourself implementing any of those good management strategies give your dog a treat.

03/27/2023

The other day Johnny and I had an amazing "Celebration of Life" photo shoot at the beach. I'm so grateful to for these beautiful memories💜. I truly can't thank you enough. These are a few "teaser" photos Mandy sent along that night. Such a great way to honor your beloved animal in their twilight years.🐾

03/26/2023

I just wanted to thank you all from the bottom of my heart; for all the calls, texts, emails, comments and support over the last few days. Both Johnny and I are greatful beyond words. ❤️ It's an incredible feeling to have this massive community behind you, so thank you 🙏

As you can see our patient is comfortably resting with a full belly of his new special food. Tomorrow we have a very special day trip; just the two of us. "Cherish the moment" as he says.🐾💜

03/23/2023

I know so many of you have known, loved, or been "touched" somehow by Johnny (my dog)over the years. If you have/had a reactive dog he's likely been a part of their healing process. I would love nothing more than to hear your stories of how you know my boy, or what you'll always remember about him.

It would do his momma's heart some good❤️. Because, this morning I got some rough news. I've been waiting to post about it, hoping I could pull myself together enough to write something eloquent. But here's the thing....this hurts. This hurts my heart bad. It's raw, it's overwhelming, and eloquent writing is just not reality.

Today I found out my soul dog, Johnny, is dying of stomach cancer. To say I'm devastated is an understatement. I love all "my" animals. But this guy...THIS guy is my everything.

This is messy, heavy, and heartbreaking. But, I know Johnny will lead the way through this; just as he's lead me through the last 11 years. It's like we share the same soul at times. There is nothing more on this earth more "connected" to me than this incredible dog. And I know you guys know what I'm talking about.

I love you Johnny Rotten, with every ounce of my being. I will cherish all our memories and am grateful to have the opportunity to make a few more.💜🐾

03/22/2023

Yes! You don’t need food on you all the time, but develop a relationship where you’re dog has the expectation that they will be paid in the future. Read Helen St. Pierre’s entire post below- it’s great information!

I still feel confused at times as to why there is still such a pushback to using food to train your dog.
“When will I not have to use it anymore?”
“Will I always have to have food on me?”
“Won’t he then become obsessed with all food?”
“I want him to do it because he loves me, not because I have food”
“Using food is cheating”
“Using food means you’re bribing not training”
“Using food will make my dog fat”
“I never had to use food with my last dog.”

These are all just some of the insane things I’ve heard and still hear. And it makes me crazy because I can’t imagine saying these things to my employees.
“When will I not have to pay you anymore?”
“If I pay you are you going to just become obsessed with money?”
“I really want you to work for me because you love me, not because I pay you”

Food is a tool. It is a TOOL. And just like any tool it can be used well or used poorly, but it’s one of the only tools in dog training that I hear more myths about than any other. And that’s unfortunate because when used properly it does so many good things -

Food is a primary reinforcer and for most dogs it’s the most valuable thing they can get. This makes it enormously powerful when trying to teach them how to do something new and/or complicated. That doesn’t mean they don’t appreciate a pet on the head, but they’d rather have the food and there’s NOTHING wrong with that. Just like you’d rather be paid in dollars rather than chocolate bars.

Food is fast. It’s easy to deliver, portable, and also variable in value (kibble vs cheese) so it’s very flexible also depending on your level and stage of training.

Food can help create powerful positive associations for dogs as well as counter condition negative associations they already have because of its value to them. Using food in the presence of other dogs, people and environments helps your dog have a positive association with them and this in and of itself is incredibly powerful. That’s something I don’t think we consider nearly enough when training our dogs even when they’ve past the learning phase.

Food does not have to make your dog a beggar, fat, or totally dependent on it. The context in which you deliver it, the way you ration out the food - treats vs meals and healthy choices - and also the way you cue the dog when training all help alleviate these issues.

I pay my dogs regularly and have no shame in that. As they get better at skills I ask them to work harder or longer for the pay just like as adults we have to work a full week or two before we get our paychecks. I use higher value for harder things - just like you like to get paid time and a half when you work Christmas, and lower value for easy stuff. I watch to make sure my dogs hope for the reward but don’t expect it and don’t take it personally when they’d rather come back to me for cheese instead of a pet. I focus on the fact that they came back.

Getting paid at work is a big reinforcer for us but it’s also not the only reason we go is it? The relationships you have with your coworkers, the pride you have in your job etc are all intricate parts of your motivation, but that takes TIME to build, and at first it’s usually just for the pay. Same with training your dog. At first, yes, it’s for the food, but as you continue and do it right it becomes more about the teamwork, the fun and the relationship, not just the pay. And THAT’S what I wish more people understood. Over time your dog will work often without food for you because he truly enjoys it now, and he’s been reinforced by the relationship and countless reinforcements over time. But you have to put that time and patience in first to get there. And it’s worth it. I promise.
-Helen St. Pierre

03/12/2023

Maisel was showing off her stellar mat targeting skills today. Awesome puppy! 💜🐾

03/12/2023

Way to go!!
🎓🎓🎓🎓🐾❤️🐾We had Skipper,Belle, Jada, Maisel and Rip in Manners 1. Here are our two youngest, Maisel and Rip, in our last class. Congratulations!!🎉🎉

03/11/2023

Hey all!

Just a quick update:
Please be patient with email/phone/text communication over the next several days. Our household has been hit hard with Covid. So please bare with me as it's kinda kickin' my a$$ 🙏🐾

03/08/2023

🐾🐾🐾Dogs on the Move🐾🐾🐾

Stratham Hill Park, Sunday, March 12, 2-3pm

Do you want more training with your dog in “real life” scenarios? We will walk as a group, and along the way we will be working on real-life handling skills and proofing our manners cues in a wide variety of settings.

Email: [email protected]
to reserve your spot!

$25/dog, no reactive dogs please.

03/05/2023

Welcome Mia to the Zook tribe !🐾❤️

More on this little peanut tomorrow....stay tuned!

03/04/2023

😆

03/04/2023

We're happy to be among the area's best dog trainers, focusing on modern, scientifically proven, positive methods of training.
https://www.sniffspot.com/blog/dog-trainers/contest?utm_source=trainer_contest
Thank you! 💜

03/03/2023

🙏

If you see a person with a reactive dog help them out.
Cross the street or give them space.

If you've never had a leash reactive dog, congrats!
All breeds, all sizes and all age dogs can be leash reactive. These are not "bad dogs" or "untrained" dogs. They are simply dogs with some big feelings.
They may be scared of your dog, they may feel frustrated by their leash, they may be in pain, they may have a negative experience with seeing other dogs while out on leash.
These dogs need more space.
Help out by giving some space, stop throwing a ball until you are further away and if you are in a park or other public space where leashes are required, leash your dog.

Remember, dogs that have big feelings on their leash do not need punishment, no matter the breed or size.
They need to feel safe with the person on the other end of the leash and the people and dogs around them.

02/28/2023

🐾🐾🐾Dogs on the Move🐾🐾🐾

Downtown Exeter this Sunday, March 5th, 2-3pm

Do you want more training with your dog in “real life” scenarios? Along the way we will be working on real-life handling skills and proofing our manners cues in a wide variety of settings.

Email [email protected] to reserve your spot!

$25/dog, no reactive dogs please.