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Darris Cooper

@darris_cooper

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🌎CPDT-KA, FFCP 🐾|Dog Dad|🐕Pet Lifestyle Expert|Correspondent| AnimalTrainer & Advocate|🎥ABC's The American Rescue Dog Show, Daily Buzz, Forbes, & more

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Puppy love is everything!

Photo Credit: John Salangsang
Styled by: Connie Perez
@hollywoodcreativealliance
@annenbergpetspace
@petcolove

#astraawards #puppies #redcarpet #host #dogtrainer #Lovey #Award #puppiesofinstagram #petlifestyle #adoption taken in Hollywood, California by @darris_cooper

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2 years ago

Happiness is a warm puppy. 💜🐾

#puppylove #adoption #puppiesofinstagram #NYC #petlifestyle taken in New York, New York by @darris_cooper

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2 years ago

"Treats from the Heavens⬆️🪂" Zakai and I having some fun with distance, duration along with the addition of something new, "elevation"! Love you baby bear! 🛫

#PositiveReinforcement #dogtraining #distance #duration #elevation #cues #voluntary #choice #mixitup #babyPolarBear #dogsofinstagram #goldenretriever by @darris_cooper

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5 years ago

A: Cued “go-around” behavior? Or B: wild pool Zoomies? 🤔🏝️💃🌺

#dogdadlife #dogs by @darris_cooper

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a month ago

“Help is on the way, dear!” 🧹

#MrsDoubtfireMusical #MusicalTheatre by @darris_cooper

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a month ago

Life moves fast. I’m learning I don’t always have to.📚🐾

#dogdad #petlifestyle #books #sundayvibes #books by @darris_cooper

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a month ago

The world lost Steve Irwin 20 years ago, and I’ll never forget where I was. I was working in news at the time, getting ready for the 10 p.m. show. The team was scrambling for confirmation. Two minutes before the show open..a producer ran in and said, “Run it. It’s confirmed.” I was a wreck in that control room..but I had to keep it together. I just didn’t want to believe it.

Growing up, I would run home after school to watch The Crocodile Hunter…and yes, I recorded as many episodes as possible on VHS. Twenty years later, Steve’s passion lives on through the countless people he inspired to love, respect, and protect our natural world. 🌎💚

Video Credit: Robert Irwin Photography

#conservation #wildlifewarriors #planetearth by @darris_cooper

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a month ago

During a session with my Kalea🐾🌺 today, I was working on a new behavior that we taught our Zakai🪽. For those of you who are trainers, teachers, parents, coaches…you know getting that “aha” moment is something special…..when your learner “get’s it”. All that to say...it got me thinking about not only the end goal in mind, rather how a change in behavior makes someone truly feel. (animal or human)

Throughout my career behavior change has always been at the center of the work. I’ve said this before, but the longer you’re in it, the more you see the parallels everywhere…with family, friends, coworkers, and teams.

Even the work I’ve done in media, whether it’s a news segment, magazine articles, or even a TV show…typically it has an underlying message with the goal of influencing human behavior in some way. Influence can be sparked even from afar. For example, your posts on social carry weight...whether you have 2 followers or 2million..being mindful of the words we type & how they can influence in both positive & or negative is key..in my book.

Behavior change, regardless of species, can be stressful. Full stop. Even small changes can create hesitation…not because the change is bad, but because what’s familiar often feels safer. In animal training, we understand that. We create clarity, reinforce progress, adjust when needed…and recognize that resistance is often information…NOT defiance.

Yet with people, we sometimes forget all of that. If you’re asking someone to change their behavior, ask yourself..Have I simply communicated the change…OR have I created the conditions that make change possible?

In short asking or demanding change is easy. Creating clarity, confidence..and safety around it is the real work.

Ok I’ll get off my Ted Talk soap box now. 🙂🧼 📦🤙

#PositiveReinforcement #BehaviorChange #HumanAnimalBond by @darris_cooper

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2 months ago

Where culture is celebrated, community grows. Always grateful for moments that bring people all together. Fun day.🌴

#IslandCulture #Community #LiberationDay #Islandstyle by @darris_cooper

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3 months ago

Curiosity is the bridge to connection…whether it’s with people or animals. 🦜

#NatureLovers #animalencounters #birdsofinstagram #newfriend by @darris_cooper

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3 months ago

This week, I had the opportunity to launch an exciting new project, the Zoom Room Social Live 🎙️🐾🎬. This is a new interactive podcast experience created exclusively for the Zoom Room network nationwide.

For our inaugural episode, I had the privilege of reconnecting with the incredible @victoriastilwell to talk training, behavior, our industry and the people behind the dogs we all love.

Here’s our show open. Huge thanks to Vik for helping us bring our inaugural episode to life!

#ZRSL #victoriastillwell #zoomroomdogtraining #positivereinforcementdogtraining #dogsofinstagram by @darris_cooper

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3 months ago

I had the chance to catch a shark feeding session recently, and as a trainer, I couldn’t help but watch the training just as much as the feeding.

One of the coolest parts was seeing the sharks using target recognition, allowing their care team to guide them to specific feeding locations. That training isn’t just for show, it helps keep both the animals and care teams safe, ensures each shark gets the right amount of food, and even supports routine veterinary care while keeping stress levels down.

One of my favorite things about training is that the principles don’t change. Whether you’re working with a shark or a dog, it’s all about clear communication, planning, consistency, and the thoughtful use of positive reinforcement.

Always cool to see those same concepts in action with such incredible animals. 🦈

#AnimalCare #Animaltraining #sharks #positiverienforcement by @darris_cooper

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3 months ago