Support Viv's Book to Enhance Human-Dog Relationships

I've set up reward donations which will all be realized after the book is published. Please donate and share! There is no limit to your contribution. Feel free to donate as little or as much as you can as all contributions helps get me that much closer to the goal. And, if you cannot donate to this campaign, not a worry, please consider sharing and resharing with your dog loving friends instead. Categories include:

Donation rewards:

Why This Campaign:

I recently ended a one-year contract with a literary agent in the "traditional" publishing space. They were wonderful to work with and time was well spent working to strengthen the book and develop a very solid marketing proposal. During the time I investigated a changing publishing landscape and learned so much more about the various frameworks that have developed in publishing these include traditional, hybrid and self publishing. After consideration I decided the best channel for me as a first time author is to hire a publishing service who could meet me half way. My wheelhouse is being expert in dog behavior, human-dog relationships and writing about it not publishing. Teaming with a self/hybrid type publisher allows me to continue with what I do while working with experts. I'll leave it to the experts to provide editing, distribution channel set up services. Promoting the book to help further educate people to prevent problem behaviors my goal.

How Your Contribution (Small or Large) Helps:

Your pre order and reward donations brings me closer to starting the production process and publication date. All campaign funds are dedicated to producing and publishing my book entitled "Being A (Good) Dog In The Human's World".

Why I Need Help Now:

As a caregiver for my two and four legged family, I have had to make changes in my work/life time reducing my work outside the home. As an independent practice owner, I still fit in work providing behavior modification training services to clients as well as take freelance writing jobs. Today my week is dedicated to supporting my elderly mother, my husband ( recently experienced a heart attack ) my senior rescue dog George and of course active clients and past clients that call with questions.

Why I Wrote The Book:

Many people require help communicating with dogs, understanding and improving pet dog behavior challenges. Some dog guardians are looking to teach their dogs basic manners and others longer and intense rehabilitation. I have found the demand for kind and humane training and management strategies is overwhelming. And while there are many qualified reward based trainers many either don’t know or don’t work with them. In the end everyone living with a pet companion seeks to learn how to best manage their dogs using kindness not punishment. NO one wants to damage the very delicate bond we have with our dogs.

The book was written by me in response to this need and an unregulated dog training profession. Punishment is still being used by many unqualified (and qualified) trainers. I found there was an urgent need to dispel common myths about how to relate to dogs. These myths undermine dogs' welfare and often lead to a breakdown in the human-dog relationship. Even worse, they can result in people, including our most vulnerable population, children, being bitten and scarred for life.

According to research we’ve performed at the Center for Canine Behavior Studies, a non profit organization, to support our new educational initiative, Be BiteSmart, an estimated 45 - 47 million people are reported to suffer dog bites annually. This is a staggering number. There are many bites and near misses that go unreported and the actual number is really unknown. Most concerning is that over 31,000 children aged 5-9 years visit the ER as a result of dog bites from known dogs.

Dogs suffer, too, and I've witnessed far too many anguish needlessly because their people either know no better or practice cognitive dissonance. For various reasons many dogs are surrendered and isolated from the only family they've ever known, all due to issues that are usually preventable. We’ve all made mistakes in life and in our relationship with others and frankly, if I hadn’t done so as well, I wouldn’t have been able to write this book.

Your donation will make a difference helping me cross the finish line to publication faster. Whether you are able to $1 dollar or $100, all is welcome and will help me move closer to that finish line.

Timeline:

My timeline is to hire a hybrid publisher by the end of this summer/early fall. The plan is to go into production by the fall for a publication release date by May 2025. So time is crucial. I need your help to donate and share please.

About the Book:

"Being A (Good) Dog In The Human's World" is a nonfiction work that draws from years of experience, storytelling, real-life cases, and historical facts about our relationship with dogs, and it's all backed by science. The book provides behavior and training guidance and explores underlying systemic issues. It is not a "training book" per se; however, it does present a revolutionary approach and cultural shift in humane pet-keeping and ethical welfare. The book tells stories of hardships, successful outcomes, and learning opportunities. You may identify your dog or yourself in this book.

My objective in writing the book is to help reframe how we relate to our dogs and introduce improved practices that have the potential to directly save lives—literally, both two- and four-legged. By sharing decades of experience and knowledge, I aim to bust out of the scientific bubble and connect with people who love their pet dogs.

Countless dogs are relinquished because of behavioral issues, many of which can be prevented. One key aspect is recognizing signs of stress in dogs, which can help prevent behavioral issues. It's crucial to acknowledge that our pet dogs perceive and interpret our world very differently. They are individuals with their own likes, dislikes and preferences and who did not choose to live in the human world. It's a valuable reminder to let dogs express their true nature. We can create a more harmonious coexistence with our pet dog companions by employing gentler management and communication methods. Finding a balance is key and I believe this book will help people realize just that.

Keeping you informed:

I plan to use this platform and my author website, www.VivianZottola.com to keep people informed about the publishing journey progress. Subscribers to the VivianZottola.com website receive a free dog stress response illustration (I'm working on one in Spanish) as well as a quarterly newsletter.

About Me:

My name is Vivian Zottola. I am dog psychologist and canine behavior modification training specialist. As a human-dog relationship therapist, I specialize in the prevention and resolution of behavior challenges between people and their dogs. I have been self-employed and working with dogs and their people, providing assistance with behavior modification training and rehabilitation since 2009.

Today, I am a little stretched thin. I split my time between

Reward Donation Categories

I've set up reward donations which will all be realized after the book is published. Donate as much or as little as you want. There is no limit to your contribution. Categories include:

Website Links:

Vivian Zottola Author Website

Services & Education Website

Volunteer Kids & Dogs Animated Learning Lessons

Volunteer with Center for Canine Behavior Studies