Companion Animal Psychology

How kindness - in dog training, animal behaviour, on rehoming pets, and to others in our profession -  can change the world for dogs and cats.
By Zazie Todd, PhD

Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving!


By Zazie Todd, PhD
It is Thanksgiving here in Canada. In this strangest of years, I wish you and yours love, peace, safety, and good health.  I am thankful to everyone who has supported this blog and my book, Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy. I am also thankful to each and every one of you for your dedication and care for companion animals and their people. And of course, so grateful to the doctors and nurses, scientists, public health specialists, and everyone else on the front line in this pandemic.Wherever you are, I hope today brings you many moments of joy, and good company even if it's from a distance or through a screen. Happy Thanksgiving! Take care.Zazie
Zazie Todd, PhD, is the author of Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy. She is the founder of the popular blog Companion Animal Psychology, where she writes about everything from training methods to the human-canine relationship. She also writes a column for Psychology Today an…

Eva Holland on her Alaskan Husky, Tacoma, and her book, Nerve: Adventures in the Science of Fear.

No. 3 in the series The Writer’s Pet by Zazie Todd, PhD.  
On the way back down the mountain from ice climbing, Eva Holland suddenly finds herself frozen with fear. This experience, and the recent loss of her mother, prompted Holland to write Nerve: Adventures in the Science of Fear, which beautifully pairs personal experience with the science of fear and anxiety. The New York Times described Nerve as “An intimate and wide-ranging look at fears and how we overcome them.” Holland told me about her dog, Tacoma, the benefits of stepping away from the screen for a dog walk, and her approach to writing Nerve. This page contains affiliate links.
What is your dog’s name?TacomaType of pet?Alaskan HuskyWhat do you love most about your pet? I love how happy he is almost all of the time - he's been this incredible shot of joy in my life during a tough year. He was a work…

A guide to artisan picks for Halloween with a pet-related theme.


By Zazie Todd, PhD
My selection of artisan Halloween picks from Etsy, including dog and cat collars, cat toys, Halloween face masks, and spooky decor. 
This page contains affiliate links. Above, clockwise from top left:Happy Halloweenie throw pillow with dachshund and crow by Soft Style Studio. Halloween cat garland by Embroidery by Ness. Holographic X-ray rabbit sticker by SSBunny Imports. Sterling silver cubic zirconia spider brooch by JandM Canada.
Above, clockwise from top left:Halloween dog bow tie by Puppy Riot. Bat Halloween dog collar in buffalo plaid by Polka Dot Tails. Orange and white ghost Halloween dog collar "The Novak" by Puddle Jumper Pups. Colourful pumpkins dog collar by Wag Tail Collars.

Clockwise from top left:Bats in the Belfry breakaway bow tie kitty collar by Atelier Fiber Arts. Halloween spider wand toy by Entertain Thy Feline. Moon cat toy with catnip and valerian by Cookies Em…

“I hope that this book will help people see that their dogs are communicating all the time, and that they’re worth listening to.”
By Zazie Todd, PhD
Lili Chin's book, Doggie Language: A Dog Lover's Guide to Understanding Your Best Friend, is a fun guide to your dog's body language that is beautifully illustrated and engagingly written. If you already love Lili's work then you know you'll love this book. I spoke to Lili about the book and how she got into illustrating dogs' body language. This page contains affiliate links. Zazie: How did the book come about?Lili: I was actually contacted by Summersdale Publishers in the UK. They do a lot of gift books. This was about 3 years ago and they had seen my Doggie Language poster starring Boogie the Boston Terrier, the one that’s been all over the internet, and they said “Would you be interested in turning this into a book?” At the time I was hesitant. I said, “I don’t really see the point of turni…

"Canine Enrichment is a deep dive into what dogs really need and how we can provide it." -- Dr. Patricia McConnell.


By Zazie Todd, PhD

The month, the Animal Book Club is reading Canine Enrichment for the Real World: Making It a Part of Your Dog’s Daily Life by Allie Bender and Emily Strong. This page contains affiliate links. From the book's description:"In the world of dogs, there is now more awareness than ever of the need to provide enrichment, especially in shelters. But what exactly is enrichment? The concept is pretty straightforward: learn what your dog’s needs are, and then structure an environment and routine that allows the dog to engage in behaviors they find enriching. To truly enrich your dog’s life, you should offer them opportunities to engage in natural or instinctual behaviors. Aside from the limitations we have to place on a dog in today’s modern, busy world, the biggest constraint to enriching your dog’s life is your imagination!"This and all of…