Companion Animal Psychology

The side-effects of aversive dog training methods that most people don’t know about--but should. Photo: Stock Rocket/Shutterstock By Zazie Todd PhD This page contains affiliate links which means I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no cost to you. Get the weekly Companion Animal Psychology newsletter By now, the idea that aversive training methods have risks for dogs is quite well known. Most of the research, especially in the early days, focused on the increased risks of fear, anxiety, stress, and aggression. Researchers also found a correlation between the use of aversive methods and a less well-behaved dog.  It’s worth noting that back in 2004, Hiby et al were already arguing that reward-based methods work better and have fewer risks to dogs’ welfare: “Because reward-based methods are associated with higher levels of obedience and fewer problematic behaviours, we suggest that their use is a more effective and welfare-compatible alternative to punishment for the averag

Pepper has entered a competition to become a Yellow Dog Brewing Star--and he'd like your vote. Photo: Zazie Todd By Zazie Todd, PhD My little dog Pepper has entered a competition to be a Yellow Dog Brewing Star--and he'd love it you'd vote for him . As a BC SPCA alumnus himself, Pepper knows first-hand the amazing work that they do at the BC SPCA. Pepper came to us at 10 years old, and is now 12-and-a-half. Pepper is a sweet Shih Tzu who loves everyone. His favourite things are 'killing' his toys, taking short walks, and sitting outside at barbecues. He loves to do tricks like sit pretty and rollover, and is an excellent companion, especially in the kitchen where pieces of carrot might come his way.  And he loves it when people tell him he's cute. So he's thrilled to be raising funds for the BC SPCA while maybe--just maybe--ending up on the label of a Yellow Dog Brewing beer. The winners of the contest will get to be featured on cans of a special limited-re

Get 15% off all Companion Animal Psychology merch with promo code LABOURDAY (or LABORDAY) valid until midnight Pacific time on Monday September 4th. By Zazie Todd PhD If you're looking for a new hoodie now that the weather is changing, the Companion Animal Psychology merch store has got you covered. Companion Animal Psychology merch celebrates our special relationship with our best friends, the importance of reward-based training, and letting dogs be dogs.  All designs are available as tanks, tees, hoodies, and sweatshirts. And don't miss our special Reward the Dog fanny pack ! New this season, the Time for Walkies design is now available as a water-resistant  coach jacket to protect you from the elements when you walk your dog. And the Companion Animal Psychology logo is available on a windbreaker and a new coach jacket in neutral shades to match your wardrobe. Check out all of the designs in the Companion Animal Psychology store . Use promo code LABOURDAY for 15% off unt

Zazie and Kristi chat about how to groom cats, what to do with matted fur, trimming cats' nails, and how to give meds to cats. By Zazie Todd PhD This page contains affiliate links which means I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no cost to you. Get Companion Animal Psychology in your inbox. Watch episode 12 of The Pawsitive Post in Conversation on Youtube or below, listen via your favourite podcast app or below, or scroll down to read some of the highlights. Husbandry for cats In this episode we chat about how to groom your cat and how to deal with mats, as well as how to trim your cat’s nails. We discuss the many reasons why it’s important not to “declaw” your cat and how it’s really like an amputation. Scratching is a natural behavior for cats and we talk about the kind of post to provide to keep your cat happy. We also discuss the tricky topic of how to give meds to your cats, including pilling, towel-wrapping, and tricks to make meds ea

“Teresa J. Rhyne is the best kind of person, a dog person. In this beautiful, honestly told memoir, she leads us through an adventure that will inspire any dog lover. A life-affirming read, or as any dog would say if they could speak, ‘a real treat!’" -- W. Bruce Cameron, #1 New York Times and #1 USA Today bestselling author of A Dog's Purpose. By Zazie Todd PhD This page contains affiliate links which means I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no cost to you. Get the weekly Companion Animal Psychology newsletter. This month, the Animal Book Club is reading Poppy in the Wild: A Lost Dog, Fifteen Hundred Acres of Wilderness, and the Dogged Determination that Brought Her Home by Teresa J. Rhyne. From the publisher, "After losing her beloved beagle Daphne to lymphoma, author Teresa Rhyne launches herself into fostering other dogs in need, including Poppy, a small, frightened beagle rescued from the China dog meat trade. The elation of rescue quickly turns to

These signs of affectionate feline behaviour show that your cats are friends with each other. Photo: Fernando Calmon/Shutterstock By Zazie Todd PhD This page contains affiliate links which means I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no cost to you. Get Companion Animal Psychology in your inbox. If you have more than one cat , it helps a lot if they are good friends. Tension between cats can result in stress for them and perhaps also for you. But how do you know if they are friends? Here are the signs to look out for. They greet each other with the tail up . The tail up greeting is when one cat approaches the other with their tail straight up, often with a little hook at the end, a bit like a question mark. You might also see this when your cat approaches you. The tail up is a friendly signal.  These two cats are touching heads, bodies, and tails, and they're also showing the tail up signal. Photo: ClementineKANJ.  They sniff noses . Sniffing the nose is another way tha