Companion Animal Psychology

Making time for play immediately after a dog training session improves the dog’s memory. By Zazie Todd, PhD This page contains affiliate links which means I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no cost to you. New research by Nadja Affenzeller (University of Lincoln) et al investigates whether play following learning leads to better performance the next day. The scientists wanted to know whether this effect, previously found in humans, would also apply to dogs . In people, it is thought that the hormonal response during positive arousal acts on parts of the brain called the hippocampus and amygdala and leads to better memory. The effect applies to a type of memory called declarative memory, which is our memory for facts and events (for example, the President of the United States, or the capital of Denmark). Now we can’t expect dogs to tell us who is the President of the United States, but it is possible to get them to do a task very similar to one used in some o

The book for November was The Trainable Cat: How to Make Life Happier for You and Your Cat by John Bradshaw and Sarah Ellis. By Zazie Todd, PhD This page contains affiliate links which means I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no cost to you. The Trainable Cat: A Practical Guide to Making Life Happier for You and Your Cat is fascinating from start to finish. It is about how to teach your cat the things that will help him or her to have an easier, happier life. Instead of tricks or obedience, think useful skills like how to get along with a new baby or how to go in the cat carrier. Near the beginning of the book, the authors say, “we aim to show you how training can improve not just your relationship with your cat but also your beloved pet’s sense of well-being. That’s not to say that the training won’t be fun – it will, for both of you – but the distinction is that you will be producing a happy and well-disposed pet, not a circus star.” Each chapter h

Children’s beliefs about animal welfare and sentience are linked to their own experiences with animals. By Zazie Todd, PhD This page contains affiliate links which means I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no cost to you. Surprisingly little is known about children’s beliefs and knowledge about animals. Yet this information could help to improve humane education programs for children. Two recent studies begin to fill this gap, with recommendations for how humane education is taught. We know from previous research that even very young children like animals , and that children with pets are more likely to attribute biological concepts to animals than those without. Children’s experiences of caring for their pets mostly involve play, while the actual pet care is carried out by parents. Is it possible that even though these experiences are mostly social, children with pets will still have a better understanding of the care that pets need? A series of group discus

The latest news on dogs and cats from Companion Animal Psychology, November 2016. By Zazie Todd, PhD Some of my favourite posts from around the web this month This page contains affiliate links which means I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no cost to you. Hot dogs offer window into canine emotions by Julie Hecht , MSc (DogSpies). Camera shy to camera guy : Helping an anxious dog to overcome their fears by Kristi Benson CTC. Why you should stop chanting cues at your dog by Allison Wells CTC. Think like a cat . John Bradshaw PhD considers the latest research on feline intelligence.   It’s more than just a box!   Ingrid Johnson CCBC takes a pictorial look at all the enrichment cardboard boxes can provide for cats.   Pets in the news… “Our canine companions developed the ability to digest starchy foods during the farming revolution thousands of years ago, according to DNA evidence.” Dog’s dinner: DNA clue to how dogs be

To mark 20 years since the publication of The Culture Clash , I spoke to Jean Donaldson about dogs and dog training. Jean with Brian (front) and friend's dog, Turtle By Zazie Todd, PhD This page contains affiliate links which means I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no cost to you. This year is 20 years since the publication of Jean Donaldson’s influential book Culture Clash . Funny, intelligent, and very much about the dog’s point of view, The Culture Clash is still highly recommended by dog trainers around the world. The book shows a strong commitment to training without aversives and provides the technical know-how too. Dr. Ian Dunbar called it “Simply, the best dog book I have ever read!” I was thrilled to speak with Jean about the book, how things have changed for dogs , and how we can continue to change things for the better. Zazie: It’s been 20 years since the publication of The Culture Clash. It’s a book that’s still in print, and it’s been

Cats make good use of added vertical space, study shows, showing that it's a great idea to let cats use vertical space in your home via shelves and walkways. By Zazie Todd, PhD This page contains affiliate links which means I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no cost to you. A study by Emma Desforges ( Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition ) et al finds that adding a vertical screen is good enrichment for cats. And while the study used cats that live at the Waltham research centre, the results suggest pet cats could benefit too. The scientists took an Ikea bookcase called Kallax in which the shelves are subdivided. They put half the backing on one side and half on the other, so that some shelves faced one way and the rest the other way (8 spaces arranged 2 x 4 per side). Then they put it in the middle of a room. If you’re thinking crazy cat lady organizer, you’re not far off, but this version is taller. Reproduced from Desforges et al (2016) under Cre

The book of the month is The Trainable Cat by John Bradshaw and Sarah Ellis. By Zazie Todd, PhD This page contains affiliate links which means I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no cost to you. The Companion Animal Psychology Book Club starts this month with discussion of The Trainable Cat. Are you reading alongside us? The Facebook group to discuss the books filled up in less than three days. Apologies but no new members are currently being accepted. However you can still follow along on the blog. Each month I will post a list of the discussion questions, along with some highlights of the discussion. You will be able to leave your thoughts on the book in the comments section. Through the book club, we will learn more about companion animals and our relationship with them, build up a nice library of books about animals, and of course enjoy talking about the books. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on The Trainable Cat. I’ll post an update on the

Teaching a quiet behaviour using an automatic feeder is a promising solution to barking problems. By Zazie Todd, PhD This page contains affiliate links which means I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no cost to you. Some dogs bark when their owner is out and they are left home alone. A recent study by Alexandra Protopopova  (Texas Tech University) et al investigates the effectiveness of a humane, automated approach to solving barking problems. The research was conducted because some owners use citronella or shock collars to try and prevent their dogs from barking. While the devices may sometimes work, there are concerns they may also have adverse effects. For example, if a dog barks when they see people going by the window and then receives a burst of citronella or an electric shock, they may associate the unpleasant experience with people and become fearful and/or aggressive. Because of these welfare concerns, some organizations recommend against their use