Companion Animal Psychology

The most popular posts from Companion Animal Psychology in 2016. Photo: Olga_i/Shutterstock   By Zazie Todd, PhD Looking back, I'm surprised by how much I wrote this year. During 2016 I published 58 blog posts, including 28 reviews of individual research papers on dogs, cats, ferrets, and the human-animal bond. I feel very lucky to have interviewed both  Dr. Sarah Ellis and Jean Donaldson , and thank them both for such interesting and inspiring interviews. I published the first guest post, an important piece by James Oxley and Clare Ellis about how rabbits are missing out on basic pet care practices . I really enjoyed hosting the Train for Rewards Blog Party, which was a huge lot of fun (look out for it again in 2017!). Thank you to everyone who participated, whether by writing a post or sharing your favourites. I also kept my list of dog training research resources up to date, and there you will find a list of research articles on dog training and places where you

Happy Holidays! Photo: Lebedeva Olga/Shutterstock Thank you for your support, encouragement, comments, likes and shares throughout the year. Season's Greetings and all best wishes for a joyful and peaceful 2017! Zazie Companion Animal Psychology By Zazie Todd, PhD

The latest news on cats and dogs from Companion  Animal Psychology, December 2016. By Zazie Todd, PhD Some of my favourite posts from around the web this month Realizing the Fear Free dream for pets by Dr. Marty Becker. Good intentions can go very wrong when you find a lost pet by Maddie’s Fund. Helping your dog feel safe during the holidays by Maureen Backman. How to enrich cats’ lives: Food puzzles for cats . Felicity Muth talks to Mikel Delgado. Why are pets popular with artists? Dr. Anne Fawcett interviews Dr. Sarah Engledow about the Popular Pet  Show at the National Portrait Gallery in Australia. Pets in the news… In the UK, the RSPCA’s petition to repeal Breed Specific Legislation now has more than 50,000 signatures. The London Assembly has also called for a review, saying the legislation “ has failed to protect the public and dog welfare .” If you want to know more, here is a link to the RSPCA report ‘Breed Specific Legislation – A Dog’s Dinner’ an

How to choose the best dog trainer for you and your dog, including the methods and qualifications to look for. By Zazie Todd, PhD This page contains affiliate links which means I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no cost to you     Whether you want to take part in obedience classes or arrange private sessions to resolve your dog’s behaviour problem, choosing the right dog trainer can be a difficult decision. Because dog training is unlicensed, anyone can call themselves a dog trainer, regardless of whether or not they have any education. So what should you look for? This article explains the key things you need to know before you hire a dog trainer. The most important choice in hiring a dog trainer When choosing a dog trainer, the most important thing is to find a trainer who uses reward-based dog training methods , which they might call positive reinforcement , force-free, or humane training methods. However, just because you see those words on someone’s

New research looks at the factors that influence how we feel after euthanizing a pet. Photo: mannpuku/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. The loss of a pet is a difficult process. People’s feelings of grief may be the same as for losing a human family member. New research investigates some of the factors that may affect people’s grief and sorrow after euthanizing a dog or cat . The study, by Sandra Barnard-Nguyen (University of Sydney) et al, is one of the first to use a survey designed specifically to measure people’s responses to loss of a pet, rather than a human. This takes account of differences in the experience, including the decision to euthanize a pet. A reaction of grief and sorrow on the loss of a pet can be seen as part of a normal psychological process.  However in some people there may be feelings of guilt and anger that are more problematic. This typ

The book of the month is The Secret History of Kindness by Melissa Holbrook Pierson. 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 continues with discussion of The Secret History of Kindness: Learning from How Dogs Learn by Melissa Holbrook Pierson. From the cover, "Pierson draws surprising connections in her exploration of how kindness works to motivate all animals, including the human one." Later in the month, I will post my comments about the book, along with some highlights of the book club 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. Are you reading too? As an Amazon Associate I earn fro

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 of

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