Companion Animal Psychology

We like to think about the rosy side of pet ownership, but it can also be tough at times. My latest post at Psychology Today looks at the downsides to consider before getting a pet . Photo: Kat Jayne/Pexels.

The most popular posts of 2020 on Companion Animal Psychology.  Photo: David Pastyka/Shutterstock

 Season's Greetings from Companion Animal Psychology. Photo: dezy/Shutterstock

My latest piece on my Fellow Creatures blog at Psych Today is Five reasons dog training is increasingly shifting positive .

The classic fairy tale has been given a modern and canine twist by The Academy for Dog Trainers. Watch the video and read my interview with Kristi Benson about how she got these cute dogs to take part. 

Maureen Fergus on her latest picture book, Glory on Ice: A Vampire Hockey Story, and how her dog Buddy inspires her writing. Buddy dressed as Sir Barksalot. Photo: Maureen Fergus.

“Separation anxiety is fixable... If people just understood that this is fixable, and it gave them that hope, that would make me thrilled.”

“Brilliant, eye-opening, and absolutely inspiring—and a riveting read. Hare and Woods have written the perfect book for our time.”—Cass R. Sunstein

“ Chew This Journal really came out of a desire to support people having more fun with their dogs and to make everyday interactions as enriching as possible.”

My picks of artisan gifts from Etsy for dogs, cats, and people who love them.

Jenni Keer on her latest heart-warming book and how her blind cat Seymour provides inspiration. Seymour. Photo: Jenni Keer.

 Get 15% off Companion Animal Psychology, and don't miss these festive tees.

Nicole Blades on her most recent novel, Have You Met Nora?, and her adorable dog Murphy. Murphy, photographed by Nicole Blades.

Ancient dogs and humans, orphaned kitties, and lessons from culturing microbes... this month's CAP news. By Zazie Todd, PhD

Roz Watkins on her latest detective book, Cut to the Bone, and her adorable pets. Magnum and Ginge. Photo: Roz Watkins. No. 6 in the series The Writer's Pet by Zazie Todd PhD.

There's a new Companion Animal Psychology tee - and all merch is on sale! By Zazie Todd, PhD

Philippa East on her cat, Mimi, and her thrilling debut, Little White Lies.  No. 5 in the series The Writer's Pet by Zazie Todd, PhD.

I have a new post on my Fellow Creatures blog that looks at some research on people's attitudes to the use of psychoactive meds and various types of supplements for dogs with behaviour issues. Photo: Couleur/Pixabay By Zazie Todd, PhD

Jen Gilroy on her dog, Floppy Ears, and her latest book, A Wish in Irish Falls. Photo: Jen Gilroy No. 4 in the series The Writer’s Pet by Zazie Todd, PhD.

Join me at the Pet Professional Guild's Geek Week this November. By Zazie Todd, PhD

People with flat-faced (brachycephalic) cats don’t realize the health issues associated with the breed, study shows. A traditional doll face Persian cat. See a modern Persian cat in the photo below. Photo: chrisdorney/Shutterstock By Zazie Todd, PhD

Funny animal pictures, wolf leaders, and barriers to being a vet - this month's Companion Animal Psychology news. By Zazie Todd, PhD My favourites this month

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

 Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving! Photo: Arthur Linnik/Shutterstock 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

Eva Holland on her Alaskan Husky, Tacoma, and her book, Nerve: Adventures in the Science of Fear. Photo: Eva Holland 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?   Tacoma Type of pet?   Alaskan Husky What do you love most about your pet?   I love how happy he is al

 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 wa

“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?”

"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

"The general consensus was there’s no inclusion in the dog world at all right now. And how do we fix that?" By Zazie Todd, PhD Oluademi James-Daniel is determined to do something about inclusivity in the dog world, and she has a vision to make a difference. Earlier this year, Oluademi - a dog trainer from Brooklyn - started a Facebook group called Inclusivity in Dog Training. I spoke to her about the group’s aims and what we can all do to increase diversity and inclusivity in dog training.  Zazie:  This year, you started the Inclusivity in Dog Training group, along with fellow admins Ameera Skandarani and Samantha Phi. Why did you decide to start the group? Oluademi: It was right in the most recent iteration of Black Lives Matter really coming to the forefront again. It’s something that happens all the time, but every time it comes to the forefront like that it’s a very helpless feeling, where it’s like yes, I know this is a problem, I don’t know how to fix it, I don’t think