Companion Animal Psychology

Why training your dog—even when you don’t need to teach a specific behaviour—is a good idea. An Australian Shepherd and a Border Collie show off their tricks. Photo: Enna8982/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. We all know there are things you ought to teach your dog , like socialization for puppies or to come when called. These are things that make a big difference to your dog’s life (and your life with your dog). But dog training isn't just about these behaviours. Apart from the essentials (which really make up quite a small, albeit important, list), there’s a whole host of things you can teach your dog just for fun.  Here are 8 reasons why you should do just that. 1. It’s fun! We might as well start with the obvious reason. Training for fun is fun for both you and your dog! For many people, training those standard obedience behaviours is fun too, but the advantage of...

In the very first episode of The Pawsitive Post in Conversation, Zazie and Kristi talk about genius dogs and talking dogs, as well as dogs jumping up and housetraining. By Zazie Todd PhD This page contains affiliate links which means I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no cost to you. Watch the first episode of The Pawsitive Post in Conversation on Youtube or below.  Or listen via your favourite podcast app. Show Notes We chat about the Genius Dog Challenge, where scientists are finding dogs who know a lot of words, and Stella the dog who learned to use buttons to communicate. We also talk about the words and behaviours our own dogs and cats know--and the behaviours we think are important for every pet to know. Kristi tells us about her courses for people who need help with their dog jumping up or housetraining. And finally we chat about the books we're reading. Youtube video about the Genius Dog Challenge      Stella the dog learned to 'talk' and ...

A set of videos break down how to teach your cat to like their asthma inhaler.  Photo: Shveyn Irina/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. Did you know that you can even train cats to use an asthma inhaler? Many people still have the erroneous idea that cats can’t be trained. But of course they can and, just like for dogs, reward-based methods are recommended. Training cats can help them to cope with things like going to the vet. Asthma is fairly common in pet cats, so Sarah Ellis PhD and Linda Ryan (both of International Cat Care ) have made a set of videos to demonstrate how to train cats to use an asthma inhaler with your help. The videos (made with Trudell Animal Health) show you how to train a cat to use an AeroKat Chamber. This is a little mask that fits over the cat’s face with a chamber attached. An inhaler goes at the other end of the chamber to deliver the medication....

“A captivating book on an intelligence as ‘alien’ as one from outer space. And its not science fiction.” -- Bernd Heinrich. 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 month's choice for the Animal Book Club is The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness by Sy Montgomery.   From the back cover, "Popular naturalist Sy Montgomery explores the emotional and physical world of the octopus, the remarkable connections it makes with people, and the vibrant community that arises around this complex, intelligent, and spirited creature. Practicing true immersion journalism, from New England aquarium tanks to the reefs of French Polynesia and the Gulf of Mexico, Montgomery befriends individual octopuses with strikingly different personalities--gentle Athena, assertive Octavia, curious Kali, and joyful Karma--who show their cleverness in myriad ways: escaping...

I’m so excited about this gorgeous cover! And Purr is available for preorder now. By Zazie Todd PhD This page contains affiliate links which means I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no cost to you. As an author, you don’t get to choose the cover of your book. That’s the publisher’s job.  I knew, given the wonderful cover that my publisher designed for Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy , that they would come up with something beautiful for my next book. But I didn’t realize quite how amazing it would be until I saw it. That's why I'm so excited about today's cover reveal.  Isn’t it gorgeous?!! And isn't that the most beautiful cat?!! I am over the moon with the cover of Purr: The Science of Making Your Cat Happy . I honestly could not love it more! Thank you to Belle Wuthrich of Greystone Books for this stunning cover. I’m also thrilled and honoured that Purr has a foreword by Pam Johnson-Bennett. She says it is, “An in-depth, yet very accessi...