Companion Animal Psychology

The year in review at Companion Animal Psychology and the most popular dog and cat posts of 2022.  Photo: vubaz/Shutterstock

I've got a new post over on my Psychology Today blog, Fellow Creatures .  Photo: Mathieu Gervais/Pexels

Season's Greetings from Companion Animal Psychology. Photo: woodHunt/Shutterstock, text Zazie Todd Thank you for all of your support this year. Wishing you and your family a wonderful festive season and all the best for 2023. Zazie This page contains affiliate links which means I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no cost to you. Zazie Todd, PhD, is the award-winning author of Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy and Purr: The Science of Making Your Cat Happy . She is the creator of the popular blog, Companion Animal Psychology and also has a column at Psychology Today . Todd lives in Maple Ridge, BC, with her husband, one dog, and two cats.  Useful links: Companion Animal Psychology merch   Companion Animal Psychology's Amazon store As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. As an Etsy affiliate and Marks and Spencer affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

I've got a new post on my Fellow Creatures blog that looks at happy dog walks for you and the dog.  Skyler Ewing/Pexels

The books I enjoyed the most this year include books about dogs and cats, plus non-fiction, some great novels, and poetry.  Photo: Irina Kozorog/Shutterstock By Zazie Todd PhD

I've got a new post on my Fellow Creatures blog at Psych Today . Cong H/Pexels

"Will cause readers to think deeply about big questions...and to laugh out loud."--Hal Herzog, author of Some We Love, Some We Hate, Some We Eat.

The Pawsitive Post in Conversation No. 7 with special guest Jane Wolff of Good Wolff Dog Training. Clockwise from top left: Zazie Todd, Jane Wolff, Kristi Benson

My picks of artisan gifts from Etsy for dogs, cats, and their people, from advent calendars for dogs and cats, pet bowls and snuggly beds, to jewelry and a scarf.

Get 15% off all Companion Animal Psychology merch with promo code BLACKFRI valid until midnight PT on 28th November 2022.

I spoke about dogs with Jim Mora for Radio New Zealand's Sunday Morning --and then came back to answer listeners' questions.  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. Recently, I chatted all about dogs with Jim Mora for Radio New Zealand's Sunday Morning. We talked about my book, Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy , the importance of reward-based training and enrichment for your dog, and the relationship between dogs and their people. You can listen to that interview here: Dr. Zazie Todd: how we know your dog loves you . Then I came back to answer listeners' questions about dogs. We didn't manage to fit them all in, but we covered lots of topics from dog training treats and the best ways to train your dog or deal with behaviour issues and what kind of dog is best for you.  You can listen to that interview here: Zazie Todd:

I spoke about cats with Sheryl MacKay on CBC Radio's North By NorthWest. Photo: Robert Petrovic/Shutterstock

New research shows that cats have an individual response to catnip and other cat-attracting plants like silvervine and that, unlike big cats, they don’t care for perfumes like Obsession for Men. A cat chews on a silvervine stick. Photo: Abigail Crawford.

"Turning wolves into dogs took knowledge, insight and a few cheeky treats along the way. This book contains all three, and is the perfect companion to any dog lover." -- Ben Garrod.

Not “Sit, Sit, Sit” but “Rewards are the best way to train your dog…” Phot: Medenka Nera/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. Do you ever feel like you are saying the same thing over and over again? Do you ever think about whether or not it’s useful? I’m not talking about those times when you see someone repeating a cue to their dog over and over while the dog keeps on doing something else. That’s not a good idea because the dog is simply learning to ignore you. (Instead, say the cue like “Sit” once, then wait, and the instant your dog sits give them a tasty treat as a reward). I’m talking about training methods. Repetition on dog training methods It’s important to use reward-based methods to train your dog because there are risks to aversive methods ( positive punishment and negative reinforcement ). Plus, reward-based training ca

Training your dog to search for a scent isn't as hard as you might think—and it's great enrichment for your dog. Photo: Barb Elkin/Shutterstock

“Equal parts science and doggy diary, [The Year of the Puppy] charts how our irresistible fur babies develop personality.”—People. 

When people follow out-dated advice and fail to recognize signs of resource guarding in dogs, it's a recipe for trouble. Here's what to look out for--and what to do about it.  Photo: Mart Production/Pexels

I spoke about cats with Jim Mora for Radio New Zealand's Sunday Morning --and then came back to answer listeners' questions.  Photo: Toma Stepunina/Shutterstock

On September 24th, I'll be presenting a live workshop on happy pets for the IAABC Foundation. By Zazie Todd PhD There are just a few days left to get your ticket to the upcoming event, Making Pets Happy: The Role of Positive Experiences in Good Animal Welfare. Whether you are more of a dog or cat person, this event will help you learn more about what pets need in order to be happy, and how thinking about their welfare can help to prevent and resolve behaviour issues. It's on Saturday 24th September from 1.00 - 4.10pm Pacific time, and it's a LIVE event with plenty of discussion time included. If you can't attend live, you'll get access to the recording for 12 months. CEUs are available and you can get more information and register on the IAABC Foundation website .  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. Zazie Todd, PhD, is the award-winning aut

I've got a new post on my Psych Today blog, Fellow Creatures , which takes a look at the positive side of the pet-guardian relationship. Photo: Valeria Boltneva/Pexels By Zazie Todd PhD

“The Last Walk is a book that all loving pet owners should read. Nothing will make the prospect of ending a good friend’s life any easier, but at least it can help those awful decisions feel less of a stab in the dark.”― New Scientist.

The Pawsitive Post in Conversation with special guest Erica Beckwith of A Matter of Manners Dog Training.

Can you recognize these reward-based dog training books by the colours used on their covers?

A new post on my Psych Today blog about the things that shouldn't be done to cats. Photo: Dominika Roseclay/Pexels By Zazie Todd PhD

International Cat Care hosted an expert panel to answer your cat questions. Photo: Natalia Mikulich/Shutterstock

“Lucy Cooke is brilliant, pedigreed, fearless, and flat-out hilarious . . . Bitch is astonishing, wildly entertaining, and massively important.”―Mary Roach

We already know that dogs have amazing noses, but it seems they can also use magnetoreception to help them find their way.  Photo: dezy/Shutterstock

Today I've got a new post over on my Fellow Creatures blog at Psychology Today. Peng Louis/Pexels

How Guatemalan rescue Unidos para los Animales ensured a good fit for dogs’ new homes—and what you need to know if you’re considering adopting a dog from abroad.  Linda Green takes some downtime to play with Dallie, a dog at Unidos para los Animales who needed a bit of a leg up to be comfortable on leash. Often dogs need a new, and specific, skillset on their way to becoming the well-adjusted dogs they are destined to be. Photo: Kristi Benson.

There's an excerpt from my new book Purr on The Wildest . Photo: Wirestock Creators/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. There's an excerpt from my new book, Purr: The Science of Making Your Cat Happy on The Wildest , about how you can tell if your cat is happy .   Read it, and then if you don't have your copy of Purr yet, you can get it from these links:   Chapters/Indigo    Indiebound   Bookshop    Barnes & Noble   Amazon    Blackwells    Waterstones   Booktopia In Canada, signed copies of  Purr  are available from Black Bond Books via this link:  https://blackbondbooks.com/purr Zazie Todd, PhD, is the award-winning author of Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy and Purr: The Science of Making Your Cat Happy . She is the creator of the popular blog, Companion Animal Psychology, and also has a column

Top tips on reward-based training and caring for dogs of all ages from the experts in dog training and behaviour.  Photo: lightman_pic/Shutterstock By Zazie Todd PhD

Changing language reflects a changing relationship with dogs. Photo: Olgo Popko/Shutterstock By Zazie Todd PhD

The Pawsitive Post in Conversation (Episode 5) with Zazie Todd and Kristi Benson talking about about the names we give our pets. By Zazie Todd PhD

“ Purr is cat-centered, so much that it feels like a very smart cat wrote it! Starting with the most recent scientific findings, Zazie Todd explains with clarity what cats enjoy, what is good for their well-being, and how we can build a strong reciprocal bond with them. Indispensable reading.”--Dr. Carlo Siracusa.

Watch the recording of this popular event with Zazie Todd, Lili Chin, and Sassafras Lowrey in conversation with Kristi Benson.

I've got a new post on my Fellow Creatures blog at Psychology Today. Ian Livesey/Shutterstock

I've written a piece for BBC Science Focus magazine. Photo: Fabio Lamanna/Shutterstock

On 7th June, Hub City Bookshop is hosting me for an event about the science of making your cat happy. By Zazie Todd PhD Join me for a conversation about my new book Purr: The Science of Making Your Cat Happy . This event takes place on Tuesday June 7th from 6pm to 7pm Eastern time (that's 3pm to 4pm for those on Pacific time like me). Come and join in the conversation and ask me questions about the special cats in your life. This event is free but registration is required. You can also get your copy of Purr from Hub City Bookshop. Details are here .  Get Companion Animal Psychology in your inbox.

What dogs teach us about our relationship with them — and others. Photo: Christian Mueller/Shutterstock

I've got a new post on my Psych Today blog, Fellow Creatures . It looks at some new research that finds pet cats know the names of other cats in their household. Kari Shea/Shutterstock

Making memories while they are still here, remembering pets after they are gone, and disenfranchised grief. Photo: Enna8982/Shutterstock

A new post on my Psych Today blog Fellow Creatures looks at some common misconceptions about cats. Photo: Krysten Merriman/Pexels

Why did my cat attack me? I answer this - and other important cat questions - for Breakfast Television .

What does a cat's slow blink mean, and should we slow blink to our pet cats? I explain to CTV's Your Morning . 

In two recent TV appearances, I answered some common questions about cats.

Get tips for an even happier cat in my book, Purr , published today. By Zazie Todd PhD

"The book brims with Roach’s irreverent humor, which particularly shines when she experiences human-animal conflict firsthand... A blend of modern science and history, with Roach’s flair for spotting hidden absurdities... As another entry in Roach’s canon of books, Fuzz stands tall (and hairy), educating as much as it entertains."― Bethany Brookshire, Science News .

A comparison with village dogs highlights some of the ways that pet dogs’ lives could be improved. Photo: Lim Tiaw Leong/Shutterstock

The Pawsitive Post in Conversation with Zazie Todd and Kristi Benson making some truth sandwiches about cats and dogs.

 I wrote a guest post for the Academy for Dog Trainers about the magic of management in dog training. By Zazie Todd PhD