Companion Animal Psychology

I've got two new posts on my Psych Today blog, one about some research on what life is like for seniors with pets, and one with the facts on fearful dogs. Photo: Elmer L. Geissler/Pixabay By Zazie Todd PhD This page contains affiliate links which means I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no cost to you. Seniors with pets There’s a general societal discourse that pets are good for our mental and physical health, although the research does not match up to this. Instead, things are much more mixed, as having a pet can sometimes have its downsides. And that’s the case for seniors too. My new post looks at a study of the role that pets play in the lives of seniors. Read it here: Pets bring benefits and challenges for seniors, study shows .  The facts on fearful dogs "Myths and outdated (but still common) narratives about fearful dogs, and dogs in general, can lead you astray. We can dispel these myths, but repeating myths can make them more salient. I’ll stick to the...

The second episode of this popular podcast special on pets using buttons to talk is out now. By Zazie Todd, PhD This page contains affiliate links which means I may earn commission on qualifying purchases at no cost to you. I've got another interview to share with you today. So many people have told me how much they enjoyed the episode Lexicat 1 from The Allusionist podcast, which I was interviewed for. The episode focuses on Mary Robinette Kowal and her cat Elsie who uses 120 talking buttons. Well now the second episode out--and it includes dogs! You can listen here or wherever you get your podcasts. Here's the official description: "In Lexicat part 1, we met the author Mary Robinette Kowal and her cat Elsie, and learned about how they communicate via a set of buttons programmed with words.  "In part 2, two talking dogs, Bastian and Parker - and their humans, Joelle Andres and Sascha Crasnow - join us too, and explain how they discovered some very unexpected things...

Listen to the interview with Zazie Todd, PhD, talking about what we can do to help fearful and anxious dogs on Radio New Zealand's Sunday Morning. By Zazie Todd, PhD I spoke to Jim Mora on Radio New Zealand's Sunday Morning this Sunday. You can listen to the interview here . The topic was mainly anxious and fearful dogs, with tips from my new book Bark! The Science of Helping Your Anxious, Fearful, or Reactive Dog. But we also talked about caring for your dog more generally, discussing the fact that some common ideas about dogs--like dominance--are outdated and you can let your dog on the sofa if you would like to, about letting dogs sniff on walks, and the best behaviours to train your dog to do. We also chatted about some recent canine science research. And if you liked that, you might also like some of my previous conversations with Jim Mora: How pets benefit our brains Are we pathologizing normal pooch behaviour? More ways to make your cat happy Happy listening!

Watch or listen to the recording of the panel at Bark! Fest, the book festival for animal lovers, with Jean Donaldson talking about The Culture Clash . Zazie Todd, Jean Donaldson, and Kristi Benson hold up copies of The Culture Clash and, in Zazie's case, Bark! By Zazie Todd PhD This page contains affiliate links which means I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no cost to you.  Bark! Fest with Jean Donaldson Bark! Fest, the book festival for animal lovers, took place in September 2024 with 11 author panels (and one tricks class from the amazing Erica Beckwith of A Matter of Manners Dog Training) . It was organized to celebrate the launch of my new book, Bark! The Science of Helping Your Anxious, Fearful, or Reactive Dog , which is out now and available from all good bookstores. This is the recording of the very first session, Culture Clash and Beyond with special guest Jean Donaldson. You can watch the recording on Youtube or below, and listen to the recording ...

Two new podcast recordings with Zazie Todd as a guest, and Bark! on WPR's list of books to gift to animal lovers. Plus a Black Friday discount on merch. Image: The Allusionist. By Zazie Todd, PhD I've got some interviews to share with you today and a Black Friday discount on Companion Animal Psychology merch. This page contains affiliate links which means I may earn commission on qualifying purchases at no cost to you. The Allusionist podcast I spoke to The Allusionist podcast about using buttons to help cats 'talk'. Here's the official description: Elsie the cat has a set of 120 buttons programmed with words. She uses them to lie, swear, apologise, express grief and frustration and love to her human, the author ​ Mary Robinette Kowal ​ , who talks about what's involved in learning to communicate via language buttons with companion animals. And animal behaviour expert ​ Zazie Todd ​ explains how animals might be interacting with human language. This is t...

Zazie Todd joins the UK's Animal Behaviour and Training Council.  By Zazie Todd, PhD I am absolutely delighted to share the news with you today that I have joined the ABTC as a Patron. I feel incredibly honoured to take on this role and look forward to working with everyone at the ABTC. Here's the announcement from the UK's Animal Behaviour and Training Council: 𝗭𝗮𝘇𝗶𝗲 𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗱 𝗣𝗵𝗗 𝗕𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗕𝗧𝗖 The Animal Behaviour and Training Council (ABTC) is thrilled to announce that Zazie Todd, PhD, renowned animal behaviour expert and award-winning author, has joined the organisation as a Patron. This marks an inspiring collaboration in advancing ethical, science-led practices in animal behaviour and training. Zazie Todd is widely respected for her contributions to the field of animal behaviour and training.  She is the author of the bestselling books Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy, Purr: The Science of Making Your Cat Happy, and t...

Zazie spoke to The Atlantic about dogs' love for toys, and to Cat Chat with tips on kitty litterboxes. Photo: FabNat/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. I spoke to The Atlantic about dogs and their toys for this article about why dogs are obsessed with their lamb chop toy . From the piece, "Ask any random dog owner and there’s a good chance they’ll tell you: Lamb Chop is their dog’s favorite toy. They’ll say it with the confidence of having heard it directly from the dog itself. After witnessing my sister’s dog’s dedication to the toy, I spoke with more than 10 dog owners, all of whom were quick to send me pictures, videos, and anecdotes about their own dogs’ seemingly inexplicable Lamby love." Does your dog love the lamb chop toy? What is your dog's favourite toy? Let me know! I also spoke to Cat Chat to share 3 tips for your cat's litterbox. Liste...

"At last, a brilliant voice to give cats the recognition they deserve."--Brian Hare and Vanessa Woods, coauthors of The Genius of Dogs . 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, the Animal Book Club is reading The Hidden Language of Cats: How They Have Us at Meow by Sarah Brown. From the publisher, "  Descended from shy, solitary North African wild cats, domestic cats set up homes with devoted owners all over the world by learning how to talk to us. This book translates—in case you missed anything. A renowned cat behavior scientist of over thirty years, Dr. Sarah Brown has been at the forefront of research in the field, discovering how cats use tail signals to interact with each other and their owners. Now, she reveals the previously unexplored secrets of cat communication in a book that is both scientifically grounded and utterly delightful. Each chapter dives into a...

Zazie and Kristi answer questions about dog and cat behaviour in this episode of The Pawsitive Post in Conversation which was recorded live. By Zazie Todd PhD Watch episode 21 of The Pawsitive Post in Conversation below or on Youtube , listen below or via your favourite podcast app (Apple), or read highlights of the conversation below. About this episode In this episode, Zazie and Kristi answer wide-ranging questions about both dogs and cats that were sent in by listeners.  We talked about: brain games and the attention span in senior dogs;  suggestions for new things to teach dogs; why dogs bark at e.g. people in hats or people going by the house;  cooperative care for kittens;  creating a local resource list for anxious and fearful dogs;  enrichment and caring for fearful cats;  the best tone of voice to use when speaking to your dog and whether dogs can detect our levels of stress;  how to advocate for your dog;  whether to teach a chin rest...

Dog training isn’t just about behaviour. Here are 3 ways that you can use classical conditioning to build positive associations for your dog.  Photo: Annabel Gsoedl/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. Everyone’s heard of classical conditioning, because everyone has heard of Pavlov and his dogs.  Classical conditioning refers to the way that we and other animals learn by association: that when one thing happens, it is followed by something else. In dog training , we use it to teach dogs that they don’t need to be scared of something after all because every time they see it or it happens (ideally at a low level where they feel safe), it will be followed by amazing treats.  This is counter-conditioning, where we aim to create (i.e, condition) a positive emotional response. The way I like to put it in my new book, Bark! The Science of Helping Your Anxious, Fearful, o...