Ask Me Anything About Dog Bites with Zazie Todd PhD and Carri Westgarth PhD
Join us for this Ask Me Anything with two dog experts. Bring your questions about dog bites or simply watch and learn.
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Do you have questions about why dogs bite and what we can do to prevent dog bites? Following the success of the last Ask Me Anything, Kristi and I are hosting another one--and this time we're joined by special guest Carri Westgarth, PhD, of the University of Liverpool and Merseyside Dog Safety Partnership.
If you were at last year's Bark! Fest, the book festival for animal lovers, you will recognize Carri's name as she took part in one of the panels. We are delighted to welcome her back for this AMA.
You are invited to attend and submit questions, or simply to watch the recording, as you prefer. Registration is required, and a recording will be available to those who register.
And if you'd like the books, you can get them here.
How do I ask questions?
Do you want to know why dogs bite, what kind of situation they are more likely to bite in, and what can (or should) be done about it? Has your dog ever bitten? If they guard their food, how can you keep people safe? This is the opportunity to get your questions answered by experts in the field!
You can submit questions in advance on this form.
The form gives you the option of including your name or being anonymous. If you leave your name, we may read out your first name when asking the question in the session. If you don't want that, you can choose to be anonymous.
You will also have the chance to ask questions during the live event using the Q and A box, but submitting them in advance helps us to plan the event.
You can submit questions in advance even if you can't attend live--you'll be able to watch the recording to get the answers.
When is the AMA on dog bites happening?
The event takes place on Zoom on July 15th, 2025, at 11am Pacific (2pm Eastern / 7pm UK time).
You'll be able to watch Kristi, Carri, and myself in conversation about dog bites and chat with other attendees. You can put last-minute questions or follow-ups in the Q and A.
And don't worry, attendees won't be on camera.
Will there be a recording?
Yes! The link to the recording will go out within 48 hours of the live event, but it will only go to those who register.
You'll have 30 days to watch the recording.
Ultimately we plan to put this out as an episode of our podcast, The Pawsitive Post in Conversation. But that won't be for a while so we recommend signing up for the live event if you want to know what's discussed!
Get the books
If you like this event, or you want to learn more about dog behaviour, you'll want to get the books by Carri and myself.
The impetus for this event is the paperback publication of my book Bark! The Science of Helping Your Anxious, Fearful, or Reactive Dog, which is full of tips to help anyone with a reactive or fearful dog.
You might also want to check out my first book, Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy, which will help you understand your dog better and make them even happier.
Carri Westgarth's books include The Happy Dog Owner: Finding Health and Happiness with the Help of Your Dog, in which she draws on her research to help you improve your and your dog's wellbeing.
She also co-edited Dog Bites: A Multidisciplinary Perspective with Daniel Mills. This book brings an expert perspective to the practical, medical, and sociological aspects of dog bites.
The books are available from all good bookstores.
About the panelists
Kristi Benson is an honours graduate of the prestigious Academy for Dog Trainers, where she earned her Certificate in Training and Counseling (CTC). She also has gained her PCBC-A credential from the Pet Professional Accreditation Board. She has recently moved to beautiful northern British Columbia, where she will continue to help dog guardians through online teaching and consultations. Kristi is on staff at the Academy for Dog Trainers, helping to shape the next generation of canine professionals. Kristi’s dogs are rescue sled dogs, mostly retired and thoroughly enjoying a good snooze in front of the woodstove.
Website: https://www.kristibenson.com/
Zazie Todd, PhD, is an animal behaviour expert and the award-winning author of Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy, Purr: The Science of Making Your Cat Happy, and Bark! The Science of Helping Your Anxious, Fearful, or Reactive Dog. She is the creator of Companion Animal Psychology blog, has a column at Psychology Today, and is an adjunct professor at Canisius University. She has a PhD in Psychology, an Advanced Certificate of Feline Behaviour (with Distinction) from International Cat Care, and is an honours graduate of the Academy for Dog Trainers. Originally from Leeds, UK, she now lives near Vancouver, Canada, with her husband, a dog and a cat.
Website: https://www.companionanimalpsychology.com/
Professor Carri Westgarth is Chair in Human-Animal Interaction at the University of Liverpool with a passion for understanding the relationships we have with our pets. With a background in animal behaviour and dog training she has trained in veterinary epidemiology and human public health. Her research interests focus on the implications of dog ownership for human health and wellbeing, but also how owner management of their dogs can impact dog welfare. Both quantitative and qualitative research methods are used to tackle her primary research questions of how to improve population health through the promotion of dog walking, and how to prevent dog bites. Her expertise on understanding and changing the behaviour of dog owners is sought by many organisations wishing to prevent dog bites and promote 'responsible' dog owner behaviour, such as her work as a consultant for Royal Mail. She is also a Full Member of the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors and founder of the Merseyside Dog Safety Partnership. In her spare time Carri teaches dog training classes, and previously was a professional Assistance Dog Instructor. Her practical experience in many areas relating to dogs, combined with a multi-disciplinary academic perspective, gives unique strength and relevance to her expertise.
Website: https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/infection-veterinary-and-ecological-sciences/staff/carri-westgarth/
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