Companion Animal Psychology

When dogs demand bark, it can be frustrating--but it's easy to solve with reward-based methods if you know what to do. 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 episode 43 of The Pawsitive Post in Conversation on Youtube or below, listen wherever you get your podcasts ( Apple , Spotify ), or scroll down to read a transcript of the highlights. Demand barking in dogs (and what to do about it) Demand barking is a type of barking that dogs do to get something they want, like a treat, toy, or attention. It happens because we've previously (accidentally) rewarded them for it. So what should you do if your dog is demand barking? In this episode, we talk about:     How dogs bark for different reasons, including watchdog barking and barking due to fear     What demand barking is     Why the phrase "demand barking" is actually a bit of a misnomer     We give ...

It turns out that some dog trainers are more willing than others to suggest referrals to a veterinarian. Photo: Danielle W Press By Zazie Todd, PhD This page contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no cost to you. For dog trainers and behaviourists, there are times when a vet referral is helpful or even essential for dog behaviour issues. But some types of trainers are more likely to suggest a vet visit than others, according to two studies. They show that trainers who use out-dated aversive methods are less likely to suggest referrals to a vet than those who use reward-based methods . But first, it’s important to know why vet referrals may be advisable. One reason is that pain and other medical issues can play a role in behaviour cases, something that we are increasingly aware of (Mills et al, 2020). Any time you notice a sudden change in your pet’s behaviour, it’s important to see your vet to check for medical issues. Another reason is...

Dog sports are great fun for you and your dog. We spoke to Ayoka Bubar about which sport(s) to pick and what you'll gain. By Zazie Todd PhD Watch episode 42 of The Pawsitive Post in Conversation on Youtube or below, listen wherever you get your podcasts ( Apple , Spotify ) or below, or scroll down to read a transcript of the highlights. How to get started in dog sports Dog sports are fun activities for you and your dog, but with so many to choose from, it can feel daunting to get started. We demystify dog sports with trainer Ayoka Bubar, a Rally Obedience judge who has taught (and tried) many different sports. She shares the details and tells us how to match sports to dogs. We talked about:     Why Ayoka loves dog sports     Why dog sports are good for dogs     We get examples: rally o, tricks training, barn hunt, and carting     Which kinds of dogs and people these sports are best for     The best place to start if someone is inter...

Many dogs benefit from having another dog in the home. Here are the things you need to know to make it work (and what to do when things go wrong).  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 episode 41 of The Pawsitive Post in Conversation on Youtube or below, listen wherever you get your podcasts ( Apple , Spotify ) or below, or scroll down to read a transcript of the highlights. How to have a harmonious multi-dog household Having more than one dog brings many benefits, but how can you make sure that everyone gets along? We talk about:     How having another dog in the home can be beneficial for a dog     How it can cause issues     Disagreements between dogs are normal, just like people disagree     What kind of disagreement is okay     The mistake many people make which makes things worse     How to make sure resourc...