Companion Animal Psychology

A new format for your favourite cat book. 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 am so excited to share the news that my book, Purr: The Science of Making Your Cat Happy , with a foreword by Pam Johnson-Bennett, will be published in paperback in Canada, the US, and the UK, on 6th June.  This is your chance to get the paperback edition, which is available from all good bookstores. Tell all your friends with cats!! I wrote Purr to help people with their cats and I'm so delighted with the response I've had to the hardback. I know the paperback will be able to help even more people. Here's some of the feedback I've had on Purr : "Enjoyable, approachable, easy to read. Purr is a must for anyone who shares their life with a cat."--Kate LaSala, Rescued by Training, certified trainer and behaviour consultant. "Full of great science delivered with genuine warmth and he

When introducing a puppy to cat(s) already in the home, take it slow, new research suggests. Photo: Gladskikh Tatiana/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. If you’re bringing a puppy into a home with an existing cat it’s important to do gradual introductions, according to new research by Rachel Kinsman et al, published in Animals , that investigated the factors that lead to success. Overall the results of the study are promising, even though only 7% of the puppies behaved in a completely desirable way in the presence of the cat. After all, puppies are still learning, so it’s no surprise that 93% showed some undesirable behaviours at least some of the time. But more than 25% of the puppies could be calm around the cat, and less than 2% showed signs of aggression such as growling at the cat.  Desirable behaviour was defined as being cal

The chemical signals your cat leaves behind—and how they play an important role in your cat’s relationship with their environment and you. Photo: Scalia Media/Shutterstock

A dog trainer ponders the question, somewhat retrospectively: what would it be like to be seen, or to have our dogs seen, as struggling, instead of misbehaving?  Kristi holding Wilma, who was a puppy, with Grace in an abandoned boat on the shores of Boot Lake in Inuvik, NWT. Photo: Yoenne Ewald By Kristi Benson PCBC-A, CTC, Special Correspondent

Fun activities for you to try with your feline friend. Photo: Veronika Zelenina/Shutterstock

Kristi and I have got something exciting coming soon. 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. We’re launching a podcast about how to have a better relationship with your pet. Whether you are a pet guardian or a pet pro, we think you will enjoy it. You can look forward to the podcast having the same values that you associate with Companion Animal Psychology : a focus on reward-based training methods, as well as the importance of management and enrichment for helping our pets live happier lives. Plus, of course, it will be fun.  Some episodes will be the two of us sharing tips on dog and cat behaviour and training, while others will have special guests including authors, dog trainers, cat behaviourists, and scientists. At the end of each episode we’ll chat about the books we’re reading. If the format sounds familiar, it’s because we’ve decided to turn