About

Companion Animal Psychology has been inspiring pet owners to have happier cats and dogs since 2012. 

"Through Wag and now Purr, Zazie Todd has united dog-people and cat-people in a single goal: to make the lives of animals in our care richer and healthier—mentally, physically, emotionally—than we ever thought possible."—Jules Howard, zoological commentator and author of Wonderdog.

About Zazie Todd PhD

Zazie Todd, PhD, author of Wag, with her late dog Bodger
Zazie Todd, PhD, with her late dog Bodger, in Nov 2019. You can read about Bodger in Wag.

Zazie Todd, PhD, is an animal behaviour expert and award-winning writer who loves nothing better than helping people resolve issues with their pets. She started Companion Animal Psychology in 2012 to explore the ways in which science can help us to have happier cats and dogs. The Animal Book Club followed in 2016, and Companion Animal Psychology is now visited by over 50,000 people a month. 

Happy cats, happy dogs, thanks to science. About Companion Animal Psychology blog; logo is pictured.


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Todd's second book, Purr: The Science of Making Your Cat Happy, was published in May 2022. This indispensable book will help you understand your cat better. It addresses every stage of your cat's life and offers surprising and effective advice for even the most experienced cat owner, all with the science to back it up. Purr is a BC bestseller.



Todd's first book Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy with a foreword by Dr. Marty Becker, was published by Greystone Books in March 2020. It won a coveted Maxwell Medallion from the Dog Writer's Association of America. Wag is also a BC Bestseller and has been featured in outlets including Global News, The Telegraph, the Sunday Post, the Vancouver Sun, and Inside Your Dog's MindSee praise for Wag.


A copy of Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy, pictured with the Maxwell Medallion it won from the Dog Writer's Association of America


Todd's Psychology Today blog, Fellow Creatures, explores the social world of people and animals. Her writing has also appeared in Prima, Inside Your Dog's Mind, Inside Your Cat's MindModern Dog, Modern Cat, The Psychologist, Reader's Digest Canada, and Pacific StandardThe ultimate dog training tip won the 2017 Captain Haggerty Award from the Dog Writer's Association of America.

Praise for Zazie Todd's book, Wag

Todd is an adjunct professor at Canisius College, where she teaches a graduate course on Communicating  Anthrozoology to the Public. As well, she takes dogs and cats as clients through her behaviour consulting business, Blue Mountain Animal Behaviour.

Todd has a PhD in Psychology (University of Nottingham) and an MFA Creative Writing (UBC). Todd graduated with honours from Jean Donaldson’s Academy for Dog Trainers (“the Harvard of dog training”) and has an Advanced Certificate in Feline Behaviour with Distinction from International Cat Care. Todd is an affiliate member of the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior. She is a multi species training professional member of the Pet Professional Guild, and for 7 years was a volunteer at the BC SPCA. As well, she is Fear-Free certified and is a member of International Cat Care's Feline Wellbeing Expert Panel.

Todd's 2018 paper, Barriers to the adoption of humane dog training methods, was published in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research.

Todd grew up in Leeds, in the north of England, and now lives in Maple Ridge, BC, Canada, with her husband, one dog, and two cats.

Representation: Fiona Kenshole at Transatlantic Agency.


How to pronounce Zazie

Not sure how to pronounce 'Zazie'? It's a short 'a', like in dazzle or jazzy. The name comes from the book by Raymond Queneau, Zazie in the Metro.



Listen to or watch Zazie Todd, PhD

You can see or listen to interviews with Dr. Zazie Todd at the following links:





And on the What Makes You Click? podcast with Daniel Mills.



See the full list of media mentions for more.

Contact Details

To contact Zazie Todd, PhD, email companimalpsych at gmail dot com.

By mail: Zazie Todd, PhD,
PO Box 719 Stn Whonnock
Maple Ridge, BC,
V2W 0C9,
Canada.
(N.B. At the present time, please email Zazie to let her know to expect mail).


Zazie Todd is on FacebookTwitter, and Instagram

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Many thanks to all my supporters!

Acknowledgement

Companion Animal Psychology is written on the traditional territories of the Kwantlen and Katzie First Nations.

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