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I’m Zazie, author of Companion Animal Psychology. If you love pets, you’re in the right place. Even better if you also love science and care about animal welfare.

I publish a new post every Wednesday (and sometimes on a Sunday too). Why not join over 2,500 animal lovers and subscribe to Companion Animal Psychology?

Here are some of my favourite posts. If you love books, you can also check out the Animal Book Club and the Animal Books Facebook group. And don't miss the Companion Animal Psychology t-shirt - a portion of the proceeds goes to the BC SPCA Maple Ridge.



Cats are wonderful creatures. When we understand them, we can use that information to make them happier. Here are five things to do for your cat today - and a bonus one to work on over time. 






A user-friendly guide to everything you need to know about positive reinforcement. 
Especially for anyone who is new to dogs or new to dog training.





The many ways we can improve our cat's lives




The best dog training treats

The best treats to use in dog training

Want to know which are the best treats to use in dog training?
This guide tells you what to consider and lists my favourites
(with recipes for home-made treats too)




Where do cats like to be stroked?


“Owners should avoid stroking near the tail. Instead they should stroke the face, especially in the areas where the scent glands are.”


How audiobooks can help shelter dogs 


“...although dogs don’t appreciate the fine writing and the plot, they do enjoy the engaging human voice.”

Re-arranging metaphors for dogs 


“Because dogs are family, and our furry family members need love, training and walkies, not dominance”

What kind of scratching post do cats prefer? 


“When cats scratch the furniture, their owners get annoyed. But it turns out many people are providing the wrong kind of scratching posts. Here's what cats prefer.”

Why you need to socialize your puppy 


“The importance of a critical period for socialization is hard to overestimate,” says Jean Donaldson.
You've heard that puppies need to be socialized, but have you ever wondered how we know?


Six ways to entertain your dog indoors


“When walks are limited these ideas will help you tire out your dog.”




The right to walk away


"Try to ensure that your dog or cat (or rabbit or...) has the opportunity to make choices."





How to help your pet with visits to the veterinarian

Essential tips for better vet visits.
I also maintain two resource pages on dog training science and cat training science.


If you like what you see, subscribe to get posts by email, and follow on twitter, facebook or pinterest. See you on Wednesday!

Popular posts from this blog

Small Dogs Are Less Likely to be House Trained than Big Dogs

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But small dogs are more likely to be fully house trained if they have attended training, study shows.


By Zazie Todd, PhD

It has often been suggested that small dogs are more likely to have accidents in the house than large dogs. New research in press in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior finds that small dogs are significantly more likely than big dogs to have house-training mistakes. The research was conducted by Dr. Amy Learn (resident in Clinical Behavioral Medicine at Florida Veterinary Behavior Service) with veterinary behaviourists Dr. Lisa Radosta and Dr. Amy Pike.

It’s an important topic because when dogs have house training issues, their owners may surrender them to an animal shelter, or resort to punishment (which is associated with risks such as fear and anxiety).

The study looked at differences between small dogs (up to 9kg) and big dogs (18kg or more). Dogs in the 9-18kig range were excluded from the analysis as there was some overlap with breeds in other categories.

67% o…
Read more

Training Classes and Dogs’ Fear of Loud Noises

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Attendance at dog training classes is associated with reduced levels of canine anxiety in response to storms and fireworks, study shows.


By Zazie Todd, PhD

Sensitivity to loud noises such as thunder, fireworks, and gunshots is a problem that affects up to 49% of pet dogs (Blackwell et al 2013). The signs of fear in response to a loud noise can include trembling and shaking, barking, hiding, and seeking out people. A new study from Japan finds that having attended dog training school is associated with fewer anxious behaviours in adult dogs in response to storms and fireworks.

The research by Takuma Kurachi (Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology) and Mami Irimajiri (Hill’s Pet Nutrition Japan) is published in the Journal of Veterinary Behaviour. 307 dog owners attending parks or dog parks in Tokyo and Kanagawa completed a questionnaire about their dog’s anxious behaviours and their earlier attendance at puppy class and/or dog training class.

The results showed that 30.9% of dog…
Read more

How to Help a Fat Cat Lose Weight

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Simple steps to help your overeweight or obese cat lose weight.



By Zazie Todd, PhD

If you have any concerns about your cat's weight or diet, or simply want to know if your cat is a healthy weight, speak to your veterinarian.

Many cats are overweight or obese. A recent review by Kathryn Michel and Margie Scherk, published in the Journal of  Feline Medicine and Surgery, summarizes the problem and the steps that should be taken to help cats lose weight.

Their paper begins by discussing the serious health concerns caused by overweight and obesity: an obese cat is almost four times as likely to get diabetes as a normal-weight cat, and more likely to suffer from other problems such as urinary tract disease and lameness.

They point out that just ten extra pieces of kibble a day, over and above what the cat needs, will cause a 12% increase in weight over the course of a year.


Many owners are not very good at recognizing that their cats are overweight. A typical cat should weigh about 4.5kg…
Read more