New Reader? Start here

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). 

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 merch - a portion of the proceeds goes to help the animals at the BC SPCA Maple Ridge. You can also find more information about my book, Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy, which is full of tips on caring for a puppy or dog.



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.”


Don't punish your dog for peeing in the house 

New Reader? Start here. Photo shows thoughtful dog.

Why punishment is the wrong approach to house training, and how you should house train your puppy instead.

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.


 This page contains affiliate links.
Zazie Todd, PhD, is the author of Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy. She is the founder of the popular blog Companion Animal Psychology, where she writes about everything from training methods to the human-canine relationship. She also writes a column for Psychology Today and has received the prestigious Captain Haggerty Award for Best Training Article in 2017. Todd lives in Maple Ridge, BC, with her husband and two cats.

Useful links:

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. As an Etsy affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Popular posts from this blog

Don't Punish Your Dog for Peeing in the House

Image
Why punishment is the wrong approach for house training mistakes, and how you should house train your dog or puppy instead. Photo: mannpuku/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   How should we house train puppies, and deal with the inevitable mistakes that puppies and adult dogs can have? Suppose your dog suddenly starts to pee in the house. You clean it up the first time but it happens again…. And then again. Or your new puppy keeps having accidents indoors even though you take her outside often. In this situation, some people will yell at their dog. Some might even try physical punishment like hitting the dog or an alpha roll. And we’ve all come across the advice that you should rub their nose in it. Don’t do it. Whether you're toilet training an adult dog or house training a puppy, here’s why that’s the wrong approach, and what you should do instead. On
Read more

What Is Positive Punishment in Dog Training?

Image
Everything you need to know about the use of positive punishment in dog training. Photo: JJ Photographer/Shutterstock By Zazie Todd, PhD If you are a new dog owner, or even if you’ve been around dogs  for a while, this article is for you. It covers the technical definition of positive punishment, examples of what it is, what we know about the risks of using it and what professional organizations advise. Let’s get the technical definition out of the way first. This page contains affiliate links which means I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no cost to you     What is positive punishment in dog training? You’ll have noticed I said positive punishment instead of just punishment. In everyday language, we often say punishment when what we technically mean is positive punishment. We can also have negative punishment, but that will be the topic of another post. Punishment means something that reduces the likelihood of a behaviour happening again i.e. the behavi
Read more

What is Negative Reinforcement in Dog Training?

Image
A user-friendly guide to understanding negative reinforcement in dog training – and the three alternatives you should know about. Photo: Angyalosi Beata /Shutterstock By Zazie Todd, PhD If you are new to dog training, or want to understand some of the language of dog training, this article is for you. It covers the technical definition of negative reinforcement in dog training, examples of how it is used, what research tells us about negative reinforcement, and alternatives that you can use instead (along with some common mistakes people make, so you know how to get it right). This article is part of a series of guides that also covers positive reinforcement and positive punishment in dog training. Let’s start with the technical definition. This page contains affiliate links which means I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no cost to you. What is negative reinforcement? Negative reinforcement is one way to train dogs (and other animals). Negative rein
Read more