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I’m Zazie, the award-winning 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.
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I publish a new post most Wednesdays. I've also written two books that are packed with tips to help you with your pets: Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy and Purr: The Science of Making Your Cat Happy.
Companion Animal Psychology isn't just a blog. It's also a community of people who love dogs and cats and understand the importance of reward-based training, enrichment, and meeting your pet's needs. If you love books, you can also check out the Animal Book Club and the Animal Books Facebook group.
You can listen to my podcast, The Pawsitive Post in Conversation, via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favourite podcast app, or you can watch it on Youtube if you prefer.
And I highly recommend that you sign up to get Companion Animal Psychology in your inbox.
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| Photo: Geartooth Productions/Shutterstock |
So you brought home a new best friend, and you’re not sure where to start with training your new rescue dog. Here are some tips.
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.
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| Photo: Marie-Claude Lemay/Shutterstock |
An explanation of this common behaviour and what it means to your cat.
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).
I also have suggestions for training treats for cats.
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| Photo: Koldunov Alexey/Shutterstock |
“Cats sleep, anywhere,” by Eleanor Farjeon was a favourite poem when I was a child. This place looks at how much cats sleep and what to look for when choosing a bed for them.
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Why punishment is the wrong approach to house training, and how you should house train your puppy instead.
“Because dogs are family, and our furry
family members need love, training and walkies, not dominance”
“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.”
How to choose the best dog trainer for you and your dog, including the methods and qualifications to look out for. I also have a separate post on how to choose a puppy class.
David and Patrick's fairy-tale land of kindness could be our gift to dogs by Special Correspondent Kristi Benson.
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| Photo: thka/Shutterstock |
Dog trainer Kristi Benson is Special Correspondent to Companion Animal Psychology and this is one of her most popular posts. It's a dog trainer's reflections on acceptance, cultural change, and letting dogs be dogs.
I also write a blog at Psychology Today called Fellow Creatures. These are my two most popular posts there:
Zazie Todd, PhD, is the award-winning author of Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy and Purr: The Science of Making Your Cat Happy. She is the creator of the popular blog, Companion Animal Psychology, and also has a column at Psychology Today. Todd lives in Maple Ridge, BC, with her husband, one dog, and two cats.
Useful links:
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