Support
At Companion Animal Psychology, I've been advocating for reward-based training methods and happier dogs and cats since 2012. Here's how you can help.
By Zazie Todd PhD
I want to help people have better lives with their pets. I believe that with reward-based training, enrichment, and knowledge of animal behaviour we can help people have happier cats and dogs.
If that’s something you believe in too, here’s how you can help.
Become a member or founding member
Members and founding members provide regular support to help me cover the costs of maintaining the website and email newsletter, research the latest science on dogs and cats, pay for journal articles, and find the time to write accurate, evidence-based posts.
Members can choose between monthly or annual support. Founding membership is annual, and the first time you sign up I'll send you a signed copy of one of my books as a thank you.
From time to time, I host online morning coffees for members and founding members, so you can come and have a chat and ask me questions.
Become a member or become a founding member here.
Support me on Ko-fi
If you love what I do, you can also buy me a coffee on Ko-fi. Ko-fi does not charge fees and so it's a great way for you to say thanks with a cup of coffee to help me write the next post!
Buy my books
This page contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no cost to you.
If your dog is fearful, shy, or reserved, then check out my latest book, Bark! The Science of Helping Your Anxious, Fearful, or Reactive Dog. The Guardian says it is, "Encyclopedic in scope and packed with references to new findings in animal behaviour."
If you want to know how to make your dog even happier, you might like my award-winning book, Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy. Modern Dog called it “The must-have guide to improving your dog’s life.”
And if you're a cat person, you will love my book, Purr: The Science of Making Your Cat Happy. Kate LaSala of Rescued by Training says, "Purr is a must read for anyone who shares their life with a cat and wants to provide the most fulfilling, enriched, and happiest existence possible for them."
My books are available from all good bookstores, but if you purchase via my affiliate link or via Bookshop (which supports independent bookstores) I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no cost to you.
Please tell your dog- and cat-loving friends about these books!
Subscribe to Companion Animal Psychology
My free email newsletter will let you know whenever I have a new post. Newsletter subscribers are also the first to know when I have other cool things to share, like podcast episodes, talks, or other news. You can join over 4,500 animal lovers and sign up for the Companion Animal Psychology newsletter here.
I know that your inbox is a special place so I will only send an email 1-2 times a week. I won’t give your email address to anyone else, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
If you're more of a Substack person, you can also find me on there.
Share my posts
If a post resonates with you, chances are your friends and family will like it too. Every time you share a post it helps to spread the word about Companion Animal Psychology.
Follow me on social media
You can follow me on Bluesky, Facebook, and Instagram.
Write a review
Most people don’t realize just how important reviews are, but every review helps readers know if a book is for them. When they see that a book has helped other pet guardians, they are more likely to buy it. If you’ve read Bark!, Wag or Purr, please consider leaving an honest review on Amazon. Thank you!
Here are quick links to write a review:
Send me an email
I love to hear from readers so drop me a note and let me know what you think of Companion Animal Psychology. If you’re an email subscriber, you can just hit reply. I love to know when one of my posts has helped you or a client with a pet.
Why does Companion Animal Psychology need support?
I love writing Companion Animal Psychology, but I’ll be honest, it’s a ton of work--and the costs of running it keep going up.
Writing Companion Animal Psychology involves staying up-to-date on the scientific literature so that everything I write is accurate and based on the latest information. I read lots of research papers so you don't have to!
Writing each post takes many hours of writing and editing time. It often involves reaching out to scientists or vets with questions. I keep to a schedule so that each post is published on time. Then I share it with my Companion Animal Psychology newsletter subscribers and on social media. There's a lot of behind-the-scenes admin.
Plus, of course, there are the costs of maintaining the website and email list.
Unfortunately, advertising isn't a good way to support a website--as you know if you think about all those newspapers that have paywalls. I don't use advertising channels where you can't control what the adverts are for, because I don't want devices like shock collars to be advertised on my site. (When I write for other websites, I have no control over the ads).
I continue to write free posts here because I know that over the years, Companion Animal Psychology has made a huge difference to pets and their people. I want pet guardians to have a reliable source of information on the importance of reward-based training and enrichment for dogs and cats.
So if you love what I do, please help. I really appreciate everyone who supports Companion Animal Psychology. Thank you!
Don’t copy
It should go without saying, but copying is not a form of flattery. Instead, it hurts writers and makes it harder for them to keep creating. And it’s illegal too. It means I have to spend time sending DMCA takedown notices instead of writing. And frankly, it makes me depressed. Don’t do it.
If you like a post, don’t copy—share the link on social media instead or link to it on your website.
Many thanks to everyone who supports Companion Animal Psychology. I couldn’t keep this website going without you!
