Companion Animal Psychology

When a cute puppy turns into a terrible teen, many people struggle. We chat with dog trainer Tina Spring about what to do. By Zazie Todd, PhD This page contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no cost to you.  Content warning:  Suicidal ideation comes up in this conversation. Help is available. In Canada or the US, call or text 988 for the suicide crisis helpline. In the UK, the Samaritans are on 116 123.  Watch episode 40 of the Pawsitive Post in Conversation on Youtube , listen wherever you get your podcasts ( Apple , Spotify ), or scroll down to read a transcript of the highlights. Teenage dogs (and what to do about them) with Tina Spring When a cute puppy turns into a terrible teen, many people struggle. Tina Spring of Sit Happens joins us to talk about adolescent canines and how she helps people with their teenage dog in a place where many pups miss out on puppy class. Tina is also the smart, funny, and kind hos...

We talk about animal training, helping pets to be less scared at the vet, and the link between pain and behaviour with veterinarian Dr. Adrian Walton of Dewdney Animal Hospital. By Zazie Todd, PhD This page contains affiliate links which means I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no cost to you. Watch episode 38 of The Pawsitive Post in Conversation on Youtube or below, listen wherever you get your podcasts ( Apple , Spotify ) or below, or scroll down to read a transcript of the highlights. Training dogs, lizards, and sea lions with Dr. Adrian Walton What's a veterinarian's view on dog training methods? And if your pet is terrified of going to the vet, how can they help? We find out from an amazing veterinarian, Dr. Adrian Walton of Dewdney Animal Hospital in Maple Ridge, BC. We talked about:     Dr. Walton’s position on dog training methods, and his experience of so-called “balanced” trainers     How he trained sealions at the Toronto Zoo with a ...

Most dog trainers in Canada use reward-based training methods, but more work is needed before regulation becomes a realistic possibility. Photo: C_Gara/Shutterstock By Zazie Todd, PhD Last year, I wrote about the results of a study of dog trainers’ websites in BC, Canada, which found that 72% said they use reward-based methods to train dogs . That’s great news because organizations such as the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior and the BC SPCA say it’s important to avoid aversives due to the risks to dogs’ welfare . But do the websites accurately reflect dog trainer’s opinions, and what about the rest of Canada? New research published in Animals shares the results of a Canada-wide survey on dog training methods, and the results show a complicated picture. Dr. Camila Cavalli (UBC), first author of the study, told me in an email, “There are so many types of training programs and certifications, which exemplifies the lack of standardization in the field. This creates confusion...