Companion Animal Psychology

The canine and feline scientists, pet professionals, bloggers and organizations to follow on social media in 2017. Photo: dezy/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. Are you looking for some new accounts to follow in 2017? I’ve compiled a list of some of the best people and organizations to follow on twitter and Facebook if you’re interested in companion animals, science, and the human-animal bond. Not only do they produce great content of their own, they also have a varied feed that includes news, research and interesting snippets from around the web. I’ve given links to twitter and Facebook accounts so you can follow however you choose (some are more active on one than the other). The first link is always to twitter, Facebook second if they are on there too. The list is in no particular order, so read through and see who you would like to follow. Of course, the

The most popular posts from Companion Animal Psychology in 2016. Photo: Olga_i/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. Looking back, I'm surprised by how much I wrote this year. During 2016 I published 58 blog posts, including 28 reviews of individual research papers on dogs, cats, ferrets, and the human-animal bond. I feel very lucky to have interviewed both  Dr. Sarah Ellis and Jean Donaldson , and thank them both for such interesting and inspiring interviews. I published the first guest post, an important piece by James Oxley and Clare Ellis about how rabbits are missing out on basic pet care practices . I really enjoyed hosting the Train for Rewards Blog Party , which was a huge lot of fun (look out for it again in 2017!). Thank you to everyone who participated, whether by writing a post or sharing your favourites. I also kept my list of dog training rese

Happy Holidays! Photo: Lebedeva Olga/Shutterstock Thank you for your support, encouragement, comments, likes and shares throughout the year. Season's Greetings and all best wishes for a joyful and peaceful 2017! Zazie Companion Animal Psychology By Zazie Todd, PhD This page contains affiliate links which means I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no cost to you. 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, writes The Pawsitive Post premium newsletter, and also has a column at Psychology Today . Todd lives in Maple Ridge, BC, with her husband, one dog, and two cats.  Useful links: Companion Animal Psychology merch   Companion Animal Psychology's Amazon store As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. As an Etsy affiliate and Marks and Spencer affiliate, I earn fro

The latest news on cats and dogs from Companion  Animal Psychology, December 2016. By Zazie Todd, PhD Some of my favourite posts from around the web this month This page contains affiliate links which means I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no cost to you. Realizing the Fear Free dream for pets by Dr. Marty Becker . Good intentions can go very wrong when you find a lost pet by Maddie’s Fund . Helping your dog feel safe during the holidays by Maureen Backman . How to enrich cats’ lives: Food puzzles for cats . Felicity Muth talks to Mikel Delgado . Why are pets popular with artists? Dr. Anne Fawcett interviews Dr. Sarah Engledow about the Popular Pet  Show at the National Portrait Gallery in Australia. Pets in the news… In the UK, the RSPCA’s petition to repeal Breed Specific Legislation now has more than 50,000 signatures. The London Assembly has also called for a review, saying the legislation “ has failed to protect the public and dog w

How to choose the best dog trainer for you and your dog, including the methods and qualifications to look for. By Zazie Todd, PhD This page contains affiliate links which means I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no cost to you     Get Companion Animal Psychology in your inbox. Whether you want to take part in obedience classes or arrange private sessions to resolve your dog’s behaviour problem, choosing the right dog trainer can be a difficult decision. Because dog training is unlicensed, anyone can call themselves a dog trainer, regardless of whether or not they have any education. So what should you look for? This article explains the key things you need to know before you hire a dog trainer. The most important choice in hiring a dog trainer When choosing a dog trainer, the most important thing is to find a trainer who uses reward-based dog training methods , which they might call positive reinforcement , force-free, or humane training methods. However

New research looks at the factors that influence how we feel after euthanizing a pet. 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. The loss of a pet is a difficult process. People’s feelings of grief may be the same as for losing a human family member. New research investigates some of the factors that may affect people’s grief and sorrow after euthanizing a dog or cat . The study, by Sandra Barnard-Nguyen  ( University of Sydney ) et al, is one of the first to use a survey designed specifically to measure people’s responses to loss of a pet, rather than a human. This takes account of differences in the experience, including the decision to euthanize a pet. A reaction of grief and sorrow on the loss of a pet can be seen as part of a normal psychological process.  However in some people there may be feelings of guilt and anger that are more problematic. This