Companion Animal Psychology
4,744 FOLLOWERS
Zazie Todd owner of Companion Animal Psychology is an animal behaviour expert and author who loves nothing better than helping people resolve issues with their pets with science to help have happier cats and dogs. A blog packed with research-based information on how pets think.
Companion Animal Psychology
1w ago
What first time dog guardians need to know about dog training.
Photo: Angela Holmyard/Shutterstock
By Zazie Todd PhD
Getting a dog for the first time is a wonderful experience but also a hard one. Having a dog in your house is a lot of work, and many first-time dog guardians struggle in those early weeks and months. It takes time to settle into an easy rhythm, and it takes time to train your dog how to behave. On top of that, people who get their first dog are more likely to use outdated training methods that are linked to poorer outcomes.
It doesn’t help that when you look for help ..read more
Companion Animal Psychology
1w ago
Common questions about getting your book featured on Companion Animal Psychology.
A selection of books about dogs, cats, and other animals. Photo: Zazie Todd
By Zazie Todd PhD
These days, I regularly get emails from authors and publicists asking how they can get the Animal Book Club to pick their book.
There are several ways that books get mentioned on Companion Animal Psychology, so I thought I’d put something here that explains. (This includes a surprise that I’m working on at the moment). These options are for traditionally-published books only. (If your book is self-publish ..read more
Companion Animal Psychology
2w ago
My new post at Psychology Today looks at how to get help with your cat's behaviour issues.
Photo: Francesco Ungaro/Pexels
By Zazie Todd PhD
We all love our pet cats, but even though all cats are perfect, it's pretty common for people to have issues with their behaviour. Whether it's scratching the furniture, toileting outside of the box, or not getting on with other pets in the home, it can be hard for you to deal with--and it's often a sign that something is not right for your kitty.
My latest post at my Psychology Today blog Fellow Creatures answers the question, How can I get help ..read more
Companion Animal Psychology
3w ago
"Ever wondered why your cat won't sit on your lap?"
By Zazie Todd PhD
This page contains affiliate links which means I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no cost to you.
This month, the Animal Book Club is reading Being Your Cat: What's Really Going On In Your Feline's Mind by Celia Haddon and Prof. Daniel Mills FRCVS.
From the publisher:
"Prepare to enter the mind of your cat and revolutionise the way you see the world and your enigmatic pet.
Bestselling cat author Celia Haddon and veterinary expert Dr Daniel Mills take you into the mind of your feline and, drawing on ..read more
Companion Animal Psychology
1M ago
Zazie and Kristi are joined by zoologist Dr. Jo Wimpenny to talk about her book, Aesop’s Animals: The Science Behind the Fables.
By Zazie Todd PhD
Watch episode 15 of The Pawsitive Post in Conversation below or on Youtube, listen below or via your favourite podcast app (including Apple, Spotify), or scroll down to read the highlights.
About this episode
This page contains affiliate links which means I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no cost to you.
In this episode of The Pawsitive Post in Conversation, Zazie and Kristi are joined by zoologist and writer Dr. Jo Wimpenny ..read more
Companion Animal Psychology
1M ago
I've got a new post over on my Psychology Today blog, Fellow Creatures.
Photo: Blue Bird/Pexels
By Zazie Todd PhD
The post looks at the different types of dog training classes and consultations that are available, and how to choose between them.
For example, puppy class is a valuable way to help meet your pup's needs for socialization. Classes for adult dogs are a great way to continue to work on manners, but a private session is better for behaviour issues.
Many online options are available these days which can be a great choice. And of course, training methods must also be taken in ..read more
Companion Animal Psychology
1M ago
Harley Jan 2009—9 Feb 2024
Harley. Photos: Zazie Todd
By Zazie Todd PhD
On Friday we had to say goodbye to our beloved brown tabby cat, Harley. He was 15 and had lived with us since he was about 2.5 years old.
Harley was a very affectionate cat who would start purring as soon as I walked into the room (something that ended up in a story in The Atlantic after a journalist asked me what made my cats purr). He was also an expert at opening doors, which sometimes led to a few adventures or at least to extra treats.
Although he was an indoor cat, there would be moments when we ..read more
Companion Animal Psychology
1M ago
I spoke with Jim Mora about how pets can benefit people and other new research on dogs and cats.
Photo: Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock
By Zazie Todd PhD
I joined Jim Mora on Radio New Zealand's Sunday Morning to talk about some recent news articles that cover research that finds that pets can have benefits for people. Or in one case that we discuss near the end of the interview, potentially have a detrimental effect (but you'll be glad to know more research is needed).
Amongst other things, we talk about the way that dogs can encourage adults to get their daily exercise and can ..read more
Companion Animal Psychology
1M ago
When dogs lunge, bark, and growl at other dogs or people, the dog is having a hard time—and so is their guardian. More awareness is needed.
Many people with reactive dogs walk where they won't see anyone else. Photo: Danilo Silveira/Shutterstock
By Zazie Todd PhD
If you’ve never had a reactive dog, you don’t know what it feels like when someone says “She’s friendly” or "It's okay, he's fine," meaning they are going to let their off-leash dog run right up to you and your dog. You tense up, breathe more quickly, and run through different options of what to do in your mind as you wait f ..read more
Companion Animal Psychology
1M ago
The study of over 150 breeds and crossbreeds shows that size matters, as little dogs live longer—and so do those with a medium head shape rather than a flat face.
The Lancashire Heeler is the longest-lived breed. Photo: hansbenn/Pixabay
By Zazie Todd PhD
We all wish our pet dogs would live longer. New research out of the UK finds that the average dog lives 12.5 years. Contrary to previous research, dogs in this dataset lived slightly longer if they are a pedigree dog, and less long if they are a mixed breed.
The study, published in Scientific Reports, looked at data from over half a ..read more