Will I see you down under? (part 2). Photo: Mudassir Ali/Pexels By Zazie Todd PhD I’ll be presenting at the Pet Professional Guild Australia conference in Sydney which runs from 14-16 June. The conference takes place at Rydges World Square in Sydney, with some practical workshops on the 14th at St. Ives Showgrounds. My talks will be on: From fearful to happy: The role of emotions in animal welfare. Counterconditioning: How to get it right. How to prevent and resolve common behaviour issues in cats. Strategies for the human side of fearful/reactive dogs Puppy and cat playtime and ..read more

Will I see you down under? (part 1). Photo: Makalu/Pixabay By Zazie Todd PhD I’ll be presenting at the New Zealand Association of Professional Dog Trainers conference in June. The conference takes place 8th – 9th June at the Silverstream Retreat, Lower Hutt, near Wellington. This year’s theme is Steady Paws, Calm Minds. I’ll be giving three talks at the conference: How to help fearful dogs feel safe Counter-conditioning for anxious and fearful dogs The value of enrichment for dogs. One of the other speakers at the conference will be Laura Ryder, the head dog trainer at Morley Ve ..read more

A twelfth anniversary is time to celebrate and to say thank you. Photo: Veronika 7833/Shutterstock By Zazie Todd PhD Companion Animal Psychology blog is 12 years old today. A 12th anniversary is symbolized by silk and fine linen, hence the accompanying photo of a Pembroke Welsh Corgi sleeping amongst some beautiful fabrics. 12 years is a milestone that not many blogs achieve. It’s only happened because so many of you support this blog in so many ways, from sharing posts and suggesting topic ideas, to buying or gifting my books, for which I am extremely grateful. Thank you for your su ..read more

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 On top of that, people who get their first dog are more likely to use outdated training methods that are linked to poorer outcomes.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

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

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

"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

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

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

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