The Pawsitive Post in Conversation by Companion Animal Psychology
The show about how to have a better relationship with your dog or cat. Get tips on dog training, dog behaviour, cat behaviour and training, learn about the science on dogs and cats, and find out which books we're reading (animal-related and more generally). Kind, humane, reward-based training methods only. Hosted by Zazie Todd PhD and Kristi Benson CTC of Companion Animal Psychology blog. Made in Canada.
Can your dog tell if you're pregnant and smell if you're stressed? with Dr. Catherine Reeve
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Zazie and Kristi chat with scientist Dr. Catherine Reeve about her research to find out whether dogs change their behaviour when their owner is pregnant and if they can use their noses to detect when someone is stressed.
We talked about:
The survey that investigated whether women think their dog's behaviour changed when they were pregnantThe kinds of dogs that were most likely to show changesHow the scientists got scent samples from people who were stressedThe training to teach dogs to alert to the scentHow well the dogs did at...How to evaluate the scientific research on dogs and cats: A guide
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New research on dogs and cats helps us to understand them better and give them better lives. But how do we know if the research is any good, and what about our feelings about the results? Zazie and Kristi chat about how to evaluate the science.
We talk about:
Taking an ethical stance on dogs and cats that recognizes that they are sentient beingsHow it can be tricky to assess research if you're not trained as a scientistThe research on training methods shows risks to using aversives and that it's...Resource guarding in dogs: What to do about it with Jean Donaldson
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Jean Donaldson has just published a new edition of her book Mine! A Practical Guide to Resource Guarding in Dogs. If you have a dog who guards food, objects, people, or locations, you need this book! Jean joins Zazie and Kristi to discuss what to do if your dog guards food, locations, or other resources.
We talk about:
Why it was time for a new edition of Mine! and what it was like to write itHow to decide if your dog needs a regular training plan or a more incremental...Why children should Ask the Dog if they want to be petted with Steve Dale
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Kids are routinely taught to ask a dog's owner before petting the dog. Today, radio host Steve Dale joins us to talk about how they should also find out if the dog wants to be petted or not. We learn about Steve's new children's book, Ask the Dog, which is a fun story with an important message, and we also talk about some good news in cat health.
We talked about:
Why Steve wrote the bookThe importance of preventing dog bites, and why children are especially at riskWhy children should...Dogs and cats, breeds and behaviour: Quick questions
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Zazie and Kristi ask each other rapid fire questions about dogs and cats, breeds and behaviour. But in this game of this or that, we also discuss the answers, illuminating ideas about training and enrichment. By the end of the show, you'll know Zazie and Kristi a lot better, but you'll also have learned something about dogs and cats.
As you listen, be sure to shout out your answers too! Or you can leave us a voicemail and let us know.
Do you have any this-or-that questions that you...
Why we should love the beasties with Dr. Jo Wimpenny
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Zazie and Kristi chat with Dr. Jo Wimpenny, author of Beauty of the Beasts, to learn more about wasps, mosquitoes, vultures, sharks, and other unloved animals.
We talk about:-
why Jo wanted to write about the beastieshow everything is connectedthe value of wasps and mosquitoes to the ecosystemhow sharks are not necessarily out to get people (even if sometimes they are)whether some animals are over-ratedwhich animal Jo most loved writing aboutand finally Jo told us which book she's been reading.Beauty of the Beasts: Rethinking...
Can pet dogs sniff out an invasive species? with Melissa McCue-McGrath
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Can pet dogs use their nose to find the eggs of an invasive species, the spotted lanternfly--and what was it like taking part in citizen science to find out? Zazie and Kristi are joined by dog trainer and author Melissa McCue-McGrath to learn all about this fun project. We also learn about Melissa's book, Misadventures of the World's Okayest Dog Trainer.
We talk about:
the nose work classes that Melissa teacheswhy the spotted lanternfly is such a problemwhy Melissa wanted to take part in citizen sciencethe real life issues that...Senior dogs and young dogs living together: How to keep everyone safe and happy
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Content warning: The books section at the end of the episode includes subject matter that may be distressing.
Having both a senior dog and a young dog in the same home can be wonderful, revitalizing the older dog and providing company for the younger dog. But it can also have its challenges. Zazie and Kristi talk about how to make sure everyone is happy and stays safe.
We talk about:
How training can help when you have both an old dog and a young dog or puppyWhat to...How to help your dog behave with guests with Jeff Millman
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How can you help your dog to like it--and behave well--when visitors come to your home? Zazie and Kristi are joined by dog trainer Jeff Millman, author of Triggers and Reactions: A Guide to Fixing Your Dog Behavior Problems, to chat about this common issue.
We talk about:
Why having your dog jump on guests is in some ways a nice problem to haveThe behaviours we can teach them to do insteadThe signs to look for that would suggest that your dog is shy or fearful of guestsHow to use...How to help dogs and cats get along with each other
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Zazie and Kristi talk about how to help dogs and cats get along, and why it all starts with thinking about the cat's feeling of safety.
We talk about:
the need to manage introductions between dogs and catswhat that means from the dog's perspective, and the cat's perspectivethe importance of letting them vote with their feetthe need for safe spaces, and how to make safe spaces for a catthe idea of training the dog to be safe around catshow to keep the peace at mealtimesplacement of the cat's resourceswhether dogs...Everything you need to know about cat carriers with Dr. Mansum Yau
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What's the best kind of carrier to choose for your cat? We get a veterinarian's perspective from Dr. Mansum Yau, author of The Ins and Outs of Cat Carriers: A Veterinarian's Guide to Cat Carriers.
We talk about:
why, as a vet, Dr. Mansum is interested in cat carrierswhat kind of carrier is the best one to choosehow to help cats be more comfortable at the vethow she became a stand-up comedian on top of being a vet, and how humour can help at the vetwhy toothbrushing is so important...Patricia McConnell PhD and her first novel Away to Me
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Away to Me is Patricia McConnell PhD's first mystery novel, and it's gorgeous. Zazie and Kristi chat with Patricia to learn more about the book and why she decided to write fiction set in the dog world.
We talk about:
What made Patricia decide to write a mystery novelThe main character, Maddie McGowanWhether it was fun to be writing dogs as charactersHow she wrote about the dogs as real characters & without turning the interactions into negative/aversive ones. The many different dog training cases that appear as secondary characters in t...Caring for dogs vs caring for cats
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How is caring for a dog different than caring for a cat, and what is the same? We talk about what dogs and cats need for a happy life with us.
We talk about:
Training dogs and training cats (and why you should train your cat)The importance of enrichmentTheir sense of smellGoing places with your dog, but not your catHouse trainingVet care and husbandryAnd the books we've been reading.Also mentioned in this episode:
There is a training plan to teach your cat to go...How to help dogs with separation anxiety with Malena DeMartini
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If your dog has separation anxiety, what can you do to help them, how can you cope with not leaving your dog alone for longer than they can handle, and why is it so important? We're joined by separation anxiety expert Malena DeMartini to talk about how you can help your dog with their separation-related issues.
We talk about:
what separation anxiety is and whether other labels like separation-related distress are useful to dog trainers and dog guardianswhat it means to suspend absences for your doghow video helps to show...Holiday Special with Dr. Jo Wimpenny, Dr. Marc Bekoff, and Erica Beckwith CTC
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In this special episode, Zazie and Kristi are joined by some of the most popular guests from previous episodes to chat about all things animal behaviour, including dogs, cats, ants, penguins, and crows.
We talk about:
with Jo Wimpenny, PhD, author of Aesop's Animals, we talk about The Ant and the Grasshopper and how we know whether or not animals can plan ahead--plus we get exciting news about her next bookZazie and Kristi chat about their highlights of the yearwith Marc Bekoff, PhD, author of The Emotional Lives of Animals...Dog bites: Ask Me Anything with Carri Westgarth PhD
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Zazie and Kristi are joined by Prof. Carri Westgarth to answer your questions about dog bites, how to avoid getting bitten by a dog, and what to do if you have been bitten by a dog.
We talked about:
Why dogs biteHow to use management to keep people safe from dogsHow to keep children safe from dog bitesWhat to do if a loose dog charges you How to regain trust if your own dog has bitten youThe difference between predatory behaviour and fear aggressionThe systemic factors that can make a...Why you and your dog will love nose work with Bonnie Hartney
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We learn what canine scent work is, why it's so good for dogs, and how to get started--and progress--in this activity with Certified Nose Work Instructor Bonnie Hartney of Ocean Park Dog Training.
We talk about:
How Bonnie got started in scent work and how the activity first came aboutWhy scent work is fun for dogs and for their humansWhat to expect at a beginner classWhether scent work is for all dogsThe kinds of scent that are used, how dogs progress to searching for a target odour, and the kinds...Reactive and fearful dogs: Your questions answered
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We hosted an Ask Me Anything on anxious, fearful, and reactive dogs. You asked some incredible questions, and this is the result.
We talked about:
How to find the starting place for working with anxious dogsHelping dogs who are afraid of elevatorsFear of strangersHelping reactive dogs in tricky environments like apartment buildings and citiesReactivity to other dogsFear of loud noisesHow the unfortunate side effects of shock collars can persist after training is overHow to persuade people not to use aversivesand more!Also mentioned in this episode: Understanding resource guarding...
Conservation dogs and Deadly Trade by Sara Driscoll
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We talk about the real world of conservation dogs and the fictional world of FBI dogs and conservation canines with Jen J. Danna, who writes under the name Sara Driscoll. Deadly Trade is the latest FBI K-9 mystery from author Sara Driscoll. K-9 handler Meg Jennings can never walk away from her job, even amid her Hawaiian Islands honeymoon, where she and her search-and-rescue black Lab encounter a double threat from wildlife poachers and Mother Nature.
We talked about:
The work of conservation dogs and what they do on the...Demand barking in dogs (and what to do about it)
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Demand barking is a type of barking that dogs do to get something they want, like a treat, toy, or attention. It happens because we've previously (accidentally) rewarded them for it. So what should you do if your dog is demand barking?
In this episode, we talk about:
How dogs bark for different reasons, including watchdog barking and barking due to fearWhat demand barking isWhy the phrase "demand barking" is actually a bit of a misnomerWe give examples of demand barking, including when Zazie's dog Pepper does thisWe share ideas...How to get started in dog sports with Ayoka Bubar
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Dog sports are fun activities for you and your dog, but with so many to choose from, it can feel daunting to get started. We demystify dog sports with trainer Ayoka Bubar, a Rally Obedience judge who has taught (and tried) many different sports. She shares the details and tells us how to match sports to dogs.
We talked about:
Why Ayoka loves dog sportsWhy dog sports are good for dogsWe get examples: rally o, tricks training, barn hunt, and cartingWhich kinds of dogs and people these sports are best...Harmonious multidog households: How to prevent (and stop) fights
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The benefits of having more than one dog and what you should do to ensure everyone gets along. We talk about:
How having another dog in the home can be beneficial for a dogHow it can cause issuesDisagreements between dogs are normal, just like people disagreeWhat kind of disagreement is okayThe mistake many people make which makes things worseHow to make sure resources aren't a source of stressHow to deal with dog fights and break them upManagement can be life-saving for multi-dog homesOn the fly training for polite interactionsAnd as always, we...Teenage dogs (and what to do about them) with Tina Spring
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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.Â
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 host of Your Family Dog podcast.
How to help your reactive or fearful dog
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If a dog is reactive, fearful, or anxious, often the dog is struggling--and so is their person. We share tips to help you to help your fearful dog, from the first chapter of Zazie's book Bark! The Science of Helping Your Anxious, Fearful, or Reactive Dog. Bark! is out now in paperback and available wherever books are sold.
Get Bark!: https://www.companionanimalpsychology.com/p/books.htmlÂ
We talked about:
How important it is to recognize the signs of stress in dogsYour priority is to help your dog f...Training dogs, lizards, and sea lions with Dr. Adrian Walton
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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” trainersHow he trained sealions at the Toronto Zoo with a whistle and a bucket of fishHow a large lizard ended up at his clinic and what his technician taught the Nile monitor to doH...Writers on what brings them hope for the human-animal relationship (bonus)
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Writers talk about what brings them hope for the human-dog, human-cat, and human-animal bond.
This is a bonus episode featuring Patricia McConnell PhD, Jean Donaldson, Marc Bekoff PhD, and all of the writers who took part in Bark! Fest, the book festival for animal lovers. Together they share their insights on what is cause for hope. Bark! Fest celebrated the launch of my book Bark! The Science of Helping Your Anxious, Fearful, or Reactive Dog, which is out now.
A few years back, I heard one of my favourite...
The benefits of tricks training for dogs and cats with Erica Beckwith (Replay)
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As we take a summer break, we're replaying this fun and fantastic interview with Erica Beckwith of A Matter of Manners dog training about the benefits of tricks training for dogs and cats.
We talked about:
the benefits of tricks traininghow tricks training can help you love your pet even morehow Erica got into training tricksErica's favourite tricks to teach others in classestips on how to take a selfie with your doghow to find the right reinforcement for your cat, and the right way to deliver that reinforcement<...Human remains detection dogs and historic searches with Kim Cooper and Cat Warren
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Dogs have incredible noses, and can trained to search for the scent of human remains, bringing closure to those who are grieving and the opportunity to memorialize. As well as recent remains, they can also search for historic remains. We're joined by two experts in the field, Kim Cooper of Ottawa Valley Search and Rescue, and Cat Warren, author of the NYT-bestseller What the Dog Knows, to learn more about these dogs and the work that they do.
We talk about:
How Kim and Cat got started in working with...Fearful and Anxious Dogs with Zazie Todd, PhD, at Bark! Fest
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Zazie Todd is at the forefront of the move towards positive animal welfare and kind, humane dog training methods. Her third book, Bark! The Science of Helping Your Anxious, Fearful, or Reactive Dog is a compassionate and practical guide to overcoming your dog’s fears. In this panel from Bark! Fest, you’ll learn how to help your dog feel safe, how your presence can help your dog, and get a new understanding of the training techniques that can make a difference, as she shares tips from Bark!.Â
We talked about:
How...Loving and Losing Pets with E.B. Bartels, Rev. Sarah Bowen, and Karen Fine DVM at Bark! Fest
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Living with pets sadly means losing them too. There wasn't a dry eye in the house (in a good way) at this event.
Loving pets means thinking of them both in life and after their loss. In the poignant and personal Good Grief: On Loving Pets, Here and Hereafter, E.B. Bartels takes us on a global tour of how we love and mourn our pets. Sarah Bowen shares her deep insights on the lives and loss of all animals—pets and wildlife—in Sacred Sendoffs: An Animal Chaplain’s Advice for Su...
Animal Emotions with Marc Bekoff, PhD, at Bark! Fest
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When The Emotional Lives of Animals was first published in 2007, it was a gamechanger for its exploration of animal emotions and cognition. Now, a second edition has been published to bring us up to date on all the new science of animal emotions. Marc Bekoff joins us in this webinar to talk about animals’ experiences of joy, empathy, grief, anger, and embarrassment. You’ll never see animals the same way again.
We talked about:
What Marc Bekoff was hoping to do when he wrote the first edition of this book in 2...Our Bond with Cats with Sarah Chauncey, Sassafras Patterdale, and Rachel Wells at Bark! Fest
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Reflect on what cats mean to us and the many ways they influence our lives with these 3 feline authors.Â
Sarah Chauncey’s heartfelt P.S. I Love You More Than Tuna is a touching celebration of our bond with our cats, illustrated by Francis Tremblay. Claw This Journal: An Activity Book for Cats and Their Humans by Sassafras Patterdale (Lowrey) is packed with crafts, training, and activities and a deep understanding of cats’ emotional wellbeing. In the latest in the Sunday Times bestselling series, Alfie the cat is preparing for a purrf...
Puppy Brain, early socialization, and what to ask a breeder with Kerry Nichols
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Zazie chats with Kerry Nichols, bestselling author of Puppy Brain: How Our Dogs Learn, Think, and Love.
We talk about:
How Kerry got into breeding dogsWhy we both love Golden RetrieversHow the book, Puppy Brain, came aboutWhat puppies are like when they are bornExamples of the socialization that Kerry does with puppiesHer favourite part of the first 8 weeks of a puppy's lifeAdvice on finding a responsible breeder (for any breed)And Kerry reads from Puppy Brain for us!Puppy Brain: How Our Dogs Learn, Think, and Love...
Canine Crime and Mystery with Antony Johnston, Louisa Scarr, & Dr. Philipp Schott at Bark! Fest
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If you love crime and mystery novels, you’re in for a treat as dogs help solve crimes in these remarkable books. When a singer dies in mysterious circumstances, dog sitter Gwinny Tuffel and the singer’s Border Collie investigate in Antony Johnston’s cosy and witty The Dog Sitter Detective Takes the Lead. In Louisa Scarr’s dark and compelling Gallows Wood, PC Lucy Halliday and her dog Moss search for the body after a severed hand is found in the woods. And when veterinarian (and amateur detective) Dr. Bannerman and his champion...
More Than Just a Dog with Si Wooler
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Zazie and Kristi talk to dog trainer Si Wooler about his new book, More Than Just a Dog.
We talk about the big changes that people are willing to make for their fearful dogs, and why the dog's relationship with their person is important for all dogs, but especially the fearful ones. We talk about what a great job Si does of helping people see things from the dog's perspective, and we ask how he talks with clients about the dog's umwelt, or how the dog perceives their world.
...
Caring for Dogs with Pilley Bianchi, Wendy Lyons Sunshine, and Carri Westgarth PhD
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Develop a better bond with your dog with these 3 canine authors. For the Love of Dog is Pilley Bianchi’s love letter to our canine friends, sharing wisdom from her father John W. Pilley’s work with Chaser the Border Collie and illustrated by NYTimes illustrator Calum Heath. In Tender Paws, Wendy Lyons Sunshine examines what dog guardians can learn from the science of human parenting. And Carri Westgarth draws on her research into human-animal interaction to help you improve your pet’s wellbeing and become The Happy Dog Owner.Â
This convers...
Caring for Cats with Lili Chin, Mikel Delgado PhD, and Lucy Hoile at Bark! Fest
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Learn about the best ways to care for cats with these 3 feline authors. The delightful and informative drawings in Kitty Language by Lili Chin teach you how to understand your feline friend. Mikel Delgado’s Play With Your Cat! will inspire you to have more fun through interactive play with your kitty. And in the book your cat wishes you would read, Lucy Hoile empowers cat guardians to build a better relationship with their cat.
We talked about:
How Lili researched her book, Kitty LanguageWhat she learned about feline body la...Canine Blockbusters with Alexis Devine and Teresa J Rhyne at Bark! Fest
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Celebrate the dog-human bond with these bestselling authors. Social media stars Alexis Devine and her dog Bunny examine our ability to communicate with dogs through buttons that let them “talk” in I Am Bunny. And in Poppy in the Wild, #1 New York Times bestselling author Teresa J Rhyne tells the breathtaking tale of a dog lost and then found in the wilderness.
We talked about:
Why Alexis decided to start using buttons to teach Bunny to 'talk'How Alexis went about the research for the sections on animal communicationCute stories about some...Canine Emotions and Perception with Marc Bekoff PhD, Zazie Todd PhD, and Cat Warren at Bark! Fest
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Discover the role of emotions and perception in dogs’ lives. In Dogs Demystified: An A-to-Z Guide to All Things Canine and the second edition of The Emotional Lives of Animals, Marc Bekoff updates our understanding of the emotions animals feel (and how we know they feel them). For people whose dogs feel shy or worried, Zazie Todd’s Bark! The Science of Helping Your Anxious, Fearful, or Reactive Dog is a compassionate and practical guide based on the latest science. And in the beautifully-crafted New York Times bestseller What the Dog Knows: Scent, Scie...
Culture Clash and Beyond with Jean Donaldson at Bark! Fest
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Bark! Fest gets off to a tail-wagging start with a conversation with one of the world’s top dog trainers. Jean Donaldson’s seminal book The Culture Clash reframed how we think about dogs and has inspired generations of dog trainers to use (or switch to) reward-based methods. Join us to talk about all things dog training, including positive reinforcement, fearful dogs, and education for dog owners and trainers alike.
This recording is of a panel at Bark! Fest, the book festival for animal lovers, that took place in September 2024. Bark! Fest...
