The Pawsitive Post in Conversation by Companion Animal Psychology

About the co-hosts:

Kristi Benson is an honours graduate of, and now on staff with, the prestigious Academy for Dog Trainers and has her PCBC-A from the Pet Professional Accreditation Board. She lives in beautiful northern British Columbia, where she helps dog guardians through online classes. She is also a northern anthropologist.

Zazie Todd, PhD, is the award-winning author of Bark! The Science of Helping Your Anxious, Fearful, or Reactive Dog, 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, and has a column at Psychology Today. She lives in Maple Ridge, BC, with her husband, a dog and a cat.

Being positive about positive reinforcement (when someone is wrong on the internet)

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 05:00:00 -0700

Kristi and Zazie chat about the need to be positive when talking about dog training and cat behaviour, and how they cope when someone is wrong on the internet.

We talked about:

The value of positive reinforcement, and gratitude for the positive reinforcement we get for the podcast
How to cope when someone is badly wrong on the internet and the post takes off
The idea of a DRI for ourselves: differential reinforcement of an incompatible behaviour
The idea of a revenge blog and how we have both written some of them
The value of likes, comments, and shares on social media and the difference they can make to the algorithm
The need to stay informed about science and the scientific process

Also mentioned in this show:

Ep65 on bothsidesism https://www.buzzsprout.com/2183505/episodes/19661849
Ep61 How to evaluate the scientific research on dogs and cats https://www.buzzsprout.com/2183505/episodes/19388459
Kristi's blog post on good alternatives to e-fencing: https://www.kristibenson.com/blog/2019/11/4/good-alternatives-to-e-fencing-dog-training-experts-weigh-in
Zazie's blog post on science communication: To promote positive reinforcement on dog training, teach, engage, and amplify https://www.companionanimalpsychology.com/2019/06/to-promote-positive-reinforcement-dog.html
Zazie's post on why it's dogs' happiness, not obedience, that counts: https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/fellow-creatures/202004/why-dogs-happiness-not-obedience-is-what-counts

The books we recommend in this episode are:

Memorial Park by Louisa Scarr
Starter Dog: My Path to Joy, Belonging, and Loving this World by Rona Maynard

About the co-hosts:

The Invention of the Dog with Tamsin Pickeral

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 05:00:00 -0700

Tamsin Pickeral's new book, The Invention of the Dog: 75 Breeds that Changed the World is a fascinating, touching, and beautifully illustrated account of where our beloved dogs come from. Tamsin joined Zazie and Kristi to chat about the book.

We talked about:

How the book came about, and what it was like selecting the artwork to be included in the book
Then we look at 3 very different breeds, starting with the history of the Shih Tzu
The history of the Bernese Mountain Dog
The history of the Yorkshire Terrier
How dog breeds became so different
Tamsin's favourite image from the book
Why dogs are so successful
The domestication of the dog
The depiction of dogs in art and how their appearance has changed over the years
And finally, we asked Tamsin to recommend a book to us

The Invention of the Dog: 75 Breeds that Changed the World is out now and available wherever books are sold.

The book that Tamsin recommended to us is Fairy Tale by Stephen King.

Tamsin Pickeral is an animal specialist and an art historian. She is an internationally published author who has written several acclaimed books on animal themes. Her new book, The Invention of the Dog, is just published and tells the true stories of some of our favourite dog breeds.

Learn more about Tamsin at https://tamsinpickeral.com/

About the co-hosts:

Great Writers and the Cats who Owned Them with Susannah Fullerton

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 05:00:00 -0700

Zazie and Kristi chat with Susannah Fullerton about her delightful book, Great Writers and the Cats Who Owned Them.

We talk about:

whether there is a special affiliation between writers and cats
how Susannah chose the writers to include in the book
some famous cats, including Hodge, who was a very fine cat indeed
Daffy, the cat who knew Anne of Green Gables before anyone else
why TS Eliot doesn't get a whole chapter despite inspiring the musical Cats
Dorothy L Sayers' cat Blitz
what the writers' accounts of their cats tell us about how the human-feline relationship has changed over the years
we get some of Susannah's favourite titbits from the book and ask which is her favourite cat
we learn about Susannah's upcoming book, Great Writers and the Dogs Who Loved Them
and finally we ask what she's been reading

You can see examples of Edward Lear's drawings of his cat Foss in this post on Susannah's website: https://susannahfullerton.com.au/literary-pets-foss-the-cat/

The book Susannah recommended to us is Anne's Cradle: The Life and Works of Hanako Muraoka, Japanese Translate of Anne of Green Gables by Eri Muraoka and Cathy Hirano.

Susannah Fullerton is Sydney’s most highly regarded literary historian and lecturer. She is a leading authority on 19th and 20th-century writers with a special interest in Jane Austen. She brings to life the lives and writings of great writers with fascinating talks and in literary tours around the world. In 2017 she was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for services to literature.

She's the author of Great Writers and the Cats Who Owned Them, which is available wherever books are sold.

Learn more and sign up for her newsletter at https://susannahfullerton.com.au/

About the co-hosts:

Dog training methods: How to advocate for dogs (and why bothsidesism doesn't help)

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 05:00:00 -0700

Zazie and Kristi chat about what we can do to better advocate for reward-based dog training methods, and some common things that people get wrong.

We talk about:

The podcast Kristi heard by Rachel Gilmore and why it made her want to talk about this topic
Why reward-based dog training methods are better for dogs and their people
Bothsidesism, and how portraying the use of aversive methods as normal and just another side of the argument is potentially damaging
How we can use a truth sandwich to counter myths about dog training
What the Overton window is and how it relates to conversations about dog training methods
Treviño's degrees of acceptance and how positive reinforcement dog training went from radical to sensible to popular

If you want to listen to some truth sandwiches about dog training and cat behaviour, check out episode 3 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2183505/episodes/12778186

The books we recommended in this episode are:

By Strength We Are Still Here by Crystal Gail Fraser
Pugs and Kisses by Farrah Rochon

You can listen to Farrah Rochon talk about Pugs and Kisses in the romance panel at Bark! Fest, the book festival for animal lovers, where she's joined by Julie Howarth (New Beginnings at the Cosy Cat Cafe) and Nicola Knight (Washed Up). Save your spot here: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/5917869995632/WN_svRTPtHARD-_BrgsmER6WA

And check out all of the Bark! Fest panels at https://www.companionanimalpsychology.com/p/home.html

About the co-hosts:

Love in Their Hearts and compassion for animals with Marc Bekoff, PhD

Tue, 04 Aug 2026 05:00:00 -0700

Marc Bekoff, PhD, joins Zazie and Kristi to talk about his new book Love in Their Hearts, his work (and upcoming book) with Jane Goodall, and what it's like studying canids.

We talked about:

Why Marc and his co-author Jeff Campbell wrote Love In Their Hearts
The time Marc's dog Jethro rescued a baby bunny, and stories of the grizzly bear known as 399
The importance of naming animals
Marc's research on dogs, wolves, coyotes, and foxes, and how his work replaced theories of dominance leading to the dissolution of litters in the wild
How animals tell stories
Marc's work with Jane Goodall, how he first heard of her, and how she influenced his work
The educator's kit that goes with Love In Their Hearts and how it can inspire hope and activism in young readers

The book Marc recommended is Knowing Wonder: An Elephant Story by Merrill Sapp illustrated by Gareth Hooks. You can read Marc's interview with Merrill Sapp here: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/animal-emotions/202412/an-elephants-world-from-the-mind-and-heart-of-a-matriarch

Love In Their Hearts: A Celebration of Animal Emotions and a Guide to Compassionate Action is by Marc Bekoff and Jeff Campbell.

Every Elephant Has a Name by Jane Goodall and Marc Bekoff illustrated by Gavin Scott will be published on Feb 8, 2027.

Marc Bekoff will be at Bark! Fest to talk about Love In Their Hearts on Sep 23, joining Alison Pearce Stevens (Detective Dogs). Sign up here: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/1317856369316/WN_QnjJGASbSvyWmpRL-mp1lQ

Find out more about Bark! Fest and sign up for the other events at companionanimalpsychology.com

Marc Bekoff is professor emeritus of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Colorado, Boulder. He has won many awards for his research and writing, including a Guggenheim Fellowship and the Exemplar Award from the Animal Behavior Society. He writes regularly for Psychology Today and has published more than thirty books, including The Emotional Lives of Animals and numerous scientific and popular essays. Visit marcbekoff.com to learn more.

Find Marc's Psych Today blog here: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/animal-emotions

About the co-hosts:

Setting standards in dog training and animal behaviour with Fiona Cooke of the ABTC

Tue, 21 Jul 2026 05:00:00 -0700

How can we set and maintain standards for dog training and animal behaviour? Zazie and Kristi are joined by Fiona Cooke, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Animal Behaviour and Training Council to learn all about their important work in the UK, and what anyone can do if they want to make a difference.

We talked about:

What the ABTC does
Why it's so important to follow a compassionate, non-punitive approach in training and animal behaviour
The wide range of organizations who are part of the ABTC (and how they represent people who work with dogs, cats, horses, and exotics)
The benefits of being on the ABTC register for practitioners in the UK, and how the public can use it to find a good trainer or behaviourist
We get a sneak peek of what the ABTC is working on right now
The importance of collaboration and how people can increase awareness of the ABTC and support their work
We get Fiona's tips on what people can do to make a difference
And finally we find out what Fiona's been reading, which turns out to include an instruction booklet for building a wardrobe!

The books Fiona recommends are The Secret Hour by Mick Herron and also his Slough House series, of which the first is Slow Horses.

The Animal Behaviour and Training Council sets and maintains standards of knowledge and practical skills needed to be an animal trainer, training instructor or animal behaviour therapist and maintains the national Register of appropriately assessed practitioners.

ABTC members include major animal welfare charities, organisations concerned with human-animal interactions, educational institutions and membership organisations for practitioners. The Council represents the training and behaviour sector to the public and to governments.

Visit the ABTC website: https://abtc.org.uk/

Sponsor the ABTC: https://abtc.org.uk/sponsors/

ABTC merch: https://shop.abtc.org.uk/

Fiona Cooke is Chair of the ABTC Board of Trustees. She is Head of Specialist Services (vet, behaviour, training and research) at Woodgreen Pets Charity. Her PhD focused on the role of local government in the implementation and enforcement of animal welfare legislation. She is a lecturer in law and runs an animal behaviour company working with complex behavioural issues of dogs and cats. Fiona is a full member of the APBC and FABC as well as an ABTC registered CAB.

About the co-hosts:

Can your dog tell if you're pregnant and smell if you're stressed? with Dr. Catherine Reeve

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 05:00:00 -0700

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 pregnant
The kinds of dogs that were most likely to show changes
How the scientists got scent samples from people who were stressed
The training to teach dogs to alert to the scent
How well the dogs did at the task
The implications for ordinary dog guardians

The papers we talked about are:

Dog owners’ perceptions of their dog’s behaviour during pregnancy https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/08927936.2025.2502241
Dogs can discriminate between human baseline and psychological stress condition odours https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0274143

The books Catherine recommended are The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog by Bruce Perry and The Unworthy by Agustina Bazterrica.

Also mentioned: Earlier episodes on surveys and understanding research (Ep61), and on dogs and scent work (Ep56 with Melissa McCue-McGrath; Ep 46 with Bonnie Hartney; Ep35 with Kim Cooper and Cat Warren).

Dr. Catherine Reeve is a Postdoctoral Fellow at Mount Saint Vincent University. She has a PhD in Experimental Psychology from Dalhousie University. She’s interested in applied canine behaviour, canine cognition, especially olfaction, and human-animal interaction. And she’s the head trainer at Epic Tails Canine Adventures in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

University website: https://www.msvu.ca/academics/bachelor-of-science-bsc/psychology/faculty-and-staff/dr-catherine-reeve/

Epic Tails Canine Adventures: https://epic-tails.ca/

About the co-hosts:

How to evaluate the scientific research on dogs and cats: A guide

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 05:00:00 -0700

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 beings
How it can be tricky to assess research if you're not trained as a scientist
The research on training methods shows risks to using aversives and that it's much better to only use reward-based training methods
Why we look for more than one study to teach us something
We consider different types of research, including the value of questionnaire studies and of experiments
What a meta-analysis is
How it can feel emotional if you don't like the results of a particular study
People's willingness to take part in research
A re-evaluation of a classic study on spanking children that is relevant to the discussion
And finally we talk about the books we're reading

The books we recommend this time are:

People, Places, Things by Chuck Palahniuk
New Beginnings at the Cosy Cat Cafe by Julie Haworth

Also mentioned is Zazie's post about a literature review on dog training methods: https://www.companionanimalpsychology.com/2017/04/new-literature-review-recommends-reward.html

About the co-hosts:

Resource guarding in dogs: What to do about it with Jean Donaldson

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 14:00:00 -0700

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 it
How to decide if your dog needs a regular training plan or a more incremental one to resolve their guarding behaviour
Why it's a myth that you should be able to take your dog's food away from them
How we can add food to puppies' bowls to help prevent food guarding
Why there's not really anything wrong with the personality of a dog who guards resources
The other behaviour issues that sometimes accompany guarding behaviour
What it means to be "warmed up" or "cold" in a dog training plan
Why dog trainers like the spicy dogs
The Olde English Sheepdog who was a bit of a challenge
Guarding behaviour in Jean's dog Buffy and Kristi's dogs Archer and Soleil
When to hire a dog trainer to help with resource guarding

The book Jean recommended to us is The Eagle and the Hart: The Tragedy of Richard II and Henry IV by Helen Kastor.

To be the first to learn about Bark! Fest, the book festival for animal lovers, sign up to the Companion Animal Psychology newsletter.

Mine! A Practical Guide to Resource Guarding in Dogs by Jean Donaldson is available wherever books are sold.

Jean Donaldson is one of the world's top dog trainers, founder of the Academy for Dog Trainers, and author of the seminal book Culture Clash, which was named number one training and behaviour book by The Association of Pet Dog Trainers. In 2017, Jean authored and instructed Dog Training 101 for The Great Courses, another wonderful resource for dog guardians. Her most recent book is the second edition of Mine! A Practical Guide to Resource Guarding in Dogs.

Follow Jean at the Academy for Dog Trainers:

Website: https://academyfordogtrainers.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AcademyforDogTrainers

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/academy4dogtrainers/?hl=en

You might also like: Understanding resource guarding in dogs and how to fix it with Lisa Skavienski

About the co-hosts:

Why children should Ask the Dog if they want to be petted with Steve Dale

Tue, 26 May 2026 05:00:00 -0700

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 book
The importance of preventing dog bites, and why children are especially at risk
Why children should learn to ask the dog
How the relationship between dogs and children has changed over the years
What it was like working with an illustrator for the book
The work of the EveryCat Health Foundation and their research on taurine in cat food, FIP, diabetes, and heart disease
How research on cat health has also benefited human health

Also mentioned:

The EveryCat Health Foundation is at everycat.org
Theater of the Mind created by David Byrne and Mala Gaonkar is at the Goodman Theater in Chicago through August 30 2026 https://theaterofthemindchicago.com/
Steve Dale's interview with David Byrne https://stevedalepetworld.com/blog/conversation-with-david-byrne-booth-46/
The book Steve recommended is Bicycle Diaries by David Byrne

Ask the Dog by Steve Dale, illustrated by Shelby Koehler, is available wherever books are sold.

Steve Dale is a certified animal behavior consultant, a radio host, and his show Steve Dale’s Pet World is essential listening for everyone who loves pets. He co-edited Decoding Your Dog, written by the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists, and has written and contributed to many other books. Ask the Dog is his first children's book. Steve is the host of Steve Dale's Pet World on WGN radio and also hosts a Sunday afternoon talk show at WGN radio.

Learn more about Steve and sign up for his newsletter at stevedale.tv.

About the co-hosts:

Dogs and cats, breeds and behaviour: Quick questions

Tue, 12 May 2026 05:00:00 -0700

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 would like us to answer? Send them in!

At the end of the episode, we discuss the books we've been reading:

Detective Aunty by Uzma Jalaluddin
Crier's War by Nina Varela

About the co-hosts:

Why we should love the beasties with Dr. Jo Wimpenny

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0700

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 beasties
how everything is connected
the value of wasps and mosquitoes to the ecosystem
how sharks are not necessarily out to get people (even if sometimes they are)
whether some animals are over-rated
which animal Jo most loved writing about
and finally Jo told us which book she's been reading.

Beauty of the Beasts: Rethinking Nature's Least Loved Animals is available wherever books are sold.

The book Jo recommended to us is The Animals in That Country by Laura Jean McKay.

Previous episodes with Jo:

The Holiday Special 2025 (Ep48)
Animal minds and our favourite fables (Ep15)

Also mentioned: Kristi's blog post on making a living in the world.

Jo Wimpenny is a zoologist and writer, with a research background in animal behaviour and the history of science. She studied Zoology at the University of Bristol, and went on to research problem-solving in crows for her DPhil at Oxford University. She’s the author of Aesop’s Animals, which we’ve talked about with her before, and her new book which is just out now is Beauty of the Beasts: Rethinking Nature’s Least Loved Animals.

Jo's website: https://jowimpenny.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jowimpenny/

About the co-hosts:

Can pet dogs sniff out an invasive species? with Melissa McCue-McGrath

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0700

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 teaches
why the spotted lanternfly is such a problem
why Melissa wanted to take part in citizen science
the real life issues that affected the project
the training that they did with the dogs
the field trials at the end of the project
the real world applications and why it was fun to be part of it
what Melissa would say to someone considering signing up for a citizen science project with their dog
why Melissa wrote her new book and what it's about

Misadventures of the World's Okayest Dog Trainer is available wherever books are sold.

Also mentioned:

BewilderBeasts podcast
Melissa's interview on DogCast radio
The Accidental Veterinarian by Philipp Schott
Tell Me Where it Hurts by Nick Trout
Bark! Fest with Philipp Schott
Victoria Stilwell Academy

The books that Melissa recommended are Away To Me by Patricia McConnell and The Discworld Series by Terry Pratchett.

Melissa McCue-McGrath is a professional dog trainer and behaviour consultant. She is a faculty advisor for the Victoria Stilwell Academy and she is the first non-UK person to be accredited with PACT. She’s the author of Considerations for the City Dog, and her new book, Misadventures of the World’s Okayest Dog Trainer, is just out now.

If you liked this, you might also like:

About the co-hosts:

Senior dogs and young dogs living together: How to keep everyone safe and happy

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0700

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 puppy
What to consider when deciding whether to bring a young dog into your home when you have a senior dog
Whether bringing a young dog into the home can be beneficial for an old dog
What kinds of issues people can have in this situation
When to seek help from a dog trainer for your dog-dog issues
Management options that can make a difference and help to prevent issues from arising
We also discuss Zazie's book Bark!s win in the DWAA awards and Zazie shows Kristi her medal
And finally we chat about the books we've been reading

The webinar that Kristi is presenting for the Pet Professional Guild is called Mixing Young Dogs and Senior Dogs: Management, Safety, and Training on April 8 2026. https://www.petprofessionalguild.com/webinars-events/webinars/mixing-young-and-senior-dogs-management-safety-and-training-with-kristi-benson/

Bark! The Science of Helping Your Anxious, Fearful, or Reactive Dog is available wherever books are sold. https://www.companionanimalpsychology.com/p/books.html

The Dog Writers Association of America competition details: https://dogwriters.org/winners/

The books we recommend in this episode are:

Consent: A Memoir by Vanessa Springora trans Natasha Lehrer
People of Means: A Novel by Nancy Johnson

About the co-hosts:

How to help your dog behave with guests with Jeff Millman

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0700

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 have
The behaviours we can teach them to do instead
The signs to look for that would suggest that your dog is shy or fearful of guests
How to use management when guests come over
Understanding how to use desensitization and counter conditioning for fearful dogs
How dog training culture has changed over the years and reward-based methods have become more popular
What it was like to study at the original Academy for Dog Trainers and how much Jeff loved it
and finally, we ask Jeff what he's been reading lately

The books recommended by Jeff are:

When Everyone Knows that Everyone Knows... Common Knowledge and the Mysteries of Money, Power, and Everyday Life by Steven Pinker
Never: A Novel by Ken Follett

About Jeff Millman: Jeff Millman was always known as an animal fanatic since he was a little boy. After studying journalism, living in Alaska after college while living in a tent, working professionally as an internet consultant and creative director, he studied dog training with the world-famous Jean Donaldson in San Francisco in 2002. Since then, he has been honing his dog training craft while training thousands of dogs. He’s the author of three books, including the two-volume Triggers and Reactions: A Guide to Fixing Dog Behavior Problems. lives in Cary, NC with his two wonderful children, amazing wife, and English Shepherds, Sky and Storm.

Jeff Millman's website: https://www.jeffmillman.com/

About the co-hosts:

How to help dogs and cats get along with each other

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 04:00:00 -0800

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 cats
what that means from the dog's perspective, and the cat's perspective
the importance of letting them vote with their feet
the need for safe spaces, and how to make safe spaces for a cat
the idea of training the dog to be safe around cats
how to keep the peace at mealtimes
placement of the cat's resources
whether dogs are ever scared of cats
how some dogs cannot be trusted to live with a cat

The books we recommend in this episode are:

Dog Affirmations: An Illustrated Journey Through Your Dog's Thoughts by Andrea Cáceres
The Little Old Lady Who Broke All the Rules: A Novel by Catharina Ingelman-Sundberg

Previous episodes mentioned in the show:

For more on how to set your house up for your cat, check out Zazie's book Purr: The Science of Making Your Cat Happy, which is available wherever books are sold. Learn more about Zazie's books here.

About the co-hosts:

Everything you need to know about cat carriers with Dr. Mansum Yau

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0800

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 carriers
what kind of carrier is the best one to choose
how to help cats be more comfortable at the vet
how she became a stand-up comedian on top of being a vet, and how humour can help at the vet
why toothbrushing is so important for cats and how a video of Dr. Mansum brushing her cat's teeth went viral
the best carriers for adventure cats, and what happened one time with her cat
what it was like illustrating her book
and finally, she tells us about a book she's reading

The book Dr. Mansum picked is Bony Legs and Other Stories by Pat Edwards.

Also mentioned in this episode, the cat toothbrushing episode that went viral: https://www.instagram.com/p/DGW-oi1xPSC/

Dr. Mansum Yau graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College in 2010 and earned her certificate in canine massage from the Royal Canadian College of Massage Therapy in 2025. She is Human Animal Bond and Fear Free Level 3 certified and passionate about preventative care and client education. When she is not caring for cats and dogs, she enjoys reading, writing, painting, drawing, performing clean stand-up comedy, raising awareness for endangered animals, and exploring nature with her one-eyed dog, Penny, and adventure cat, Boo. She is the author and illustrator of The Ins and Outs of Cat Carriers: A Veterinarian’s Guide to Cat Carriers, available wherever cat lovers read. She also shares tips for cats and dogs at pet events and on Instagram and YouTube.

Dr. Mansum Yau is on:

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/drmansum/

Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@drmansum

LinkedIn https://ca.linkedin.com/in/drmansum

About the co-hosts:

Patricia McConnell PhD and her first novel Away to Me

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0800

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 novel
The main character, Maddie McGowan
Whether it was fun to be writing dogs as characters
How 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 the book
Patricia has previously written many wonderful non-fiction books, including her memoir, The Education of Will. What’s different about writing fiction?
The power and importance of friendships and how dogs are one of the ways that many people can find a community?
What motivates her to write, and will we see more of Maddie after this?

Away to Me will be published on Feb 24th and is available for pre-order wherever books are sold.

Also mentioned:

What the Dog Knows by Cat Warren
Patricia's blog post on finding grace https://www.patriciamcconnell.com/theotherendoftheleash/natl-dog-training-month-or-you-and-54/
Susanna Daniel and Madison Writers' Studio https://madisonwriters.com/
Patricia McConnell at Bark! Fest https://www.buzzsprout.com/2183505/episodes/16149739
The book Patricia recommend is The Salt Stones by Helen Whybrow.

Learn more about Patricia and her book, Away to Me, on her website: https://www.patriciamcconnell.com/

About the co-hosts:

Caring for dogs vs caring for cats

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0800

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 enrichment
Their sense of smell
Going places with your dog, but not your cat
House training
Vet care and husbandry
And the books we've been reading.

Also mentioned in this episode:

There is a training plan to teach your cat to go in their carrier at the end of Zazie's book Purr: The Science of Making Your Cat Happy
Zazie's blog post on 3 easy ways to start training your cat includes notes on carrier training https://www.companionanimalpsychology.com/2023/05/3-easy-ways-to-get-started-with.html
The husbandry project from the Academy for Dog Trainers https://academyfordogtrainers.com/husbandry-project/

The books are:

The Black AntiFascist Tradition by Jeanelle K Hope and Bill V Mullen
Snap: A Novel by Susin Nielson

About the co-hosts:

How to help dogs with separation anxiety with Malena DeMartini

Tue, 06 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0800

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 guardians
what it means to suspend absences for your dog
how video helps to show the moment when the dog starts to get distressed, and what happens before that
why it's important to speak to a vet about medication for separation anxiety
how crates are not the answer for dogs with separation anxiety
how dog trainers can become certified to work with separation anxiety cases (CSATs) through Malena's school
And Malena tells us about a book she loves

Malena DeMartini is a Certified Trainer and Counselor (CTC) and a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC). Since 2001, she has specialized exclusively in canine separation anxiety, having worked hundreds of cases and constantly innovating to find better ways to treat the condition and support guardians, other trainers, rescues, and shelters. Malena is the author of two ground-breaking books, Separation Anxiety in Dogs, Next Generation in Treatment Protocols and Practices (2020) and Treating Separation Anxiety in Dogs. is the founder of the prestigious Separation Anxiety Certification Program (SACP), which has graduated hundreds of Certified Separation Anxiety Trainers (CSATs) across the globe. She also has an online self-paced course, Mission: POSSIBLE, which is an invaluable resource.

Learn more at https://malenademartini.com/

About the co-hosts:

Holiday Special with Dr. Jo Wimpenny, Dr. Marc Bekoff, and Erica Beckwith CTC

Tue, 23 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0800

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 book
Zazie and Kristi chat about their highlights of the year
with Marc Bekoff, PhD, author of The Emotional Lives of Animals (and many other books) we talk about ethology, his research with penguins, and whether animals have rituals
Zazie and Kristi chat about Holiday rituals
with Erica Beckwith CTC of A Matter of Manners Dog Training, we talk about how to get cute Holiday photos of your pets
and finally we share which books we've been reading

The full show notes are available on the Companion Animal Psychology website: https://www.companionanimalpsychology.com/

Previous episodes with these guests:

Animal minds and our favourite fables with Jo Wimpenny , PhD https://www.buzzsprout.com/2183505/episodes/14597289
Canine emotions and perceptions with Marc Bekoff PhD, Zazie Todd PhD, and Cat Warren at Bark! Fest https://www.buzzsprout.com/2183505/episodes/16276537
Animal emotions with Marc Bekoff, PhD, at Bark! Fest https://www.buzzsprout.com/2183505/episodes/17148973
The benefits of tricks training for dogs and cats with Erica Beckwith https://www.buzzsprout.com/2183505/episodes/12793661

Also mentioned in this episode:

Preorder Beauty of the Beasts by Jo Wimpenny https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/beauty-of-the-beasts-9781399417617/
Ask Me Anything about Fearful and Reactive Dogs https://www.buzzsprout.com/2183505/episodes/18168422
Wild Rituals by Caitlin O'Connell
Jane Goodall
Erica Beckwith's Instagram https://www.instagram.com/amatterofmannersdogtraining/

The books we chose are:

A Woman Among Wolves by Diane K Boyd
4 Days a Week by Juliet B Schor
The Passengers on the Hankyu Line by Hiro Arikawa trans. Allison Markin Powell
Dare I Say It by Naomi Watts

Learn more about:

Dr. Jo Wimpenny https://jowimpenny.com/

Dr. Marc Bekoff https://marcbekoff.com/

Erica Beckwith CTC https://www.amatterofmannersdogtraining.com/

Kristi Benson CTC https://www.kristibenson.com/

Zazie Todd, PhD https://www.companionanimalpsychology.com/ (This is also where you'll find full show notes and a transcript).

About the co-hosts:

Dog bites: Ask Me Anything with Carri Westgarth PhD

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0800

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 bite
How to use management to keep people safe from dogs
How to keep children safe from dog bites
What to do if a loose dog charges you
How to regain trust if your own dog has bitten you
The difference between predatory behaviour and fear aggression
The systemic factors that can make a difference to the prevalence of dog bites, and why education is only part of the answer
Why Breed Specific Legislation isn't the solution to dog bites
And more!

Also mentioned in this episode:

Dr. Sophia Yin's video with loose dogs (correction: it was in Australia) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lhm36dDFrk4
The Care for Reactive Dogs website https://careforreactivedogs.com/
Zazie's email list. Sign up here: https://companionanimalpsychology.kit.com/a88e8d1a2a

Books by Prof. Carri Westgarth:

The Happy Dog Owner
Dog Bites: A Multidisciplinary Perspective (co-edited with Daniel Mills)

Books by Zazie Todd PhD:

Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy
Bark! The Science of Helping Your Anxious, Fearful, or Reactive Dog

Professor Carri Westgarth is Chair in Human-Animal Interaction at the University of Liverpool with a passion for understanding the relationships we have with our pets. With a background in animal behaviour and dog training she has trained in veterinary epidemiology and human public health. Her research interests focus on the implications of dog ownership for human health and wellbeing, but also how owner management of their dogs can impact dog welfare. Both quantitative and qualitative research methods are used to tackle her primary research questions of how to improve population health through the promotion of dog walking, and how to prevent dog bites. Her expertise on understanding and changing the behaviour of dog owners is sought by many organisations wishing to prevent dog bites and promote ‘responsible’ dog owner behaviour, such as her work as a consultant for Royal Mail. She is also a Full Member of the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors and founder of the Merseyside Dog Safety Partnership. In her spare time Carri teaches dog training classes, and previously was a professional Assistance Dog Instructor. Her practical experience in many areas relating to dogs, combined with a multi-disciplinary academic perspective, gives unique strength and relevance to her expertise.

Website: https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/people/carri-westgarth

About the co-hosts:

Why you and your dog will love nose work with Bonnie Hartney

Tue, 25 Nov 2025 05:00:00 -0800

https://www.scentworku.com/collections/foundation-sniffing-program

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 about
Why scent work is fun for dogs and for their humans
What to expect at a beginner class
Whether scent work is for all dogs
The kinds of scent that are used, how dogs progress to searching for a target odour, and the kinds of searches they do
What Bonnie has learned about her dogs from doing scent work
How Kristi's dog Archer is likely to do at scent work if she tries it
Differences between scent work classes and professional scent work

If you'd like to try nose work, Bonnie recommends:

National Association of Canine Scent Work: https://www.nacsw.net/

Find an Instructor https://education.k9nosework.com/instructor_extsearch

Online Scent Training with Scent Work University:

For shy and fearful dogs with Kelly Lee; https://www.dogkindtraining.com/sniff

The book Bonnie chose is Finding Flora by Elinor Florence.

Bonnie Hartney is the owner and head instructor/trainer of Ocean Park Dog Training in Surrey, BC, which is AnimalKind accredited. Bonnie is a force-free, reward-based dog training professional, who brings knowledge and experience working with shelter dogs and pet dogs to advance other’s understanding of pet dog behaviour. Bonnie earned her CTC (Certificate in Training and Counselling) from a distinguished, international leader, Jean Donaldson at the Academy for Dog Trainers. To further her understanding of scent detection for pet dogs, Bonnie studied with NACSW (National Association of Canine Scent Work) founders and is a certified CNWI (Certified NoseWork Instructor) with 9 years experience teaching Nose Work. For over 25 years, Bonnie has volunteered and worked with the BC SPCA, helping shelter dogs to be adopted. Currently they have Nose Work classes every day of the week with 4 certified Nose Work Instructors and more than 95 dog teams.

Bonnie's website, Ocean Park Dog Training https://www.oceanparkdogtraining.com/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/oceanparkdogtraining/ and Instagram https://www.instagram.com/oceanparkdog/

You might also like Ep 35 on human remains detection dogs with Kim Cooper and Cat Warren https://www.buzzsprout.com/2183505/episodes/17384889

About the co-hosts:

Reactive and fearful dogs: Your questions answered

Tue, 11 Nov 2025 05:00:00 -0800

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 dogs
Helping dogs who are afraid of elevators
Fear of strangers
Helping reactive dogs in tricky environments like apartment buildings and cities
Reactivity to other dogs
Fear of loud noises
How the unfortunate side effects of shock collars can persist after training is over
How to persuade people not to use aversives
and more!

Also mentioned in this episode: Understanding resource guarding in dogs (and what to do about it) with Lisa Skavienski https://www.buzzsprout.com/2183505/episodes/12905737 (episode 8)

Thank you to everyone who sent in questions for this episode and/or who attended the live event. If you'd like to see more events like this, let us know!

This event was arranged to celebrate the publication of my book Bark! The Science of Helping Your Anxious, Fearful, or Reactive Dog, which is available wherever books are sold, including Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Bark-Science-Helping-Anxious-Reactive/dp/1778403328/ and Greystone Books https://greystonebooks.com/products/bark

About the co-hosts:

Conservation dogs and Deadly Trade by Sara Driscoll

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0700

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 Hawaiian islands
Why Sara was inspired to write about conservation canines in Deadly Trade
How to write about dogs as characters in their own right
The kind of training that Hawk, the FBI canine, and the conservation dogs in the book would go through in real life
How the dogs influence the success of the mission
How Hawk picks up on things his handler, Meg, can't
Why Sara chose to write about endangered birds
What it's like writing with a co-author
And as always, we ask for a book recommendation!

Deadly Trade is published on 28th October 2025 and is available from all good bookstores.

Sara Driscoll is the pen name of Jen J. Danna, coauthor of the Abbott and Lowell Forensic Mysteries and author of the FBI K-9 Mysteries and NYPD Negotiators series. After over 30 years in infectious diseases research, Jen hung up her lab coat to concentrate on her real love—writing “exceptional” thrillers (Publishers Weekly). She is a member of the Crime Writers of Canada and lives with her husband and four rescued cats outside of Toronto, Ontario.

Learn more about Sara Driscoll on her websites, saradriscollauthor.com and https://jenjdanna.com/.

Also mentioned in this episode:

Away to Me by Patricia McConnell PhD will be published in February 2026 and is available for pre-order now
You can hear Patricia McConnell talking about the book at 2024's Bark! Fest, which is available as a previous episode of this podcast https://www.buzzsprout.com/2183505/episodes/16149739
Learn about the work of historical scent detection dogs in an episode with Kim Cooper and Cat Warren https://www.buzzsprout.com/2183505/episodes/17384889
The Hawaiian crow is the ‘Alalā. Learn about the ‘Alalā project https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/alalaproject/

About the co-hosts:

Demand barking in dogs (and what to do about it)

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0700

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 fear
What demand barking is
Why the phrase "demand barking" is actually a bit of a misnomer
We give examples of demand barking, including when Zazie's dog Pepper does this
We share ideas and tips for what to do about it
Kristi talks about why she set up a course on this and what's included
And finally we talk about the books we're reading.

The books we recommend in this episode are:

Spoiler Alert: You're Gonna Die by Korttany Finn and Jacquie Purcell
Junie: A Novel by Chelene Knight

Also mentioned in this episode:

The episode on harmonious multidog households and resource guarding in dogs https://www.buzzsprout.com/2183505/episodes/17835523
The episode on how to help your reactive or fearful dog https://www.buzzsprout.com/2183505/episodes/17695165
The Hogan's Alley Society https://www.hogansalleysociety.org/

Learn more about Kristi Benson and her courses: https://www.kristibenson.com/

Learn more about Zazie Todd: https://www.companionanimalpsychology.com/p/home.html

Get Zazie's books from all good bookstores or here: https://www.companionanimalpsychology.com/p/books.html

About the co-hosts:

How to get started in dog sports with Ayoka Bubar

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 14:00:00 -0700

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 sports
Why dog sports are good for dogs
We get examples: rally o, tricks training, barn hunt, and carting
Which kinds of dogs and people these sports are best for
The best place to start if someone is interested in trying a dog sport
The role of a dog's breed in choosing a dog sport
Which dog sports are suitable for reactive and fearful dogs
What Ayoka has learned from doing so many different dog sports
The kind of community that is found amongst dog sports people
And as always, we get a book recommendation

Ayoka chose Atomic Habits by James Clear as her book choice.

Ayoka Bubar is an approved judge for the Canadian Association of Rally Obedience and she never passes up an opportunity to try a new sport with her Rottweilers. She has trained or trialed in Flyball, Agility, Tracking, Trick Titling, Herding, Rally Obedience, Mondioring, IGP, and Scentwork, so she is the perfect person to tell us about dog sports. As well, Ayoka believes that dog training should be fun for dogs and their humans, which we love to hear. And she likes to use positive reinforcement techniques to help handlers communicate more effectively with their dogs.

Learn more and get details of classes at https://ayokabubar.com/

Ayoka on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ayoka.bubar

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theogrottendog/

Also mentioned in this episode:

Bark! The Science of Making Your Dog Happy by Zazie Todd. Available wherever books are sold.

Tricks classes by Erica Beckwith of A Matter of Manners Dog Training https://www.amatterofmannersdogtraining.com/

About the co-hosts:

Harmonious multidog households: How to prevent (and stop) fights

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0700

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 dog
How it can cause issues
Disagreements between dogs are normal, just like people disagree
What kind of disagreement is okay
The mistake many people make which makes things worse
How to make sure resources aren't a source of stress
How to deal with dog fights and break them up
Management can be life-saving for multi-dog homes
On the fly training for polite interactions
And as always, we recommend some books

The books recommended in this episode are:

How to P*** Off Men: 109 Things to Say to Shatter the Male Ego by Kyle Prue

Birds of Coastal British Columbia by Nancy Baron and John Acorn

This episode topic was suggested by a listener. If you have ideas for things you'd like us to talk about, let us know!

About the co-hosts:

Teenage dogs (and what to do about them) with Tina Spring

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0700

Zazie Todd and Marc Bekoff on Your Family Dog

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.

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.

We talked about:

the importance of puppy class and how to socialize your puppy
why Tina offers an adolescent puppy class
the issues that people have as their puppy becomes a teen
the importance of food treats and seeing things through your puppy's eyes
what Tina says when people are struggling with their adolescent dog
similarities between parenting teenage puppies and teenage humans
burnout and trauma in dog training
Your Family Dog podcast and how Tina got involved

Zazie on YFD to talk about anxious dogs and happy dogs

The Beast Keepers by Julie Fudge Smith

Colleen Pelar https://colleenpelar.com/

Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell.

The full show notes and transcript are available here: https://www.companionanimalpsychology.com/2025/09/teenage-dogs-and-what-to-do-about-them.html

Tina Spring started training dogs as a child in 1979 in 4H. Her love of dogs and of teaching led her to a career working with dogs and families. She published her first book, 90 Days to the Perfect Puppy, in 2005 and it’s now part of her online puppy rearing program that bears the same name. She is the owner of Sit Happens Dog Training & Behavior, LLC in Athens, Georgia, where she does in person and online consults and specializes in fear and aggression and the special relationships between kids & dogs. She’s also the co-host of the Your Family Dog podcast, which is a really fun and excellent podcast.

About the co-hosts:

How to help your reactive or fearful dog

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0700

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.html

We talked about:

How important it is to recognize the signs of stress in dogs
Your priority is to help your dog feel safe
Pick a food your dog really loves that you can use to teach them to like the thing they are scared of
The kinds of food that are best
How to be prepared and make sure you have those tasty treats to hand
How to bridge and fridge
The importance of finding activities that both you and your dog love
Kristi and Zazie each share a story of a time something unexpected happened and they had treats to hand
And finally we talked about the books we're reading.

The books we mention in this episode:

The Beaverton podcast (okay, it's a podcast!)
The Home Cookbook, 125th anniversary edition
Otter by Jackie Morris

Also mentioned is a study on how people spot signs of stress in dogs interacting with children. You can read about it here: https://www.companionanimalpsychology.com/2017/05/people-mistakenly-think-anxious-dogs.html

About the co-hosts:

Training dogs, lizards, and sea lions with Dr. Adrian Walton

Mon, 04 Aug 2025 06:00:00 -0700

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 whistle and a bucket of fish
How a large lizard ended up at his clinic and what his technician taught the Nile monitor to do
How we know that lizards can count
The difference that medication can make for pets who are scared at the vet
How pain can affect pets’ behaviour
What it’s like working with exotic animals
The best pet to get for your kid
And Dr. Walton recommends the books he’s been reading

The books:

Invertebrate Medicine by Gregory A Lewbart
Boat Camping in Haida Gwaii by Neil Frazer

Dr. Adrian Walton is the owner of Dewdney Animal Hospital in Maple Ridge, BC. He’s a graduate of University of Guelph and has degrees in Marine Biology from Dalhousie University and a Masters Degree from Simon Fraser University. Prior to moving to Maple Ridge he was an emergency veterinarian in Seattle. His area of interest is exotic animal medicine and spends a lot of his spare time helping abandoned and neglected reptiles and exotics find forever homes.

Website: https://dewdneyvet.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dewdneyvet/

See the videos of the lizard and its training on Youtube here https://youtu.be/LD75UntRMwI?t=789 (and again at 19.25). The lizard video is courtesy of Dr. Adrian Walton.

About the co-hosts:

Writers on what brings them hope for the human-animal relationship (bonus)

Mon, 21 Jul 2025 17:00:00 -0700

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 authors speak at an online literary festival. Amin Maalouf is a member of the Academie Francaise and the author of novels including Samarkand and The Rock of Tanios. He said, “I think the duty of a writer is to have lucidity and hope. If you spread despair, it’s best not to speak at all.” So that's what made me think to ask this question of everyone.

You can find recordings of the full panel discussions in our back catalogue.

The authors and their books:

Patricia B. McConnell: The Education of Will and The Other End of the Leash.

Jean Donaldson: The Culture Clash.

Zazie Todd PhD: Bark! The Science of Helping Your Anxious, Fearful, or Reactive Dog.

Marc Bekoff, PhD: Dogs Demystified and The Emotional Lives of Animals.

Cat Warren: What the Dog Knows.

Alexis Devine: I Am Bunny.

Teresa J. Rhyne: Poppy in the Wild.

Lili Chin: Kitty Language.

Mikel Delgado PhD: Play With Your Cat! .

Lucy Hoile: the book your cat wishes you would read.

Pilley Bianchi: For the Love of Dog, illustrated by Calum Heath.

Wendy Lyons Sunshine: Tender Paws.

Carri Westgarth PhD: The Happy Dog Owner.

Antony Johnston: The Dog Sitter Detective Takes the Lead.

Louisa Scarr: Gallows Wood.

Philipp Schott DVM: Eleven Huskies: A Dr. Bannerman Vet Mystery.

Sarah Chauncey: P.S. I Love You More Than Tuna, illustrated by Francis Tremblay.

Sassafras Patterdale (Lowrey): Claw This Journal.

Rachel Wells: Alfie the Christmas Cat.

E.B. Bartels: Good Grief.

Rev. Sarah A. Bowen: Sacred Sendoffs.

Karen Fine DVM: The Other Family Doctor.

Kristi Benson.

Finding hope in dog training and animal behaviour (Psych Today) https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/fellow-creatures/202103/finding-hope-in-dog-training-and-animal-behavior

About the co-hosts:

The benefits of tricks training for dogs and cats with Erica Beckwith (Replay)

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 14:00:00 -0700

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 training
how tricks training can help you love your pet even more
how Erica got into training tricks
Erica's favourite tricks to teach others in classes
tips on how to take a selfie with your dog
how to find the right reinforcement for your cat, and the right way to deliver that reinforcement

This episode was first published in 2022.

About Erica Beckwith: Erica Beckwith of A Matter of Manners Dog Training in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Erica is an amazing positive reinforcement trainer who first got into dogs as a volunteer at Busan Abandoned Pet Sanctuary in South Korea. After moving back to America, Erica studied at the prestigious Academy for Dog Trainers where she got her CTC. Erica is also a CBCC-KA and a Fear Free certified professional. Erica loves cats too, and earlier this year she graduated with a certificate in Advanced Feline behaviour for Cat Professionals with Distinction from International Cat Care.

Website: https://www.amatterofmannersdogtraining.com/

See Erica’s dogs (including Ruckus and the trumpet) in the video Yes Sir, That’s My Baby from The Academy for Dog Trainers.

Kristi Benson’s website and courses: http://www.kristibenson.com/

Zazie Todd's book Purr includes a training plan to teach your cat to go into their carrier and to teach them to sit pretty. Purr, Wag, and Bark! are available wherever books are sold.

About the co-hosts:

Human remains detection dogs and historic searches with Kim Cooper and Cat Warren

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 14:00:00 -0700

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 human remains detection dogs and how the dogs are trained
Historic human remains detection dogs
How these dogs can help with searches at the sites of former residential schools in Canada
The emotional side of a search from the handler's perspective and the skills a handler needs to work with communities
Working with communities and the role of oral history in historical searches
What type of dog is best suited to this work (breed, personality, size, etc.)
And finally, we talk about the books we're reading

The books we recommend:

The Genius of Dogs: How Dogs Are Smarter Than You Think by Brian Hare and Vanessa Woods
Native Nations: A Millenium in North America by Kathleen DuVal
Words Are My Matter: Writings on Life and Books by Ursula Le Guin
Vanishing Treasures: A Bestiary of Extraordinary Endangered Creatures by Katherine Rundell

Also mentioned:

The work in Croatia is described in this article by Cat Warren https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/dog-archaeology-ancient-human-remains-bones-croatia-a9522776.html
Cat Warren at Bark! Fest (with Marc Bekoff and Zazie Todd) https://www.buzzsprout.com/2183505/episodes/16276537

Cat Warren's books are What the Dog Knows: Scent, Science, and the Amazing Ways Dogs Perceive the World, and the Young Reader's Edition of What the Dog Knows. They are available wherever books are sold.

Learn more about Kim Cooper on the Ottawa Valley Search and Rescue Dog Association website: https://www.ovsarda.on.ca/

Learn more about Cat Warren: https://catwarren.com/

About the co-hosts:

Fearful and Anxious Dogs with Zazie Todd, PhD, at Bark! Fest

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 10:00:00 -0700

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!.

We talked about:

How Bark! Fest came about
How to counsel people that slow is the new fast when it comes to fearful dogs
Decisions about how much of the "why" and "how" to include in the book
Why tricks training is included in a book for fearful and anxious dogs
How to keep dogs and people safe
Whether pandemic puppies really do have more behaviour issues, and how we can use management to help a fearful dog
The gorgeous cover of Bark! and how much input authors get into book covers and titles with a traditional publisher
Plus Zazie did a reading from the book

Bark! is out now in paperback. It is available wherever books are sold.

Find out about upcoming events and learn more about Zazie Todd, PhD, on her website https://www.companionanimalpsychology.com/p/home.html

The recording of Bark! Fest with Patricia McConnell, PhD, is here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2183505/episodes/16149739

About the co-hosts:

Loving and Losing Pets with E.B. Bartels, Rev. Sarah Bowen, and Karen Fine DVM at Bark! Fest

Mon, 26 May 2025 16:00:00 -0700

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 Surviving Animal Loss, Making Life Meaningful, and Trying to Heal the Planet. And Karen Fine DVM’s heartwarming memoir about becoming a veterinarian, The Other Family Doctor: A Veterinarian Explores What Animals Can Teach Us About Love, Life, and Mortality, is full of tales about what we can learn from the animals in our lives.

We talked about:

Why E.B. Bartels wrote her book and what she learned about how people memorialize their pets, including taxidermy and mummification
The way that grief for a lost pet is often disenfranchised
What an animal chaplain is and why Sarah Bowen wrote her book
Blending science with spirituality, and practical tips to help when someone loses a pet
What it's like being a veterinarian, and how Dr. Karen Fine was influenced by her grandfather
The value of making home visits as a veterinarian, and helping other pets cope when one of their fellow pets has passed
Plus each author did an amazing reading from their book

The quote by Irving Townsend can be found here: https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/37516-we-who-choose-to-surround-ourselves-with-lives-even-more

Learn more about the authors:

E.B. Bartels: https://www.ebbartels.com/

Rev. Sarah Bowen: https://www.sacredsendoffs.com/

Karen Fine DVM: https://karenfinedvm.com/

About the co-hosts:

Animal Emotions with Marc Bekoff, PhD, at Bark! Fest

Mon, 12 May 2025 19:00:00 -0700

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 2007, and why he wrote a second edition
Bekoff says, "It is no longer radical to recognize, respect, and want to protect the emotional lives of animals.” We talk about how people can recognize, respect, and protect animal emotions
What he looks out for when he watches dogs run around and play at the dog park
Examples of sorrow and empathy in non-human animals
Bekoff's research on wild canids including wolves
What it was like to create the book, Jane Goodall at 90
Plus Marc did a reading from the book and we were all captivated! The books are available from all good bookstores.

To learn more about Marc Bekoff, visit his website: https://marcbekoff.com/

You can contact him via the website to ask to join his email list, which is mentioned in the recording.

Also mentioned in this episode is Thinking Like a Wolf by Rick McIntyre.

About the co-hosts:

Our Bond with Cats with Sarah Chauncey, Sassafras Patterdale, and Rachel Wells at Bark! Fest

Mon, 28 Apr 2025 10:00:00 -0700

Reflect on what cats mean to us and the many ways they influence our lives with these 3 feline authors.

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 purrfect festive show when things go wrong, in Alfie the Christmas Cat by Rachel Wells.

We talked about:

The story of how PS I Love You More Than Tuna came about (and the Easter eggs in the book)
How this book is designed to be given away, and how giving became part of Sarah's process
The role that a Muse Medallion from the Cat Writer's Association for an article by Sassafras played in making Claw This Journal come about
The range of activities in the book (and which ones are Sassafras's favourites)
Why Rachel started writing the Alfie the Cat series, and the themes behind Alfie the Christmas Cat
What it's like to sustain a feline character and their supporting cast over so many books
And you can listen to each author do a reading

Learn more about the authors:

Sarah Chauncey https://www.sarahchauncey.com/

Sassafras Patterdale https://sassafraspatterdale.com/

Rachel Wells https://itsacatslifebyrachelwells.substack.com/

About the co-hosts:

Puppy Brain, early socialization, and what to ask a breeder with Kerry Nichols

Wed, 09 Apr 2025 11:00:00 -0700

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 dogs
Why we both love Golden Retrievers
How the book, Puppy Brain, came about
What puppies are like when they are born
Examples of the socialization that Kerry does with puppies
Her favourite part of the first 8 weeks of a puppy's life
Advice 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 is out now in hardback. The paperback will be out on April 29th and can be pre-ordered now from all good bookstores.

The books we recommend in this episode are:

Dog Poems: An Anthology by Various and Christopher Wait
The Kindest Lie by Nancy Johnson

OFA - The Canine Health Information Center is at https://ofa.org/.

Kerry Nichols is a former attorney turned canine educator and advocate whose journey into the world of dogs began nearly fifteen years ago. With the founding of Nicholberry Goldens, she devoted herself to raising the healthiest Golden Retrievers possible. This evolved into a mission to instill emotional resilience and agency in her own puppies, a pursuit she now shares with an audience of hundreds of thousands of followers across social media. Her methods continue to garner support from leading veterinarians, trainers, and psychologists, and notable owners of her Goldens include executives from Facebook, Microsoft, and Tinder.

Kerry's website: https://www.kerrynichols.com/home

About the co-hosts:

Canine Crime and Mystery with Antony Johnston, Louisa Scarr, & Dr. Philipp Schott at Bark! Fest

Sun, 16 Mar 2025 12:00:00 -0700

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 sniffer dog Pippin holiday near a remote lake, he has to try to save some poisoned sled dogs and figure out why a float plane crashed in Eleven Huskies by Philipp Schott DVM.

We talked about:

How Antony Johnston came up with the idea of Gwinny Tuffel, the pet sitter who is the amateur detective in his Dog Sitter Detective books
Why Johnston especially enjoys writing cozy crime
The story of PC Lucy Halliday, the human remains detection dog handler, who is the main character in Louisa Scarr's Gallow's Wood
How Scarr did the research for this book which is a police procedural
How Dr. Bannerman and his pet dog work together in Dr. Philipp Schott's Eleven Huskies
Schott's love of the northern Canadian landscape and how it plays out in his books
and more, plus readings from each of the books!

Learn more about the authors:

Antony Johnston: https://antonyjohnston.com/

Louisa Scarr: https://www.instagram.com/louisascarrwriter/

Dr. Philipp Schott: https://www.philippschott.com/

The books are available wherever books are sold.

About the co-hosts:

More Than Just a Dog with Si Wooler

Mon, 03 Mar 2025 14:00:00 -0800

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.

We ask about how Si decided where to fit Sophie's story in the book. And Kristi puts Si on the spot and asks how he deals with the outdated idea of dominance when it comes up in conversation and what he thinks of toxic masculinity in dog training.

More Than Just a Dog: Understanding, Loving, and Living with Dogs, The Indispensable Guide for All Dog Lovers by Simon Wooler is out now in the UK and available wherever books are sold, including UK Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/14471/9780008707484

More Than Just a Dog will be published in North American on May 13th.

The books we recommend in this episode are:

A Dog a Day, Old Dogs, and Rescue Dogs by Sally Muir
Woman at 1000 Degrees: A Novel by Hallgrímur Helgason, trans Brian FitzGibbon
The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians by James Patterson and Matt Eversmann

The talk by Dr. Lindsay Parker is the A&S Colloquium Kicking the Dog: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zN7m4sfkbZA&t=1s

Si Wooler has been training dogs for more than ten years. He studied with the Academy for Dog Trainers, one of the most rigorous dog behaviour and training programmes in the world and specialises in training fearful and reactive dogs. In 2023, he worked with author and broadcaster Rory Cellan-Jones and his wife Professor Diane Coyle to help their Romanian rescue dog, Sophie, overcome her profound fears, bond with her people and gradually discover the world, a journey that was followed daily by hundreds of thousands of fans.

Si came to dog training after 20 years as a sound engineer so loud barking hardly registers on his personal decibel scale. His own fearful, ‘unhomeable’ rescue dog, Thomson, was the motivator for seeking out effective, evidence-based training methods and leaving his career in sound and stage to focus on working with troubled dogs and the people who love them. This is his first book. Si's website: https://www.sociabledog.com/

About the co-hosts:

Caring for Dogs with Pilley Bianchi, Wendy Lyons Sunshine, and Carri Westgarth PhD

Fri, 14 Feb 2025 16:00:00 -0800

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.

This conversation was recorded at Bark! Fest, the book festival for animal lovers, which celebrated the launch of Zazie Todd's new book Bark! The Science of Helping Your Anxious, Fearful, or Reactive Dog.

In this conversation, we talked about:

How Pilley Bianchi's book, For the Love of Dog, illustrated by Calum Heath, came about
The role of Chaser the Border Collie in the book and tips from her learning of words
The parenting research that Wendy Lyons Sunshine drew on to write her book for dog parents
How to understand parenting styles when caring for a dog
Why Dr. Carri Westgarth decided to focus on how to make dog owners happy
Tips from her book about finding a responsibly bred puppy, which behaviors are most important to teach, and tips on training an alert

The other books mentioned in this episode are:-

Chaser: Unlocking the Genius of the Dog Who Knows 1000 Words by John W Pilley and Hilary Hinzmann (mentioned by Zazie and Pilley)
Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy by Zazie Todd (mentioned by Carri)
Kitty Language by Lili Chin (mentioned by Kristi)

The books are available wherever books are sold, including from:

Bookshop (which supports independent bookstores) https://bookshop.org/lists/bark-fest-the-book-festival-for-animal-lovers

UK Bookshop (which supports indie bookstores in the UK) https://uk.bookshop.org/lists/bark-fest-the-book-festival-for-animal-lovers

The authors' websites:

Pilley Bianchi: https://www.pilleybianchi.com/

Wendy Lyons Sunshine: https://www.wendylsunshine.com/

Carri Westgarth, PhD: https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/people/carri-westgarth

About the co-hosts:

Caring for Cats with Lili Chin, Mikel Delgado PhD, and Lucy Hoile at Bark! Fest

Fri, 24 Jan 2025 16:00:00 -0800

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 Language
What she learned about feline body language that surprised her, and how her two cats influenced the book
Why play is good for cats
What Mikel thinks are common mistakes that people make when trying to play with their cats, and what to do about them
What to consider when getting a kitten or adult cat to ensure a good match for your household
What Lucy thinks is the biggest thing cat guardians get wrong
Plus readings from all three authors, and more

The books are available wherever books are sold, including from:

Bookshop (which supports independent bookstores) https://bookshop.org/lists/bark-fest-the-book-festival-for-animal-lovers

UK Bookshop (which supports indie bookstores in the UK) https://uk.bookshop.org/lists/bark-fest-the-book-festival-for-animal-lovers

The authors' websites:

Lili Chin: https://doggiedrawings.net/

Mikel Delgado PhD: https://mikeldelgado.com/

Lucy Hoile: https://www.lucyhoile.co.uk/

The other books mentioned in this episode are Purr: The Science of Making Your Cat Happy by Zazie Todd, and the book your dog wishes you would read by Louise Glazebrook.

About the co-hosts:

Canine Blockbusters with Alexis Devine and Teresa J Rhyne at Bark! Fest

Fri, 10 Jan 2025 13:00:00 -0800

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 communication
Cute stories about some of the specific buttons that Bunny uses
How Poppy came into Teresa's life
The Thanksgiving that for many people would be a dog lovers' dream
What it felt like to search for Poppy in the wilderness
Plus readings from both authors, and more!

The books are available wherever books are sold, including from:

Bookshop (which supports independent bookstores) https://bookshop.org/lists/bark-fest-the-book-festival-for-animal-lovers

UK Bookshop https://uk.bookshop.org/lists/bark-fest-the-book-festival-for-animal-lovers

Amazon https://www.amazon.com/shop/animalbookclub/list/S3BJZSCWLQKG

The authors' websites:

Alexis Devine on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whataboutbunny/

Teresa J Rhyne: https://teresarhyne.com/

As you'll hear me say in the audio, Kerry Nichols was unfortunately unable to join us for this session due to a puppy situation. I'm happy to say it all turned out well for the puppies. In her national bestseller, Puppy Brain, you can learn the best ways to raise a puppy so that they become happy and resilient. You can learn more about Nichols on her website https://www.kerrynichols.com/

About the co-hosts:

Canine Emotions and Perception with Marc Bekoff PhD, Zazie Todd PhD, and Cat Warren at Bark! Fest

Fri, 13 Dec 2024 14:00:00 -0800

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, Science, and the Amazing Ways Dogs Perceive the World by Cat Warren explores the extraordinary abilities of scent detection dogs and tells the captivating story of how Warren’s dog Solo became a human remains detection dog.

The books are available wherever books are sold, including from:

Bookshop (which supports independent bookstores) https://bookshop.org/lists/bark-fest-the-book-festival-for-animal-lovers

UK Bookshop https://uk.bookshop.org/lists/bark-fest-the-book-festival-for-animal-lovers

Amazon https://www.amazon.com/shop/animalbookclub/list/S3BJZSCWLQKG

We talked about:

Why Marc wrote Dogs Demystified
Why Marc likes to introduce people to ethology
Why Zazie wrote Bark!
Balancing personal stories with science in the book
How Cat got into scent work with her dog Solo
How Cat deals with the emotional side of the work
and many other topics, including readings from each of the books.

The speakers' websites:

Marc Bekoff: https://marcbekoff.com/

Kristi Benson: https://www.kristibenson.com/

Zazie Todd: https://www.companionanimalpsychology.com/p/home.html

Cat Warren: https://catwarren.com/

Resources mentioned:

Dogs: The more I know, the more I say "I don't know" by Marc Bekoff https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/animal-emotions/201908/dogs-the-more-i-know-the-more-i-say-i-dont-know

Sound masking to help dogs with a noise phobia or sound sensitivity by Eileen Anderson https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/behavior/noise-canceling-for-dogs/

Indiana Bones: The archaeologist dogs discovering human remains by Cat Warren quotes Adee Schoon https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/dog-archaeology-ancient-human-remains-bones-croatia-a9522776.html

About the co-hosts:

Culture Clash and Beyond with Jean Donaldson at Bark! Fest

Thu, 28 Nov 2024 17:00:00 -0800

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 was organized to celebrate the launch of Zazie Todd's third book, Bark! The Science of Helping Your Anxious, Fearful, or Reactive Dog. Bark!.

All of the Bark! Fest books are available from good bookstores, including from Bookshop (which supports independent bookstores): https://bookshop.org/lists/bark-fest-the-book-festival-for-animal-lovers

We talked about:

why Jean wrote her book The Culture Clash
what the Transparency Challenge is and why it's so important for dog trainers to answer these questions
her advice to someone who is struggling with their dog's behaviour
what is distinctive about the Academy for Dog Trainers
a writing tip
her favourite thing that's changed in the world of dog training over the years
and she answered lots of questions from the audience

Resources mentioned:

Transparency in dog training https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=987644334623619

The Academy for Dog Trainers https://www.academyfordogtrainers.com/

Find a PPG professional https://www.petprofessionalguild.com/find-a-ppg-professional/

Karen Pryor Academy https://karenpryoracademy.com/

Victoria Stilwell Academy https://www.vsdogtrainingacademy.com/

The Great Courses Dog Training 101 https://www.thegreatcourses.com/courses/dog-training-101

The ultimate dog training tip https://www.companionanimalpsychology.com/2017/04/the-ultimate-dog-training-tip.html (Companion Animal Psychology)

Emily Priestley Wild at Heart Dog Training and her book, Urban Sheepdog https://wildatheartdogs.com/ (see also our recent podcast with Emily, https://www.companionanimalpsychology.com/2024/11/what-you-need-to-know-about-herding.html )

Cooperative Paws by Veronica Sanchez https://cooperativepaws.com/

More about Jean Donaldson: https://www.academyfordogtrainers.com/become-a-professional-dog-trainer/meet-the-team/

About the co-hosts:

Dogs, trauma, and both ends of the leash with Patricia McConnell PhD

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 14:00:00 -0800

Patricia B. McConnell PhD is an internationally-renowned applied animal behaviourist who has dedicated her life to improving the relationship between people and animals. Amongst her many treasured dog training books, The Other End of the Leash draws our attention to the human side of dog training.

McConnell’s memoir, The Education of Will, is a beautifully-written and uplifting account of how to reclaim life after trauma, for both humans and dogs. Join us to talk about dog behaviour, overcoming hardships, and the importance of compassion and science in dog training.

We talked about Dr. McConnell's writing process, how she became interested in the human side of the leash, why she wrote The Education of Will, understanding trauma in people and dogs, differences and similarities between people and dogs, finding grace, and healing.

In The Education of Will, bestselling author and internationally renowned animal psychologist and dog trainer Patricia McConnell “gives a voice to those who can’t speak in words and provides hope for fearful animals everywhere” (Temple Grandin) in this powerful and uplifting memoir about healing.

Dr. McConnell mentions several books in the conversation. They are:

After Silence by Nancy Venable Raine
Good Morning, I Love You by Shauna Shapiro
Unlearn Your Pain by MD Howard Schubiner

Patricia McConnell, PhD, CAAB Emeritus is an author, speaker, and animal behaviorist who has consulted with pet owners for over thirty years about serious behavioral problems. She co-hosted Calling All Pets with Larry Meiller on Wisconsin Public Radio for fourteen years, and has educated and entertained audiences around the world about animal behavior (human and canine!). Patricia taught "The Biology and Philosophy of Human/Animal Relationships" in the Department of Integrative Biology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison for twenty-five years. Her self-published books on behavior and training have sold over a quarter of a million copies, and her nationally published books, The Other End of the Leash, and For the Love of a Dog, are considered classics, and together have been translated into 15 languages. Her latest book, The Education of Will, a memoir focusing on healing from trauma in both people and dogs, has generated heartfelt praise and helped other trauma victims around the world. Patricia and her husband live with their working Border Collies, Skip and Maggie, and a very spoiled flock of sheep.

For more information about Dr. McConnell, go to www.patriciamcconnell.com or visit her blog, at www.theotherendoftheleash.com, and follow her on Facebook and Instagram.

About the co-hosts:

Enrichment, barking, whether dogs detect our stress, and questions about fearful dogs and cats

Thu, 14 Nov 2024 11:00:00 -0800

In this episode, Zazie and Kristi answer wide-ranging questions about both dogs and cats that were sent in by listeners.

We talked about brain games and the attention span in senior dogs; suggestions for new things to teach dogs; why dogs bark at e.g. people in hats or people going by the house; cooperative care for kittens; creating a local resource list for anxious and fearful dogs; enrichment and caring for fearful cats; the best tone of voice to use when speaking to your dog; whether dogs can detect our levels of stress; how to advocate for your dog; whether to teach a chin rest to cats for cooperative care; teaching cats to be wrapped in a towel for vet care; is watching TV good for pets,; how to teach cats to cooperate with having their claws trimmed; and we shared some tips on desensitization and counterconditioning for anxious and fearful dogs and cats.

This episode was recorded with a live audience.

Links and resources:

Bark! The Science of Helping Your Anxious, Fearful, or Reactive Dog by Zazie Todd is out now and getting rave reviews. It’s available from all good bookstores. https://greystonebooks.com/products/bark

Kristi Benson’s course on barking https://www.kristibenson.com/peace-and-quiet-barking-dogs

and on grooming: https://www.kristibenson.com/freshandfearless

The Husbandry project from the Academy for Dog Trainers https://www.academyfordogtrainers.com/husbandry-project/

Train Your Dog Like a Pro by Jean Donaldson is also available from all good bookstores.

Fear Free directory https://fearfreepets.com/ fearf

Debbie Jacobs Fearful Dogs https://fearfuldogs.com/

BC SPCA desensitization and counterconditioning for cats. You can find the infographic on Bailey Eagan’s website https://www.baileyheagan.com/resources

Companion Animal Psychology blog post on desensitization and counterconditioning https://www.companionanimalpsychology.com/2018/07/what-is-desensitization-and-counter.html

This episode was recorded in early 2024. Very sadly, Zazie’s cat Harley, who is mentioned in this episode, passed in February of this year. And more happily, Zazie’s book Bark! which is also mentioned in this episode, is out now.

About the co-hosts:

What you need to know about herding dogs with Emily Priestley

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 16:00:00 -0700

Zazie and Kristi talk to dog trainer Emily Priestley about her book Urban Sheepdog and what you need to know about herding breeds.

We start by discussing which breeds count as herding breeds and what they were bred to do, and ask Emily how a herding dog first came into her life.

Then we talked about the kinds of herding dog behaviours that dog guardians can sometimes struggle with, and the extent to which we consider these normal or pathological.

We also talk about the importance of exercise and enrichment, and Emily's main takeaway from the book. Finally, we talk about the books we're reading.

Emily Priestley is a multi-certified dog trainer, having graduated from the renowned Academy for Dog Trainers and is a Certified Dog Behaviour Consultant through the IAABC. She has been working with and handling dogs professionally for over a decade.

Emily specializes in working with herding breed dogs struggling in pet homes. Over a century of selective breeding for working stock, as well as a rise in popularity, has led to many guardians struggling with their herders in urban settings. Emily's long career with the BC SPCA has also allowed her to have a proven track record, having personally handled over 2,000 dogs.

With experience with many breeds and all problem behaviours, Emily has worked with dogs desperately needing intervention and behaviour modification. Emily specializes in reactivity and compulsive disorders but is available to help with all breed challenges from misdirected herding, "spooky" and fearful behaviour to nipping, biting and everything in between. Her book about herding dogs is called Urban Sheepdog.

Emily's website: https://wildatheartdogs.com/ with links to her socials and podcast.

About the co-hosts:

How to include your pet in wedding photos with Nicole Ettenhofer

Thu, 08 Aug 2024 16:00:00 -0700

Zazie and Kristi speak to Nicole Ettenhofer, VP of Growth and Strategy at George Street Photo & Video, about pet-friendly ways to get cute wedding photos with your pet.

As people increasingly consider pets to be part of the family, they want to involve them in their wedding. So what you can you do to make sure you get some great photos that include the pet, without overwhelming them? We begin with a personal story from Nicole that will have you tearing up in a good way, and which shows you can trust her tips to be pet-friendly.

A wedding is a big event and most pets are not used to big gatherings, so we get Nicole’s tips on the preparation that people should do in advance of the celebration. A pet handler can help to make sure things go smoothly, and we talk about the kind of things they should do.

Pets can play a wide range of roles in a wedding, from being the ring-bearer to simply making a brief appearance. We consider the best ways to involve them and how to take the pet’s personality into account. Nicole has ideas for getting your pet to cooperate with having their photo taken, but she also reminds us to make the most of those cute moments when the pet does something unexpected—often these unplanned moments can make the best photos.

And although you might assume that we’re talking only about dogs, cats and bigger animals like horses and llamas also get a mention.

Finally, we talk about the books we’re reading.

About Nicole Ettenhofer:

Nicole Ettenhofer is the VP of Growth & Strategy for George Street Photo & Video, a national wedding photo and video company based in Chicago, IL with experience serving thousands of customers and offering best in quality wedding coverage at an affordable cost. With over a decade of experience in the wedding industry, Nicole is an expert in wedding trends and couples photography and has helped the company achieve accolades such as The Knot’s Best of Weddings every year from 2020-2024, The Knot’s Best of Weddings Hall of Fame for the company’s commitment to quality and value and WeddingWire’s Couples’ Choice 2024. Before joining George Street, Nicole served as a thought leader within the event and hospitality industry for over 20 years. As for her personal life, Nicole resides near Denver, CO with her husband and two dogs and is an avid hiking enthusiast.

About George Street Photo & Video

Established in 2004, George Street Photo & Video was founded to make wedding and engagement photography more accessible and personal. With 20 years of experience documenting love stories, George Street is an award-winning company that pairs wedding planners and couples with best-in-class photographers and videographers nationwide. George Street prides itself on its personalized approach, providing photojournalistic wedding and engagement content and virtual customer service support so clients can feel confident going into their big day. The company has received many accolades such as The Knot’s Best of Weddings every year from 2020-2024, The Knot’s Best of Weddings Hall of Fame for the company’s commitment to quality and value and WeddingWire’s Couples’ Choice 2024. To learn more, visit www.georgestreetphoto.com.

About the co-hosts:

How to Help Dogs Prepare for a New Baby with Kate LaSala

Wed, 03 Jul 2024 15:00:00 -0700

Zazie and Kristi chat with Kate LaSala of Rescued By Training about the important steps to take to help dogs prepare for the arrival of a baby in the family.

Kate takes a lot of fear and aggression cases and she tells us how she came to specialize in working with families with small children. She tells us about the issues people have with their dogs when they are expecting and the reasons why it's so important to start preparation early. The dog needs to get used to being flexible, to no longer getting all the attention, to changes in sleeping arrangements, and to lack of sleep too.

Preparation is key and she tells us about the action plan that is part of her new self-paced course to help people get their dog ready to welcome a new baby and be comfortable with the new arrival. She also shares her favourite fact about child development that's good to know about supervising children's interactions with dogs. Kate also talks us through what to do if your dog growls at the baby or shows other signs of being uncomfortable.

And finally we all talk about the books we're reading.

About Kate LaSala:

Kata LaSala CTC is a professional dog trainer and certified behavior consultant specializing in fear and aggression. She’s helped over 2400 dogs overcome issues their guardians thought were impossible, including fear of strangers, separation anxiety, resource guarding, and growling at toddlers. As a licensed Family Paws Parent Educator, she’s uniquely qualified to help families with babies or kids. She offers one-on-one remote services worldwide and self-paced courses included her new online course, Bringing Home Baby: Preparing Dog and Family for a New Baby.

Kate's website: https://rescuedbytraining.com/

Bringing Home Baby: Preparing Dog and Family for a New Baby: https://rescuedbytraining.com/product/bringing-home-baby/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rescuedbytraining/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rescuedbytraining

Family Paws: https://www.familypaws.com/
The Family Dog: https://www.thefamilydog.com/

The Books:

It's Never Long Enough by Mary Gardner

My Best Mistake by Terry O'Reilly

The Banned Bookshop of Maggie Banks by Shauna Robinson

About the co-hosts:

Flat-faced dogs and cats with Dr. Dan O'Neill and Dr. Rowena Packer

Wed, 22 May 2024 14:00:00 -0700

We talk about the health issues faced by flat-faced (brachycephalic) dogs and cats and why these breeds are still to popular with Dr. Dan O'Neill and Dr. Rowena Packer of the Royal Veterinary College.

We start by talking about what we mean when we talk about brachycephalic dogs. Pugs, Bulldogs, and French Bulldogs are the poster children for these breeds and get the most attention, but we also get some surprising good news about Shih Tzus.

When dogs are bred for flat faces it means they can struggle to breathe. Dan and Rowena talk about the health issues these dogs can face and the effects it has on their lifespan.

We talk about their co-edited book, The Health and Welfare of Brachycephalic (Flat-Faced) Companion Animals: A Complete Guide for Veterinarians and Animal Professionals. The book covers a wide range of information and we talk about how the intended audience is not just vets but anyone who cares about these dogs.

And there's a note of optimism as we talk about what would make a difference to the welfare of flat-faced dogs.

Finally we talk about the books we're reading:

The Signal and the Noise by Nate Silver

Nudge: The Final Edition by Richard H. Thaler and Cass R. Sunstein

Letters From a Lady Rancher by Monica Hopkins

Bookworm: A Novel by Robin Yeatman

About the co-hosts:

Freddie the rescue dog and how dogs save us with Grant Hayter-Menzies

Mon, 15 Apr 2024 15:00:00 -0700

Zazie and Kristi are joined by Grant Hayter-Menzies to talk about his book Freddie: The Rescue Dog Who Rescued Me.

In this episode, we’re joined by writer and biographer Grant Hayter-Menzies to talk about his book Freddie: The Rescue Dog Who Rescued Me. We talk about how Freddie came into his life and the important ways in which dogs help us, even when we think we’re the ones saving them.

Freddie was a terrified rescue dog who took time to settle in, and became so important to Hayter-Menzies. Hayter-Menzies tells us about how he wrote biographies of extraordinary women, and Freddie’s influence led him to start writing biographies of important animals, like Rags (the World War 1 dog), Muggins (the Canadian canine war hero who raised funds for charity in BC), and Woo (Emily Carr’s monkey).

Then a test at the vet showed Freddie had the cancer hemangiosarcoma. We talk about how they got through this difficult time, Freddie’s bravery, and the importance of memorializing pets once they are gone.

Having adopted Freddie as a fearful rescue dog, we get Hayter-Menzies’ tips for anyone considering doing the same. We also ask for his advice on writing.

And finally, we discuss the books we’re reading. This episode we recommend:

Good Grief: On Loving Pets, Here and Hereafter by E.B. Bartels.

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller.

Rose Adams by Margie Taylor.

About Grant Hayter-Menzies:

Grant Hayter-Menzies is a biographer and historian specializing in the lives of extraordinary and unsung heroes of the past, notably the role of animals in times of war. He is the author of thirteen books, including Muggins: The Life and Afterlife of a Canadian Canine War Hero, Woo: The Monkey Who Inspired Emily Carr, Dorothy Brooke and the Fight to Save Cairo’s Lost War Horses, and From Stray Dog to World War One Hero: The Paris Terrier Who Joined the First Division. He is also literary executor of playwright William Luce.

Learn more about Grant Hayter-Menzies on his website https://grantmenzies.wixsite.com/author or follow him on social media:

Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/GrantHayter

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/g.menzies/

About the co-hosts:

Animal minds and our favourite fables with Dr. Jo Wimpenny

Wed, 28 Feb 2024 15:00:00 -0800

Zazie and Kristi are joined by zoologist Dr. Jo Wimpenny to talk about her book, Aesop’s Animals: The Science Behind the Fables, which is out now in paperback.

In this episode of The Pawsitive Post in Conversation, Zazie and Kristi are joined by zoologist and writer Dr. Jo Wimpenny to talk about her book Aesop’s Animals: The Science Behind the Fables. We talk about the history of Aesop’s fables and the role they still play in society today, before moving on to wonder whether there is a grain of truth in them when it comes to animal behaviour.

We consider some of the most popular fables. Are crows really as clever as Aesop suggested? Why are wolves always the villain? Do dogs recognize their shadow? And what is the yellow snow test all about?

We also talk about the difference between what the fable says on the surface, and what happens when you really dig deep into the question—the ant and the grasshopper is the fable that comes to mind here.

In Wimpenny’s book, the animals are the characters in their own stories. We talk about writing about animals and the importance of discussing myths.

And, of course, we talk about the books we’re reading. This episode, we recommend:

Bitch: On the Female of the Species by Lucy Cooke.

Venomous Lumpsucker by Ned Beauman.

Surfacing by Kathleen Jamie.

Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End by Atul Gawande.

Before and After the Book Deal: A Writer’s Guide to Finishing, Publishing, Promoting, and Surviving Your First Book by Courtney Maum.

About Dr. Jo Wimpenny:
Dr. Jo Wimpenny is a zoologist and writer, with a research background in animal behaviour and the history of science. She studied Zoology at the University of Bristol, and went on to research problem-solving in crows for her DPhil at Oxford University. After postdoctoral research on the history of ornithology at Sheffield, she co-authored the book Ten Thousand Birds: Ornithology Since Darwin with Tim Birkhead and Bob Montgomerie, which won the 2015 PROSE award for History of Science, Medicine and Technology. And she’s the author of the wonderful book, Aesop’s Animals: The Science Behind the Fables, which is out now in paperback.

Follow Dr. Jo Wimpenny:

Substack: https://jowimpenny.substack.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JoWimpenny

About the co-hosts:

Using social media to help dogs with Jennifer Malawey

Wed, 20 Dec 2023 20:00:00 -0800

Zazie and Kristi are joined by TikTok star Jennifer Malawey (Dizzy Dancing Dog) who shares her secrets about how to us social media to help dogs.

Jennifer Malawey has a CTC from the Academy for Dog Trainers andis a Certified SA Pro trainer who works on separation anxiety cases. She also puts out fantastic content on dog training on her social media and Youtube. She joined us to chat about how we can use social media to help people learn about dogs and dog training.

Jennifer talks about how she comes up with ideas for content creation, and how much work it is to put a video together. We learn what she thinks are the most important things to get across about dog training. And we all know that social media can have its downsides, but we ask Jennifer about what she finds most rewarding about it. We also get her tips for getting more engagement on social media.

Then we chat about the books we're reading. This episode, we recommend:

All the Devils Are Here: A Novel (Chief Inspector Gamache Book 16) by Louise Penny.

Why Fish Don't Exist: A Story of Loss, Love, and the Hidden Order of Life by Lulu Miller.

The Invention of the Modern Dog: Breed and Blood in Victorian Britain by Michael Worboys, Julie-Marie Strange, and Neil Pemberton.

About Jennifer Malawey CTC:

Jennifer Malawey is a dog-trainer-turned-content-creator. She currently works with Instinct Portland as a behavior consultant and social media manager, as well as partnering with brands in the pet space and doodling on her own TikTok channel. When she’s not working or lovin’ on her dogs (Dizzy, Keely, and Pizza), she can be found in her garden, on the lindy hop dance floor, or in a book.

Follow her on social:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennifermalawey/

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dizzydancingdog

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@JenniferMalawey

About the co-hosts:

Victoria Schade, Unleashed Holiday, and delightful romcoms with dogs

Wed, 13 Sep 2023 14:00:00 -0700

Zazie and Kristi chat with Victoria Schade, dog trainer and author of delightful romcoms, about her upcoming book Unleashed Holiday.

We learn about the Puppy Bowl and Victoria's involvement in it as lead animal wrangler, and how she made the move to writing, first with nonfiction books about dog training and then to romcoms. We chat about how Victoria's books include real-life issues, and how she juggles the 'educator' and 'entertainer' hats.

Victoria’s upcoming book, Dog Friendly, will be released on September 17th. The main character is a vet, and Victoria tells us how she went about researching the life of a vet so that she could get the details right. Zazie and Kristi wonder if any of the dogs in Victoria's books are based on real animals that she has known, and get her tips for writing about dogs.

Then we ask about her book Unleashed Holiday. If you’re in the US you have the chance to win an advance reader copy of the book. Finally we chat about the books we're reading.

Enter the competition to win an advance reader copy of Unleashed Holiday here: https://www.facebook.com/companionanimalpsychology/posts/pfbid025Q1JP5mxZj3H53nb6jCuC7qsXYLtR2zCKcUV1npCPwLeF3tMKme7r815zauc9qrfl

You can watch some highlights from the Puppy Bowl here: https://youtu.be/aCIxotfhQ24

The books we're reading

Poppy in the Wild by Teresa J. Rhyne

Dog Friendly and Who Rescued Who, both by Victoria Schade

The Book of Silver Linings by Nan Fischer

About the co-hosts:

Cat Husbandry: How to Groom Your Cat, Trim Nails, Get Scratching Posts, and Give Meds

Tue, 15 Aug 2023 16:00:00 -0700

The Paw Project: Cats’ paws need their claws

In this episode we chat about how to groom your cat and how to deal with mats, as well as how to trim your cat’s nails. We discuss the many reasons why it’s important not to “declaw” your cat and how it’s really like an amputation. Scratching is a natural behavior for cats and we talk about the kind of post to provide to keep your cat happy.

We also discuss the tricky topic of how to give meds to your cats, including pilling, towel-wrapping, and tricks to make meds easier. Along the way we share stories about our own cats and of course a few tips for dogs as well.

At the end we chat about the books we’re reading.

Purr: The Science of Making Your Cat Happy by Zazie Todd is available from all good bookstores.

All of the books mentioned in the episode are available from my Amazon store. https://www.amazon.com/shop/animalbookclub

BC’s 2018 ban on declawing cats was good news for cats, study shows

What kind of scratching post do cats prefer?

Caring for a diabetic cat gets easier with time, study shows

How to give your cat an insulin injection (iCatCare)

How to train your cat to use an asthma inhaler

Teach any cat AeroKat (iCatCare)

How to clip your cat’s claws (iCatCare)

Two people giving a cat a pill (iCatCare)

Medicating tips and tricks (Fundamentally Feline)

Comfort cats in a towel wrap (Dr. Sophia Yin)

Fresh and Fearless: Basic Grooming Made Easy (Kristi Benson)

The Books

Kristi’s recommendation is Red, White and Royal Blue: A Novel by Casey McQuiston.

Zazie recommends Unbroken: My Fight for Survival, Hope, and Justice for Indigenous Women and Girls by Angela Sterritt.

The books are available from all good bookstores and the Companion Animal Psychology Amazon store. https://www.amazon.com/shop/animalbookclub

About the co-hosts:

Enrichment for cats and writing about dogs and cats with Sassafras Lowrey

Tue, 04 Jul 2023 16:00:00 -0700

Kristi and Zazie are joined by author Sassafras Lowrey to talk about her latest book, Claw This Journal, which is full of fun tips for activities to do with your cat. We learn about how Sassafras's cat Thing came into her life and why she wrote this book. We talk about enrichment for cats, and how it's important to tailor it for individual cats. We also discuss what our cats would get Best in Show prizes for.

We also chat about her book for young dog lovers, Jillian at the Junior Showcase. As well, we chat about the writing life and get Sassafras's tips for aspiring writers.

Finally, we chat about the books we're reading.

Reading Cats and Dogs: Watch Sassafras Lowrey, Zazie Todd, and Lili Chin in conversation with Kristi Benson about their books here: https://youtu.be/f_BQ7URuT4g

About Sassafras Lowrey: Sassafras Lowrey is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA), Certified Trick Dog Instructor (CTDI), AKC CGC/Trick Dog Evaluator and AKC FIT DOG Instructor. Sassafras' dog training books include Tricks In The City and Chew This Journal. Sassafras is an author and multimedia educator who writes regularly about dog training for leading national publications. Sassafras' dog training articles have regularly appeared in leading dog magazines like Dogster, The Bark, Modern Dog, and with The American Kennel Club as well as mainstream publications including WIRED, Apartment Therapy and The New York Times.

Website: https://sassafraslowrey.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sassafraslowrey

Twitter: https://twitter.com/sassafraslowrey

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sassafraslowrey/

The books we chat about:

On Animals by Susan Orlean

Doomsday with my Dog by Yu Ishihara

Comparative Animal Behavior by Richard Maier

Bad Cree by Jessica Johns.

The books are available from all good bookstores and the Companion Animal Psychology Amazon store: https://www.amazon.com/shop/animalbookclub

About the co-hosts:

Teaching recall and stopping dogs from getting lost with Maria Karunungan

Wed, 31 May 2023 17:00:00 -0700

It’s surprisingly common for newly-adopted dogs to get lost, and for any dog to go missing at some point in their lives, even if only for a moment. How can we stop dogs from getting lost? We chat with Maria Karunungan of Fetch the Leash in Burlington, Vermont, about the steps dog guardians can take to prevent their dog from getting lost.

From the best treats to use when teaching dogs to come when called, the prevention strategies all dog guardians should use, to special steps to take when your dog is new to you, this episode is packed with tips. Kristi shares the heart-stopping story of when one of her dogs went missing, long before she became a dog trainer. And we also ask Maria for tips for dog trainers on how to work with clients, based on her background in multicultural education.

At the end, we chat about the books we’re reading.

The books we chat about:

A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin

Zoo by Ogden Nash

Book Lovers by Emily Henry

The books are available from all good bookstores and Companion Animal Psychology's Amazon store .

About Maria Karunungan:

Maria is the owner of Fetch the Leash in Burlington, Vermont. She is an honors graduate of the Academy for Dog Trainers, a PCBC-A from the Pet Professional Guild and she is a Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer. Maria also has a Ph.D. in educational research from Emory University, and an undergraduate degree in music from Yale University. Maria’s experience also includes working with a wide range of shelter animals at various shelters in Northern California.

Fetch the Leash website: https://www.fetchtheleash.biz/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fetchtheleash

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fetch_the_leash/

About the co-hosts:

How much grooming do dogs need and how can you do their nails with Jane Wolff

Fri, 26 May 2023 16:00:00 -0700

Fresh and Fearless: Basic Grooming Made Easy

We talk about how much grooming dogs need, whether they have short fur or long fur, and why it’s important to stay on top of it. We chat about the research that shows that dogs can find grooming stressful, and the training we can do to make it easier. It's so important to go at the dog's pace.

A lot of people find doing their dog’s nails a chore, and Jane has just released a free course, Start From Scratch , that shows you how to train your dog to do their own nails using a scratch board.

Finally, we talk about what we’re reading right now.

Start From Scratch: Nail Scratchboard Class for Dogs

Fear Free Groomer Certification

Fear Free Directory

Purr: The Science of Making Your Cat Happy by Zazie Todd will be out in paperback on June 6th. The hardback is out now.

How To Have a Happy Dog webinar

How To Have a Happy Cat webinar

Subscribe to the Companion Animal Psychology newsletter here

The books we chat about

Sentient: How Animals Illuminate the Wonder of Our Human Senses by Jackie Higgins.

All That She Carried: The Journey of Ashley’s Sack, a Black Family Keepsake by Tiya Miles.

How To Tell If Your Cat is Plotting to Kill You by The Oatmeal and Matthew Inman.

The Leopard by Giuseppe Tomasi Di Lampedusa.

The books are available from all good bookstores and Companion Animal Psychology’s Amazon store .

About Jane Wolff:

Jane Wolff is the co-owner of Good Wolff Dog Training in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She specializes in treating separation anxiety and is a Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer (CSAT). She also graduated with honours from the Academy for Dog Trainers (CTC) and is certified through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers as a CPDT-KA. She has been working with dogs professionally since 2014 and loves working with dogs and their people.

Website: https://www.goodwolff.com/

Facebook Instagram

About the co-hosts:

Understanding resource guarding in dogs and how to fix it with Lisa Skavienski

Tue, 23 May 2023 13:00:00 -0700

Read highlights of the chat here.

Resource Guarding in Dogs

We talk with Lisa about what resource guarding is and the body language that you should look for to spot it. People often have an emotional response to resource guarding—it can be a shock if your dog growls at you—and we talk about why you shouldn’t punish the growl and how to deal with those completely normal feelings.

We discuss how to fix resource guarding issues and why aversive methods are not the answer. Kristi and Zazie both share stories about their own dogs’ resource guarding behaviour, and we also talk about how to prevent it in the first place.

Finally, we talk about the books we are reading right now.

Lisa Skavienski is the owner of Dog Educated in Rochester, NY, where she specializes in classes, workshops, and private consultation for dog owners. She is deeply invested in animal welfare, participating at the local community level, as well as holding a seat on the Pet Professional Guild’s Shelter and Rescue Committee. Lisa studied with behavior expert Jean Donaldson at the highly acclaimed Academy for Dog Trainers. She is also a Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer and Fear free certified.

Facebook Instagram

The books:

Zazie Todd's Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy and her upcoming book Shiver.

An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us by Ed Yong was the Animal Book Club’s choice for February and March.

The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times (Global Icons Series) by Jane Goodall and Douglas Abrams with Gail Hudson.

The Roller Derby Blueprint by Scott Meyer.

Still I Cannot Save You by Kelly S. Thompson.

About the co-hosts:

The importance of kindness in dog training with Jane Wolff

Thu, 11 May 2023 13:00:00 -0700

Kindness in dog training

We talk with Jane about the importance of kindness in dog training, both kindness to dogs and kindness to people. We begin by talking about the most important ways to be kind to dogs. Jane specializes in working with clients whose dogs have separation anxiety, and we also talk about how to help people deal with this tricky issue without leaving their dog alone for any longer than they are okay with.

We also chat about Jane’s social justice work, and how that informs her dog training too.

And in the final section we talk about the books we are reading right now.

About Jane Wolff:

Facebook Instagram

Fresh and Fearless: Basic Grooming Made Easy, the course by Jane available on Kristi's website.

Pet Pals Mutual Aid

Books

Wonderdog: The Science of Dogs and Their Unique Friendship with Humans by Jules Howard is the Animal Book Club’s choice for November.

Pit Bull: The Battle over an American Icon by Bronwen Dickey.

Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic by Alison Bechdel.

Invisible Boy: A Memoir of Self-Discovery by Harrison Mooney.

About the co-hosts:

The benefits of tricks training for dogs and cats with Erica Beckwith

Fri, 05 May 2023 13:00:00 -0700

The schedule of Erica’s online tricks classes is here .

Training Tricks with Your Dog (and Cat)

Teaching tricks to your dog is fun and cute, and a great way to improve the human-animal bond. Plus, you get to show off how adorable your pet is.

Erica Beckwith is the talented tricks trainer behind A Matter of Manners Dog Training, where she does behaviour consults for dogs and cats and runs online classes to teach a variety of tricks including peekaboo, sit pretty, chorus line kicks, and how to take a selfie with your dog.

Kristi Benson and I spoke to Erica about why she loves teaching tricks, where she finds the motivation to spend time working on tricks with her dogs, and what her favourite tricks are. As well, we get some tips on how to train your dog so that you can get a better selfie with them, and the things to consider when teaching tricks to your cat.

In news, Kristi’s courses now have CEUs available and there are some new courses coming soon. And Zazie will be teaching Making Pets Happy: The Role of Positive Experiences in Good Animal Welfare for the IAABC Foundation.

Plus, of course, in the final section we share the books we are reading right now.

Website: A Matter of Manners Facebook Instagram

See Erica’s dogs (including Ruckus and the trumpet) in the video Yes Sir, That’s My Baby from The Academy for Dog Trainers.

Kristi Benson’s website and courses .

Making pets happy: The role of positive experiences in good animal welfare. IAABC Foundation, 24 September 2022, 1:00-4:10pm PDT.

The free Companion Animal Psychology newsletter.

The books we chat about:

Bitch: On The Female of the Species by Lucy Cooke is the Animal Book Club choice. Learn more about the Animal Book Club .

I’ve Got You Under My Skin by Mary Higgins Clark.

Warriors: Into the Wild by Erin Hunter (Author), Dave Stevenson (Illustrator)

The Cat Who Saved Books: A Novel by Sosuke Natsukawa, translated by Louise Heal Kawai.

The books are available from all good bookstores and Companion Animal Psychology’s Amazon store: https://www.amazon.com/shop/animalbookclub

About the co-hosts:

Pets' names: How we choose them, how we use them, and how to change them

Wed, 03 May 2023 11:00:00 -0700

Episode 5 of The Pawsitive Post in Conversation sees Zazie and Kristi talk about the names we give our pets. We chat about how we choose them, what makes a good name, how we use our pets' names, how to change a pet's name, and whether they know their own and each other's names.

As well, we talk about the books the book club is reading right now and our own choices of books we love. (There may be some spoilers in this discussion).

Pet cats know their fellow cats' names, study shows (Psychology Today)

Our heroes by Jean Donaldson and Kristi Benson (The Academy for Dog Trainers)

Books:

Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law by Mary Roach

Purr: The Science of Making Your Cat Happy by Zazie Todd

Plenty in Life is Free: Reflections on Dogs, Training and Finding Grace by Kathy Sdao

Happiness: A Novel by Aminatta Forna

Heroes Month is taking place at the Academy for Dog Trainers in June 2022. (On Facebook)

About the co-hosts:

What's changed for pets--and what still needs to change with Jean Donaldson

Wed, 03 May 2023 11:00:00 -0700

The Pawsitive Post In Conversation Ep 4 with special guest Jean Donaldson. #CAP10.

Zazie and Kristi are joined by Jean Donaldson, one of the world's top dog trainers, founder of the Academy for Dog Trainers, and author of Culture Clash. Zazie, Kristi, and Jean talk about what's changed for dogs over the last ten years: the move to reward-based dog training methods, increased enrichment, better education of pet guardians, and fear free veterinary care. As well, they talk about the changes they would still like to see happen.

They also talk about Dog Training 101, a 24-lesson course that Jean wrote for The Great Courses, and what students can expect from The Academy for Dog Trainers.

In the final section, they share the books they are reading right now.

Academy for Dog Trainers: https://www.academyfordogtrainers.com/

The Great Courses: https://www.thegreatcourses.com/ (put 'dog' in the search bar and Dog Training 101 will come up)

Kristi Benson: http://www.kristibenson.com/

Companion Animal Psychology: https://www.companionanimalpsychology.com/

Books:

Life's Edge: The Search for What it Means to Be Alive by Carl Zimmer

The Anglo Saxons: A History of the Beginnings of England: 400-1066 by Marc Morris

Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning by Peter C. Brown, Henry L. Roediger III, and Mark A. McDaniel

Alfabet/Alphabet: A Memoir of a First Language by Sadiqa de Meijer

Companion Animal Psychology's Amazon store: https://www.amazon.com/shop/animalbookclub

About the co-hosts:

How to counter misinformation about dogs and cats with truth sandwiches

Wed, 03 May 2023 11:00:00 -0700

we talk about countering misinformation about dogs and cats with truth sandwiches. We run through some myths about dog training and cat behaviour, talk about why they are wrong, and figure out some truth sandwiches to help correct the misinformation.

We consider:

why it’s wrong to take a dominance approach to dog training

why we should use positive reinforcement rather than punishment in dog training

the myth that dogs should just fit into our lives

and why cats need to scratch.

We also talk about the (then) upcoming Management Month at the Academy for Dog Trainers, which is all about celebrating how you can sometimes use management instead of training to solve dog behaviour issues. As part of Companion Animal Psychology’s tenth anniversary celebrations, you can come to Reading Cats and Dogs: A Conversation with Lili Chin, Sassafras Lowrey, and Zazie Todd. The three authors will be reading from their books (Doggie Language, Chew This Journal, and Purr: The Science of Making Your Cat Happy) and in conversation with Kristi Benson.

Plus, in our regular slot at the end of the conversation, Kristi and I talk about the books we’re reading right now.

About the co-hosts:

Good habits and resolutions for dog and cat guardians and writers

Tue, 02 May 2023 17:00:00 -0700

We talk about New Year's Resolutions, habits that are a good idea for pet guardians, helping dogs and cats cope with winter, grooming dogs and cats, writing habits, and what we're reading right now.

The books mentioned:

A Dog's World: Imagining the Lives of dogs in a World Without Humans by Jessice Pierce and Marc Bekoff

The Sleep Solution: Why Your Sleep is Broken and How to Fix It by W. Chris Winter

How to Pronounce Knife by Souvankham Thammavongsa

About the co-hosts:

Genius dogs and talking dogs

Tue, 02 May 2023 16:00:00 -0700

We chat about the Genius Dog Challenge, where scientists are finding dogs who know a lot of words, and Stella the dog who learned to use buttons to communicate. We also talk about the words and behaviours our own dogs and cats know--and the behaviours we think are important for every pet to know.

Kristi tells us about her courses for people who need help with their dog jumping up or housetraining.

And finally we chat about the books we're reading.

About the co-hosts:

Introduction to The Pawsitive Post in Conversation

Tue, 02 May 2023 14:00:00 -0700

Meet Zazie Todd and Kristi Benson, the hosts of The Pawsitive Post in Conversation, as they chat about dogs and cats.

This podcast is for anyone who wants to learn more about how to have a better relationship with their dog or cat. We'll focus on dog and cat behaviour and training. Whether you are a dog person or a cat person, there will be something for you to enjoy.

We chat about how we first met via The Academy for Dog Trainers and the expertise that we bring to this topic, as well as what to expect from future episodes. Everything we do is infused by a few core principles. Reward-based training methods are effective and better for dog and cat welfare. Management is often a part of the solution for behaviour issues. And enrichment helps to ensure that we're meeting our dogs' and cats' needs.

Towards the end of each show we will be sharing the books we're reading, as well as the book choices of the Animal Book Club, which can be about dogs, cats, or other animals--including humans. When we have special guests, they will also share with us what they are reading. The book recommendations can be any kind of book--not just nonfiction, but fiction, poetry, graphic novels... whichever books we happen to love.

You can learn more about Zazie at https://www.companionanimalpsychology.com/ (which is also where you'll find the show notes) and about Kristi (including her online courses) at http://www.kristibenson.com/

About the co-hosts: