Dogs should learn to wear a muzzle, but many people make mistakes and there’s a fit issue too, according to new research.A dog wears a muzzle at the vet. Photo: Lipik Stock Media/ShutterstockBy Zazie Todd, PhD.All dogs can need to wear a muzzle at some point in their life, especially at the vet where some procedures are not safe if the dog is not muzzled. Wearing a muzzle can be stressful for the dog if…

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Ticket sales end soon for The Lemonade Conference - three days of education about dog sports, training, and behaviour.Photo: Christina Anne Costello/Unsplash. The Lemonade Conference from 7-9 May brings you three days of online continuing education with speakers including Malena DeMartini, Jessica Hekman, Kathryn Lord, Emily Larlham, Daniel Mills, Eileen Anderson, Tabitha Kucera, Christopher Pachel, Kathy Sdao, and many more - including myself.It's brought to you by the IAABC and Denise Fenzi and ticket sales end…

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…Emails, that is. Make sure you’re still on the list.Photo: Julissa Helmuth/PexelsIf you’re an existing email subscriber, you will have received a message from me yesterday (19th April) to let you know about our new email service. Because the emails are coming from a different email address, if you don’t see it you may need to look in your spam folder (or search for my name, Zazie), and move it to your inbox. Or, you…

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Myths about dogs, making indoor/outdoor decisions about cats, and providing shade for guinea pigs... this month's Companion Animal Psychology news.By Zazie Todd, PhDThis page contains affiliate links which means I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no cost to you.My favourites this month"I know where you read this and it's a myth" Dr. Marc Bekoff on common questions about dogs, and why it's important to recognize dogs as unique individuals.  â€œOur message to owners…

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The common mistakes many people make when training their dog.Photo: Alexei_tm/ShutterstockBy Zazie Todd, PhDTraining your dog is one of those things that everyone expects to be easy. You ask the dog to do something, give them a treat, simples! But, it’s not always so simple, especially if you are training  a dog for the first time. Here are some common mistakes that many people make when they are training their dog. Sadly, because anyone can call…

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So you brought home a new best friend, and you’re not sure where to start with training your new rescue dog. Here are some tips.Photo: Geartooth Productions/ShutterstockBy Zazie Todd, PhD.There’s a lot to think about when you bring home a rescue or shelter dog. How should you decide what kinds of training to do with them, and what to prioritize? This article includes general tips on training method, routine, management, house training, pulling on leash,…

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The April choice for the Companion Animal Psychology Book Club. By Zazie Todd, PhDThis month, the Animal Book Club is reading Biology of Dogs: From Gonads Through Guts To Ganglia by Tim Lewis PhD.From the book's description:"You may be thinking, How can I take this book seriously when the subtitle starts with the word “gonads”? If so, you have probably not met Tim Lewis yet. Take it from Tim: Gonads are what biology is all about.…

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My latest piece at my Psychology Today blog, Fellow Creatures, is up and it looks at the role of the writer when it comes to dog training and animal behaviour.It was inspired by listening to a talk between two writers, Amin Maalouf and Marina Warner, and in particular what Maalouf said about the importance of lucidity and hope. Check out the post here: finding hope in dog training and animal behaviour.Photo: Lum3n/Pexels.Zazie Todd, PhD, is…

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Celebrating nine years of blogging about cats and dogs. Photo: Rodica Vasiliev/ShutterstockBy Zazie Todd, PhDToday, Companion Animal Psychology is 9 years old.That’s 9 years of blogging about science and our pets, and the best ways to take care of cats and dogs.  In fact, this is the 643rd post. The most popular post of the last year has been if your dog is afraid, avoid these two mistakes.  A ninth anniversary is traditionally a willow or pottery…

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Trina Moyles on her canine friend and protector, Holly, and her latest book, Lookout: Love, Solitude, and Searching for Wildfire in the Boreal Forest.No. 14 in the series The Writer's Pet by Zazie Todd PhD.This page contains affiliate links which means I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no cost to you.Trina Moyles is a writer and Lookout Observer who spends her summers perched up a tower watching the boreal forest in Alberta…

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