“As close to sitting around the campfire with Ken Ramirez as most of us are likely to get”—Susan FriedmanBy Zazie Todd, PhDThis month, the Companion Animal Psychology Book Club is reading The Eye Of The Trainer by Ken Ramirez.This page contains affiliate links.From the back cover,“In The Eye of the Trainer, Ken Ramirez brings to life the power of positive reinforcement training to build trust and transform lives. Ken is one of the most creative,…

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“Individuals who’ve been traumatized have to have a safe space.” Dr. Patricia McConnell speaks about her memoir, The Education of Will.Dr. Patricia McConnell with Skip. Photo: Steve DahlgrenIn June, the Animal Book Club read Dr. Patricia McConnell’s book, The Education of Will: Healing a Dog, Facing My Fears, Reclaiming My Life. This is a powerful memoir of trauma and healing that recounts how she came to terms with her own trauma and in the process…

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Four current initiatives to promote diversity and inclusion that you might like to know about.Photo: wavebreakmedia/ShutterstockBy Zazie Todd, PhDThere are some encouraging moves to promote diversity at the moment. Here are four current or upcoming initiatives from the fields of dog training, veterinary medicine, and animal behaviour.Black in Animal Behavior WeekBlack in Animal Behavior Week started 23rd July as a prelude to the Animal Behavior Society’s 2020 virtual meeting. Follow the hashtag #BlackinAnimalBehavior on Twitter…

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New research got professional dog trainers to train dogs who had issues with off-leash disobedience. Positive reinforcement worked better than an electronic collar, without the risks. Photo: Raven Imagery/ShutterstockBy Zazie Todd, PhDWe’ve known for a while that training dogs with aversive methods, including electronic collars, has risks for animal welfare. Positive reinforcement training is effective and does not have those risks. New research from the University of Lincoln, published today in Frontiers in Veterinary Science, finds…

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Dogs learning to detect COVID-19, cats' whiskers, and fostering in lockdown... this month's CAP news.By Zazie Todd, PhDMy Favourites This Month“The news that dogs such as Asher could be deployed to detect Covid-19 might have an “and finally…” ring to it. But there is serious science behind the idea.” Winning by a nose: the dogs being trained to detect COVID-19 by Tim Lewis. â€œThe question that emerges from this controversy is whether or not whisker stress is…

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Even when the miniature pigs have been raised just like pet dogs. Is this why dogs are so special? Video included.A pig called Borso takes part in the experiment. Photo: Paula PérezBy Zazie Todd, PhD Every dog owner has probably had a situation where their dog has looked to them for help, perhaps when a coveted ball or treat has ended up out of reach under the sofa. Is this something special about dogs and…

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Less socialization, less exercise, fewer activities with the owner, less training, and breed differences are all linked to social fear in dogs, survey shows.The Pembroke Welsh Corgi was one of the breeds least likely to be fearful of strangers. Photo: Vellicos/ShutterstockBy Zazie Todd, PhDLarge numbers of pet dogs are affected by fear and anxiety. 72.5% of pet dogs have at least one form of canine anxiety, according to a survey of over 13,000 Finnish dog…

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The average lifespan of American pet dogs, and the effects of spay/neuter surgery, breed, and size, according to research.Photo: InBetweentheBlinks/ShutterstockBy Zazie Todd, PhDAll dog guardians can agree on one thing: dogs don’t live long enough. But how long does the average dog live? New research by Dr. Silvan Urfer and colleagues at the Dog Aging Project (University of Washington) and published in Canine Medicine and Genetics looks at the lifespan of pet dogs in the…

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A virtual event with Zazie Todd about how to make your dog happy, hosted by the Hub City Writer's Project.On July 21st at 7pm (Eastern time), the Hub City Writer's Project in Spartanburg, SC, is hosting a virtual event: I will be giving a talk about how to make your dog happy.The ticket price includes a copy of my book, Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy, mailed to your door. I am sending…

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Why it's buyer beware when it comes to puppies.By Zazie Todd, PhDI have a new post on my Psychology Today blog, Fellow Creatures. Two recent news stories highlight the need to be careful when getting a puppy in order to avoid puppies from puppy mills and being scammed.The post considers what to look for in a responsible breeder. As well it mentions some of the warning signs to be careful of if you're getting a…

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