Although we've traditionally thought about dogs' obedience, we should really be thinking about happiness.By Zazie Todd, PhDIn a new post over at my Psychology Today blog Fellow Creatures, I look at the reasons why there is a shift to thinking about dog's happiness instead of simply expecting them to obey. When behaviour issues stem from a failure to meet a dog's needs, thinking about obedience is missing the point. And focusing on happy dogs is…

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Your invitation to the Wag Yappy Hour with Zazie Todd, PhD.You are invited to the Wag Yappy Hour! Zazie will do a couple of short readings from her book, Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy. You can ask questions about the writing of the book or how to have an even happier dog. And a copy of Wag will be given away!Bring a drink and snacks, and tell your friends. Dogs welcome.The Wag…

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Recession can increase relinquishment of pets and reduce adoptions. What will the economic effects of COVID-19 be on pets?Senior dogs may be especially affected by economic recessions. Photo: Annette Shaff/ShutterstockBy Zazie Todd, PhDIn the news, we’ve seen heartening stories of people choosing to adopt shelter pets at this time. For example, in late March it was reported that adoptions from the BC SPCA were on the rise, and the Washington Post reports that people are…

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“Zazie Todd does dogs the immeasurably good favor of taking their happiness seriously.”--Alexandra Horowitz, author of Our Dogs, Ourselves.By Zazie Todd, PhDOver the last three and a half years, the Animal Book Club has read 34 wonderful books about animals by many incredible authors, with a range of new books and classics. So I'm absolutely thrilled that this month, book club members have chosen to read my own book, Wag: The Science of Making Your…

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All the time we are spending at home due to COVID-19 impacts the nature of the human-dog relationship. Both humans and dogs have the potential to benefit from this arrangement.Guest post by Christy Hoffman, PhD.Photo: Baramyou0708/ShutterstockThe nature of the human-dog relationship has changed in recent weeks due to COVID-19 and all the restrictions placed on human movement. Most dogs in the United States have years of experience spending their days alone while the adults in…

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There will be 8 speakers (including me) at the Pet Professional Guild's Virtual Summit April 2nd-3rd.By Zazie Todd, PhDThe Pet Professional Guild's Virtual Summit takes place April 2nd - 3rd and there is still time to register.There will be 8 speakers: Dr. Kathy Murphy, Dr. Karolina Westlund, Dr. Nick Thompson, Dr. Morag Heirs, Malena DeMartini, Dr. Robert Hewings, Dr. Juliane Kaminski, and myself. You can choose to attend live or watch the recordings later.My talk…

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Some photos for those who need a distraction from the news cycle, as Companion Animal Psychology reaches 8 years of blogging.Photo: Dora Zett/ShutterstockBy Zazie Todd, PhDToday is exactly 8 years since I started Companion Animal Psychology blog. It's something I'm very proud of, especially my book, Wag: The  Science of Making Your Dog Happy. But this feels like a strange time to be celebrating, when we are all so anxious and the world is upside…

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A Finnish study finds that 72.5% of pet dogs show at least one form of canine anxiety, and better breeding practices could help.Photo:  Lindsay Helms/ShutterstockBy Zazie Todd, PhDFear and anxiety in pet dogs is a serious welfare issue, according to new research published in Scientific Reports by Milla Salonen (University of Helsinki) and colleagues. The results suggest that those who breed dogs should pay more attention to breeding from non-fearful animals.The study is a survey…

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Resources on COVID-19 and your pet, dogs in gilded cages, playing with your cat, plus other animal news this month.By Zazie Todd, PhDCOVID-19 is an unprecedented emergency, and this month’s newsletter includes several related posts. Bear in the mind that the situation changes often, and is different in different places, so always check local advice. But our pets still need us, so there are some non-COVID-19 stories in my favourites list too. Wherever you are,…

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If you’re staying home as much as possible, your pet is probably pleased – but here are some ways to cope with any issues that may arise.Photo: VP Photo Studio/ShutterstockBy Zazie Todd, PhDThe COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented situation. As people are increasingly needing to spend more time at home, that means spending more time with pets. Your pets are probably very happy about this, but as we all know, extra time in a small…

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