Shows
The Pawsitive Post in Conversation by Companion Animal PsychologyWriters on what brings them hope for the human-animal relationship (bonus)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...2025-07-2225 min
Soul Touched by DogsZazie Todd - The Science of a Happy Dog: What Every Guardian Should KnowWhat does science say about how to make your dog happy? And how can understanding human psychology help us support our reactive or anxious dogs better?In this heartfelt and fascinating episode, I’m joined by Zazie Todd, PhD—animal behaviour expert, award-winning author, and creator of the Companion Animal Psychology blog. Zazie shares her journey from academic psychologist to beloved voice in the world of canine (and feline!) wellbeing. Her story—like so many of ours—started with a dog who needed a bit more help than expected.We talk about how her background in psych...2025-07-1029 minThe Pawsitive Post in Conversation by Companion Animal PsychologyThe benefits of tricks training for dogs and cats with Erica Beckwith (Replay)As we take a summer break, we're replaying this fun and fantastic interview with Erica Beckwith of A Matter of Manners dog training about the benefits of tricks training for dogs and cats.We talked about:the benefits of tricks traininghow tricks training can help you love your pet even morehow Erica got into training tricksErica's favourite tricks to teach others in classestips on how to take a selfie with your doghow to find the right reinforcement for your cat, and the right way to deliver that reinforcementThis episode was first published...2025-07-0741 minThe Pawsitive Post in Conversation by Companion Animal PsychologyHuman remains detection dogs and historic searches with Kim Cooper and Cat WarrenDogs 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...2025-06-2356 minThe Pawsitive Post in Conversation by Companion Animal PsychologyFearful and Anxious Dogs with Zazie Todd, PhD, at Bark! FestZazie 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 aboutHow to co...2025-06-091h 00
Sunday MorningDr Zazie Todd: Understanding strange dog behaviourAnimal behaviorist and certified dog trainer, Dr Zazie Todd joins us once again to discuss some of the curly questions around canine behaviour.2025-06-0818 minThe Pawsitive Post in Conversation by Companion Animal PsychologyLoving and Losing Pets with E.B. Bartels, Rev. Sarah Bowen, and Karen Fine DVM at Bark! FestLiving 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 Meanin...2025-05-271h 01The Pawsitive Post in Conversation by Companion Animal PsychologyAnimal Emotions with Marc Bekoff, PhD, at Bark! FestWhen 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 seco...2025-05-131h 00
A Dog's Life with Anna WebbA Dog's Life Archive: Zazie ToddAs we continue our short literary season, we replay one of our favourite shows: Anna's chat with Dr Zazie Todd - CompanionAnimal Psychology - talking about her book Purr. In our conversation on cats , the lack of science on their behaviour (compared to dogs), she recount several hilarious anecdotes on Gremlin, which will make you realise why she named him Gremlin, the lengths he went for to help Molly when she was poorly, and why Gremlin was quite a cat for someone’s first feline! He is so missed, but we hope is he is reunited with Molly across tha...2025-05-0444 min
Behavior Buzzzzzz with 2 AmysWag More, Bark LessEver wonder if your dogs and cats are happy? What constitutes happiness for our companion animals? Join the Amys and their esteemed guest, award-winning author and creator of Companion Animal Psychology, Dr. Zazie Todd, as they discuss the science of our pet's happiness. Dr. Todd remains a major voice and driving force behind the worldwide humane dog training movement and has dedicated her career to animal welfare and improving the human-animal bond.Are YOU the secret to your pet's happiness? How can you help break down barriers and encourage the...2025-05-0131 minThe Pawsitive Post in Conversation by Companion Animal PsychologyOur Bond with Cats with Sarah Chauncey, Sassafras Patterdale, and Rachel Wells at Bark! FestReflect 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...2025-04-2857 minThe Pawsitive Post in Conversation by Companion Animal PsychologyPuppy Brain, early socialization, and what to ask a breeder with Kerry NicholsZazie chats with Kerry Nichols, bestselling author of Puppy Brain: How Our Dogs Learn, Think, and Love. We talk about:How Kerry got into breeding dogsWhy we both love Golden RetrieversHow the book, Puppy Brain, came aboutWhat puppies are like when they are bornExamples of the socialization that Kerry does with puppiesHer favourite part of the first 8 weeks of a puppy's lifeAdvice on finding a responsible breeder (for any breed)And Kerry reads from Puppy Brain for us!Puppy Brain: How Our Dogs Learn, Think, and Love is out now in hardback. The...2025-04-0940 min
Pets Add Life59. Veterinary Insights, Canine Anxiety Solutions & MLB Dog DaysIn this informative and entertaining episode of Pets Add Life, hosts Kristen Levine and Chris Bonifati discuss veterinary insights, canine anxiety solutions, and share exciting pet-friendly MLB events!
First, we chat with Dr. Sarah Wooten, a distinguished veterinarian, certified veterinary journalist, international speaker, and co-creator of the popular game Vets Against Insanity. Dr. Wooten provides valuable insights on bridging communication gaps between vets and pet parents, managing work-life balance in veterinary medicine, and highlights exciting advancements in pet care like microbiome research.
Next, we welcome Dr. Zazie Todd, an animal behavior expert and award-winning author...2025-04-0851 minThe Pawsitive Post in Conversation by Companion Animal PsychologyCanine Crime and Mystery with Antony Johnston, Louisa Scarr, & Dr. Philipp Schott at Bark! FestIf 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...2025-03-161h 04
Backyard Pet Talk with Shannon RileyScientific Studies on Force-Free Positive Reinforcement Dog Training with Dr. Zazie ToddIn today's special episode, we talk with Zazie Todd, PHD, about some scientific studies; some dogs are harder to train than others, adolescent dogs have more issues than puppies, the puppy blues thing!If you would like to donate to Ripple Animal Effect Project, please use this link:https://www.clover.com/pay-widgets/45e53cea-3d70-4757-a404-fabcaf9b33edZazie Todd, PhD, is an animal behavior expert and the award-winning author of Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy, Purr: The Science of Making...2025-03-1530 min
Backyard Pet Talk with Shannon RileyScientific Studies on Force-Free Positive Reinforcement Dog Training with Dr. Zazie ToddIn today's special episode, we talk with Zazie Todd, PHD, about some scientific studies; some dogs are harder to train than others, adolescent dogs have more issues than puppies, the puppy blues thing!If you would like to donate to Ripple Animal Effect Project, please use this link:https://www.clover.com/pay-widgets/45e53cea-3d70-4757-a404-fabcaf9b33edZazie Todd, PhD, is an animal behavior expert and the award-winning author of Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy, Purr: The Science of Making...2025-03-1532 minThe Pawsitive Post in Conversation by Companion Animal PsychologyMore Than Just a Dog with Si WoolerZazie 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...2025-03-0348 minThe Pawsitive Post in Conversation by Companion Animal PsychologyCaring for Dogs with Pilley Bianchi, Wendy Lyons Sunshine, and Carri Westgarth PhDDevelop 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 boo...2025-02-151h 03
Positively Dog Training - The Official Victoria Stilwell PodcastUnderstanding & Helping Fearful Dogs with Zazie ToddVictoria Stilwell welcomes Zazie Todd, PhD, an award-winning author, animal behavior expert, and founder of Companion Animal Psychology on the podcast to discuss the science of stress in dogs, how to identify signs of anxiety, and the role of medications in behavior modification. The conversation touches on cognitive bias in dogs, optimism vs. pessimism, and how early positive experiences shape a dog’s outlook. Zazie shares insights on why fear and anxiety in dogs are on the rise, how counter-conditioning works, and why first-time experiences matter so much for a dog’s learning. Zazie also highlights the impor...2025-02-1145 min
The Doodle Pro® Podcast: Positive Training Tips for a Calm & Well-Behaved Doodle60: Wag: The Science of a Happy Dog with Dr. Zazie ToddCould your doodle be happier? 🐾 Dr. Zazie Todd, PhD, author of Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy, joins me to unpack the science behind what makes our dogs truly thrive.💡 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:✔️ The #1 mistake well-meaning dog parents make when trying to make their pup happy✔️ Why positive reinforcement is key to training success (and what science says about punishment-based methods)✔️ How to tell if your dog is genuinely happy—and what to do if they’re not✔️ The critical puppy socialization window most people miss (and how to do it right...2025-02-0543 minThe Pawsitive Post in Conversation by Companion Animal PsychologyCaring for Cats with Lili Chin, Mikel Delgado PhD, and Lucy Hoile at Bark! FestLearn about the best ways to care for cats with these 3 feline authors. The delightful and informative drawings in Kitty Language by Lili Chin teach you how to understand your feline friend. Mikel Delgado’s Play With Your Cat! will inspire you to have more fun through interactive play with your kitty. And in the book your cat wishes you would read, Lucy Hoile empowers cat guardians to build a better relationship with their cat.We talked about:How Lili researched her book, Kitty LanguageWhat she learned about feline body language that surprised her, and how he...2025-01-251h 00The Pawsitive Post in Conversation by Companion Animal PsychologyCanine Blockbusters with Alexis Devine and Teresa J Rhyne at Bark! FestCelebrate the dog-human bond with these bestselling authors. Social media stars Alexis Devine and her dog Bunny examine our ability to communicate with dogs through buttons that let them “talk” in I Am Bunny. And in Poppy in the Wild, #1 New York Times bestselling author Teresa J Rhyne tells the breathtaking tale of a dog lost and then found in the wilderness.We talked about: Why Alexis decided to start using buttons to teach Bunny to 'talk'How Alexis went about the research for the sections on animal communicationCute stories about some of the specific buttons that Bunn...2025-01-101h 03
The Sociable Dog PodcastA chat with Zazie ToddLeave us a messageZazie Todd PhD is an animal behaviour expert and the award-winning author of Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy and Purr: The Science of Making Your Cat Happy. Her third book, Bark! The Science of Helping Your Anxious, Fearful, or Reactive Dog, is out now. Todd is the creator of Companion Animal Psychology blog and has a column at Psychology Today. She has a PhD in Psychology, is an honours graduate of the prestigious Academy for Dog Trainers, and has an Advanced Certificate of Feline Behaviour (with Distinction) from International Cat...2024-12-3037 min
Dog Save The PeoplePositive Consistency w/ Zazie Todd, PhDHuman-animal behavior research and education has grown significantly over the past decade. One person who has stayed on top of these developments has been Zazie Todd, PhD, a psychologist, trainer, behaviorist, and writer. Through her website, Companion Animal Psychology, Zazie has written since 2012 about the ways science can help our animal companions have happier lives through digestible insights that everyone can understand. She writes a regular series for Psychology Today today too, called Fellow Creatures, exploring the social world of people and animals. She has also now written three books about the science behind our dogs' emotions....2024-12-1718 minThe Pawsitive Post in Conversation by Companion Animal PsychologyCanine Emotions and Perception with Marc Bekoff PhD, Zazie Todd PhD, and Cat Warren at Bark! FestDiscover 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 Perc...2024-12-131h 02