The Pawsitive Post in Conversation by Companion Animal Psychology

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 mummificationThe way that grief for a lost pet is often disenfranchisedWhat an animal chaplain is and why Sarah Bowen wrote her bookBlending science with spirituality, and practical tips to help when someone loses a petWhat it's like being a veterinarian, and how Dr. Karen Fine was influenced by her grandfatherThe value of making home visits as a veterinarian, and helping other pets cope when one of their fellow pets has passedPlus each author did an amazing reading from their bookThe quote by Irving Townsend can be found here: https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/37516-we-who-choose-to-surround-ourselves-with-lives-even-moreLearn more about the authors:E.B. Bartels: https://www.ebbartels.com/ Rev. Sarah Bowen: https://www.sacredsendoffs.com/ Karen Fine DVM: https://karenfinedvm.com/ Send us a text to say hello!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. Kristi Benson's website Facebook Zazie Todd, PhD, is the award-winning author of 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 also has a column at Psychology Today. Todd lives in Maple Ridge, BC, with her husband, one dog, and one cat. Facebook Instagram BlueSky

Send us a textWhen 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: Kristi Benson is an honours graduate of 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 teaching and consultations. Kristi is on staff at the Academy for Dog Trainers, helping to shape the next generation of canine professionals. Kristi's dogs are rescue sled dogs, mostly retired and thoroughly enjoying a good snooze in front of the woodstove. Kristi Benson's website Facebook Zazie Todd, PhD, is the award-winning author of 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 also has a column at Psychology Today. Todd lives in Maple Ridge, BC, with her husband, one dog, and one cat. Facebook Instagram BlueSky

Send us a textReflect 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 processThe role that a Muse Medallion from the Cat Writer's Association for an article by Sassafras played in making Claw This Journal come aboutThe 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 CatWhat it's like to sustain a feline character and their supporting cast over so many booksAnd you can listen to each author do a readingLearn 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: Kristi Benson is an honours graduate of 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 teaching and consultations. Kristi is on staff at the Academy for Dog Trainers, helping to shape the next generation of canine professionals. Kristi's dogs are rescue sled dogs, mostly retired and thoroughly enjoying a good snooze in front of the woodstove. Kristi Benson's website Facebook Zazie Todd, PhD, is the award-winning author of 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 also has a column at Psychology Today. Todd lives in Maple Ridge, BC, with her husband, one dog, and one cat. Facebook Instagram BlueSky

Send us a textZazie 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 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 WaitThe Kindest Lie by Nancy JohnsonOFA - 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: Kristi Benson is an honours graduate of 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 teaching and consultations. Kristi is on staff at the Academy for Dog Trainers, helping to shape the next generation of canine professionals. Kristi's dogs are rescue sled dogs, mostly retired and thoroughly enjoying a good snooze in front of the woodstove. Kristi Benson's website Facebook Zazie Todd, PhD, is the award-winning author of 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 also has a column at Psychology Today. Todd lives in Maple Ridge, BC, with her husband, one dog, and one cat. Facebook Instagram BlueSky

Send us a textIf 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, 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-loversAbout the co-hosts: Kristi Benson is an honours graduate of 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 teaching and consultations. Kristi is on staff at the Academy for Dog Trainers, helping to shape the next generation of canine professionals. Kristi's dogs are rescue sled dogs, mostly retired and thoroughly enjoying a good snooze in front of the woodstove. Kristi Benson's website Facebook Zazie Todd, PhD, is the award-winning author of 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 also has a column at Psychology Today. Todd lives in Maple Ridge, BC, with her husband, one dog, and one cat. Facebook Instagram BlueSky

Send us a textZazie 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/14471/9780008707484More 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 MuirWoman at 1000 Degrees: A Novel by Hallgrímur Helgason, trans Brian FitzGibbonThe Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians by James Patterson and Matt EversmannThe 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.About the co-hosts: Kristi Benson is an honours graduate of 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 teaching and consultations. Kristi is on staff at the Academy for Dog Trainers, helping to shape the next generation of canine professionals. Kristi's dogs are rescue sled dogs, mostly retired and thoroughly enjoying a good snooze in front of the woodstove. Kristi Benson's website Facebook Zazie Todd, PhD, is the award-winning author of 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 also has a column at Psychology Today. Todd lives in Maple Ridge, BC, with her husband, one dog, and one cat. Facebook Instagram BlueSky

Send us a textDevelop 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 aboutThe role of Chaser the Border Collie in the book and tips from her learning of wordsThe parenting research that Wendy Lyons Sunshine drew on to write her book for dog parentsHow to understand parenting styles when caring for a dogWhy Dr. Carri Westgarth decided to focus on how to make dog owners happyTips from her book about finding a responsibly bred puppy, which behaviors are most important to teach, and tips on training an alertThe 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-loversThe 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-westgarthAbout the co-hosts: Kristi Benson is an honours graduate of 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 teaching and consultations. Kristi is on staff at the Academy for Dog Trainers, helping to shape the next generation of canine professionals. Kristi's dogs are rescue sled dogs, mostly retired and thoroughly enjoying a good snooze in front of the woodstove. Kristi Benson's website Facebook Zazie Todd, PhD, is the award-winning author of 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 also has a column at Psychology Today. Todd lives in Maple Ridge, BC, with her husband, one dog, and one cat. Facebook Instagram BlueSky

Send us a textLearn 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 her two cats influenced the bookWhy play is good for catsWhat Mikel thinks are common mistakes that people make when trying to play with their cats, and what to do about themWhat to consider when getting a kitten or adult cat to ensure a good match for your householdWhat Lucy thinks is the biggest thing cat guardians get wrongPlus readings from all three authors, and moreThe 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-loversThe 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: Kristi Benson is an honours graduate of 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 teaching and consultations. Kristi is on staff at the Academy for Dog Trainers, helping to shape the next generation of canine professionals. Kristi's dogs are rescue sled dogs, mostly retired and thoroughly enjoying a good snooze in front of the woodstove. Kristi Benson's website Facebook Zazie Todd, PhD, is the award-winning author of 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 also has a column at Psychology Today. Todd lives in Maple Ridge, BC, with her husband, one dog, and one cat. Facebook Instagram BlueSky

Send us a textCelebrate 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 Bunny usesHow Poppy came into Teresa's lifeThe Thanksgiving that for many people would be a dog lovers' dreamWhat it felt like to search for Poppy in the wildernessPlus 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/S3BJZSCWLQKGThe 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: Kristi Benson is an honours graduate of 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 teaching and consultations. Kristi is on staff at the Academy for Dog Trainers, helping to shape the next generation of canine professionals. Kristi's dogs are rescue sled dogs, mostly retired and thoroughly enjoying a good snooze in front of the woodstove. Kristi Benson's website Facebook Zazie Todd, PhD, is the award-winning author of 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 also has a column at Psychology Today. Todd lives in Maple Ridge, BC, with her husband, one dog, and one cat. Facebook Instagram BlueSky

Send us a textDiscover 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/S3BJZSCWLQKGWe talked about:Why Marc wrote Dogs DemystifiedWhy Marc likes to introduce people to ethologyWhy Zazie wrote Bark!Balancing personal stories with science in the bookHow Cat got into scent work with her dog SoloHow Cat deals with the emotional side of the workand 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.htmlCat 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.htmlAbout the co-hosts: Kristi Benson is an honours graduate of 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 teaching and consultations. Kristi is on staff at the Academy for Dog Trainers, helping to shape the next generation of canine professionals. Kristi's dogs are rescue sled dogs, mostly retired and thoroughly enjoying a good snooze in front of the woodstove. Kristi Benson's website Facebook Zazie Todd, PhD, is the award-winning author of 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 also has a column at Psychology Today. Todd lives in Maple Ridge, BC, with her husband, one dog, and one cat. Facebook Instagram BlueSky

Send us a textBark! 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-loversWe talked about:why Jean wrote her book The Culture Clashwhat the Transparency Challenge is and why it's so important for dog trainers to answer these questionsher advice to someone who is struggling with their dog's behaviourwhat is distinctive about the Academy for Dog Trainersa writing tipher favourite thing that's changed in the world of dog training over the yearsand she answered lots of questions from the audienceResources 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.academyfordogAbout the co-hosts: Kristi Benson is an honours graduate of 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 teaching and consultations. Kristi is on staff at the Academy for Dog Trainers, helping to shape the next generation of canine professionals. Kristi's dogs are rescue sled dogs, mostly retired and thoroughly enjoying a good snooze in front of the woodstove. Kristi Benson's website Facebook Zazie Todd, PhD, is the award-winning author of 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 also has a column at Psychology Today. Todd lives in Maple Ridge, BC, with her husband, one dog, and one cat. Facebook Instagram BlueSky

Send us a textPatricia 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. 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-loversWe 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 RaineGood Morning, I Love You by Shauna ShapiroUnlearn Your Pain by MD Howard SchubinerPatricia 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 About the co-hosts: Kristi Benson is an honours graduate of 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 teaching and consultations. Kristi is on staff at the Academy for Dog Trainers, helping to shape the next generation of canine professionals. Kristi's dogs are rescue sled dogs, mostly retired and thoroughly enjoying a good snooze in front of the woodstove. Kristi Benson's website Facebook Zazie Todd, PhD, is the award-winning author of 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 also has a column at Psychology Today. Todd lives in Maple Ridge, BC, with her husband, one dog, and one cat. Facebook Instagram BlueSky

Send us a textIn 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/barkKristi Benson's course on barking https://www.kristibenson.com/peace-and-quiet-barking-dogsand on grooming: https://www.kristibenson.com/freshandfearlessThe 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/ fearfDebbie 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/resourcesCompanion Animal Psychology blog post on desensitization and counterconditioning https://www.companionanimalpsychology.com/2018/07/what-is-About the co-hosts: Kristi Benson is an honours graduate of 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 teaching and consultations. Kristi is on staff at the Academy for Dog Trainers, helping to shape the next generation of canine professionals. Kristi's dogs are rescue sled dogs, mostly retired and thoroughly enjoying a good snooze in front of the woodstove. Kristi Benson's website Facebook Zazie Todd, PhD, is the award-winning author of 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 also has a column at Psychology Today. Todd lives in Maple Ridge, BC, with her husband, one dog, and one cat. Facebook Instagram BlueSky

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: Kristi Benson is an honours graduate of 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 teaching and consultations. Kristi is on staff at the Academy for Dog Trainers, helping to shape the next generation of canine professionals. Kristi's dogs are rescue sled dogs, mostly retired and thoroughly enjoying a good snooze in front of the woodstove. Kristi Benson's website Facebook Zazie Todd, PhD, is the award-winning author of 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 also has a column at Psychology Today. Todd lives in Maple Ridge, BC, with her husband, one dog, and one cat. Facebook Instagram BlueSky

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 & VideoEstablished in 2004, George Street Photo & Video waAbout the co-hosts: Kristi Benson is an honours graduate of 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 teaching and consultations. Kristi is on staff at the Academy for Dog Trainers, helping to shape the next generation of canine professionals. Kristi's dogs are rescue sled dogs, mostly retired and thoroughly enjoying a good snooze in front of the woodstove. Kristi Benson's website Facebook Zazie Todd, PhD, is the award-winning author of 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 also has a column at Psychology Today. Todd lives in Maple Ridge, BC, with her husband, one dog, and one cat. Facebook Instagram BlueSky

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=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/rescuedbytrainingFamily Paws: https://www.familypaws.com/The Family Dog: https://www.thefamilydog.com/The Books:It's Never Long Enough by Mary GardnerMy Best Mistake by Terry O'ReillyThe Banned Bookshop of Maggie Banks by Shauna RobinsonAbout the co-hosts: Kristi Benson is an honours graduate of 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 teaching and consultations. Kristi is on staff at the Academy for Dog Trainers, helping to shape the next generation of canine professionals. Kristi's dogs are rescue sled dogs, mostly retired and thoroughly enjoying a good snooze in front of the woodstove. Kristi Benson's website Facebook Zazie Todd, PhD, is the award-winning author of 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 also has a column at Psychology Today. Todd lives in Maple Ridge, BC, with her husband, one dog, and one cat. Facebook Instagram BlueSky

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 SilverNudge: The Final Edition by Richard H. Thaler and Cass R. SunsteinLetters From a Lady Rancher by Monica HopkinsBookworm: A Novel by Robin YeatmanAbout the co-hosts: Kristi Benson is an honours graduate of 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 teaching and consultations. Kristi is on staff at the Academy for Dog Trainers, helping to shape the next generation of canine professionals. Kristi's dogs are rescue sled dogs, mostly retired and thoroughly enjoying a good snooze in front of the woodstove. Kristi Benson's website Facebook Zazie Todd, PhD, is the award-winning author of 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 also has a column at Psychology Today. Todd lives in Maple Ridge, BC, with her husband, one dog, and one cat. Facebook Instagram BlueSky

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/GrantHayterInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/g.menzies/About the co-hosts: Kristi Benson is an honours graduate of 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 teaching and consultations. Kristi is on staff at the Academy for Dog Trainers, helping to shape the next generation of canine professionals. Kristi's dogs are rescue sled dogs, mostly retired and thoroughly enjoying a good snooze in front of the woodstove. Kristi Benson's website Facebook Zazie Todd, PhD, is the award-winning author of 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 also has a column at Psychology Today. Todd lives in Maple Ridge, BC, with her husband, one dog, and one cat. Facebook Instagram BlueSky

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

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

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 readingPoppy in the Wild by Teresa J. RhyneDog Friendly and Who Rescued Who, both by Victoria Schade The Book of Silver Linings by Nan Fischer

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 The Paw Project: Cats' paws need their claws 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 BooksKristi'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 

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/sassafraslowreyTwitter: https://twitter.com/sassafraslowreyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/sassafraslowrey/The books we chat about: On Animals by Susan OrleanDoomsday with my Dog by Yu IshiharaComparative Animal Behavior by Richard MaierBad 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 

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 GuinZoo by Ogden NashBook Lovers by Emily HenryThe 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/fetchtheleashInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/fetch_the_leash/

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.Fresh and Fearless: Basic Grooming Made EasyStart From Scratch: Nail Scratchboard Class for DogsFear 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 webinarHow To Have a Happy Cat webinarSubscribe to the Companion Animal Psychology newsletter hereThe books we chat aboutSentient: 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

Resource Guarding in DogsWe 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.Read highlights of the chat here. 

Kindness in dog trainingWe 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: 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.Facebook Instagram  Fresh and Fearless: Basic Grooming Made Easy, the course by Jane available on Kristi's website. Pet Pals Mutual Aid  BooksWonderdog: 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.

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.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: A Matter of Manners Facebook Instagram   The schedule of Erica's online tricks classes is here .  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  

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 RoachPurr: The Science of Making Your Cat Happy by Zazie ToddPlenty in Life is Free: Reflections on Dogs, Training and Finding Grace by Kathy SdaoHappiness: A Novel by Aminatta FornaHeroes Month is taking place at the Academy for Dog Trainers in June 2022. (On Facebook)

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 ZimmerThe Anglo Saxons: A History of the Beginnings of England: 400-1066 by Marc MorrisMake It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning by Peter C. Brown, Henry L. Roediger III, and Mark A. McDanielAlfabet/Alphabet: A Memoir of a First Language by Sadiqa de MeijerCompanion Animal Psychology's Amazon store: https://www.amazon.com/shop/animalbookclub

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.

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 BekoffThe Sleep Solution: Why Your Sleep is Broken and How to Fix It by W. Chris WinterHow to Pronounce Knife by Souvankham Thammavongsa

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.

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/