Claim OwnershipThe Pawsitive Post in Conversation by Companion Animal Psychology
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© 2026 The Pawsitive Post in Conversation by Companion Animal Psychology
Description
The show about how to have a better relationship with your dog or cat. Get tips on dog training, dog behaviour, cat behaviour and training, learn about the science on dogs and cats, and find out which books we're reading (animal-related and more generally). Kind, humane, reward-based training methods only. Hosted by Zazie Todd PhD and Kristi Benson CTC of Companion Animal Psychology blog. Made in Canada.
55 Episodes
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Send us a text to say hello! How can you help your dog to like it--and behave well--when visitors come to your home? Zazie and Kristi are joined by dog trainer Jeff Millman, author of Triggers and Reactions: A Guide to Fixing Your Dog Behavior Problems, to chat about this common issue. We talk about: Why having your dog jump on guests is in some ways a nice problem to haveThe behaviours we can teach them to do insteadThe signs to look for that would suggest that your dog is shy or fearful of ...
Send us a text to say hello! Zazie and Kristi talk about how to help dogs and cats get along, and why it all starts with thinking about the cat's feeling of safety. We talk about: the need to manage introductions between dogs and catswhat that means from the dog's perspective, and the cat's perspectivethe importance of letting them vote with their feetthe need for safe spaces, and how to make safe spaces for a catthe idea of training the dog to be safe around catshow to keep the peace at meal...
Send us a text to say hello! What's the best kind of carrier to choose for your cat? We get a veterinarian's perspective from Dr. Mansum Yau, author of The Ins and Outs of Cat Carriers: A Veterinarian's Guide to Cat Carriers. We talk about: why, as a vet, Dr. Mansum is interested in cat carrierswhat kind of carrier is the best one to choosehow to help cats be more comfortable at the vethow she became a stand-up comedian on top of being a vet, and how humour can help at the vetwhy toothbrushin...
Send us a text to say hello! Away to Me is Patricia McConnell PhD's first mystery novel, and it's gorgeous. Zazie and Kristi chat with Patricia to learn more about the book and why she decided to write fiction set in the dog world. We talk about: What made Patricia decide to write a mystery novelThe main character, Maddie McGowanWhether it was fun to be writing dogs as charactersHow she wrote about the dogs as real characters & without turning the interactions into negative/aversive ones....
Send us a text to say hello! How is caring for a dog different than caring for a cat, and what is the same? We talk about what dogs and cats need for a happy life with us. We talk about: Training dogs and training cats (and why you should train your cat)The importance of enrichmentTheir sense of smellGoing places with your dog, but not your catHouse trainingVet care and husbandryAnd the books we've been reading. Also mentioned in this episode: There is a training plan to teach your cat to go ...
Send us a text to say hello! If your dog has separation anxiety, what can you do to help them, how can you cope with not leaving your dog alone for longer than they can handle, and why is it so important? We're joined by separation anxiety expert Malena DeMartini to talk about how you can help your dog with their separation-related issues. We talk about: what separation anxiety is and whether other labels like separation-related distress are useful to dog trainers and dog guardianswhat it mea...
Send us a text to say hello! In this special episode, Zazie and Kristi are joined by some of the most popular guests from previous episodes to chat about all things animal behaviour, including dogs, cats, ants, penguins, and crows. We talk about: with Jo Wimpenny, PhD, author of Aesop's Animals, we talk about The Ant and the Grasshopper and how we know whether or not animals can plan ahead--plus we get exciting news about her next bookZazie and Kristi chat about their highlights of the yearwi...
Send us a text to say hello! Zazie and Kristi are joined by Prof. Carri Westgarth to answer your questions about dog bites, how to avoid getting bitten by a dog, and what to do if you have been bitten by a dog. We talked about: Why dogs biteHow to use management to keep people safe from dogsHow to keep children safe from dog bitesWhat to do if a loose dog charges you How to regain trust if your own dog has bitten youThe difference between predatory behaviour and fear aggressionThe systemic fa...
Send us a text to say hello! We learn what canine scent work is, why it's so good for dogs, and how to get started--and progress--in this activity with Certified Nose Work Instructor Bonnie Hartney of Ocean Park Dog Training. We talk about: How Bonnie got started in scent work and how the activity first came aboutWhy scent work is fun for dogs and for their humansWhat to expect at a beginner classWhether scent work is for all dogsThe kinds of scent that are used, how dogs progress to searchin...
Send us a text to say hello! We hosted an Ask Me Anything on anxious, fearful, and reactive dogs. You asked some incredible questions, and this is the result. We talked about: How to find the starting place for working with anxious dogsHelping dogs who are afraid of elevatorsFear of strangersHelping reactive dogs in tricky environments like apartment buildings and citiesReactivity to other dogsFear of loud noisesHow the unfortunate side effects of shock collars can persist after training is o...
Send us a text to say hello! We talk about the real world of conservation dogs and the fictional world of FBI dogs and conservation canines with Jen J. Danna, who writes under the name Sara Driscoll. Deadly Trade is the latest FBI K-9 mystery from author Sara Driscoll. K-9 handler Meg Jennings can never walk away from her job, even amid her Hawaiian Islands honeymoon, where she and her search-and-rescue black Lab encounter a double threat from wildlife poachers and Mother Nature. We talked ab...
Send us a text to say hello! Demand barking is a type of barking that dogs do to get something they want, like a treat, toy, or attention. It happens because we've previously (accidentally) rewarded them for it. So what should you do if your dog is demand barking? In this episode, we talk about: How dogs bark for different reasons, including watchdog barking and barking due to fearWhat demand barking isWhy the phrase "demand barking" is actually a bit of a misnomerWe give examples of demand b...
Send us a text to say hello! Dog sports are fun activities for you and your dog, but with so many to choose from, it can feel daunting to get started. We demystify dog sports with trainer Ayoka Bubar, a Rally Obedience judge who has taught (and tried) many different sports. She shares the details and tells us how to match sports to dogs. We talked about: Why Ayoka loves dog sportsWhy dog sports are good for dogsWe get examples: rally o, tricks training, barn hunt, and cartingWhich kinds of do...
Send us a text to say hello! The benefits of having more than one dog and what you should do to ensure everyone gets along. We talk about: How having another dog in the home can be beneficial for a dogHow it can cause issuesDisagreements between dogs are normal, just like people disagreeWhat kind of disagreement is okayThe mistake many people make which makes things worseHow to make sure resources aren't a source of stressHow to deal with dog fights and break them upManagement can be life-sav...
Send us a text to say hello! Content warning: Suicidal ideation comes up in this conversation. Help is available. In Canada or the US, call or text 988 for the suicide crisis helpline. In the UK, the Samaritans are on 116 123. When a cute puppy turns into a terrible teen, many people struggle. Tina Spring of Sit Happens joins us to talk about adolescent canines and how she helps people with their teenage dog in a place where many pups miss out on puppy class. Tina is also the smart, fun...
Send us a text to say hello! If a dog is reactive, fearful, or anxious, often the dog is struggling--and so is their person. We share tips to help you to help your fearful dog, from the first chapter of Zazie's book Bark! The Science of Helping Your Anxious, Fearful, or Reactive Dog. Bark! is out now in paperback and available wherever books are sold. Get Bark!: https://www.companionanimalpsychology.com/p/books.html We talked about: How important it is to recognize the signs of stress ...
Send us a text to say hello! What's a veterinarian's view on dog training methods? And if your pet is terrified of going to the vet, how can they help? We find out from an amazing veterinarian, Dr. Adrian Walton of Dewdney Animal Hospital in Maple Ridge, BC. We talked about: Dr. Walton’s position on dog training methods, and his experience of so-called “balanced” trainersHow he trained sealions at the Toronto Zoo with a whistle and a bucket of fishHow a large lizard ended up at his clinic and...
Send us a text to say hello! 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...
Send us a text to say hello! 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...
Send us a text to say hello! Dogs 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 Ki...
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