An Interview with Carri Westgarth PhD

Carri Westgarth PhD on tackling common myths about dogs, how anyone can improve their relationship with their canine best friend, and the potential health benefits of dogs.

By Zazie Todd PhD

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In The Happy Dog Owner: Finding Health and Happiness with the Help of Your Dog, Carri Westgarth PhD draws on her scientific expertise and her dog training experience to teach you how to ensure you and your dog are happy. The book is full of practical tips on things like puppy socialization, making more time for dog walks, and training your dog to do useful skills including how to show an alert, open or close doors, and come when called. This engaging book is a great resource to help you improve your bond with your dog. 

You can hear Carri Westgarth talk about the book at Bark! Fest, the book festival for animal lovers. She’s part of a panel called Caring for Dogs with Pilley Bianchi, Wendy Lyons Sunshine, and Carri Westgarth PhD.

The Happy Dog Owner is available from all good bookstores, including via Bookshop (and Bookshop UK), as well as my Amazon store.

Below, Carri Westgarth answers my questions about the book.

Why did you write this book?

We have so much scientific research now about the impact of our dogs on our wellbeing, and us on their welfare. Yet a lot of what we tend to believe about our dogs isn’t actually backed up by that evidence. I wrote this book so that there was an easy-to-read resource to explain the impact that our dogs have on us and how to source and train and develop a relationship with your dog that benefits your physical and mental health. I feel this is so important because sometimes owners have the best intentions but find themselves really struggling to enjoy their dogs for one reason or another. I wanted to help people prevent problems in the first place, or tackle any issues they are experiencing with their dog, so that they can reach that wonderful sweet-spot where we our dogs and us live in happy harmony.

What are the main themes of your book?

The core message in the book is that to be a happy dog owner we need to first make sure our dogs are happy, and what does that mean? I address some common myths about owning dogs around three main themes. The first is the expectation that getting a dog is going to be wonderful and improve your life immeasurably. For certain in a lot of cases it does eventually, but it isn’t an automatic outcome just because you buy a dog. We have to put the work in to achieve this. Gaining physical health benefits depends on you actually walking with your dog. Owning a dog can actually be quite stressful, especially at first, and can even make our depression and anxiety worse. In order to gain the social and mental health benefits from owning dogs that people talk about, it requires us to think and act carefully and this book explains the scientific evidence around this.

Secondly I discuss the myth that you just need to be a good dog owner and when things go wrong it is the owner’s fault. In fact we know that a dog’s genetics and early environment influence their later behaviour. Therefore where you get your dog from and what you do with them when they are young is crucial. This book provides guidance for owners how to navigate getting a new dog.

Finally I address the myth that in order to solve behaviour problems you need to punish the bad behaviour. It is actually more effective, and kind, to reward the good behaviour, but we are terrible at noticing when they are being good and instead tend to notice when they are doing the wrong thing. The book provides guidance on how to approach any training issues and develop a strong relationship with your dog so that they choose to do the right thing without having to keep managing their behaviour. This is particularly important if you would like your dog to become an assistance dog.

What surprised you while you were writing the book?

Some of the book was written during the pandemic lockdowns, so the publishers wanted a chapter about this. As it was only just happening, we were only in the very early stages of research into the impact of the pandemic on dogs and their owners and very little data was published. Looking back though, I was pretty accurate with my assessment.

Tell me something about your writing process and how it shaped this book.

Before becoming a researcher I had spent time working as a behaviour counsellor, assistance dog trainer, in animal rescue, and of course owning and training my own lovely but challenging dogs. I have also conducted lots of scientific research into the impact our pets have on us, and us on them. Throughout all this and whilst talking to people about dogs, I began to form ideas for the book. My thought process was along the lines of ‘what do dog experts wish all dog owners knew about dog ownership?’. I was recommended an agent, and got a book deal. Thankfully this gave me lots to focus on and direct my energies into during the stress of the COVID-lockdowns as I finished writing the book.

Who will especially enjoy this book?

I think there’s something in it for everyone. If you are thinking about getting a dog, this information will set you on the best path. Secondly, anyone who already owns a dog can learn how to improve their relationship with their dog and help guide choices that impact their dog’s welfare. Thirdly, if you are wondering about owning or training an assistance/service dog, this book is a great starting point, outlining many of the ethical and practical issues to be considered, and demonstrating how to teach many helpful physical tasks that your dog can do for you.

What are you working on right now? 

Currently I lead a team of researchers investigating topics such as how people perceive dogs and avoid dog bites, attitudes towards canine obesity and how owners manage their dog’s weight, and perceptions and experiences of caring for old dogs. Since writing the book I gave myself a new challenge – I rescued a young working cocker named Maple. Whilst I struggled during the first few months with her (that would have made more great book material), it has been an absolute joy watching my young son train her in obedience and agility. I also make sure to steal her away sometimes so we can learn gundog training together (also known as spaniel owner therapy group).