Young animal behaviour is more complicated than just instincts. How do new born puppies know to crawl towards their mother’s mammary glands to suckle milk? How do adult dogs know to sniff under other dogs’ tails to get information about them? How do cats know how to use a scratching post? How do beavers know […]
Getting Help with Cat Behaviour
My new post at Psychology Today looks at how to get help with your cat’s behaviour issues. Photo: Francesco Ungaro/Pexels By Zazie Todd PhD We all love our pet cats, but even though all cats are perfect, it’s pretty common for people to have issues with their behaviour. Whether it’s scratching the furniture, toileting outside […]
One Third of Dogs Have a Behaviour Issue, Study Shows
The most common problems are fear, especially fear of loud noises, and not doing what the guardian wants, such as not coming when called. Photo: Mikkel Bendix/Pexels By Zazie Todd PhD New research published in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior shows that if your dog has a behaviour issue, you’re not alone. Importantly, the study […]
Are We Pathologizing Normal Pooch Behaviour? with RNZ’s Sunday Morning
I spoke with Jim Mora about fear and anxiety in dogs. By Zazie Todd PhD This page contains affiliate links which means I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no cost to you. A recent article in The Atlantic says that too many people have dogs and they can’t take care of them […]
Bad Behaviour
It was our farrier day today so I wanted to get everyone in one place ready and waiting. First, the Minions escaped from their paddock (they rushed past OH, which I consider a heinous crime). Rude. I only knew this when Newt and Silver arrived in the stable. Guessing what had happened, I shut the […]
Am I ready to get a dog? Animal behaviour expert Karen Wild answers
Animal behaviour expert Karen Wild discusses what you need to consider if you are getting a pet Adding a furry friend to your household is a big decision, and it’s important to understand the responsibilities and commitment involved. In the United Kingdom, there are currently over 12 million households that own a pet, with dogs […]
Better Behaviour | My Shetland
The ponies seem to have settled down a bit when they are eating now. There is less arguing. Maybe Newt’s self-enforced time out has helped. Perhaps it made everyone appreciate each other more (*** snorts in derision as I type this! ***) Vitamin is always the same – basically “give me my bucket now, B***h!” […]
Fish GPS? Scientists find goldfish go farther next to certain stripes | Animal behaviour
Goldfish may spend most of their time swimming up and down a glass tank but researchers have found they have a sophisticated navigation system that allows them to estimate distance. While researchers have previously shown a wide array of fish can navigate efficiently, questions remained about the mechanisms involved. Understanding those, scientists say, could help […]
Asia for Animals coalition, “Changing Human Behaviour” !
Kathmandu , December , 2017Asia for animals conference is the flagship progrmme of the Asia for Animals coalition, which brings together more than 20 world’s leading animal welfare organizations that share a focus of improving conditions for animals in Asia.This was the 10th AFA conference taking place for the first time in Kathmandu on 2-5 […]
Dog Training and Behaviour Advice From The Experts
Top tips on reward-based training and caring for dogs of all ages from the experts in dog training and behaviour. Earlier this year, Companion Animal Psychology turned 10 years old. As part of the celebrations, I asked some amazing dog trainers whose work I admire—all experts in their own field of dog training and animal behaviour—to […]