The Pawsitive Post in Conversation by Companion Animal Psychology
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.
The Pawsitive Post in Conversation by Companion Animal Psychology
Fearful and Anxious Dogs with Zazie Todd, PhD, at Bark! Fest
Zazie Todd is at the forefront of the move towards positive animal welfare and kind, humane dog training methods. Her third book, Bark! The Science of Helping Your Anxious, Fearful, or Reactive Dog is a compassionate and practical guide to overcoming your dog’s fears. In this panel from Bark! Fest, you’ll learn how to help your dog feel safe, how your presence can help your dog, and get a new understanding of the training techniques that can make a difference, as she shares tips from Bark!.
We talked about:
- How Bark! Fest came about
- How to counsel people that slow is the new fast when it comes to fearful dogs
- Decisions about how much of the "why" and "how" to include in the book
- Why tricks training is included in a book for fearful and anxious dogs
- How to keep dogs and people safe
- Whether pandemic puppies really do have more behaviour issues, and how we can use management to help a fearful dog
- The gorgeous cover of Bark! and how much input authors get into book covers and titles with a traditional publisher
- Plus Zazie did a reading from the book
Bark! is out now in paperback. It is available wherever books are sold.
Find out about upcoming events and learn more about Zazie Todd, PhD, on her website https://www.companionanimalpsychology.com/p/home.html
Ask Me Anything on Anxious, Fearful, and Reactive Dogs: June 11th at 11am Pacific. Registration required. Details: https://www.companionanimalpsychology.com/2025/05/ama-about-anxious-fearful-or-reactive.html
Bark! paperback launch and book signing, June 14th 1-3pm at Black Bond Books, Maple Ridge. Details: https://www.companionanimalpsychology.com/2025/05/bark-is-coming-in-paperback-and-you-are.html
The recording of Bark! Fest with Patricia McConnell, PhD, is here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2183505/episodes/16149739
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.
