The Clout of Companion Animal Psychology for Dogs and Cats |
Psychologist Zazie Todd is dedicated to making the lives of dogs and cats the very best they can be.
Zazie Todd emphasizes that when dogs, cats, and other companion animals are happy, it's a win-win for all.
Zazie Todd brings scientific expertise, communication skills, and practical experience to her work.
Companion Animal Psychology (CAP), created by the prolific, award-winning psychologist, dog and cat expert, and Psychology Today writer Zazie Todd, is now 14 years old. Zazie is still running it because, as she says, "This stuff matters, not just to dogs and cats, but also to their people. As I've said many times over the years, when you know what your pet needs and provide it for them, they will be happier and less likely to have behaviour issues—and you will be happier too." I have found CAP to be an invaluable source of information for the latest science and other material on the behavior, well-being, and best ways to learn about and train dogs and cats.
I'm thrilled that Zazie, whose book Bark! recently won the prestigious Maxwell Medallion and the McFarland Best Book Award in the Dog Writers Association of America competition, could take the time to answer a few questions about her dedication to making the lives of dogs, cats, and other companion animals the very best they can be.
Marc Bekoff: Why did you found Companion Animal Psychology?
Zazie Todd: It all started when I got a Siberian Husky/Alaskan Malamute cross called Ghost. He would sit and stare at me while I was writing, and I wanted to know what he wanted! Then I discovered canine and feline science. It showed that dogs and cats were much more intelligent and prosocial than many people gave them credit for. I was also horrified by some of the advice I saw about animal behavior in the media, such as takes on dog training that involved trying to “dominate” your dog........