I chatted with Chris Blazina PhD about canine behaviour on the Canine Save the Folks podcast.
I’ve acquired a brand new podcast to share with you!
I used to be a visitor on the Canine Save the Folks podcast, the place I chatted about canines with host Chris Blazina PhD.
Blazina can also be a psychologist and so we had a very enjoyable chat about canine behaviour. You possibly can pay attention right here:
This is the official present description:
John Bradshaw was one of many first folks to put in writing about “how the brand new science of canine habits could make you a greater buddy to your pet.” His work impressed psychologist and educational professor Zazie Todd, who determined to start out a web site referred to as Companion Animal Psychology to additional discover translating these concepts for a bigger inhabitants past teachers in her writing.
Zazie goals to seek out attention-grabbing insights and break them down into digestible items of knowledge that she feels are useful to canine mother and father. This additionally become writing two related canine and cat books: Wag: The Science of Making Your Canine Glad (2020) and Purr: The Science of Making Your Cat Glad (2023).
In October 2024, she launched one other canine-focused guide entitled Bark: The Science of Serving to Your Anxious, Fearful, or Reactive Canine. On this guide, Zazie shares invaluable data for all canine mother and father and offers perception into what to look out for concerning these behaviors in our canine companions. For instance: a canine may have nervousness if they’ve a low posture or are hiding typically. The extra you research and listen, the higher you possibly can acknowledge the attributes.
Zazie additionally affords some suggestions. When you understand your canine could also be having these destructive emotions, the way you method it should depend upon their age. In the event that they’re a pet, they could want socialization throughout a vital window. In the event that they’re a canine who was adopted throughout the pandemic, and issues are altering swiftly with how a lot one is at dwelling, then it is best to present different constants to maintain them comfy in consistency. In the event that they’re a senior canine, you should pay additional consideration to their well being – even ensuring to go to the vet – as ache in older canines may be displayed by behavioral modifications or points.
Throughout any coaching or on a regular basis interactions along with your canines, extra aggressive or “dominating” strategies by people have confirmed to be not simply ineffective however dangerous. Zazie says that solely optimistic reinforcement strategies needs to be used, which end in higher coaching and happier canines. Unfavorable reinforcement strategies usually are not solely unhelpful, however they’re actively damaging.
The pursuit of happiness for our canine companions is one thing canine mother and father ought to all try in direction of, and it’s key to stay consinsitent and diligent within the course of. The objective needs to be to higher perceive what they’re feeling and supply correct options. By taking a look at canines’ feelings and habits by way of an educational and researched lens, we’re capable of regularly higher perceive the pets in our lives and the way our actions affect them. Because the analysis continues, our means to do that will solely grow to be extra nuanced and useful for all.
Glad listening!
