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PODCAST

Research Bites Podcast

Kristina Spaulding, PhD, CAAB

The goal of Research Bites is to bring the science of applied animal behavior to non-scientists. In each episode, Dr. Kristina Spaulding interviews an animal behavior researcher and talks about how we apply science and research to working and living with dogs. Research Bites members get access to full-length episodes, as well as monthly webinars and chats about current research in dog behavior. Visit https://sciencemattersllc.com/research-bites for more details or to become a member.

kids & family pets & animals

All Episodes

36:58

#37: Sensitization vs. Habituation: What Every...

Research Bites Podcast ·

2025/11/17

In this episode of the Research Bites Podcast, Dr. Kristina Spaulding dives deep into two foundational—but often under-discussed—forms of non-associative learning: sensitization and habituation. Drawing on research and classic learning theory, she explains what these processes are, how they differ, why they matter, and how they show up every day in companion animals. Dr. Spaulding connects the research to practical strategies you can use right away. From monitoring behavior and ad...

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34:24

#36: Does Stress Really “Stay in the System” for...

Research Bites Podcast ·

2025/10/17

One of the most common questions Dr. Kristina Spaulding hears is whether stress “stays in the system” for three days. In this episode, she digs into what that really means, what the research shows, and why the truth is more complex than a simple yes or no. She begins with the biology of the stress response—how the HPA axis and sympathetic nervous system work together, the roles of cortisol and corticosterone, and why not all stress is bad. Then she takes on the central question: how long does...

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65:45

#35: Dr. (Jessica) Perry Hekman – What Genetics...

Research Bites Podcast ·

2025/10/07

In this episode of the Research Bites Podcast, Dr. Kristina Spaulding talks with Dr. (Jessica) Perry Hekman, DVM, PhD — behavioral geneticist and co-founder of the Functional Dog Collaborative — about what genetics can (and can’t) tell us about dog behavior. Dr. Hekman shares her journey from veterinary practice to genetics research and helps unpack key concepts like heritability, epigenetics, and behavioral phenotypes. Together, they explore what the science really says about breed and behav...

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61:50

#34: Ádám Miklósi - Natural dog behavior, imitation,...

Research Bites Podcast ·

2025/09/21

This podcast was originally released in April 2022 as a shortened version. This is the full version of the original podcast. Dr. Ádám Miklósi is a full professor and the leader of the Department of Ethology at the Eötvös University in Budapest (Hungary). He is also the co-founder and leader of the Family Dog Project ( http://familydogproject.elte.hu ) which studies human-dog interaction from an ethological perspective. In recent years he has also become interested in the automatization of mea...

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73:17

#33: Building Resilience: Dr. Mike Mendl on Positive...

Research Bites Podcast ·

2025/08/15

In this thought-provoking episode of the Research Bites Podcast, Dr. Kristina Spaulding is joined by Dr. Mike Mendl, professor of Animal Behavior and Welfare at the University of Bristol’s Veterinary School, for a deep dive into what it truly means to support positive animal welfare. From competence and resilience to cognitive bias and decision-making, Dr. Mendl explores how animals perceive and interact with the world—and why individual differences matter so much. You’ll hear how animal-base...

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41:41

#32: Labels, Behavior, and the Bigger Picture

Research Bites Podcast ·

2025/08/12

In this episode, Dr. Kristina Spaulding dives into the complex world of labels—how we define, categorize, and talk about behavior in both humans and animals. Drawing on her psychology background, she explores the benefits and pitfalls of labels, the messiness behind mental health classifications, and how new models in psychology might help us think differently about animal behavior. At the heart of the discussion: lasting change comes from addressing underlying processes—like stress, emotiona...

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63:05

#31 - Dr. Michael Blackwell on increasing access to...

Research Bites Podcast ·

2025/07/02

In this episode of the Research Bites podcast, Dr. Spaulding interviews Dr. Michael Blackwell, Director of Pet Health Equity at the University of Tennessee. The discussion centers around the intersection of veterinary care and public health, emphasizing how financial and systemic barriers affect access to veterinary services, particularly for low-income and BIPOC families. Dr. Blackwell introduces Align Care, a program designed to subsidize veterinary care through community-supported fund acc...

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74:56

#30 - Dr. Amy Learn and Dr. Amy Pike on medical...

Research Bites Podcast ·

2025/06/18

In this episode, we’re joined by not one, but two Board-Certified Veterinary Behaviorists—Dr. Amy Learn and Dr. Amy Pike—for a thoughtful and wide-ranging conversation on the intersection of medicine and behavior. We dive into Dr. Spaulding’s new favorite concept: mindbody unity, and explore how physical health and behavior are deeply intertwined. Dr. Pike has been caring for patients for well over 20 years. She is a Board Certified Veterinary Behaviorist, and Certified Dog Behavior Consultan...

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64:56

#29: Dr. Lisa Gunter on sleepovers and field trips...

Research Bites Podcast ·

2025/03/06

In this episode of the Research Bites podcast, Dr. Spaulding interviews Dr. Lisa Gunter about her work on reducing stress and improving welfare in shelter dogs. If you work or volunteer in a shelter – or work closely with shelter or rescue dogs - this is the podcast for you! Lisa Gunter is an Assistant Professor of Animal Behavior and Welfare at Virginia Tech in the School of Animal Sciences, and she directs the Center for Applied Animal Behavior and Education. Before beginning he...

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36:10

#28 Science Myths Busted: Understanding Behavior and...

Research Bites Podcast ·

2025/01/25

In this episode, we explore two common myths about science and how they relate to the world of dog training and behavior:Myth #1: Science is elitist and doesn’t apply to the real world.The Truth: Science is for everyone! You don’t need a fancy degree to understand and apply science in meaningful ways.Science is deeply connected to real-world applications, including the everyday work of dog training and behavior.Dr. Spaulding shares examples of research that directly informs and improves how w...

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55:09

#27: Dr. Sara Hintze on animal well-being and...

Research Bites Podcast ·

2024/11/16

00:00 Introduction to Research Bites Podcast 00:30 Join the Research Bites Membership 01:08 Introducing Dr. Sara Hintze 02:01 Dr. Hintze's Journey into Animal Welfare 04:43 The Evolution of Animal Welfare Science 06:22 Understanding Positive Welfare in Animals 09:33 Challenges in Measuring Animal Emotions 14:58 Individual Differences in Animal Welfare 19:28 Cognitive Bias and Optimism in Animals 22:28 Assessing Well-Being in Individual Animals ...

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70:11

#26: Dr. Daniel Mills on understanding animal...

Research Bites Podcast ·

2024/10/21

In this episode of the Research Bites podcast, host Dr. Kristina Spaulding interviews Professor Daniel Mills, a renowned expert in veterinary behavioral medicine from the University of Lincoln. They explore the complexities of animal behavior, the evolution of different behavioral models, and the role of emotions in influencing behavior. Professor Mills shares insights from his extensive research, including the development of the psychobiological model for assessing animal behavior and his wo...

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2:30

Podcast Update!

Research Bites Podcast ·

2024/10/16

Hello everyone! I am taking a break to develop a more effective and consistent system for podcast production so that I can release episodes on a regular timeline. That means I need to take a short break to get everything organized, but rest assured we will be back soon!For more information, please check out my website and social media links below! https://sciencemattersllc.com/ Facebook Instagram

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64:34

#25 Monique Udell - Problem solving, communication,...

Research Bites Podcast ·

2024/08/12

Your host: Kristina Spaulding, PhD, CAAB with Science Matters Academy of Animal Behavior, LLCThis podcast was originally released in March 2022 as a shortened version. This is the full version of the original podcast.My guest today is Dr. Monique Udell. Dr. Udell is a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist and an Associate Professor of Animal & Rangeland Sciences at Oregon State University, where she directs the Human-Animal Interactions Lab and teaches courses on Animal Behavior, Cognition...

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25:50

Mini episode #4 - Pair housing revisited, survey on...

Research Bites Podcast ·

2024/07/08

SummaryIn this conversation, Kristina discusses two research papers. The first paper explores the effects of pair housing versus single housing in shelter dogs (yes, this was discussed last episode, but this is a 2nd study on the same topic, from a different perspective). The study found that pair housing with another dog may decrease stress levels and reduce the length of stay in shelters. The second paper examines training methods used by dog owners in the United States. The study found tha...

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63:18

#23 - Dr. Patricia McConnell on intrinsic...

Research Bites Podcast ·

2024/06/28

SummaryIn this conversation, Dr. Patricia McConnell and Dr. Kristina Spaulding explore the concept of flow, which is a state of complete absorption and engagement in an activity that is intrinsically rewarding. They discuss how flow can vary among individuals and how it relates to different activities dogs might do. The conversation highlights the importance of providing opportunities for animals to engage in activities purely for their own enjoyment. They also discuss the importance of provi...

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23:51

#22: Mini-episode 3 - Puppy whines and maternal care,...

Research Bites Podcast ·

2024/06/07

SummaryIn this conversation, I discuss two research papers related to dog behavior. The first paper explores the influence of puppy whines on maternal behavior in dogs. The study found that puppy whines trigger maternal care - with stronger maternal care in response to the mother's own puppies. The second paper examines the impact of different enrichment interventions on the stress levels of dogs in a shelter. The study suggests that housing dogs with conspecifics may be beneficial in r...

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66:31

#21 - Dr. Lucia Lazarowski - Odor and cognition,...

Research Bites Podcast ·

2024/05/30

Dr. Lucia Lazarowski, chief behavioral scientist at Auburn University's Canine Performance Sciences Program, discusses her research on olfaction and behavior in detection dogs. Dr. Lazarewski shares insights on the best methods for training dogs to detect odors, the capacity of dogs to learn multiple odors, and the maintenance of odor memory and search training. We also discuss the fascinating topic of inattentional blindness and how focus on one thing can prevent dogs from even noticing othe...

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29:02

#20: Mini-episode #2 - Perspectives on puppy...

Research Bites Podcast ·

2024/05/13

It's time for another mini-episode on recent research! In this episode, I discuss papers about 1) gaps in our understanding of puppy development, from a unique perspective, 2) the impact of dog sports discipline (e.g. obedience or nosework) on impulse control and persistence, and 3) a program for reducing barking in shelter dogs. Each paper is summarized briefly in easy to understand language so you don't have to work - or find the time! - to find, read, and interpret the research yourself. I...

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22:05

Mini-episode #1 - Handling in horses, cat aggression...

Research Bites Podcast ·

2024/03/21

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21 results

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