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PODCAST

The Pawsitive Post in Conversation by Companion Animal Psychology

Zazie Todd PhD and Kristi Benson CTC

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.

kids & family pets & animals

All Episodes

34:05

Being positive about positive reinforcement (when...

The Pawsitive Post in Conversation by Companion... ·

2026/09/29

Leave us a voicemail! Kristi and Zazie chat about the need to be positive when talking about dog training and cat behaviour, and how they cope when someone is wrong on the internet. We talked about: The value of positive reinforcement, and gratitude for the positive reinforcement we get for the podcastHow to cope when someone is badly wrong on the internet and the post takes offThe idea of a DRI for ourselves: differential reinforcement of an incompatible behaviour The idea of a revenge ...

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41:38

The Invention of the Dog with Tamsin Pickeral

The Pawsitive Post in Conversation by Companion... ·

2026/09/15

Leave us a voicemail! Tamsin Pickeral's new book, The Invention of the Dog: 75 Breeds that Changed the World is a fascinating, touching, and beautifully illustrated account of where our beloved dogs come from. Tamsin joined Zazie and Kristi to chat about the book. We talked about: How the book came about, and what it was like selecting the artwork to be included in the bookThen we look at 3 very different breeds, starting with the history of the Shih TzuThe history of the Bernese Mountain Dog...

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29:15

Great Writers and the Cats who Owned Them with...

The Pawsitive Post in Conversation by Companion... ·

2026/09/01

Leave us a voicemail! Zazie and Kristi chat with Susannah Fullerton about her delightful book, Great Writers and the Cats Who Owned Them. We talk about: whether there is a special affiliation between writers and catshow Susannah chose the writers to include in the booksome famous cats, including Hodge, who was a very fine cat indeedDaffy, the cat who knew Anne of Green Gables before anyone elsewhy TS Eliot doesn't get a whole chapter despite inspiring the musical CatsDorothy L Sayers' cat Bli...

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31:15

Dog training methods: How to advocate for dogs (and...

The Pawsitive Post in Conversation by Companion... ·

2026/08/18

Leave us a voicemail! Zazie and Kristi chat about what we can do to better advocate for reward-based dog training methods, and some common things that people get wrong. We talk about: The podcast Kristi heard by Rachel Gilmore and why it made her want to talk about this topicWhy reward-based dog training methods are better for dogs and their peopleBothsidesism, and how portraying the use of aversive methods as normal and just another side of the argument is potentially damagingHow we can use ...

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42:23

Love in Their Hearts and compassion for animals with...

The Pawsitive Post in Conversation by Companion... ·

2026/08/04

Leave us a voicemail! Marc Bekoff, PhD, joins Zazie and Kristi to talk about his new book Love in Their Hearts, his work (and upcoming book) with Jane Goodall, and what it's like studying canids. We talked about: Why Marc and his co-author Jeff Campbell wrote Love In Their HeartsThe time Marc's dog Jethro rescued a baby bunny, and stories of the grizzly bear known as 399The importance of naming animalsMarc's research on dogs, wolves, coyotes, and foxes, and how his work replaced theories of d...

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35:04

Setting standards in dog training and animal...

The Pawsitive Post in Conversation by Companion... ·

2026/07/21

Leave us a voicemail! How can we set and maintain standards for dog training and animal behaviour? Zazie and Kristi are joined by Fiona Cooke, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Animal Behaviour and Training Council to learn all about their important work in the UK, and what anyone can do if they want to make a difference. We talked about: What the ABTC doesWhy it's so important to follow a compassionate, non-punitive approach in training and animal behaviourThe wide range of organizations...

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35:54

Can your dog tell if you're pregnant and smell if...

The Pawsitive Post in Conversation by Companion... ·

2026/07/07

Leave us a voicemail! Zazie and Kristi chat with scientist Dr. Catherine Reeve about her research to find out whether dogs change their behaviour when their owner is pregnant and if they can use their noses to detect when someone is stressed. We talked about: The survey that investigated whether women think their dog's behaviour changed when they were pregnantThe kinds of dogs that were most likely to show changesHow the scientists got scent samples from people who were stressedThe training t...

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34:58

How to evaluate the scientific research on dogs and...

The Pawsitive Post in Conversation by Companion... ·

2026/06/23

Leave us a voicemail! New research on dogs and cats helps us to understand them better and give them better lives. But how do we know if the research is any good, and what about our feelings about the results? Zazie and Kristi chat about how to evaluate the science. We talk about: Taking an ethical stance on dogs and cats that recognizes that they are sentient beingsHow it can be tricky to assess research if you're not trained as a scientistThe research on training methods shows risks to usin...

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25:32

Resource guarding in dogs: What to do about it with...

The Pawsitive Post in Conversation by Companion... ·

2026/06/09

Leave us a voicemail! Jean Donaldson has just published a new edition of her book Mine! A Practical Guide to Resource Guarding in Dogs. If you have a dog who guards food, objects, people, or locations, you need this book! Jean joins Zazie and Kristi to discuss what to do if your dog guards food, locations, or other resources. We talk about: Why it was time for a new edition of Mine! and what it was like to write itHow to decide if your dog needs a regular training plan or a more incremental o...

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44:07

Why children should Ask the Dog if they want to be...

The Pawsitive Post in Conversation by Companion... ·

2026/05/26

Leave us a voicemail! Kids are routinely taught to ask a dog's owner before petting the dog. Today, radio host Steve Dale joins us to talk about how they should also find out if the dog wants to be petted or not. We learn about Steve's new children's book, Ask the Dog, which is a fun story with an important message, and we also talk about some good news in cat health. We talked about: Why Steve wrote the bookThe importance of preventing dog bites, and why children are especially at riskWhy ch...

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47:37

Dogs and cats, breeds and behaviour: Quick questions

The Pawsitive Post in Conversation by Companion... ·

2026/05/12

Leave us a voicemail! Zazie and Kristi ask each other rapid fire questions about dogs and cats, breeds and behaviour. But in this game of this or that, we also discuss the answers, illuminating ideas about training and enrichment. By the end of the show, you'll know Zazie and Kristi a lot better, but you'll also have learned something about dogs and cats. As you listen, be sure to shout out your answers too! Or you can leave us a voicemail and let us know. Do you have any this-or-that questio...

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37:02

Why we should love the beasties with Dr. Jo Wimpenny

The Pawsitive Post in Conversation by Companion... ·

2026/04/28

Leave us a voicemail! Zazie and Kristi chat with Dr. Jo Wimpenny, author of Beauty of the Beasts, to learn more about wasps, mosquitoes, vultures, sharks, and other unloved animals. We talk about:- why Jo wanted to write about the beastieshow everything is connectedthe value of wasps and mosquitoes to the ecosystemhow sharks are not necessarily out to get people (even if sometimes they are)whether some animals are over-ratedwhich animal Jo most loved writing aboutand finally Jo told us which ...

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54:04

Can pet dogs sniff out an invasive species? with...

The Pawsitive Post in Conversation by Companion... ·

2026/04/14

Leave us a voicemail! Can pet dogs use their nose to find the eggs of an invasive species, the spotted lanternfly--and what was it like taking part in citizen science to find out? Zazie and Kristi are joined by dog trainer and author Melissa McCue-McGrath to learn all about this fun project. We also learn about Melissa's book, Misadventures of the World's Okayest Dog Trainer. We talk about: the nose work classes that Melissa teacheswhy the spotted lanternfly is such a problemwhy Melissa wante...

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36:53

Senior dogs and young dogs living together: How to...

The Pawsitive Post in Conversation by Companion... ·

2026/03/31

Send us a voicemail! Content warning: The books section at the end of the episode includes subject matter that may be distressing. Having both a senior dog and a young dog in the same home can be wonderful, revitalizing the older dog and providing company for the younger dog. But it can also have its challenges. Zazie and Kristi talk about how to make sure everyone is happy and stays safe. We talk about: How training can help when you have both an old dog and a young dog or puppyWhat to consi...

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31:24

How to help your dog behave with guests with Jeff...

The Pawsitive Post in Conversation by Companion... ·

2026/03/17

Send us a text to say hello! How can you help your dog to like it--and behave well--when visitors come to your home? Zazie and Kristi are joined by dog trainer Jeff Millman, author of Triggers and Reactions: A Guide to Fixing Your Dog Behavior Problems, to chat about this common issue. We talk about: Why having your dog jump on guests is in some ways a nice problem to haveThe behaviours we can teach them to do insteadThe signs to look for that would suggest that your dog is shy or fearful of ...

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32:20

How to help dogs and cats get along with each other

The Pawsitive Post in Conversation by Companion... ·

2026/03/04

Send us a text to say hello! Zazie and Kristi talk about how to help dogs and cats get along, and why it all starts with thinking about the cat's feeling of safety. We talk about: the need to manage introductions between dogs and catswhat that means from the dog's perspective, and the cat's perspectivethe importance of letting them vote with their feetthe need for safe spaces, and how to make safe spaces for a catthe idea of training the dog to be safe around catshow to keep the peace at meal...

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27:27

Everything you need to know about cat carriers with...

The Pawsitive Post in Conversation by Companion... ·

2026/02/17

Send us a text to say hello! What's the best kind of carrier to choose for your cat? We get a veterinarian's perspective from Dr. Mansum Yau, author of The Ins and Outs of Cat Carriers: A Veterinarian's Guide to Cat Carriers. We talk about: why, as a vet, Dr. Mansum is interested in cat carrierswhat kind of carrier is the best one to choosehow to help cats be more comfortable at the vethow she became a stand-up comedian on top of being a vet, and how humour can help at the vetwhy toothbrushin...

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29:41

Patricia McConnell PhD and her first novel Away to Me

The Pawsitive Post in Conversation by Companion... ·

2026/02/03

Away to Me is Patricia McConnell PhD's first mystery novel, and it's gorgeous. Zazie and Kristi chat with Patricia to learn more about the book and why she decided to write fiction set in the dog world. We talk about: What made Patricia decide to write a mystery novelThe main character, Maddie McGowanWhether it was fun to be writing dogs as charactersHow she wrote about the dogs as real characters & without turning the interactions into negative/aversive ones. The many different dog ...

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40:22

Caring for dogs vs caring for cats

The Pawsitive Post in Conversation by Companion... ·

2026/01/20

How is caring for a dog different than caring for a cat, and what is the same? We talk about what dogs and cats need for a happy life with us. We talk about: Training dogs and training cats (and why you should train your cat)The importance of enrichmentTheir sense of smellGoing places with your dog, but not your catHouse trainingVet care and husbandryAnd the books we've been reading. Also mentioned in this episode: There is a training plan to teach your cat to go in their carrier at the end o...

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32:06

How to help dogs with separation anxiety with Malena...

The Pawsitive Post in Conversation by Companion... ·

2026/01/06

If your dog has separation anxiety, what can you do to help them, how can you cope with not leaving your dog alone for longer than they can handle, and why is it so important? We're joined by separation anxiety expert Malena DeMartini to talk about how you can help your dog with their separation-related issues. We talk about: what separation anxiety is and whether other labels like separation-related distress are useful to dog trainers and dog guardianswhat it means to suspend absences for yo...

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