The Pawsitive Post in Conversation by Companion Animal Psychology

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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, which is just out.
We talk about:
the nose work classes that Melissa teachers for pet dogs
why the spotted lanternfly is such a problem
why Melissa was interested to take part in a citizen science project
the real life issues (like weather) that affected the project
the type of training that they did with the dogs
the field trials at the end of the project, and why it was better for one dog not to take part
the real world applications of a study like this and why it was fun to be part of it
what Melissa would say to someone considering signing up for a citizen science project with their dog
why Melissa wrote her new book and what it's about

Misadventures of the World's Okayest Dog Trainer is available wherever books are sold.
Also mentioned:
BewilderBeasts podcast
Melissa's interview on DogCast radio
The Accidental Veterinarian by Philipp Schott
Tell Me Where it Hurts by Nick Trout
Bark! Fest with Philipp Schott
Victoria Stilwell Academy

The books that Melissa recommended are Away To Me by Patricia McConnell and The Discworld Series by Terry Pratchett.
Melissa McCue-McGrath is a professional dog trainer and behaviour consultant. She is a faculty advisor for the Victoria Stilwell Academy and she is the first non-UK person to be accredited with PACT. She’s the author of Considerations for the Ci
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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 Bark! The Science of Helping Your Anxious, Fearful, or Reactive Dog, 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 has a column at Psychology Today. She lives in Maple Ridge, BC, with her husband, a dog and a cat. 
Instagram  BlueSky

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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 puppy
What to consider when deciding whether to bring a young dog into your home when you have a senior dog
Whether bringing a young dog into the home can be beneficial for an old dog
What kinds of issues people can have in this situation
When to seek help from a dog trainer for your dog-dog issues
Management options that can make a difference and help to prevent issues from arising
We also discuss Zazie's book Bark!s win in the DWAA awards and Zazie shows Kristi her medal
And finally we chat about the books we've been reading

The webinar that Kristi is presenting for the Pet Professional Guild is called Mixing Young Dogs and Senior Dogs: Management, Safety, and Training on April 8 2026. https://www.petprofessionalguild.com/webinars-events/webinars/mixing-young-and-senior-dogs-management-safety-and-training-with-kristi-benson/
Bark! The Science of Helping Your Anxious, Fearful, or Reactive Dog is available wherever books are sold. https://www.companionanimalpsychology.com/p/books.html
The Dog Writers Association of America competition details: https://dogwriters.org/winners/
The books we recommend in this episode are:
Consent: A Memoir by Vanessa Springora trans Natasha Lehrer
People of Means: A Novel by Nancy Johnson
Support the show
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 Bark! The Science of Helping Your Anxious, Fearful, or Reactive Dog, 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 has a column at Psychology Today. She lives in Maple Ridge, BC, with her husband, a dog and a cat. 
Instagram  BlueSky

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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 have
The behaviours we can teach them to do instead
The signs to look for that would suggest that your dog is shy or fearful of guests
How to use management when guests come over
Understanding how to use desensitization and counter conditioning for fearful dogs
How dog training culture has changed over the years and reward-based methods have become more popular
What it was like to study at the original Academy for Dog Trainers and how much Jeff loved it
and finally, we ask Jeff what he's been reading lately

The books recommended by Jeff are:
When Everyone Knows that Everyone Knows... Common Knowledge and the Mysteries of Money, Power, and Everyday Life by Steven Pinker
Never: A Novel by Ken Follett

About Jeff Millman: Jeff Millman was always known as an animal fanatic since he was a little boy. After studying journalism, living in Alaska after college while living in a tent, working professionally as an internet consultant and creative director, he studied dog training with the world-famous Jean Donaldson in San Francisco in 2002. Since then, he has been honing his dog training craft while training thousands of dogs. He’s the author of three books, including the two-volume Triggers and Reactions: A Guide to Fixing Dog Behavior Problems. lives in Cary, NC with his two wonderful children, amazing wife, and English Shepherds, Sky and Storm.
Jeff Millman's website: https://www.jeffmillman.com/
Support the show
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 Bark! The Science of Helping Your Anxious, Fearful, or Reactive Dog, 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 has a column at Psychology Today. She lives in Maple Ridge, BC, with her husband, a dog and a cat. 
Instagram  BlueSky

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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 cats
what that means from the dog's perspective, and the cat's perspective
the importance of letting them vote with their feet
the need for safe spaces, and how to make safe spaces for a cat
the idea of training the dog to be safe around cats
how to keep the peace at mealtimes
placement of the cat's resources
whether dogs are ever scared of cats
how some dogs cannot be trusted to live with a cat

The books we recommend in this episode are:
Dog Affirmations: An Illustrated Journey Through Your Dog's Thoughts by Andrea Cáceres
The Little Old Lady Who Broke All the Rules: A Novel by Catharina Ingelman-Sundberg

Previous episodes mentioned in the show:
Caring for dogs versus caring for cats
How to help your reactive or fearful dog

For more on how to set your house up for your cat, check out Zazie's book Purr: The Science of Making Your Cat Happy, which is available wherever books are sold. Learn more about Zazie's books here.
Support the show
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 Bark! The Science of Helping Your Anxious, Fearful, or Reactive Dog, 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 has a column at Psychology Today. She lives in Maple Ridge, BC, with her husband, a dog and a cat. 
Instagram  BlueSky

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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 carriers
what kind of carrier is the best one to choose
how to help cats be more comfortable at the vet
how she became a stand-up comedian on top of being a vet, and how humour can help at the vet
why toothbrushing is so important for cats and how a video of Dr. Mansum brushing her cat's teeth went viral
the best carriers for adventure cats, and what happened one time with her cat
what it was like illustrating her book
and finally, she tells us about a book she's reading

The book Dr. Mansum picked is Bony Legs and Other Stories by Pat Edwards.
Also mentioned in this episode, the cat toothbrushing episode that went viral: https://www.instagram.com/p/DGW-oi1xPSC/
Dr. Mansum Yau graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College in 2010 and earned her certificate in canine massage from the Royal Canadian College of Massage Therapy in 2025. She is Human Animal Bond and Fear Free Level 3 certified and passionate about preventative care and client education. When she is not caring for cats and dogs, she enjoys reading, writing, painting, drawing, performing clean stand-up comedy, raising awareness for endangered animals, and exploring nature with her one-eyed dog, Penny, and adventure cat, Boo. She is the author and illustrator of The Ins and Outs of Cat Carriers: A Veterinarian’s Guide to Cat Carriers, available wherever cat lovers read. She also shares tips for cats and dogs at pet events and on Instagram and YouTube.
Dr. Mansum Yau is on:
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/drmansum/
Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@drmansum
LinkedIn https://ca.linkedin.com/in/drmansum
Support the show
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 Bark! The Science of Helping Your Anxious, Fearful, or Reactive Dog, 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 has a column at Psychology Today. She lives in Maple Ridge, BC, with her husband, a dog and a cat. 
Instagram  BlueSky