My Fantastic Friend

06/10/2025

Bark! The Science of Helping Your Anxious, Fearful, or Reactive Dog is out in paperback today! I wrote this book to bring hope to people with fearful and anxious dogs, and it's for anyone who loves dogs.

“It is immediately evident that Zazie Todd has great knowledge and affection for dogs. Her book is a gift to anyone who genuinely wants to learn more about dogs or to improve their dog’s life.”—BC Review, STARRED review

Get your copy wherever books are sold, including:
Amazon: https://amzn.to/4dRvHGa
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/a/105832/9781778403323 (supports indie bookstores in the US).

05/04/2025

04/11/2025

Online classes from The Dog Abides, LLC are back! Check them out. I’ve take a bunch with my dogs and love them!

Registration for Spring Session classes is open! Miles says, “Come learn how to fetch!” 🌼

All classes live and online via Zoom.

3️⃣ Fun Size Skills | 3-Week Classes

Intro to Retrieve
Sends and Wraps
Pivots

1️⃣ Sparkle Session

Back Up and Rear Foot Targeting

For more details and to register: www.thedogabidesllc.com/scheduling

03/26/2025

This is a great recall (coming when called) class that meets virtually with the wonderful Lizzy of Lizzy and the Good Dog People!

Recall For a Meatball starts next Wednesday, April 2, at 7 pm EST! (Here's your link: https://bit.ly/GoodDogPeopleClasses) Train your dog to come when called using proven rewards-based methods! This highly-rated class is FUN, accessible, effective, and efficient and uses only force-free training. It is perfect for learners at every skill level; even trainers take the course! Our small group meets live via Zoom for five Wednesdays. If you have a scheduling conflict, no problem! Each class recording is available for you to watch when you can.

You can drop into any round if you are a Recall for a Meatball alum. Just email me, and I’ll add you to the roster!

* Friends, I always offer scholarship spots. If you need one, please email me! You don't need to explain anything.

How about this recent Google review?! Thank you, Linda Green! “I recently took Lizzy's brilliant Recall for a Meatball class and cannot say enough great things about the content, the instructor (Lizzy), and the other learners in the group. Lizzy breaks down the steps for training a reliable off-leash recall into perfectly sized slices for both our dogs' success and for our human brains to process. The training plans were both beautiful to look at and beautifully crafted, giving enough repetition that our dogs built a solid foundation at the same time that we built confidence in ourselves and our ability to call our dogs away from something enticing. Lizzy's colourful, beautifully drawn handouts and weekly presentations were candy for the eyes, and her naturally warm, empathetic, and and very kind teaching style made every class member feel supported and comfortable. She quickly and seamlessly made adjustments for each student's unique situation and challenges and was very accessible to respond to questions via email and with extra office hours. If I could give this class 10 stars I would. It is one of the best things you can do for you and your sweet dog.”

01/26/2025

Can’t say enough good things about Dogkind LLC for helping fearful doggies ❤️

01/18/2025

This is an excellent course that walks you step-by-step through the steps to teaching your dog key skills. It’s taught by Jean Donaldson, and is on sale right now!

Learn how to train “in” the good and train “out” the bad behaviors with guidance and insights from an award-winning trainer of dog trainers.

01/16/2025

The first book I read by Karen Pryor was “Reaching the Animal Mind.” At the time, I was teaching university-level applied ethics. This book offered me a way to look at familiar problems in animal ethics in a new light and with attention to individual animal behavior. I began to learn how meaningful and impactful positive reinforcement could be. My copy of this book is crinkled and warped from multiple coffee spills, and so many corners of pages are folded that the book is swollen in its upper right.

Today, I am holding gratitude to the spirit and memory of Karen Pryor, who died on January 4th at the age of 92. Her legacy of kindness lives on in me, you, and your dogs. 💖

01/03/2025

Do you think Gus and Pippi liked their gift? Better with sound 😂

12/24/2024

Food prep for shelter dogs! Part of the special holiday meal they’ll get tomorrow. And high value training treats, which I’ll freeze and thaw as needed for the next couple of weeks.

11/04/2024

A reminder that reward-based methods aren't just for sunny days and easy dogs and puppies. They are for all dogs. If you want to know more, I've got a post on my blog that answers common questions about training methods, from the archives. https://www.companionanimalpsychology.com/2019/11/reward-based-dog-training-isnt-just-for.html

10/15/2024

Taking some time for my own dogs today. Here’s Pippi playing one of her favorite games, hide and seek for treats hidden around the house. She and Gus both enjoy tearing up the toilet paper tubes to get to the treats.

10/02/2024

For those who may not know, I’m located just north of Asheville, North Carolina. We are ok and our house is ok. This entire region is very much not ok. We do not have power or internet, and it looks like it is going to be awhile. I have to suspend operations for now.

I’ll be helping at the animal shelter as much as possible. They are starting to take in displaced animals and provide pet food and other assistance to the community. If you want to help, here’s the link to donate directly to the shelter.

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