This or That: Expert Insights on Dog Training and Cat Behavior from The Pawsitive Post

The Pawsitive Post, a prominent podcast in the animal behavior community, recently dedicated an episode to a rapid-fire "This or That" challenge featuring hosts Zazie Todd, PhD, and Kristi Benson, CPDT-KA. The engaging format, commonly seen across social media, served as a unique platform to explore nuanced perspectives on dog training, cat behavior, and broader pet care issues. While the episode offered a lighthearted glimpse into the hosts’ personal preferences, it simultaneously illuminated key principles and challenges within the field, providing valuable insights for both seasoned professionals and new pet owners.

Navigating Pet Ownership: Early Decisions and Breed Considerations

The discussion commenced with foundational choices for prospective dog owners. When asked about recommending a first-time dog owner get a Golden Retriever puppy or a friendly adult Golden Retriever, Benson chose the puppy, citing a personal fondness. Todd, however, leaned towards the friendly adult rescue, highlighting a common dilemma in pet acquisition. Data from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) indicates that approximately 3.1 million dogs enter U.S. animal shelters annually, with many adult dogs possessing established temperaments and prior training. The decision between a puppy and an adult dog involves weighing the intensive early training and socialization needs of a puppy against the potentially known history and immediate companionship offered by an adult dog. Golden Retrievers, known for their amiable disposition and intelligence, consistently rank among the most popular breeds, making them a frequent recommendation for families.

The hosts later confronted more specific breed preferences, including a hypothetical choice between a Border Collie and an Australian Shepherd. Both breeds are highly intelligent, energetic herding dogs, requiring significant mental and physical stimulation. Benson favored the Border Collie, describing them as "squishier," while Todd quickly chose the Australian Shepherd. Such preferences often reflect subtle differences in perceived temperament, coat type, or specific breed traits. Both breeds are prone to certain genetic health issues and thrive in active households committed to their extensive needs. Similarly, a choice between a Shih Tzu and a Miniature Poodle underscored the importance of grooming. Benson opted for the Poodle, recognizing the extensive daily grooming required for Shih Tzus compared to the more manageable professional grooming schedule often adopted for Poodles. This highlights a crucial aspect of responsible pet ownership: understanding and committing to a breed’s specific care requirements.

The World of Canine Sports and Activities

The conversation delved into various canine activities, offering insights into their appeal and benefits. When presented with the choice between observing agility or freestyle heelwork to music at Crufts, one of the world’s largest dog shows, Benson initially chose agility, before changing her mind to the choreographed routines of freestyle heelwork. Todd also preferred heelwork to music, a discipline that showcases intricate dog-handler partnerships through dance and obedience. Agility, by contrast, is a fast-paced sport where dogs navigate an obstacle course with their handler. Both activities offer excellent mental and physical enrichment for dogs and strengthen the bond with their owners. These sports exemplify the diverse ways humans engage with canines, fostering skill development and providing entertainment.

Another "this or that" pitted scent work against rally obedience. Benson chose scent work for her dog, Archer, noting his natural inclination for sniffing. Scent work, a rapidly growing dog sport, taps into a dog’s primary sense of smell, allowing them to locate hidden target odors. Rally obedience, a less formal version of competitive obedience, involves teams navigating a course with numbered stations, performing exercises like sits, downs, and heeling. Both activities are accessible to a wide range of dogs and handlers, promoting focus, problem-solving, and confidence. The hosts’ discussion implicitly underscored that tailoring activities to an individual dog’s natural predispositions can enhance engagement and success.

Sensory Experiences and Behavioral Quirks

The podcast explored the more intimate and often endearing aspects of pet ownership. Benson’s questions probed sensory preferences, such as the "smell of puppy breath" versus "the smell of puppy feet." Todd chose puppy breath, a widely cherished scent among dog enthusiasts, while Benson preferred puppy feet. Scientific research suggests that the unique aroma of puppy breath, often described as sweet, is likely due to their developing microbiomes and milk diets. Puppy paw pads, meanwhile, are known for a distinct "Frito" or "popcorn" smell, attributed to yeasts and bacteria.

Vocalizations also featured prominently, with a choice between the "howls of a husky" and the "chirping of a cat." Todd, after some deliberation, selected cat chirping, noting its "pro-social" nature and emotional involvement. Husky howls, while distinctive and often expressive, can sometimes be responses to environmental stimuli rather than direct communication with their owner. Cat chirping, a trilling sound, is often directed at humans or other cats, signaling greeting or attention. These preferences highlight the diverse ways pets communicate and the emotional connections owners form with these specific behaviors.

Observations of pet postures and sleep behaviors also offered a point of comparison. A "cat in a loaf on a glass table" (revealing their underside) was contrasted with a "dog with their nose tucked under their tail as they lay." Todd found the latter "so, so cute," associating it with comfort and contentment. The "cat loaf," where a cat tucks its paws neatly under its body, is a common resting position that can indicate relaxation. Similarly, the "cat licking between their toe beans with stretched fingers" was weighed against a "dog doing that sleep barking thing." Todd opted for sleep barking, a common phenomenon in dogs often interpreted as dreaming, suggesting pleasant dreams of chasing prey or playing. While the exact nature of animal dreams is still under scientific investigation, these behaviors are widely observed and cherished by pet owners.

The Craft of Authorship and Event Organization

Beyond animal behavior, the hosts, both published authors, discussed the challenges of their literary endeavors. A particularly "hard" question for Todd was choosing between "revising a draft book that has been copy-edited" and "writing a book proposal." Todd chose the book proposal, describing it as a period "full of hope" for a new, fresh idea, despite acknowledging the "huge ton of work" involved in creating a detailed business case for a non-fiction book. Revising a copy-edited manuscript, while closer to completion, can be arduous due to repeated readings and the intensity of line edits. This segment offered a rare glimpse into the often-unseen labor behind published works in the animal welfare space.

The discussion also touched upon "Bark! Fest," an event co-organized by the hosts. When asked if they would "do it again or never again," Todd admitted she "cannot answer this question," citing the immense effort involved but also the "amazing feedback" received. Bark! Fest, described as a book festival for animal lovers, was initially planned as a one-off event in 2022 (not 2023 or 2024 as initially misstated in the transcript). The logistical complexities of organizing such a large-scale event, coupled with the desire to meet participant expectations, underscored the significant commitment required.

Challenges in Animal Behavior Consulting and Training

A substantial portion of the episode focused on the complexities of animal behavior consulting, particularly client interaction. The choice between "training a sit or training a heel" for a client revealed Todd’s preference for teaching "sit" due to its quick gratification and ease of execution, offering rapid treat delivery and direct interaction. Benson, reflecting on her experience with a challenging dog, acknowledged the difficulty of training "sit" in some cases but found heelwork gratifying. These foundational behaviors are crucial for canine manners and safety, with "sit" being a simple impulse control exercise and "heel" teaching a dog to walk politely beside their handler.

The nuances of client education were further explored with a choice between "teaching a class or training a client one-on-one." Todd leaned towards teaching a class, citing the dynamism of group learning and shared experience, while acknowledging the "exhausting" nature of being "on" all the time. Benson noted the tiring aspects of both, highlighting the prep work for classes and the "homework" aspect of one-on-one client training. This distinction reflects different pedagogical approaches in animal behavior, each with its own advantages and demands on the instructor.

More challenging scenarios involved addressing behavioral issues and client beliefs. When faced with a choice between a "dog biting dog" or a "dog biting human" (both with good acquired bite inhibition and a known good outcome), Todd chose the dog-on-dog scenario, suggesting it might be "easier to resolve" due to fewer emotional complexities compared to human-directed bites. This highlights the severity and emotional impact of bites involving humans, even when bite inhibition is present.

Addressing cat behavior, the hosts considered "a litter box issue or a multi-cat issue." Todd preferred the litter box issue, reasoning that while challenging, it might have a more predictable and resolvable outcome compared to the inherent unpredictability of inter-cat relationships in a multi-cat household. Litter box problems often stem from environmental factors, medical issues, or stress, while multi-cat conflicts can involve complex social dynamics.

Client adherence and belief systems presented further dilemmas. A "marking dog with an aversive adherent owner" was contrasted with a "jumpy Golden with an overly busy owner." Todd decisively chose the "jumpy Golden" scenario. She explained that owners who rely on aversive methods can be resistant to changing their approach, requiring extensive counseling to shift their paradigm towards positive reinforcement. An "overly busy" owner, while time-constrained, may be more open to implementing positive, welfare-forward strategies. This reflects a significant challenge in the animal behavior field: overcoming entrenched, often outdated, training philosophies.

Similarly, difficulties with client training mechanics were discussed: "your client won’t stop clicking with terrible timing" versus "your client fails at unimportant but helpful management." Todd opted for the timing issue, suggesting it might be "easier to fix" than management failures, which often require significant owner effort and a shift in perspective. Effective timing in clicker training is crucial for clear communication, while management strategies (e.g., preventing access to triggers) are vital for safety and preventing rehearsal of unwanted behaviors.

Finally, the hosts tackled conflicting advice from other sources. When a client says "but my vet said" versus "but my breeder said," Todd chose the vet scenario, suggesting breeder advice might be more deeply ingrained. Both situations present common challenges for behavior professionals, as they must respectfully navigate information from other trusted figures in a pet owner’s life. The episode concluded with a provocative choice between a "dominance adherent" client and an "anti-vax" client. Todd, humorously noting that vaccinations are outside her scope as a behaviorist, chose the dominance adherent, indicating a willingness to engage in discussions about outdated training theories, which she hadn’t encountered recently. This final exchange underscored the need for animal professionals to address a wide range of client perspectives and misinformation.

Future Directions in Pet Welfare

The rapid-fire questions, though personal in nature, consistently brought to the forefront key considerations for pet welfare. From the ethical implications of breeding practices (e.g., brachycephalic vs. chondrodystrophic breeds, discussing inherent health issues) to the importance of environmental enrichment (catio vs. high shelves for cats) and stress reduction in veterinary settings (owner presence during blood draws), the discussion underscored a commitment to evidence-based, welfare-first approaches. The insights shared by Zazie Todd and Kristi Benson serve as a valuable resource, reminding listeners that thoughtful engagement with every aspect of pet ownership, from initial choices to ongoing care and training, is paramount for the well-being of companion animals. The Pawsitive Post continues to be a platform where complex topics are made accessible, fostering a more informed and compassionate pet-owning community.