Writers talk about what brings them hope for the human-dog, human-cat, and human-animal bond.

This is a bonus episode featuring Patricia McConnell PhD, Jean Donaldson, Marc Bekoff PhD, and all of the writers who took part in Bark! Fest, the book festival for animal lovers. Together they share their insights on what is cause for hope. Bark! Fest celebrated the launch of my book Bark! The Science of Helping Your Anxious, Fearful, or Reactive Dog, which is out now.

A few years back, I heard one of my favourite authors speak at an online literary festival. Amin Maalouf is a member of the Academie Francaise and the author of novels including Samarkand and The Rock of Tanios. He said, “I think the duty of a writer is to have lucidity and hope. If you spread despair, it’s best not to speak at all.” So that's what made me think to ask this question of everyone.

You can find recordings of the full panel discussions in our back catalogue.

The authors and their books:

Patricia B. McConnell: The Education of Will and The Other End of the Leash.

Jean Donaldson: The Culture Clash.

Zazie Todd PhD: Bark! The Science of Helping Your Anxious, Fearful, or Reactive Dog.  

Marc Bekoff, PhD: Dogs Demystified and The Emotional Lives of Animals.

Cat Warren: What the Dog Knows.  

Alexis Devine: I Am Bunny.  

Teresa J. Rhyne: Poppy in the Wild. 

Lili Chin: Kitty Language.

Mikel Delgado PhD: Play With Your Cat! .

Lucy Hoile: the book your cat wishes you would read.  

Pilley Bianchi: For the Love of Dog, illustrated by Calum Heath.

Wendy Lyons Sunshine: Tender Paws.

Carri Westgarth PhD: The Happy Dog Owner.  

Antony Johnston: The Dog Sitter Detective Takes the Lead.

Louisa Scarr: Gallows Wood.  

Philipp Schott DVM: Eleven Huskies: A Dr. Bannerman Vet Mystery.  

Sarah Chauncey: P.S. I Love You More Than Tuna, illustrated by Francis Tremblay.  

Sassafras Patterdale (Lowrey): Claw This Journal.

Rachel Wells: Alfie the Christmas Cat.  

E.B. Bartels: Good Grief.

Rev. Sarah A. Bowen: Sacred Sendoffs.

Karen Fine DVM: The Other Family Doctor.  

Kristi Benson.

Finding hope in dog training and animal behaviour (Psych Today) https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/fellow-creatures/202103/finding-hope-in-dog-training-and-animal-behavior

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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.

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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.

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