What Pets Actually Want & Need | Dr. Karolina Westlund
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My guest is Dr. Karolina Westlund, Ph.D., a professor of ethology at the University of Stockholm and an expert in animal emotions and behavior who uses science-based methods to improve the lives of animals in human care. We discuss the often overlooked needs of domesticated animals—primarily dogs and cats—and the things we can do to improve their well-being and our relationship with them.
We cover how to interpret animal body language, the unique needs of specific dog breeds, and the needs of cats and birds. We also discuss the pros and cons of spaying and neutering and how weaning age impacts a pet’s attachment style. Whether you’re a pet owner, trainer, or simply an animal lover, this episode teaches you how specific pet behaviors are rooted in their immutable biology—and the simple things you can do to vastly improve your pets’ health and well-being, as well as your relationship with them.
Articles
- Ancestry-inclusive dog genomics challenges popular breed stereotypes (Science)
- Anthropomorphism and Anthropodenial: Consistency in Our Thinking about Humans and Other Animals (Philosophical Topics)
- Responses of pet cats to being held by an unfamiliar person, from weaning to three years of age (Anthrozoös)
- Let me sniff! Nosework induces positive judgment bias in pet dogs (Applied Animal Behaviour Science)
- Distinct hypothalamic control of same- and opposite-sex mounting behaviour in mice (Nature)
- The development of emotional distress reactions to separation, in puppies (The Journal of Genetic Psychology: Research and Theory on Human Development)
Other Resources
- Is your dog more wolf-like or mastiff-like? (Instagram)
- Core Affect Space (Karolina Westlund) (YouTube)
- Two Monkeys Were Paid Unequally: Excerpt from Frans de Waal’s TED Talk (YouTube)
- Snuffle mats for dogs (Amazon)
- Konrad Lorenz & goslings (The American Journal of Psychiatry)
- Konrad Lorenz & goslings (Macmillan Digital Publication)
Huberman Lab Episodes Mentioned
- Adult attachment styles (timestamp)
People Mentioned
- Frans de Waal: Dutch-American primatologist, ethologist
- Konrad Lorenz: Austrian zoologist and ethologist, Nobel Laureate
- John Bowlby: British developmental psychologist, known for attachment theory
- Jane Goodall: British ethologist
About this Guest
Dr. Karolina Westlund
Karolina Westlund, Ph.D., a professor of ethology at the University of Stockholm and an expert in animal emotions and welfare, uses science-based methods to improve the lives of animals in human care.
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