Blog will help you, your dog enjoy life

Ever wonder how your pet sees the world?

There’s an entire branch of science devoted to figuring that out.

Animal psychology delves into the cognition and behavior of our creature companions. It can help you train your dog or learn how to pet your cat in the most pleasurable way.

But for your average pet lover, it can be hard to figure out the best way to make their animals’ lives better. Enter Companion Animal Psychology, companionanimalpsychology.com, a blog packed with research-based information on how pets think.

Since 2012, Zazie Todd has been collecting information on animal welfare and cognition. She’s a dog trainer and psychology Ph.D. who has researched why more people don’t use positive reinforcement techniques to train their pets.

The blog covers such things as how to keep your dog from freaking out during a nail trim and where cats prefer to be stroked. A monthly book club tackles books about all kinds of animals. (More intense discussion takes place on the site’s invite-only Facebook page.)

Sites about animals are a dime a dozen, but what makes this one different is its scientific focus. Todd interviews veterinarians, researchers and other experts.

The site updates every week, so there’s always something new to chew on — and plenty of adorable animal pictures make reading even more pleasant.

Don’t have a pet? The blog is a great reminder that animals have a unique perspective on the world.