What Pets Actually Want & Need
Huberman Lab
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.
Read the episode show notes at hubermanlab.com.
Thank you to our sponsors
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Raw Description
<p>My guest is <a href="https://illis.se/en/">Dr. Karolina Westlund, Ph.D.</a>, 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.</p> <p>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.</p> <p>Read the episode show notes at <a href="https://www.hubermanlab.com/episode/understand-what-pets-actually-want-need-dr-karolina-westlund">hubermanlab.com</a>.</p> <p><strong>Thank you to our sponsors</strong></p> <p>AG1: <a href="https://drinkag1.com.huberman">https://drinkag1.com.huberman</a></p> <p>Our Place: <a href="https://fromourplace.com/huberman">https://fromourplace.com/huberman</a></p> <p>Eight Sleep: <a href="https://eightsleep.com/huberman">https://eightsleep.com/huberman</a></p> <p>Joovv: <a href="https://joovv.com/huberman">https://joovv.com/huberman</a></p> <p>Function: <a href="https://functionhealth.com/huberman">https://functionhealth.com/huberman</a></p> <p><strong>Timestamps</strong></p> <p>00:00:00 Karolina Westlund</p> <p>00:02:19 Students & Animal Species; Horses</p> <p>00:06:36 Dog Breeds & Interaction, Predatory Sequence, Smell, Domestication</p> <p>00:12:42 Sponsors: Our Place & Eight Sleep</p> <p>00:16:09 Dog Breeds & Domestication, Bulldogs</p> <p>00:20:16 Core Affect Space, Petting, Tool: Consent Test; Polyvagal Theory</p> <p>00:27:53 Space, Dominance, Resources, Leash Walking; Dog-Owner Training</p> <p>00:37:13 Tail Wagging & Interpreting Body Signals, Facial Expressions</p> <p>00:43:24 Play Bow, Tool: MARS & Playing; Dogs & Empathy</p> <p>00:48:39 Sponsors: AG1 & Joovv</p> <p>00:51:46 Fairness, Social Groups; Anthropomorphism vs Anthropodenial</p> <p>00:57:45 Cats, Hunting, Bring Gifts?, Interaction & Socialization</p> <p>01:03:56 Scent & Territorial Marking; Covering Waste, Tool: Litter Box Placement</p> <p>01:08:17 “Pee Mail” & Communication; Wolves, Domestication</p> <p>01:11:54 Zoos, Conservation; Tigers</p> <p>01:18:53 Sponsor: Function</p> <p>01:20:41 Stalking; Birds, Parrots</p> <p>01:25:22 Nose Work, Wildlife Chasing, Tool: Dog Feeding & Challenge</p> <p>01:31:01 Understanding & Choosing Dog for Your Lifestyle, Tool: Introducing Cats</p> <p>01:34:27 Recognizing Self vs Other, Inbreeding Avoidance, Imprinting</p> <p>01:40:51 Imprinting vs Attachment Bonds; Dogs, Weaning & Secure Attachment</p> <p>01:48:36 Spaying & Neutering, Hormones, Tool: Neutering Alternatives</p> <p>01:57:07 Humans as Animals, Tools, Cultural Learning</p> <p>02:02:47 Zero-Cost Support, YouTube, Spotify & Apple Follow & Reviews, Sponsors, YouTube Feedback, Protocols Book, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter</p> <p><a href="https://www.hubermanlab.com/disclaimer">Disclaimer & Disclosures</a></p><p> </p><p>Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a></p>
Chapters (1/24)
Show Notes
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.
Read the episode show notes at hubermanlab.com.
Thank you to our sponsors
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Raw Description
<p>My guest is <a href="https://illis.se/en/">Dr. Karolina Westlund, Ph.D.</a>, 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.</p> <p>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.</p> <p>Read the episode show notes at <a href="https://www.hubermanlab.com/episode/understand-what-pets-actually-want-need-dr-karolina-westlund">hubermanlab.com</a>.</p> <p><strong>Thank you to our sponsors</strong></p> <p>AG1: <a href="https://drinkag1.com.huberman">https://drinkag1.com.huberman</a></p> <p>Our Place: <a href="https://fromourplace.com/huberman">https://fromourplace.com/huberman</a></p> <p>Eight Sleep: <a href="https://eightsleep.com/huberman">https://eightsleep.com/huberman</a></p> <p>Joovv: <a href="https://joovv.com/huberman">https://joovv.com/huberman</a></p> <p>Function: <a href="https://functionhealth.com/huberman">https://functionhealth.com/huberman</a></p> <p><strong>Timestamps</strong></p> <p>00:00:00 Karolina Westlund</p> <p>00:02:19 Students & Animal Species; Horses</p> <p>00:06:36 Dog Breeds & Interaction, Predatory Sequence, Smell, Domestication</p> <p>00:12:42 Sponsors: Our Place & Eight Sleep</p> <p>00:16:09 Dog Breeds & Domestication, Bulldogs</p> <p>00:20:16 Core Affect Space, Petting, Tool: Consent Test; Polyvagal Theory</p> <p>00:27:53 Space, Dominance, Resources, Leash Walking; Dog-Owner Training</p> <p>00:37:13 Tail Wagging & Interpreting Body Signals, Facial Expressions</p> <p>00:43:24 Play Bow, Tool: MARS & Playing; Dogs & Empathy</p> <p>00:48:39 Sponsors: AG1 & Joovv</p> <p>00:51:46 Fairness, Social Groups; Anthropomorphism vs Anthropodenial</p> <p>00:57:45 Cats, Hunting, Bring Gifts?, Interaction & Socialization</p> <p>01:03:56 Scent & Territorial Marking; Covering Waste, Tool: Litter Box Placement</p> <p>01:08:17 “Pee Mail” & Communication; Wolves, Domestication</p> <p>01:11:54 Zoos, Conservation; Tigers</p> <p>01:18:53 Sponsor: Function</p> <p>01:20:41 Stalking; Birds, Parrots</p> <p>01:25:22 Nose Work, Wildlife Chasing, Tool: Dog Feeding & Challenge</p> <p>01:31:01 Understanding & Choosing Dog for Your Lifestyle, Tool: Introducing Cats</p> <p>01:34:27 Recognizing Self vs Other, Inbreeding Avoidance, Imprinting</p> <p>01:40:51 Imprinting vs Attachment Bonds; Dogs, Weaning & Secure Attachment</p> <p>01:48:36 Spaying & Neutering, Hormones, Tool: Neutering Alternatives</p> <p>01:57:07 Humans as Animals, Tools, Cultural Learning</p> <p>02:02:47 Zero-Cost Support, YouTube, Spotify & Apple Follow & Reviews, Sponsors, YouTube Feedback, Protocols Book, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter</p> <p><a href="https://www.hubermanlab.com/disclaimer">Disclaimer & Disclosures</a></p><p> </p><p>Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a></p>