My book, Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy, is 5 years old today.
By Zazie Todd, PhD
This page contains affiliate links which means I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no cost to you.
It’s hard to believe, but today is 5 years to the day since the publication of my first book, Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy.
Wag was launched into the uncertain world of the covid-19 pandemic. Before that, I had spent years working on the idea, the proposal, and then the book. Wag takes seriously the idea that dogs are sentient beings and defines what that means for how we care for them.
I wrote it because I know how lovely it is to see dogs romping around joyfully. To create those delightful moments of joy, you need to provide the right environment, training, and safety for your dog.
I wrote Wag because there are so many findings from canine science that are fascinating and useful to our everyday lives with dogs.
And I wrote Wag because I wanted to make a difference to the lives of dogs and their owners.
Understanding what your dog needs is key to being a good dog guardian. I tried hard to make Wag as useful as possible—to explain the science, but also to have key tips at the end of each chapter so that you can apply the science at home, and a checklist for a happy dog at the end.
I’ve been thrilled to see how Wag has been received. So many people have sent me photos of their happy dog and told me that the guidance in the book has made a difference to them and their dog.
Thank you to all of you for caring about dogs so much!
I feel lucky to have been able to write this book and to see the difference that it has made. If you like Wag, you might also be interested in my other books, Purr: The Science of Making Your Cat Happy, and Bark! The Science of Helping Your Anxious, Fearful, or Reactive Dog.
Happy book birthday to Wag. Here’s to happy pets everywhere!
P.S. Since there are lots of new people here, who might not know Wag, here’s what people said about it when it was published:
“Wag will become a benchmark for the way that dogs need to be cared for: as sentient creatures experiencing emotions, just like us. This is a real achievement and it will make a big difference to the lives of dogs and people.”
—Dr. Pete Wedderburn, veterinarian and author
“Well-written and packed with great advice, this book could fundamentally change the relationship between you and your dog.”
—David Grimm, author of Citizen Canine: Our Evolving Relationship with Cats and Dogs
“Wag is a must-read for all dog lovers. An amazing, well-written book that makes canine science easy to understand and apply in a useful manner to improve dogs’ lives and the relationship we have with them. The anecdotes about Dr. Todd’s dogs are the highlight of the book.”
—Dr. Wailani Sung, board-certified veterinary behaviorist, San Francisco SPCA
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.