Research Bites Podcast

What does it mean for a dog to live a “good life”? Can animals experience something like meaning or purpose? And what role do play, relationship, agency, and training have in helping animals flourish? In this episode, Dr. Kristina Spaulding talks with philosopher, dog trainer, and behavior consultant Dr. Katie Homan about philosophy, play, ethics, flourishing, and the deeply relational nature of l...

In this episode of the Research Bites Podcast , Dr. Kristina Spaulding talks with Dr. Lars Schwabe about what happens to learning and memory when the brain is under stress—and why those changes matter for behavior, training, and mental health. They begin by unpacking how memory works in the first place, walking through the stages of encoding, consolidation, and retrieval. From there, they explore...

In this episode of the Research Bites Podcast, I’m joined by my first return guest, Patricia McConnell — Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, beloved author, and former professor at University of Wisconsin–Madison . Many of you know her from The Other End of the Leash and For the Love of a Dog , books that shaped an entire generation of trainers. But today, we’re talking about something new. Her...

Today’s episode is a little different from the usual format. What you’re hearing is an actual recording from a Research Bites Coffee Break—an informal, unscripted conversation where behavior professionals think out loud about research, ask questions, and explore ideas together. There’s no lecture and no tidy conclusions—just real discussion and curiosity in action. The topic for this Coffee Break...

This podcast was originally released in May 2022 as a shortened version. This is the full version of the original podcast. Your host: Kristina Spaulding, PhD, CAAB with Science Matters Academy of Animal Behavior, LLC Today’s guest, Dr. Erica Feuerbacher, is an Associate Professor in Animal & Poultry Sciences at Virginia Tech and director of the Applied Animal Behavior & Welfare Lab, where...

 In this episode of the Research Bites Podcast , Dr. Kristina Spaulding dives deep into two foundational—but often under-discussed—forms of non-associative learning: sensitization and habituation. Drawing on research and classic learning theory, she explains what these processes are, how they differ, why they matter, and how they show up every day in companion animals.  Dr. Spaulding connects the...

One of the most common questions Dr. Kristina Spaulding hears is whether stress “stays in the system” for three days. In this episode, she digs into what that really means, what the research shows, and why the truth is more complex than a simple yes or no. She begins with the biology of the stress response—how the HPA axis and sympathetic nervous system work together, the roles of cortisol and cor...

In this episode of the Research Bites Podcast , Dr. Kristina Spaulding talks with Dr. (Jessica) Perry Hekman, DVM, PhD — behavioral geneticist and co-founder of the Functional Dog Collaborative — about what genetics can (and can’t) tell us about dog behavior. Dr. Hekman shares her journey from veterinary practice to genetics research and helps unpack key concepts like heritability , epigenetics ,...

This podcast was originally released in April 2022 as a shortened version. This is the full version of the original podcast. Dr. Ádám Miklósi is a full professor and the leader of the Department of Ethology at the Eötvös University in Budapest (Hungary). He is also the co-founder and leader of the Family Dog Project ( http://familydogproject.elte.hu ) which studies human-dog interaction from an et...

In this thought-provoking episode of the Research Bites Podcast , Dr. Kristina Spaulding is joined by Dr. Mike Mendl, professor of Animal Behavior and Welfare at the University of Bristol’s Veterinary School, for a deep dive into what it truly means to support positive animal welfare. From competence and resilience to cognitive bias and decision-making, Dr. Mendl explores how animals perceive and...

In this episode , Dr. Kristina Spaulding dives into the complex world of labels—how we define, categorize, and talk about behavior in both humans and animals. Drawing on her psychology background, she explores the benefits and pitfalls of labels, the messiness behind mental health classifications, and how new models in psychology might help us think differently about animal behavior. At the heart...

In this episode of the Research Bites podcast, Dr. Spaulding interviews Dr. Michael Blackwell, Director of Pet Health Equity at the University of Tennessee. The discussion centers around the intersection of veterinary care and public health, emphasizing how financial and systemic barriers affect access to veterinary services, particularly for low-income and BIPOC families. Dr. Blackwell introduces...

In this episode, we’re joined by not one, but two Board-Certified Veterinary Behaviorists—Dr. Amy Learn and Dr. Amy Pike—for a thoughtful and wide-ranging conversation on the intersection of medicine and behavior. We dive into Dr. Spaulding’s new favorite concept: mindbody unity , and explore how physical health and behavior are deeply intertwined. Dr. Pike has been caring for patients for well ov...

In this episode of the Research Bites podcast, Dr. Spaulding interviews Dr. Lisa Gunter about her work on reducing stress and improving welfare in shelter dogs.  If you work or volunteer in a shelter – or work closely with shelter or rescue dogs - this is the podcast for you!  Lisa Gunter is an Assistant Professor of Animal Behavior and Welfare at Virginia Tech in the School of Animal Sciences, an...

In this episode, we explore two common myths about science and how they relate to the world of dog training and behavior: Myth #1: Science is elitist and doesn’t apply to the real world. The Truth: Science is for everyone ! You don’t need a fancy degree to understand and apply science in meaningful ways. Science is deeply connected to real-world applications, including the everyday work of dog tra...

00:00 Introduction to Research Bites Podcast  00:30 Join the Research Bites Membership  01:08 Introducing Dr. Sara Hintze  02:01 Dr. Hintze's Journey into Animal Welfare  04:43 The Evolution of Animal Welfare Science  06:22 Understanding Positive Welfare in Animals  09:33 Challenges in Measuring Animal Emotions  14:58 Individual Differences in Animal Welfare  19:28 Cognitive Bias and Optimism...

In this episode of the Research Bites podcast, host Dr. Kristina Spaulding interviews Professor Daniel Mills, a renowned expert in veterinary behavioral medicine from the University of Lincoln. They explore the complexities of animal behavior, the evolution of different behavioral models, and the role of emotions in influencing behavior. Professor Mills shares insights from his extensive research,...

Hello everyone! I am taking a break to develop a more effective and consistent system for podcast production so that I can release episodes on a regular timeline. That means I need to take a short break to get everything organized, but rest assured we will be back soon! For more information, please check out my website and social media links below! Website: https://sciencemattersllc.com/  Unlockin...

Your host: Kristina Spaulding, PhD, CAAB with Science Matters Academy of Animal Behavior, LLC This podcast was originally released in March 2022 as a shortened version. This is the full version of the original podcast. My guest today is Dr. Monique Udell. Dr. Udell is a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist and an Associate Professor of Animal & Rangeland Sciences at Oregon State University, wh...

Summary In this conversation, Kristina discusses two research papers. The first paper explores the effects of pair housing versus single housing in shelter dogs (yes, this was discussed last episode, but this is a 2nd study on the same topic, from a different perspective). The study found that pair housing with another dog may decrease stress levels and reduce the length of stay in shelters. The s...

Summary In this conversation, Dr. Patricia McConnell and Dr. Kristina Spaulding explore the concept of flow, which is a state of complete absorption and engagement in an activity that is intrinsically rewarding. They discuss how flow can vary among individuals and how it relates to different activities dogs might do. The conversation highlights the importance of providing opportunities for animals...

Summary In this conversation, I discuss two research papers related to dog behavior. The first paper explores the influence of puppy whines on maternal behavior in dogs. The study found that puppy whines trigger maternal care - with stronger maternal care in response to the mother's own puppies.  The second paper examines the impact of different enrichment interventions on the stress levels o...

Dr. Lucia Lazarowski , chief behavioral scientist at Auburn University's Canine Performance Sciences Program , discusses her research on olfaction and behavior in detection dogs. Dr. Lazarewski shares insights on the best methods for training dogs to detect odors, the capacity of dogs to learn multiple odors, and the maintenance of odor memory and search training. We also discuss the fascinat...

It's time for another mini-episode on recent research! In this episode, I discuss papers about 1) gaps in our understanding of puppy development, from a unique perspective, 2) the impact of dog sports discipline (e.g. obedience or nosework) on impulse control and persistence, and 3) a program for reducing barking in shelter dogs. Each paper is summarized briefly in easy to understand language...

Here is a quick little episode for you with a summary of three recent papers. If you enjoyed this information and would like more opportunities to stay current with dog behavior research, check out Research Bites here . You can also get more information on my courses and upcoming events at www.sciencemattersllc.com . Papers discussed in this episode: Pereira-Figueiredo, I., Rosa, I., & Sancho...