Petra Edwards

Research interests

Animal behaviour, training, animal welfare, enrichment, animal cognition, human-animal interactions

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PhD research: how dogs experience their veterinary visits and strategies we may be able to implement to reduce stress. 

Honours research: equipment that Australian pet owners use to walk their dogs and associations with owner beliefs about exercise, dog behaviour and equipment. Also a pilot study focusing on whether one harness type may be better than another in reducing pulling. These projects are currently being prepared for publication.

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Publications

• Edwards, PT., Smith, BP., McArthur, ML., and Hazel, SJ. (2023). Implementing Stress-Reducing Veterinary Care: Perceptions of Australian Veterinary Professionals Working with Dogs. Anthrozoös, pp 1-24. doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/08927936.2023.2204639

• Edwards, PT., Smith, BP., McArthur, ML., and Hazel, SJ. 2022, ‘Puppy pedicures: Exploring the experiences of Australian dogs to nail trims’. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, Vol 255, pp105730. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2022.105730

• Edwards, PT., Smith, BP., McArthur, ML., and Hazel, SJ. 2022. ‘At the heart of a dog's veterinary experience: Heart rate responses in dogs vary across a standard physical examination’. Journal of Veterinary Behavior, Vol 51, pp 23-34. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jveb.2022.03.003

• Edwards PT., Hazel, SJ., Browne, M., Serpell, J., McArthur, ML. and Smith, BP. 2019, ‘Investigating risk factors that predict a dog’s fear during veterinary consultations’, PLOS ONE, Vol 14, pp1-18. doi: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0215416

• Edwards, PT., Smith, BP., McArthur, ML. and Hazel, SJ. 2019, ‘Fearful Fido: Investigating dog experience in the veterinary context in an effort to reduce distress’, Applied Animal Behaviour Science, Vol 213, pp 14-25. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2019.02.009

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Involvement in podcasts, blogs and other media

• Dixie, S. (2019), ‘Why some dogs are scaredy cats’, The Advertiser, 2 September, p9.

• Edwards, PT. (2019), interviewed by Alan Hickey, 5AA radio, 5 September.

• Cartlidge, R. (2019), Bravely sharing about compassion fatigue, [Podcast], available from: https://www.animaltrainingacademy.com/podcast/training-tidbits/petra-edwards/

• McReynolds, T. (2019), ‘Study: How scared is that doggie on the table?’, NEWStat AAHA Publications, available from: https://www.aaha.org/publications/newstat/articles/2019-08/study-how-scared-is-that-doggie-on-the-table/

• Todd, Z. (2019), ‘Making Vet Visits Less Stressful is Essential, and Here’s What We Can Do to Help Dogs’, Companion Animal Psychology, available from: https://www.companionanimalpsychology.com/2019/04/making-vet-visits-less-stressful-is.html

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Presentations (selection)

• Edwards, PT. (2021), Fear-free veterinary care (1hr), Geek Week 2.0 Online presentation

• Edwards, PT. (2021), Heart rate responses in dogs vary across steps of a standard physical examination in a mock veterinary setting (Poster Presentation), International Society of Applied Ethology Conference, Online

• Edwards, PT. (2021), Australian veterinary industry attitudes to fear-free veterinary care for companion dogs (short presentation), International Society of Anthrozoology, Online

• Edwards, PT., Smith, BP. & Hazel, SJ. (2017), Australian Dog Equipment Project, Australasian Animal Studies Association Conference, Adelaide, AUS.

• Edwards, PT. Smith, BP. & Hazel, SJ. (2016), Does one size fit all? Harnesses and collars used on Australian dogs, ANZCVS Vet Science Week, Gold Coast, AUS.