Melissa Starling on Muck Rack

Melissa Starling

(She/Her)
Sydney
As seen in: The University of Sydney, Bangalore Mirror, Daily Mail, The Guardian, Yahoo News Australia, ABC News (Australia), News.com.au, Stuff.co.nz, The Conversation, Phys.org, New Zealand Herald and
PhD in dog behaviour, Animal behaviourist, blogger, and hund lover.
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Articles

5 things to know before boarding your dog or cat this summer

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By Melissa Starling
| The Conversation Verified
Around this time of year, pet owners across the country are scrambling to finalise holiday care arrangements. Some lucky animals go to the home of a familiar family member, pet-sitter or friend. Others may have a pet sitter mind them in their own home. But another common solution is to put your dog or cat in a boarding facility while you’re away. Boarding facilities can be small and boutique, or very large; some house hundreds of animals at once over the December-January period.
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8 Things We Do That Really Confuse Our Dogs

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By Melissa Starling, Paul McGreevy
| Kinship
8 Things We Do That Really Confuse Our Dogs · Kinship Skip to main content Why your dog freaks out when you give someone a hug — and other human behaviors they just don’t understand. by Melissa Starling, PhD and Paul McGreevy, PhD, MRCVS Updated February 14, 2023 Dogs are extraordinarily flexible creatures — how else could they live in our homes with us, learn to walk on a leash, and tag along on road trips?
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Our dogs can terrify (and even kill) wildlife. Here’s how to be a responsible owner this summer

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By Melissa Starling
| Daily Bulletin AU Verified
In Australia, dog ownership often goes hand-in-hand with a love for the great outdoors. Whether it’s walking on the beach, going camping, or having a barbecue in the park, we tend to keep our canine companions close as we soak up the sun. But many of us forget a key fact about our dogs: they are predators. Even the fluffy little 5kg ball that spends most of its time in your lap derives from an apex predator – and its predatory instincts can kick in at any time.
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