Paul McGreevy

March 10, 2026

What’s it like to be a bat? Scientists develop new solution to the puzzle of animal minds

Cristina Luz Wilkins, University of New England; Amy Lykins, University of New England; Cathrynne Henshall, Charles Sturt University; Melanie Fillios, University of New England, and Paul McGreevy, University of Sydney

It could help ensure the animals in our care are living their best lives.

January 15, 2026

Australia needs a canine brain bank to reduce the risk of dog attacks

Paul McGreevy, University of Sydney and Rimini Quinn, University of Sydney

You can’t spot an aggressive dog just from its looks or breed. Genetic testing could better predict which dogs will bite.

March 31, 2025

Using tranquillisers on racehorses is ethically questionable and puts horses and riders at risk

Paul McGreevy, University of Sydney and Cathrynne Henshall, Charles Sturt University

Workers in the Australian racing industry allege horses are being routinely medicated for track work, at the peril of rider and horse safety.

March 26, 2025

Happy dogs make happy humans, and 9 other reasons science says dogs need to chew

Paul McGreevy, University of Sydney and Kathryn Mills, University of Sydney

Chewing enriches the physical, psychological and emotional health of dogs in many interconnected ways.

June 13, 2024

The internet of animals? An inside account of an ambitious plan to track animal movements across the globe

Paul McGreevy, University of Sydney

The story of a cutting edge science project, in which solar-powered trackers map the movements of creatures, brims with charming anecdotes, serial frustrations and ‘blue sky’ plans.

February 15, 2024

Apakah benar anjing tidak suka bepergian?

Paul McGreevy, University of New England

Perjalanan dapat membawa bahaya, sehingga anjing sebagian besar telah berevolusi untuk menghindari petualangan yang berlebihan.

September 28, 2022

The horseracing industry is ignoring what science says about whipping

Paul McGreevy, University of New England and Bidda Jones, University of Sydney

Does whipping hurt horses and why do jockeys do it? Research shows the industry’s view that whipping is important for safety and performance is misguided.

November 12, 2020

10 reasons to stop whipping racehorses, including new research revealing the likely pain it causes

Paul McGreevy, University of Sydney and Bidda Jones, University of Sydney

New research showing clear similarities between pain receptors in human and horses’ skin raises fresh questions about whether the widespread practice is ethical or even effective.

October 29, 2020

Research shows whipping horses doesn’t make them run faster, straighter or safer — let’s cut it out

Kirrilly Thompson, University of South Australia; Bethany Wilson, University of Sydney; Paul McGreevy, University of Sydney, and Phil McManus, University of Sydney

As the Melbourne Cup approaches, new research shows whipping horses really doesn’t offer the benefits its proponents claim.

July 31, 2020

10 things we do that puzzle and scare horses

Paul McGreevy, University of Sydney and Cathrynne Henshall, Charles Sturt University

Patting, shoeing, grooming, feeding, and even putting them in a stable - the list of seemingly benign human interactions that can confuse or upset horses is surprisingly long. On the eve of the official Horse’s Birthday, we explain why.

April 12, 2020

Animal welfare: our good intentions usually fall short. Here are 4 ways to shop responsibly

Amelia Cornish, University of Sydney; Bidda Jones, University of Sydney; Louise Grimmer, University of Tasmania, and Paul McGreevy, University of Sydney

The overwhelming majority of us say we care about animal welfare. But when it comes to shopping, our actions often take a different turn.

April 1, 2020

Routine and learning games: how to make sure your dog doesn’t get canine cabin fever

Melissa Starling, University of Sydney; Jacqueline Norris, University of Sydney, and Paul McGreevy, University of Sydney

For puppies, looking at objects is the next best thing to touching them, and they can learn about their environment through short excursions to see traffic, pedestrians and other dogs.

March 22, 2020

Why dogs don’t care for being groomed (and for the love of dog don’t snip their whiskers)

Paul McGreevy, University of Sydney; Melissa Starling, University of Sydney, and Simone Blackman, University of Tasmania

For dogs, grooming can mean dousing in water, restraint, manipulation of the body, and touching of taboo areas by unfamiliar people.

February 11, 2020

Duke the dog’s plane death shows how climate change complicates pet ownership

Simone Blackman, University of Tasmania; Anne Quain, University of Sydney, and Paul McGreevy, University of Sydney

Dogs dying on flights in hot weather might be the canary in the coal mine on climate change. Pet owners should consider how climate change will change our relationship with our pets.

February 5, 2020

8 things we do that really confuse our dogs

Melissa Starling, University of Sydney and Paul McGreevy, University of Sydney

Taking a walk in a puppy’s paws can help us understand humankind’s best friend.

December 29, 2019

Let it breed: why desexing dogs isn’t always the best thing to do

Jessica Dawson, La Trobe University; Pauleen Bennett, La Trobe University, and Paul McGreevy, University of Sydney

Beloved family pets have all the qualities we need in the next generation of puppies, so maybe you shouldn’t rush to desex them all right away.

October 21, 2019

We could reduce the slaughter of racehorses if we breed them for longer racing careers

Paul McGreevy, University of Sydney; Bidda Jones, University of Sydney, and Cathrynne Henshall, Charles Sturt University

Race horses should be bred for both speed and durability so owners have an incentive to keep them racing fit and away from the abattoirs.

October 17, 2019

Is your horse normal? Now there’s an app for that

Paul McGreevy, University of Sydney; Bethany Wilson, University of Sydney; Kate Fenner, University of Sydney, and Michelle Lenore Hyde, University of Sydney

An Australian horse app has been launched that allows vets and owners across the globe to log their horses’ physical, mental and social development.

July 31, 2019

Breeding Thoroughbreds is far from natural in the race for a winner

Cathrynne Henshall, Charles Sturt University and Paul McGreevy, University of Sydney

Today’s the official birthday of all race horses in Australia which means the breeding season is just a month away. It’s about to get very busy for stallions and mares on the stud farms.

July 11, 2019

Understanding dog personalities can help prevent attacks

Paul McGreevy, University of Sydney

Humans and dogs have lived together for thousands of years, but we may be forgetting how to co-exist peacefully.

June 10, 2019

Simply returning rescued wildlife back to the wild may not be in their best interest

Bruce Englefield, University of Sydney and Paul McGreevy, University of Sydney

We need a better system to care for the welfare of injured wildlife in Australia as the current one is too fragmented, contradictory and inconsistent.

May 20, 2019

Managing mutations of a species: the evolution of dog breeding

Paul McGreevy, University of Sydney; Bethany Wilson, University of Sydney, and Frank Nicholas, University of Sydney

A global research effort is targeting inherited disorders in dogs.

May 14, 2019

Not just activists, 9 out of 10 people are concerned about animal welfare in Australian farming

Paul McGreevy, University of Sydney; Amelia Cornish, University of Sydney, and Bidda Jones, University of Sydney

It’s not only banner-waving activists who care about animal welfare, a recent government report found the majority of people surveyed have concerns and want reform.

May 2, 2019

Can Labor’s animal welfare plan improve Australia’s lacklustre record?

Paul McGreevy, University of Sydney and Clive Phillips, The University of Queensland

Labor hopes their six-point plan could turn around Australia’s poor international reputation on animal welfare.

April 11, 2019

The success of Winx shows the value of symmetry in race horses

Paul McGreevy, University of Sydney and David Evans, Charles Sturt University

It’s the last race for Winx this weekend and she’s been an incredible race horse. But what makes a good race horse?