Paul McGreevy

March 25, 2019

Pets and owners ‑ you can learn a lot about one by studying the other

Paul McGreevy, University of Sydney and Pauleen Bennett, La Trobe University

Pets can be influenced by the personality traits of their owners, something veterinarians could use to help them diagnoise any pet problems.

February 12, 2019

Vets can do more to reduce the suffering of flat‑faced dog breeds

Paul McGreevy, University of Sydney and Anne Quain, University of Sydney

If dogs are bred with known health disorders, what role should vets play in discouraging potential owners from animals that could cost them both financially and emotionally?

February 5, 2019

The shocking use of ‘jiggers’ in horse racing

Paul McGreevy, University of Sydney and Robert Boakes, University of Sydney

The outcry over allegations that electronic devices may have been used in Australian racehorse training highlights inconsistencies in our attitudes to the use of such devices on animals in general.

January 7, 2019

Curious Kids: is it true dogs don’t like to travel?

Paul McGreevy, University of Sydney

Travel can come with danger, so dogs have mostly evolved to avoid being over-adventurous. That said, dogs may see some kinds of travel as a chance to find things they want – like food or a mate.

November 4, 2018

Dressing up for Melbourne Cup Day, from a racehorse point of view

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

It’s not only fans that dress up on Melbourne Cup Day. There is plenty of gear racehorses can wear, from blinkers to nose bands, ear plugs and even a tail chain. But do they do any good?

October 22, 2018

Chocolate Labradors die earlier than yellow or black, and have more disease

Paul McGreevy, University of Sydney and Bethany Wilson, University of Sydney

Breeding dogs for certain colours can affect their health, behaviour and life-span.

October 15, 2018

Australians care about animals – but we don’t buy ethical meat

Amelia Cornish, University of Sydney and Paul McGreevy, University of Sydney

Nearly half the eggs sold in Australia are free-range, but only 5% of pork comes from pigs raised outdoors.

July 27, 2018

Are you walking your dog enough?

Paul McGreevy, University of Sydney and Adrian Bauman, University of Sydney

All dogs need regular exercise outside of the home (and it’s good for people too).

July 9, 2018

Over 20% of Australian horses race with their tongues tied to their lower jaw

Samantha Franklin, University of Adelaide and Paul McGreevy, University of Sydney

Tongue-ties are used in Australian horse racing but are banned in most other horse sports.

May 31, 2018

Is your dog happy? Ten common misconceptions about dog behaviour

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

Here are ten common misconceptions about what dogs need and how they communicate with us. Plus, a gallery of reader and staff dog pictures!

May 2, 2018

Why decisions to desex male dogs just got more complicated

Paul McGreevy, University of Sydney; Anne Quain, University of Sydney, and Melissa Starling, University of Sydney

Giving male dogs the snip is a common practice in Australia and elsewhere to help reduce the number of unwanted dogs. But it can also lead to some unwanted behavioural problems.

February 21, 2018

Poll says most people support a ban on whips in Australian horse racing

Paul McGreevy, University of Sydney and Anne Quain, University of Sydney

Banning the whip in Australian horse racing would only deter a minority of race enthusiasts from gambling or watching any events.

November 2, 2017

Why horse‑racing in Australia needs a social licence to operate

Paul McGreevy, University of Sydney and Phil McManus, University of Sydney

Horse racing is enjoyed by millions of people but there are others who have concerns over animal welfare. A social license to operate may help keep all sides happy.

October 2, 2017

Whose best friend? How gender and stereotypes can shape our relationship with dogs

Paul McGreevy, University of Sydney and Fiona Probyn-Rapsey, University of Wollongong

There can be a difference in the way some dogs react to men and women, and it can also matter if the dog is a he or a she.

January 17, 2017

When the pressure is on, some riders breach the whip rules in horse racing

Phil McManus, University of Sydney and Paul McGreevy, University of Sydney

Despite strict rules on the use of the whip in Australian horse racing, some riders still breach them.

December 10, 2016

Australia’s harness racing leads the world in banning the whip on horses

Paul McGreevy, University of Sydney

Harness Racing Australia has announced it will ban the use of the whip. The decision is a world first for any horse sporting body, so what about the rest of the horse racing industry?

May 10, 2016

Why nosebands should be loosened on dressage horses at the Olympics

Paul McGreevy, University of Sydney

With the 2016 Olympics in Rio on the horizon, the practice of clamping together the jaws of horses has still gone unchecked.

November 2, 2015

How to feed a racehorse and keep him healthy

Paul McGreevy, University of Sydney

As we celebrate the Melbourne Cup today, it’s worth taking a look at the way we nourish our champions of the turf.

October 28, 2014

Whips hurt horses – if my leg’s anything to go by

Paul McGreevy, University of New England

It’s not just the horses that wear blinkers during the Melbourne Cup, the so-called “race that stops a nation”, which takes place next Tuesday. Perhaps it’s the excitement, the champagne or the extraordinary…