Rate My Professor Joanne Righetti

Dr Joanne Righetti serves as an Adjunct Lecturer at the University of New England (UNE), specialising in delivering lectures to students in Canine Science. Her robust academic background includes a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Zoology, a PhD in Biology from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) completed in 1995, and a Diploma in Counselling. Complementing her UNE role, she holds the position of Honorary Associate at the School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Sydney. Over the past two decades, Righetti has built a distinguished career in animal behaviour consulting, aiding pet owners to comprehend and address behavioural issues in their animals. Her consultancy extends to collaborations with commercial entities, not-for-profit organisations, local governments, and various media platforms, thereby bridging academic research with practical applications in pet management.

Righetti's research interests centre on animal behaviour, particularly within the domain of canine science and the resolution of common pet behaviour problems such as anxiety, aggression, and barking. Notable publications from her oeuvre include the practical guide "Dog Anxiety Problems Solved," part of the Pet Problems Solved series, which offers actionable advice for pet owners. In academic literature, she co-authored "The Reinforcing Value of Physical Contact and the Effect on the Behaviour of Shelter Dogs" published in Applied Animal Behaviour Science in 2005 with Paul D. McGreevy and Peter C. Thomson, exploring the impacts of tactile interactions on shelter animals. Another significant contribution is her solo-authored paper "Behavioural Mechanisms of Competition in Small Dasyurid Marsupials" in the Australian Journal of Zoology in 2000. Additionally, Righetti has engaged in public outreach through co-authoring the article "Don't let your pet accidentally get drunk this silly season – sorry Tiddles" on The Conversation in 2017 alongside Wendy Brown, a Senior Lecturer in Animal Science at UNE. Her scholarly and practical work has had a tangible impact on the fields of animal welfare, pet behaviour modification, and human-animal relationship dynamics, informing both educational curricula and professional practices.