Susan Hazel

Associate Professor Susan Hazel

Associate Professor

School of Animal and Veterinary Science

Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.


Susan is a veterinarian with previous experience in veterinary practice and medical research. She is the inaugural Program Director for the BSc(Animal Behaviour) degree and teaches animal behaviour, welfare and ethics into all four undergraduate degree programs in the School of Animal & Veterinary Sciences. Susan is involved in research into animal behaviour and welfare focussing on companion animals, and is particularly interested in how animals and humans interact to maximise the wellbeing of both. Since 2006 she has supervised more than 30 Hons projects and 9 PhDs and has published more than 80 scientific articles.

Susan has extensive community engagement as a Board Member of the Dog & Cat Management Board of South Australia, RSPCA South Australia, and the South Australian Animal Welfare Advisory Committee. She also engages internationally as a Scientific Advisor for the Center for Companion Animal Welfare at the University of Copenhagen .

My research group is the Animal Behaviour Welfare and Anthrozoology Lab (ABWAL). Research interests include animal behaviour and welfare; human-animal interactions including dogs and cats, and animal management (cat management, dog barking and nuisance and dog attacks). 

2016       Improving stockperson attitudes to chickens: A novel clicker training approach (AECL, 1UA153 $12,000)

2016       Online relinquishments of dogs and cats: What can we learn? (Pet Welfare Foundation, $8,719)

2015       A systematic review of novel approaches for the measurement of pain in animals (APL, $35,000)

2014       'Nationally shared curriculum resources for veterinary undergraduate learning in animal welfare and ethics' (OLT, $378,000)

Program Director: BSc(Animal Behaviour)

Course Coordinator for:

Principles in Animal Behaviour, Welfare & Ethics (1st year Veterinary Bioscience, Animal Science, Animal Behaviour and Veterinary Technology)

Animal Management (3rd year Animal Behaviour)

  • Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)

    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2023 Principal Supervisor An investigation of enabling factors and obstacles to successful animal management programs in Australian indigenous communities. Master of Philosophy Master Full Time Dr Megan Heather Ann Pickering
    2022 Principal Supervisor Dogs and older adults: Maximising dog welfare and minimising potential negative aspects of dog guardianship for older adults Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Joshua Zoanetti
    2022 Principal Supervisor Efficacy of training and enrichment to improve welfare: How can animal training be applied across settings to help animals live a good life? Examining the physiological and behavioural effects of scent work for domestic dogs Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Jade Fountain
    2022 Principal Supervisor Teaching old dogs new tricks to fight the signs of canine cognitive dysfunction Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Tracey Louise Taylor
    2021 Principal Supervisor The Purr-suit of Happiness: Associations Between Play and Welfare in Domestic Cats Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Julia Sophie Lyn Henning
    2020 Principal Supervisor Positive and negative challenges encountered by puppy owners Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Ana Sofia Goncalves Costa
    2019 Co-Supervisor Veterinary and Medical Professionals experiences of Trauma at Work Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Ms Natalie Worth
  • Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)

    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2017 - 2022 Principal Supervisor Emerging Evidence Bases for Investigating and Mitigating Dog Fear during Veterinary Care Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Ms Petra Tamar Edwards
    2017 - 2022 Co-Supervisor Attrition of Veterinarians from Clinical Practice and the Influence of Moral Distress Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Ms Alejandra Isabel Arbe Montoya
    2013 - 2017 Co-Supervisor The Influence of Maternal Care on Stress-related Responses in Puppies Canis familiaris Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Veronika Heather Czerwinski
    2011 - 2017 Principal Supervisor Neurodevelopmental effects of placental restriction in sheep Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Dr Damien Seth Hunter
    2010 - 2014 Co-Supervisor Measures of behavioural reactivity and their relationships to carcass and meat quality in sheep Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mrs Cathy Lyn Burnard
    2008 - 2016 Co-Supervisor Heat Stress in Racing Greyhounds Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Ms Jane McNicholl
  • Board Memberships

    Date Role Board name Institution name Country
    2019 - ongoing Board Member RSPCA South Australia RSPCA Australia
    2016 - ongoing Board Member Dog and Cat Management Board of South Australia - Australia
  • Position: Associate Professor
  • Phone: 83137828
  • Email: susan.hazel@adelaide.edu.au
  • Fax: 83137972
  • Campus: Roseworthy
  • Building: J.S. Davies Building, floor Ground Floor
  • Org Unit: School of Animal and Veterinary Science

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