Chantal Kapteijn

Dr. Chantal Kapteijn is a faculty member at Utrecht University, holding the position of Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine under the Department of Population Health Sciences. Her research focuses on animal behavior, welfare assessment, and human-animal interaction dynamics.

• Specializes in stress physiology and behavioral disorders in companion animals
• Active collaborator in equine-assisted therapy research
• Expert in translating human psychological interventions (e.g., EMDR) to animal contexts
• Advocate for positive reinforcement training methods in animal husbandry

Her recent publications (2025-2010) demonstrate sustained research in:

• Physiological markers of animal welfare (heart rate variability in horses)
• Canine behavioral problems and owner dynamics
• Cross-species trauma response mechanisms
• Neuroscientific approaches to stress reduction