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Chapter 1

• The author, Patricia McConnell, is an applied animal behaviorist and dog trainer.

• McConnell relates a story where she was training an aggressive mastiff in front of a large audience. The dog lunged at her when she came too close to it and made eye-contact.

• The incident illustrates the importance of controlling physical movements around dogs. McConnell points out that even small movements impart big meanings for dogs. Like humans, dogs are visual and social animals.
• McConnell states that our voice is not the biggest influence on a dog. They rely on visual cues.

• Dogs also do not give owners "unconditional positive regard," and that sometimes dogs want to be let alone and can be irritable. Dogs also do not always like to be petted.

• The most important physical behaviors in a dog include center of gravity (leaning forward and back), breathing rate, and a dog's mouth and...

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