Chapter 6 Summary and Analysis

The time from when a puppy is born to about 3 or 4 months is called the "sensitive period" and it is a crucial stage of development. A dog must be introduced and made familiar with humans during this period. They must also learn to not urinate and defecate where they sleep. Otherwise they are nearly impossible to housetrain, and they develop a host of behavioral disorders. They may snap or bark incessantly at strangers. Much of a dog's behavior has to do with what is familiar versus what is unfamiliar. Constant human (and preferably, other dog) contact is crucial to making relationships with humans a normal, healthy occurrence rather than a strange one.

However, humans must be smart about this contact, and learn to understand the vast difference between canine and primate behavior. While humans display affection by hugging ("ventral-ventral contact"), kissing...