The Importance of the Visual

McConnell exposes the myth that dogs have poor vision or otherwise rely more on their nose and ears than eyes. Like humans, dogs are in fact intensely visual. They pick up on minuscule movements and gestures in their owners in their near-constant attempt to divine human intent. As a result of this, owners must be very aware of their body when engaging with a dog. Particular attention must also be paid to a dog's body and behavior, as a wealth of information is contained therewith. The author suggests a sketchbook or videotape to record behaviors of both man and dog.

Traits to look for include location of the center of gravity, commissures (corners of mouths), erect hindlegs or forelegs, location of head, and amount of eye contact. A dog leaning forward is usually telegraphing aggression or a desire to assert dominance; backward leaning is...