Dog Psychology

This chapter deals with the psychology of dogs, which a few years back was the exclusive domain of humans. It presents in detail its basic issues such as the theories of dog psychology, which are: the Pavlovian or Classical Conditioning that considers dog learning to be conditioned by connecting two unrelated events together in their mind; the Pack Mentality and Dominance, which is based on the concept that dogs following wolves constantly compete to rank highest in the pack; and the Operant Conditioning and Positive Reinforcement, which is based on the notion that dogs’ behavior can be modified by applying positive or negative stimuli. In addition, the chapter presents the factors shaping dog psychology such as: the Physical Characteristics of dogs, which may look very different from humans, but they share many of their physical characteristics; their Behavioral Characteristics, which show that dogs are smart, fun, complex, interesting, and generally interested and useful creatures; their Adaptability, which has an impact on their psychology and consequently on their training; and their Senses, which represent an important source of understanding dogs and their psychology. Finally, the chapter presents how to practice and apply or face challenges of dog psychology, because its practice helps significantly dog activities such as: Puppy Selection; Supplier Selection; and evaluating Puppy Qualifications, while its application plays a paramount role in responding to Dog Needs, in Training Methods, and in Every Day life with a dog.