Jim Healis

“From the dog’s viewpoint, however, they are directly asserting dominance with that stare. When you respond by giving him what he wants, the dog interprets this as a submissive gesture on your part, and also reads this as your acceptance that the dog has a higher status in the pack than you do.”
― Stanley Coren, How To Speak Dog: Mastering the Art of Dog-Human Communication

“If barking correlates with a juvenile and submissive condition, then it’s doubtful that dogs read our loud vocal displays as dominant or impressive. Rather, they might see them as a sign of fear or as a sign that we don’t have a lot of control. Many people to whom dogs are drawn are laconic and soft-spoken. I think their lack of “barking” is perceived as a sign of leadership, and dogs are drawn to their sense of self-confidence.”
― Patricia B. McConnell, The Other End of the Leash: Why We Do What We Do Around Dogs

“That the mental experiences of dogs aren’t as complex as ours is no reason to dismiss those experiences altogether.”
― Patricia B. McConnell, For the Love of a Dog: Understanding Emotion in You and Your Best Friend