My in-laws never have owned a dog. When they first started visiting, my mother-in-law wanted to be helpful. She said she “didn’t speak dog” and needed to learn what my dogs wanted or needed if my husband and I were not around.

Going to the door was the easy one: Let them out to the backyard. Hanging around the kitchen was a bit harder. It could be because they smelled something delicious cooking, or the garbage needed to be taken out. If it were dinnertime, well, that was easy.

Does getting in my suitcase mean Jake wants to go on vacation?

If you plan to share your life with dogs, learning their behaviors will make your life easier. Dogs are social, pack animals. Cesar Millan’s books discuss behavior; His television show is good also. The monks of New Skete have several good books.

I remember a man complaining about his new schnauzer biting at his daughter’s fingers. I asked how does this happen. He said she would put her finger through the crate bars at the dog. First, she shouldn’t be sticking her fingers in there. Second, many dogs do not have good close-up vision. If she had been eating with her fingers, the dog probably thought there was something good there for him.

Please try to understand your dog’s behavior so both your lives will be better.