Domestic dogs: the behavioural implications of social living. Part 1

Abstract

For many, the term ‘domestic dog’ implies that the dog should experience no problems in coexisting with humans in domestic, family homes. This article is the first of a two-part series that takes a brief look at the likely domestication process for the dog and the development of the dog's innate capacity for social flexibility with other dogs and humans. A second article will consider how well the dog's social capacity fits it for coping with social encounters with both dogs and humans in a complex human environment.