How can you have a happy and healthy relationship with your dog? Most behaviour problems in dogs are the result of mismatches or misunderstandings, to which both sides contribute. Unlike pets such as budgies or goldfish, dogs tend to arouse extremes of emotion. There are dog lovers, haters and fearers, with society in general reflecting these extremes. Misunderstanding of normal dog behaviour, or unrealistic expectations, which are often due to an owner's psychological needs and conflicts, can lead to as many problems as are caused by a dog's nervous or aggressive temperament. This guide, which contains many case histories, examines the part which dogs play in our lives, from doting sentimentality, to cruelty and neglect. Whether owners wish to treat their dogs as children or parents, or take pleasure in rescuing, nursing, or keeping housefuls of them, if they do it with an awareness of what they are doing and an understanding of why, they will make their own lives, and those of their dogs, happier.