How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
I felt Mother's fear ripple across her back. (1.20)
Dogs can sense emotions in a way that people can't; we see that early on with our narrator feeling his mother's fear. Dogs don't talk to each other the way people do, but they do communicate through their bodies.
Quote #2
The tastes were exotic and the smells were wonderful, but Mother's anxiety affected all of us, and we ate quickly, savoring nothing. (1.27)
The feelings of other beings greatly affect the dog. If his mother is anxious, he is, too. But this phenomenon can be positive, too. If his human expresses love toward the dog, then the dog feels that as well, and it's a better feeling that he's ever experienced.