Which statement best describes tameness in relation to humans over a lifespan?

• A. Increased flight distance over time
• B. Decreasing flight distance and increasing tolerance to humans over one lifespan
• C. Immediate acceptance by all humans
• D. Dependence on conditioning

Answer: (B)

Tameness reflects how a dog’s comfort with humans changes as it grows and experiences positive interactions. A key way this is observed is through flight distance—the distance at which a dog will retreat from an approaching person. Over a dog’s lifetime, with socialization and friendly exposure to people, flight distance typically decreases and tolerance toward humans increases. This means the dog becomes more willing to be near and interact with people as it matures.

This pattern does not imply that every dog will accept every person instantly or universally. It also isn’t accurate to say tameness is solely about conditioning, though experiences and training influence how quickly a dog shows reduced flight distance and greater tolerance. The statement that best describes tameness over a lifespan is that flight distance decreases and tolerance to humans increases.