How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
Our den was scooped out underneath the black roots of a tree, and was cool and dark during the heat of the day. (1.4)
If this story were about humans, it would be a rags-to-riches (to-rags-and-back-again) story like something straight out of Dickens. Our narrator is born a poor dog in a ditch, but soon he'll find a warm loving home with humans who care about him. What more could a dog want?
Quote #2
I began to think of what it would be like to leave the Den. (1.34)
Already, our narrator is curious about the outside world. He no longer wants to stay in his "home," where it is relatively safe. He's willing to risk that safety for the chance of something more.
Quote #3
I loved my world, the Yard. I loved running through the mud by the water trough, my paws making a dirty spatter that flecked my fur. I loved when we'd all start barking, though I seldom understood why we were doing so. I loved chasing Coco and sleeping in a pile of dogs and smelling other dogs' poops. (2.39)
The dog likes being a dog—having an environment where he can run, play, and explore. This world is pretty instinctive: the dog doesn't exactly understand why he loves barking and smelling poops, but this kind of canine bonding just happens naturally.