confusing skill

I'm not new but just got a question:
I'm not sure what be friend animal does.

It says:
Befriend Animal (Periodic)
This skill allows a character to charm one natural animal into being her friend for fifteen minutes. An animal under the effect of Befriend Animal will not act out of the ordinary and is not under the command of the character that has charmed it.

I don't understand what that fully means. what exactly can i control? please respond with explanations and/or examples. much appreciated

It doesn't let you control the animal, just make the animal friendly towards you.

Example.  You are walking through the woods when a wolf starts bounding towards you ready to attack.  You used this skill, and the wolf stops their attack, and trusts you.  You can now pet the wolf, give it a cookie, and go on your way.

Example 2:  You are sneaking into a cave.  There a giant bear, who was sleeping is about to wake up.  Right beyond him is a chest of gold.  You befriend the bear.  Now if the bear doesn't care about the chest, doesn't see it as anything but environment, you are free to enter the cave and loot the chest.  As you leave, you pet the bear and give it a honeycake and go on your way.

That's what i thought it did but i wasn't 100% on it. Thank you so much! 

I fully endorse the official outcome of this skill being giving the animal NPCs food.  It is in fact how I have tried to play the skill for the last 7 years. :)