Dogs are Animals.

We often forget that our dogs, our snuggle bugs and our fetch partners who happily wear a leash and lay on our laps are, in fact, animals. 

While I don't subscribe to the school of thought that they are cousins to wolves and are basically just a domesticated version, I do think that we tend to forget exactly what it is we are inviting to sleep next to us at night.
 
Even though they have been domesticated and bred to live amongst humans, they are still ANIMALS. 

We feel like we are one with them, and while we definitely have an amazing connection with dogs, they are so far from human they might as well be frogs 🐸. 

Dogs, as well as other animals, do not have brains that operate like ours do. They don't have the ability to think logically, and their instincts and impulses often determine their behavior. This has kept them alive for a very long time, but can sometimes be dangerous when you include them so closely in your life without giving them the clear understanding of boundaries. 

For example, dogs and children are a scary issue to many people, and one very much overlooked by others. 

While we trust our fur babies, it isn't wise to leave them unattended, or uncontrolled around our REAL babies. Many dogs will mask their annoyances with things like babies pulling on a dogs ear, and while tolerance is a good thing, these are dangerous behaviors to allow.

Ever seen one of these videos? Parents usually giggling behind their iPhones while the dog shows obvious signs of stress like panting, licking of the lips, turning their heads away, or fast-paced blinking. 

We tend to ignore those because, well, the dog is handling it just fine! 

Until they don't. Until they "just snap" and do something that they "didn't show signs of." 

I trust Lainey, probably more than any dog I've ever met. She's sweet, she's tolerant, she loves people--especially kids. But would I leave her alone with a baby? HECK NO. 

"Why?" you might ask? Because you never know. Because these creatures still have wild instincts. 
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Bust most of all, because it is NEVER worth the risk.