Fear Biting

I’m a dog guy. For most of my years I’ve had a canine companion, generally a border collie or a BC mix. Many times when I need quiet time with my thoughts I prefer a dog at my side. He’ll think no less of me when I sing off key, tell a bad joke, or ramble on pointlessly.

Probably no other creature has been as carefully and deliberately bred to be as helpful and purposefully allied to the human race, not even the horse. Every dog has thousands of years of heredity telling it to be your friend, your companion, and to treat you well.

And yet a dog can and will bite. Understanding why this happens is an important lesson which can be applied in human dynamics.

Just as with humans, there exist a few rare canine psychopaths. There are also a few unfortunate beasts who have been weaponized by their owners. But normally, a dog bites only when it’s terrified.

Cornered, overwhelmed, surrounded by towering strangers, seeing some voice or gesture which brings to memory a bad beating– any of these things can cause a dog to feel he must defend himself the only way he can. What will really make a dog “lose it” is being thrust into a world of panic, unfamiliarity, and uncertainty. With body tense and trembling, tail between its legs, eyes white-wide, teeth bared– all bets are off. Only a fool would press in on such a dog. Sometimes you can soothe him down, and sometimes you just need to leave him be.

So, why do I tell this tale? Because all of us now dwell in a terrifying world of hurt and uncertainty. Each of us is wondering the same things, “Am I going to get sick? Will I survive? Will Mum and Dad make it? What’s happening to my investments? Is my company going to go under? What if I can’t pay the mortgage?”

Fear and uncertainty pervade everything, as a result of which some people are going to say and do stupid, hurtful things. Keeping in mind the lesson of fear biting can help us respond wisely when we encounter unbridled panic. And sometimes we can soothe them down, and sometimes we just need to leave them be. But don’t make it worse.

These are rough times for all of us. But they will end, and we will all come out into the sunshine on the other side. In the meantime, may we learn lessons of wisdom, and show each other a little kindness.