Biting the hand that feeds you

So, I have this adorable tiny poodle. Her name is Beast. She's 3 years old and weighs all of 4 lbs. Beast is my dog. Totally my dog. She spends her days sitting with me or following me wherever I go. She spends her nights sleeping on my bed. When I'm away from the house, she waits for me to return. She knows the sound of my car and anxiously awaits my return. She knows I love her and she adores me. I make sure he has no fleas or heartworms. She is groomed very regularly. She's known nothing but love since she was small enough to fit in the palm of my hand.

I had to take Beast to the vet's today. She has a sore on her tail and I wanted to make sure that it doesn't get infected. She's so little that an infection could be dangerous for her. The doctor gave me some ointment to put on her sore 2 times a day.

When we got home, I put her on my lap to put that healing salve on the sore on the tip of her tail. I held her gently and tenderly touched her tail. And that tiny little dog lit into me, snapping and biting my hand! Maybe this was just a one time thing. She must have been scared. So I tried again. And she bit me again!! She never bites me!!! I finally had to put a muzzle on her so I could put that medicine on her sore tail. Afterwards, she ran away from me and it took over an hour for her to be willing to sit near me again.

While she was pouting, I got to thinking. Beast is the best behaved dog at the groomers. Reallly. She quiet, easy to groom, doesn't make any noise. Seemingly, she is compliant and everyone's favorite.

But I'm the one who has be the object of her anger and ire.

Sadly, I've seen that same scene acted out in my adult relationships. I love someone deeply and desire nothing more than to take care of that person. That person loves me and wants to look out for me.

But if that person is wounded (usually emotionally), then chances are good that I will get bitten. For some reason, it seems like we all tend to be the meanest to the ones we love most. Is it because we actually feel safest with that person and know they'll forgive us so we emotionally throw up all over them? Is it because we let our guards down and let them see what's really in our heart when we're wounded?

I have no answers for this one. But my observation is that, if even the animals have the same tendency, then I shouldn't be surprised when it happens. Maybe I need to work on my reflexes.