Boxes

This is my son Merlin in a box that is making him very happy. He loves hopping in and out of it and crouching low so he’s just barely peeking out. 
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Speaking of boxes, metaphorical ones, one of the things that we are moving away from is the inclination to expect our animal companions to fit into an imaginary box.
For a long time humans have had this expectation that animal companions should adapt to fit into our lifestyles and home. Now we are realizing that sometimes -or often-we as the humans are the ones that may need to also adapt to their needs.
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Why would we have all this comfy furniture and declare it off limits to our family member? It’s their home too! And it creates an unrealistic expectation to declare certain sections off limits (unless there is an actual safety concern like not jumping on a hot stove.) New York recently became the first US state to ban the horrific practice of declawing cats. (It’s been banned/illegal in many countries and a couple of US cities for some time.) I see this as another great sign of progress that humans are placing value on the health and well being of their companions above the things/furniture in their home.
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Another “box” has to do with personality. Each and every animal is completely unique. Perhaps we want our dog to be social with the dogs of our friends but ours is shy and doesn’t feel comfortable with other dogs. That’s ok.
It could also be that we had a dog that acted a certain way and now we live with one that is very different, and we try to get the new dog to fit into the lifestyle that was perfect for the one before. Sometimes it’s from a place of wanting them to be happy - but it’s helpful to ask them/ notice what actually makes them happy. And it’s especially helpful to honor that.

If your dog (or any species)seems skittish around young children for example- don’t put them in a situation where they have to be together. Sometimes there is a worry that other people will be offended - but in my experience - most humans will understand when we set the example that our animal family members’ needs come before social expectations. Another example is the expectation for animal companions to be quiet. Just like people- some are naturally more chatty than others. Unless they are vocalizing due to distress- in which case they may need help - it’s not a concern for them to just talk because they want to. There are so many “boxes” but the only good ones are the literal /physical ones that they can play in if they so choose!✨
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In the second photo Merlin is yawning but I love it because it looks like he is roaring and rebelling against the concept of metaphorical boxes!