What does 'Bitten by the Hand-fed Dog' mean?
It refers to being attacked or betrayed by someone you have always taken care of and shown affection to.
How did this proverb originate?
Dogs, originally descended from wolves, live in packs where a leader is established. This reflects a hierarchy similar to a 'vertical society' in human terms, emphasizing strict social order among them.
Dogs retain this ancestral trait, valuing the social hierarchy within their pack. Typically, the pet owner acts as the leader, and the dog follows their commands. However, there are times when a dog might bite its owner.
Even though the dog usually obeys, biting its leader suggests something significant must have provoked it.
It's unbelievable to face rebellion from a dog that you have always cared for, leading to the birth of this proverb.
