A closed door and a determined dog can teach you almost everything you need to know about boundaries. If you’ve ever shut a door on a dog who used to have free access to that room, you know what happens next.

Seeing a psychologist for the first time can feel nerve-wracking, especially for gay men who haven’t always had the luxury of being fully themselves in unfamiliar spaces.

Sending in the guard dogs is a simple way to describe how someone suddenly reacts in a way that feels sharp, defensive, or totally unlike the version of themselves they want to be.