The expression let sleeping dogs lie was a popular proverb by the 13th century, alluding to waking up a fierce watchdog and causing trouble. But that was as far of harshness as I saw, that is not to say that home was a calm peaceful place, but at that time I did not involve myself nor wanted to. Interesting fact about Let Sleeping Dogs Lie.

The saying originates from the idea that waking a. From the day a puppy was born, he became my responsibility especially the puppies who were born to one of the mothers – for as soon as she got her puppies and after a day or two of recovery, she just got up left them, and never came back to nurse them or take care of them.įrom her I learned that a mother could very well just abandon her children – life could be harsh. The phrase let sleeping dogs lie is a reminder not to bring unnecessary risk or danger upon oneself. They were my responsibility, not because anyone dictated that responsibility to me, but because I had made them my responsibility.

Sleep is a naturally recurring state of mind and body, characterized by altered consciousness, relatively inhibited sensory activity, reduced muscle activity and inhibition of nearly all voluntary muscles during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, and reduced interactions with surroundings. As this experience would support, we urge surgeons to let sleeping dogs lie. And, growing up I would read this expression in my English books or dictionary and I would always wonder – “What does it mean let sleeping dogs lie”.įond of dogs as we all are, I had not one but three, four, the number kept growing as they mated and brought little puppies that I took care of, loved, and spent most of my waking hours with. Sleep is associated with a state of muscle relaxation and reduced perception of environmental stimuli. Follow-up in this series of 645 patients was 4.32.1 years (mean SEM). Sleeping dogs are just that – sleeping dogs.

What does let sleeping dogs lie mean