A little like Lord of the Flies. We seem to think we are so much higher than the animals, but it only takes the slightest amount of pressure to begin to see those animalistic tendencies rush to the surface. We have the mousy Beady-Eye and the snarling dog (the protagonist). I almost sense the counselor is more of the abusive, over-zealous trainer.
We know what tends to happen to those trainers when their backs are turned.