Dogs generally represent friends around them. A big dog is a leading friend around you. When you are in danger, he will take other friends (puppies) to protect you. But if you shut him up, he can't play a leading role to help you, and other friends want to help you, but no one takes the lead and is a little timid.
People with malicious intentions are people who are against you, and children generally represent villains who want to plot against you (this is what I heard from my elders in my hometown).