There are things that I invented - the creaky geriatric robot that is always grumpy for example or the little wheelie guy he's not in the Hasbro lore. But kids love that stuff - this little guy as a pet on a chain. They gravitate towards it.
I've had a fair amount of experience with snakes and I find them to be pretty honest in terms of how you read their body language and emotions. They'll tell you when they're grumpy. They'll tell you when they're okay.
You look at a herd of cattle and well they all look the same... but they know. They all have an individual personality and those personalities change from day to day. They can have their grumpy days and their happy days and their serene days. But it's unpredictable. You can't be off in outer space when you're dealing with animals.
I used to be good with kids but as I get older I'm grumpy and terrible with them. As for doing a gig at a 6-year old's birthday party you couldn't pay me enough.