Could People Think You Have Abused Your Dog?

[Blackdogs]

My Kelpie becomes cage reactive towards strangers. He also can get growly with some people if they try to handle him and he doesn't know them. He's been highly socialised and when I'm around is everyone's best friend. God knows what pound people would think about that.

My sister's little cross-breed is irrationally petrified of the world - even with people she knows well - was purchased at 8 weeks of age and has had the same upringing as her other little crossbreed who is extremely gregarious.

Two out of our five family dogs would make it through the adoption process.

[New Age Outlaw]

What most people don't realise that anxiety can be an inherited behaviour; dogs can be nervous without ever having had bad experiences that trigger it.

My boy Ziggy is quite anxious; he is frightened of so many things...strangers (especially men), hydrobaths, and pretty much anything unusual or new. However, as I bred him and have always owned him, I know where he has been and what his experiences have been all his life. I know for a fact he has never been abused, nor had any bad experiences with any of the things that trigger that reaction in him - he has just always been like that, it was evident from puppyhood that he was going to be one of those kind of dogs.

But anyone seeing some of his reactions could easily assume he has been mistreated at some time in the past.

[JessicaM]

Haha my little Lily I've had her since 8 months old, she was VERY shy of people when I first got her. I recently found out she is scared of plastic rubbish bags? If anyone else had her they would think she had been attacked by one lol. And the funniest thing I watched her out the back sliding door. I was eating breakfast and I watched an empty water bottle blow into her, she screamed and ran away tail between her legs. I felt sorry for her, hehe but funny to watch

[Aphelion]

My boy has bad allergies and despite how careful I am he gets hotspots really easily, as well as little bumps, bigger bumps...basically it's a never ending battle. I try to make sure he's as itch free as possible. Someone could certainly think he was neglected in terms of care. The vet bills, regular grooming, flea treatment, twice weekly baths with medicated shampoo, expensive food, and time spent pulling out dodgy weeds in the garden would prove otherwise! Temperament wise we're pretty safe though. He loves everything and everyone (except fireworks and nail clippers)!

[moosepup]

Moose has a decent sized burn scar on his back and I always worry that people will think it was me when it actually happened at the vet.

[disintegratus]

All of our are quite clearly neglected, abandoned for days at a time and never shown any human affection, as displayed by how desperate they are for it when you walk through the front door.

Thundercleese has many fear issues: other dogs, people, plastic bags, remote control helicopters that no longer fly straight because he stood up to his fears, clicky pens. brooms etc.

I've also just about given up trying to teach him "stand": he's fine if you're walking and you "catch" him in a stand, no issues. If he's in any other position, apparently "stand" means "cower and wee a little bit". I've had him since 8 weeks old, so god knows why.

[disintegratus]

oops, sorry, quadruple post somehow

Edited November 20, 2012 by disintegratus

[disintegratus]

oops, sorry, quadruple post somehow

Edited November 20, 2012 by disintegratus

[disintegratus]

oops, sorry, quadruple post somehow

Edited November 20, 2012 by disintegratus

[moosmum]

We took a 3 month old pup to a camping reunion with family.

In the evening with a huge crowd around the fire and wandering among the tents a bloke yelled out in horrified voice,pointing to my dog "This dogs been beaten!"

I was !

I asked why he thought he could know that.It was because she wouldn't let him pat her and flinched away when he kept trying. All her life she just didn't like being touched on the body by strangers.No problems with us,though she didn't like things like tummy rubs or being brushed and would dance away like it was funny/a game.She was just very ticklish! She was the most confident and stable of dogs and loved head pats and rubs from anyone,was great with children,other dogs and any animals I cared to introduce her to.

A touch any where on her torso would make her jump out of reach.

No way had she ever been beaten. We got her from her breeder at 6 weeks.

Edited November 20, 2012 by moosmum

[waterloo]

I have one who does the belly crawl when she "comes" and one who runs up and flips over onto her back when she gets to you. Poor abused little darlings. hahaha

[colliehound]

This is a great thread. So many of these have made me splurk my coffee. Very funny.

Only dog people would get these and appreciate that some dogs, who appear to be issue riddled are sometimes just strange. Not abused, not anxious, not impaired, just odd.

i have one who positively hates skateboards, young teenage boys and roller-skates. Turns from the cutest, butter wouldn't melt dog - into a complete Cujo. Have not found a single young kid yet who hasn't stopped, picked up their board, said sorry and scuttled away. Must be a good show ha ha.

[LizT]

You would be forgiven for thiking I beat Clover with the Pin brush. I am so very careful about knots etc, but she still slinks down on the grooming table or slinks off when I call her if I have the brush in my hands!