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Remdog
Lv 5
Remdog asked in PetsDogs · 1 decade ago

What do you tell people when they insist their dog was abused, when likely its problems are genetic?

A friend of mine is living with a dog who she swears was abused because he’s so skittish. She drops a something loud and he bolts. He’s loving with the family, and “really sweet once he trusts you.” This doesn’t sound like abuse to me- it sounds like a weak genetic temperament. They've had the dog for over 4 years, and it's still skittish. Either way, what would you say to someone with a dog like this? Would you keep your mouth shut, or say something?

Also, do you think it does any good for the owners or the dog to believe the dog was abused? What if it really was abused, does the owner need to acknowledge that and use it to explain the dog's issues?

Update:

Whoah! I wasn't criticizing anyone here! I'm not saying dogs don't get abused. Obviously they do. The intention of my question was, wouldn't it be better if the family could say "maybe, maybe not, but it doesn't really matter anyway?"

I'm not pretending to be an expert. I got nothing against people who own behaviorally effed up dogs, regardless of what's wrong with them.

Yikes, apparently I hit a soft spot here!

Update 2:

??

"I guess people who have bipolar and severe depression as a result of genetics or "effed up" in their heads too."

Since when are dogs in any way comparable to mental illness in humans? I was borrowing that language from another posted, btw.

Update 3:

If we want to go there, it's pretty clear that bipolar is genetic. Still not sure how that relates to dogs, though.

I have had some effed up pets, too. Love them, but I'm honest about them.

Update 4:

"Yeah, I'm always honest about my dog. I'll happily explain why she is so fearful. It's not because of abuse. It's because of genetics."

Then that's exactly what I'm asking- should we tell people in this situation that there might be other causes for their dog's behavior?

19 Answers

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  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    what happened during imprinting period in dogs puppy hood will often have life long effects on the dogs temperament. That is not to say that the dog was for sure abused or not, but there is NO way to know either way. I would keep my mouth shot. What will it accomplish if you say oh the dog wasn't abused he is just genetically that way? it won't change a thing for the dog but will make you look like a snobby d** bag.

  • 1 decade ago

    The dog is either genetically unstable or the owners are unknowingly comforting the dogs skittish behaviors thinking they are helping the dog when in all reality they are just making the dog worse so therefore the dog lives that way everyday instead of being able to move forward & just be a normal dog regardless of it's past. There's many things that could have gone wrong, the dog probably didn't have very many good experiences before he finally found a permanent home. Although you also have to look at it in another light as well-a stable dog can handle most situations, they show curiosity not fear.

    Saying something would depend on what I thought was the cause of the dogs behaviors-the dog or the owner. I am a firm believer that dogs do NOT dwell on the past, they aren't human.

    In my opinion, the likely cause of the dogs behaviors is the owners lack of education on how to try & help the dog, but in all reality I have no idea that's just my guess.

    Skittish isn't something I would full on label as fear, it could just mean the dog wasn't properly socialized as others have said.

  • 1 decade ago

    Well, it can be both or a combination of both.

    I have a 2 1/2 year old Aussie-Ibizan Hound - Belgian Malinois - Mix. She is a rescue from Greece (I live in Germany) and she was abused there too. She was found seriously ill wandering the streets when she was only about 4 months old. My guess is that someone got her as a puppy as toy for the kids and when she got distemper due to the fact that she was not vaccinated, she got thrown out. (Very common thing to happen there.) And what a dog that young experienced in that early stage of live it will never completely overcome. She is very shy around strangers (mostly men) and when she sees a man holding something that looks anything like a broom she only tries to get away.

    So as no one seems to know exactly what the dog you are talking about experienced in the past you have no clue what causes her being skittish. As I said it might be genetics, it might be abuse or any combination of the two. Of course you could tell them that there can be other explanations for their dogs behavior - but what would that change? Even if it is caused by a weak genetic temperament there is no cure to that.

  • 1 decade ago

    LOL! Yeah, in our vet clinic we get a lot of dogs that are submissive in temperament and the owner swears he was abused before they got him...just like any dog that has sudden onset of ANY illness must have been poisoned by the neighbors! I guess people just like to think the worst of other people. Its either that, or that the news is full of so much horrible crap that people only see these worst case scenarios and just don't realize that there are less dramatic causes for the behaviors that their pets are exhibiting. I bet before there was TV fewer people suspected the neighbors of foul play with their pets...or with their kids, for that matter. The percentage of dogs that are abused is probably about the same of kids that are abused....its just that abused ones get all the limelight so we think they are all over the place.

    In answer to your question, what do we say? Nothing. You can't convince the owner otherwise, and what difference would it make anyway? The dog is going to behave that way regardless. So it really is moot. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, no matter how mistaken they may be.

    Source(s): DVM
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  • 1 decade ago

    Dogs have LONG memories, especially of tramatic events. My dog was sent around from abusive family to abusive family (she got too big) and she still gets nervous and nerotic everytime she sees us get into the car without her (she tires to come too). Clearly, on some level she is just a nerotic dog and crazy and would probably be at least somewhat like this without a history of abandonment. However, since over the years it has gotten better, on another level is is the result of her past. I think a lot of these things are a combonation

  • anne b
    Lv 7
    1 decade ago

    I would tell them that it is very unlikely that their dog was abused, but very likely that the dog was not socialized properly as a pup, and then enabled by the owners own worries about the dog. And that they needed to address the dog's issues through socialization and desensitization a long time ago.

    I would, however, leave the whole "weak temperament" out of the conversation, seeing I don't believe that half the dog population is genetically weak-tempered. In most cases it is simply an uninformed owner not exposing their dog to the right stimuli often enough to create a well-balanced dog.

    Source(s): Have rarely come across a dog in rescue who did not become well-balanced with the right training and socialization.
  • 1 decade ago

    I dont think its worth arguing about, so I will usually say something like "the dog may or may not have been abused, but _______ is the best way to handle that particular behavior."

    After all, since I wasnt around for the dogs entire lifetime, I really dont know if it was abused or not.

    Either way, the behavior needs to addressed, and if properly handled the problem may be improved or overcome, regardless of the cause.

    By the same token, I do not automatically condemn a dog as "genetically unstable" just because it is shy. I dont think every dog needs to be friendly with strangers.

    Source(s): lots o dogs
  • 1 decade ago

    I'm not going to argue the point about whether the dog may or may not have been abused. That's not even really your question....

    Assuming I truly felt a friend owned a dog whose behavior was based on genetics & not abuse.....

    I've learned that speaking my mind on these issues is generally a fruitless battle. Like Ayla mentioned, the average pet owner wouldn't even think to bring genetics into play & bringing them up would do little to change their minds.

    Bringing up genetics under most any circumstance involving someone who has given no prior thought to such things usually ends in an argument. A prime example of this was when I attempting to bring up proper breeding practices with a friend when I was discussing my decision to purchase a puppy from a breeder rather than adopt from a shelter. Everything I said fell upon deaf ears because it wasn't something they were interested in hearing about anyone. The average person couldn't care less to listen to someone talk about the genetics of a dog.

    I think it would bring you more frustration than anything to bring the subject up. It probably wouldn't change anything. People don't listen to what they don't care to hear.

  • Simply because they don't know any better.

    What's REALLY sad is how little faith we have in each other has human beings. If ALL of those dogs were "abuuuuuuuuused" this is a World full of SICKOS! Luckily, most are simply under socialized to different environments and the presence of people and weak nerved to boot.

    -edit- Sheesh Ayla chill out...buy a better dog from a better breeder next time or get over it.

    -edit- If you're fine with it why do you care what other people think of your dogs? I have a genetically "poo-poo" dog too, my little Chihuahua Jack Russell mix is a genetically fearful dog and used to be a very forward fear biter ie he would come to YOU to bite, not only when he felt forced. I don't feel insulted when people talk about other genetically crap dogs, I try to help them with their own issues.

    It is important that new owners be able to tell the difference between a good dog and a bad dog stability wise so they can choose a dog that they can handle/that they want.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    I wouldn't say anything unless educating the person would in anyway improve the dog's welfare. And that's if people want to be educated. As long as the owner ISN'T abusing the dog, I'd just leave it. Not everyone can or wants to get their head around genetics. It took me long enough to realise my dog can be fear aggressive to other dogs and that it wasn't due to the fact he was baited. I do think he has been beaten before now though.

    Also, you just don't know. The dog may have been abused before. Don't say anything unless you are clear on the dog's history. If it is not your dog, you're not likely to be.

    I'm guessing a lot of people actually prefer to think their dog has been abused, not because they support abuse, but because it gives them an excuse to dote on their dog even more than they normally would. Genetics come from the dog itself, not its experiences like abuse does, so maybe some people perceive genetic problems as the dog's fault and do not feel as sympathetic.

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