Don’t ask, you really don’t want to know

They took a crappy photo of me from afar. Truth is, I don’t like it when people come close. I growl. I’ve got my reasons — seriously, don’t ask. But in my new home, they respect my space, and little by little, day by day, I’m getting a bit less scared.

A dog with a tough past—even a really harsh one—can pull through. But it takes time, especially the worse and longer the trauma was. Dogs hit by abuse or bad experiences as adults usually bounce back better than those hurt as puppies.

A dog that’s been hurt by people often isn’t ready for close contact right away. You want to build positive experiences, but don’t rush it by forcing your presence or touch. The dog should always be the one to make the first move.

Be ready for setbacks, too—taking two or three steps forward and one back is totally normal with these dogs.

#anxiousdog #fearfuldog #growling #dogwithatrauma