What are the signs of animal abuse?

Question

I adopted a dog a couple of days ago, and I have this feeling that her previous owners abused her. It is making me very sad, and I was curious if anyone knew how to tell, and what can I do to get her back to being a happy dog. Thanks for everyone's help!

Whenver my boyfriend and I reach down to either pet her on pick her up, she scrunches down as far as she can get to the floor, and she will not look at you in the face, she holds her head down.. :( Poor Baby!

Yes she is timid, and she doesn't attack, but sometimes she will growl, but she isn't a biter so far... she just seems so scared of everything... I have been trying to keep giving her affection, and it just feels like it isn't helping... :(

She sometimes acts happy to see us, then sometimes she doesn't, she doesn't hide from us, just gets really low to the ground. I adopted her from a lady I met, not a shelter. She said she needed to get rid of her because she was moving. She said that she had kids, so I was wondering if the kids were mean to her as well. She doesn't like kids really, nor men. She likes me, but then sometimes she just wants to be alone... She will play here and there with my other dachshund, then sometimes she gets mean and bites my other dachshund.

I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO LEFT ME SOME FEEDBACK. I GREATLY APPRECIATED ALL OF YOUR HELP! I KNOW WHAT I NEED TO DO KNOW. GIVE HIM TONS AND TONS OF HUGS AND KISSES! ;) THANKS AND HAVE A GREAT EVENING!! THANK YOU FOR THE LINKS TOO THEY HELPED A LOT!

*her* opps ;-)

Answer 1

It's like JRW said. They need lots of love and patience. I adopted an abused dog at first he was so timid and scared, he hated men and was scared of everyone else. I just kept him close to me for awhile and petted and praised him constantly. Eventually they come around. Make sure you don't have alot of loud noise around him as that will scare him too. Just keep be kind and gentle to him and he will show you all the love he can in a little while. It will take a little time but not as long as it took for the abusers to make him that way. Even if he does wrong don't yell or hit him just firmly take him away from whatever it is and tell him no fimly but gently. He will love you so much in a week or two. It will take him longer to adapt to other people but don't worry about that yet just get him used to you. He will be a great dog just show lots of love. Good luck and give him a hug and scratch for me.

Answer 2

Signs Of Animal Abuse

Answer 3

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
What are the signs of animal abuse?
I adopted a dog a couple of days ago, and I have this feeling that her previous owners abused her. It is making me very sad, and I was curious if anyone knew how to tell, and what can I do to get her back to being a happy dog. Thanks for everyone's help!

Answer 4

You can help her by making her feel loved and secure.
Don't allow people to walk into your home and immediately pet her. It might scare her.
My current dog, I believe was abused. Whenever you would put your hand over his head to pet him he would back away.
When I would give him a hug and say,"good boy" he would shake as if he thought I was yelling instead of praising him.
Is your dog nervous around other people?
Does she hide?
Does she do any of the things I told you my dog did?
And even if she doesn't do what other people tell you she should be doing. Watch her reactions if your gut is saying somethings not right you are probably right.

Answer 5

If she gets really upset (such as wildly barking and maybe growling) or looks terrified, cowers from someone or something those are good indications she has had a really bad experience. We had a dog once that would bark wildly, growl viciously, bare his teeth and back away from any man wearing a hat. Any other time he was the sweetest, gentlest lab you could imagine.

If she hasn't been too traumatized just love and attention may change things. Most likely you will need to consult a dog trainer or behaviorist for help.

Answer 6

Before you assume abuse, consider this: It may just be her personality.

We had a Chihuahua puppy that was very much like what you describe. She was born in our home and was DH's baby. I know she was never abused. No one ever laid a hand on that dog in anger or even yelled at her. But she was very, very submissive and timid.

Avoiding eye contact in a dog pack situation is a way of showing you are submissive. She is still trying to figure out her place in your "pack" and her submissive posturing is to show that she is not interested in challenging the pack leaders.

Answer 7

An abused dog will shy away from any human contact, specially from the hands. They are used to being hit and kicked. When you go to touch them they act as if you are going to strike the. They have lost all faith in the good in people. It just takes a lot of time, love and patience to bring them around.

Answer 8

Give the little doggy lots of hugs and treats. Don't scold her at all for a few months even if she does something wrong. She needs time to get over fears she may have gone through in the past. Hugs and more hugs. Sing to her too.

Answer 9

If she is very timid around people. It will take alot of time to reassure her that you will not hurt her. Just be patient and take a really slow easy approach with her. Don't try to force her affection. Just pet her and talk in a soothing voice to her as much as she will allow and over time she will come around

Answer 10

first of all its great that you adopted a puppy in need. The way you could tell if it was abused is to ask yourself this: does he have any cuts scabs or scrapes?, does he eat enough, does he anser to you or is he happy to see you?, does he like to pley?, does he look like he got enough to eat? . after you anser these questions . i think you can figure out the anser. But no matter what you think you should stll take him to the vet. chance are that the shelter didnt care for him so take him to the vet. good luck