| Dogs are one of the most wonderful pets you | | | | some cases the dog may latch onto one person |
| can add to a home. Not only do they show a lot | | | | of the household. Typically if the dog has been |
| of affection, but they can also be therapeutic for | | | | abused by a male they will be extremely shy and |
| children with issues. Dogs should be loved and | | | | will not approach or be in the same room when a |
| treated well, but as we all know that is not | | | | male is present. It is the same if the abuser was |
| always the case. There are over 12,000 cases of | | | | a woman. In some cases the dog may stay in |
| animal abuse in the abuse database. Of that | | | | the room, but they will not allow the gender of |
| amount you will find that more than half is usually | | | | the person to pet them unless they are sitting |
| dog abuse. We may feel badly about the dog | | | | down. For an example a German Shepherd mix |
| abuse that has been inflicted, but if you are | | | | was abused. The history is unclear, but it was |
| considering going to a rescue shelter to adopt one | | | | plain to see the dog was abused by the behavior |
| of these dogs you have to be prepared for | | | | of avoiding any large man in the room unless they |
| certain ramifications. Dog abuse even though it is | | | | were sitting down. Only then would the dog |
| physical can have lasting psychological effects on | | | | hesitantly approach to be petted, even though |
| the dog. We will explore some of the | | | | the dog had been in the vicinity of this person for |
| psychological effects for dogs that have been | | | | several months. |
| abused below. | | | | Aggression is another way to show the effects |
| First dog abuse is usually considered to be yelling, | | | | of abuse. In most cases the dog will snarl at |
| screaming, hitting, or injuring the dog in some | | | | anyone who tries to approach and they may |
| way. This means that most often dogs who have | | | | even attack. In this case of abuse or psychological |
| suffered abuse will have at least some type of | | | | break it is best to have the dog enter a training |
| psychological effect from verbal abuse and may | | | | course to be rehabilitated. Dogs that have |
| also have physical damage. In some cases | | | | psychological issues can have a behavior therapy |
| physical damage can actually leave the dog | | | | that will re- teach them proper behavior. It will |
| handicapped for the rest of its life or at least with | | | | also help them to overcome their fears. Lastly |
| severe health problems. When adopting an abused | | | | when discussing dog abuse we need to look at |
| dog you have to be prepared to take care of all | | | | destructive behavior. Some dogs may not display |
| aspects, especially the health issues they may | | | | destructive behavior right away in a new home. It |
| have. So, if you feel you are prepared for the | | | | may take time to come to the forefront. In the |
| physical demands of the dog care needed for | | | | same example as above a dog began to slowly |
| abused dogs let's look at psychological effects. | | | | destroy things around the home. In one instance |
| Psychological effects generally present themselves | | | | the dog actually broke through the backdoor. Part |
| as shy or aggressive behaviors. The behavior of | | | | of the problem was that the dog needed |
| the dog may also be extremely destructive to | | | | attention during the day that the owners were |
| your physical property. Let's look at the shy | | | | not supplying, but the other part was the actual |
| behaviors first. In most cases the dog will shy | | | | abuse. They needed to show destructive behavior |
| away from being touched or petted. They will | | | | in the hopes that they would get any attention |
| hide under beds, in closets, or other spaces they | | | | and that it would be several hours worth of that |
| feel you will not notice them in order to keep | | | | attention good or bad. Again therapy is needed as |
| them from being harmed as that is what they | | | | well as a more active roll. |
| were trained to recognize as human behavior. In | | | | |