 Temperament and Behavior
While it's entirely possible that the dog has been abused it's also possible that the temperament issue is genetic. There are very few flaws that merit automatic removal from a breeding program but shyness is one. The fearful dog seems to have a cumulative effect if left in a breeding program spreading the poor temperament to the majority of offspring.
Most even tempered dogs that are actually abused will recover in relatively short order once the abuse ends, depending of course on the length and severity of the abuse. I know of a mixed breed dog that has a disfigured face from the abusive situation he was rescued from. He is trusting and remarkably well adjusted after only a month or so.
Basic human compassion will often lead us to construct a story from the dog's behavior to explain the fearful temperament, but if the problem is persistent it's likely to have a genetic component.
It's important to at least consider the possibility of the genetic component, it will help shape reasonable expectations of rehabilitation.
Bless you for taking her in. |