Pet Myths: fearful dogs have been abused

I hear this one all the time too. That all dogs that are skittish have been abused at one point in their life. Typically what makes dogs fearful is....drum roll please...a lack of socialization. This by far is the most important factor in a dogs behavior. There are so many dogs that are given up simple because of their behavior and instead of working with the dog, they are given up and passed to yet another home and guess what? They have behavioral problems. Think of this in human terms. A kid gets bounced from one home to another, they're going to be messed up unless they get help. Same with a dog. They have to be trained and socialized from day one...or you're simply creating a monster for yourself, or if you give the dog up, for someone else. It breaks my heart when I hear about the countless dogs that get put to sleep simply because of a behavioral problem. 

Do the right thing. Socialize and train and you will both be happy.

Oh yea. Back to the point. Most fearful dogs have not been abused.