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My new dog is scared of people and aggressive. Is it abuse or fear?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | American Pit Bull Terrier | Female | spayed | 11 months and 7 days old | 46 lbs

I got a dog 2 days ago that is extremely timid. I was told she was social and friendly, but every single person she meets she either stiffens and shows slight aggression or complete submission (crouching as low as possible and submissive pee, usually with men) I was also told she was good and friendly with children and she growled and showed teeth at my friend's children. I wanted to know if these were signs of prior abuse or if she's just a naturally timid dog, and if I just needed to train her

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1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Jessica Keay, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on October 2nd, 2017

I am sorry to hear about Lola! Many people assume a dog who acts scared or aggressive was previously abused, but actually the most common cause for this type of behavior is that she was not socialized appropriately when she was a young puppy- if dogs aren't exposed to certain situations when they are very young (such as being around men/a variety of people) then they can become fearful of these situations and can react by being aggressive due to their fear. I would recommend consulting your veterinarian to find out if there is a veterinary behaviorist or a trainer they recommend (be sure it is a trainer your vet recommends as not all dog trainers are created equal) . In the meantime, please ensure your dog is not around any children she doesn't know and is never left alone with children as we do not want to risk anyone being bitten!

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