Anyone with a dog

Does this make sense to anyone? My feelings about my dog.

Just to make you all aware Bella is SBT who I got in June 2013. She is 5 or 6 years old.

Bella is good but she is like an onion you get different layers I am now discovering she really does not like wide open spaces - and is actually scared/concerned when put it that sort of situation. She will carry on but stops and pulls back and given a chance will turn round and go home or back to the car. No idea why or what happened if indeed anything to her before. It is a shame she loves going out the door then seems to panic.
But I figure we are still early days 6 months in but she is so "lovable" you want to give her the confidence. Maybe she will maybe she won't. But now in the house she is happy in the garden she is happy. Which are big steps forward she does not try to make herself small and unnoticeable and we get little barks of "I'm here" which is lovely.

We have no way really of knowing how she got her scars but they are there and she got them somehow. And given the position and quantity of them I doubt it was under good circumstances yet she adores ALL people, and is so gentle and kind with everyone.

But underneath she is scared what of I will never know. Its like a heavy secret she carries but we are seeing little glimpses Bella who is totally gorgeous.

The thing is this is my first rescue dog and its a humbling experience to get a dog who starts to trust you. Previously always really had pups or slightly older and they have just been "attached" no issue. But we are forging a bond I hope that will unbreakable.

I do not know what to say but if Bella likes cuddles will you please give her loads and loads from me. xxx

Aww sending Bella hugs from me too
My mum had a sbt called Irene when mum got her she was 6 month old and she hated going out for a walk, she used to get to bottom of mums road and stopped dead, I'm not sure a bulldozer would move her lol she used to happily race round her garden, sunbathe at her leisure, and she lived to a ripe old age of 15 I loved our little nanny dog

It's difficult to know exactly what goes on in dog's heads, isnt it. None of my dogs have ever been maltreated and have all been brought up and socialised correctly.
The famous Thalice came to us from one of the top kennels - beautifully loved and kept - wanted for nothing.

However, when we were training her to go out for a walk on the lead with our older bitch, Thalice would suddenly say 'Thats enough, I am not going any further!' then she would lay down and refuse to budge and no amount of persuading would get her to move forward. However, she would turn round and go back the other way.... !!

I have seen this trait in some of her children, grand kids and great & great great grandchildren. So I wondered if it was passed on genetically somehow.

Likewise, another bitch Poppy did NOT like going over bridges and at least 2 of her children thought the same way - one of them lived with us and the other had a really lovely home where Poppy could not personally have had any influence. Imagine me trying to carry a 35 kilo male English Setter over a bridge because his knees were shaking !!

So it may not be cruelty that has caused Bella to be apprehensive about open spaces but I am sure that with time, patience and practice she will get better at it !

Best wishes
Thalice's Mum

Nigredo to this day can't stand being leashed up for a walk. He loves running the park trails and he loves running about the house... but he cannot stand being walked about the neighborhood.

Ever since he was little he's been like this. I told myself that he would get used to it... but he hasn't and he's over a year old now. He sometimes will freeze altogether and it takes a LOT of coaxing to get him moving again (and sometimes I end up having to pretty much pull him up). If a car comes by he will cower, and he's not a cowardly dog.

Some things have nothing to do with a dogs past at all. But they are simply part of the dogs personality. Some people are scared of ridiculous things like cats, despite a cat never having bothered them ever.

If you think about it like that... maybe what you are seeing is merely Bella's personality. Or, if you prefer... a personality flaw.

Our late Duncan had never been outside when we got him at about 9-12 months (we were never really sure of his age) he panicked dreadfully if he saw a tree, or if the sky was too big. Took nearly a year of gentle coaxing and carrying him when we went for a walk so he could see that our other dogs were having a great time. And eventually he found it was not so scary and loved being out and about.

Lots of great walks after he realised it was OK and the sky wouldn't fall down and the trees were not scary monsters.

Really want to wish you luck it's worth the effort when they suddenly start to enjoy themselves.

You can make deductions

town/urban dog? No rural socialization

all the cuts - what's she like with other dogs ?

Bella adores cuddles and I thank you.

Thanks never considered a SBT existed that did not like walks........seems I was wrong. Thanks for the information and replying.

Now that is interesting as the lady above said maybe it is just her maybe always been that way I know she is scared of thunder gunfire and fireworks but her last home was by a gun range and she lived under the bed but seems no one put two and two together. I suppose they were used to it.
Maybe it is nothing to do with her previous treatment but her breeding.

Thank you