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amanda ferris
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I can’t speak for everyone else, but I’m 90% sure that Zoe’s fear issues are mostly due to genetics and early trauma. I recently performed an Embark Vet DNA test and discovered that she is an American Village Dog (AKA Potcake/satos/etc) with some Beagle, GSD, Collie and Siberian Husky in the gene pool. That was pretty surprising, since all North Shore Animal League told me was that she was a GSD mix.

I wouldn’t be shocked if Zoe’s parents were fearful and if the shelter environment traumatized her. I did my best to socialize her when I adopted her at 12 weeks, but there’s only so much I can do, y’know? She’s leash reactive, noise phobic and fussy about dogs/people being in her personal space, but I’ve been working my butt off to countercondition her with the help of a good trainer and she’s on Prozac.

I joined a Potcake forum on FB and a lot of other ‘cakes have similar issues to Zoe. Some of them are way worse actually. 🙁