And some dogs who never were abused act as if they were.

I say this because my Tizzie, who was born in my house and never spent a day anywhere else was always such a sensitive soul. Whenever we would get out a fly swatter to go after a fly, she would turn tail and slink away. My husband and I had to laugh because she acted as if she had been beaten with it, yet she had never known anything but love and tenderness. We had to even be careful not to use a tone of voice that was too stern, because she would be crushed.

I'm not saying that many dogs aren't abused because I know they are, but there are a few who are just very sensitive and need to be treated with much care and restraint in correction. I guess that is the same way that you need to treat those who have been abused.