How can you tell if a dog has been abused? I adopted Zeke when he was around 6 mnths old..I've never hit him or anything, ever. Small things that i wouldn't think scare dogs, scare him..for example, I took the broom out to sweep. He just finished eatting so I went to let him out, just holding it by myside and he ran to the door and looked scared..After he came in, he ran upstairs and was in his bed..he seems to do that when hes scared, like if I vacuum. When we first got him, if he was bad I'd clap my hands loud together and tell him no in a firm voice..he didn't like it if you yelled at him..it seemed to scare him too...he doesn't do that now, just puts his ears back..Do you think hes just afraid? If we go to pat him he doesn't lower his head or anything like we're going to hit him..just things like that..he shouldn't be afraid of a broom, it doesn't make a noice, it was raised like it was going to hit him or anything..I don't get it..