I'm a quiet boy...

Scooby spent his first day feeling pretty yuck after being neutered... But on the second day at night, my husband was able to coax him into his lap and cuddle for about 90 minutes or so... My husband kept remarking how thin the dog was and I guess it takes these kinds of reality checks to appreciate when dogs are healthy and at their proper weight, ya know?

I haven't quite figured out Scooby's back story yet... Could he have been the runt of the litter and dominated by the others? Could he have not been socialized properly as a pup? Could he have undergone some traumas in his past? Dunno, but only time, patience and understanding will give out clues as to why he is so shy...

He's friendly - it isn't that fearful shy/scared nor that fear/flight thing... Maybe Scooby's biggest challenge will be to learn it is OK to trust... That the normal behavior is to consistently interact and socialize with us humans...

This morning in the middle of the night at 3AM (my normal awake time), I could tell he was hungry so I coaxed him out of the doggie bed and once he realized I had food, he willingly came and gobbled it down...

Every dog you pull out of shelter is a crap shoot... You have little history or information to go on... You don't know why they were turned in or dumped at a shelter, even if the owner gave some info at the counter for most will not be 100% truthful and upfront... They don't realize little information or inaccurate information lessens the chances of the dog being adopted... There is a home for EVERY dog if you just have enough time to find the right person for them...

Shyness is as debilitating in dogs as it is in humans, but it's not a death sentence by any means... It certainly isn't a reason to be put down or dumped in a shelter (or returned as Scooby was)... Some people thrive in 'shy' and see it as a challenge... Others understand it and can relate, then have the compassion and patience to help a dog like Scooby overcome it...

It just takes time...