Interesting. I cant say Im surprised. Animal's minds have just as much to make them complicated. Moreso I guess Ive seen so many cases of animals who were abused who definitely show signs of being traumatized that stick with them.

We had a horse once who was beaten by a previous owner. If I walked up to her wearing a ball cap, she would just start shaking. She was fine with cowboy hats though. Of course animals can go through stuff like us, just perhaps a little differently of course.

The only thing I know for sure about my dog is that she was thrown from a moving car window before she was a year old. Getting her into a car was a serious challenge for quite some time. She now likes "going for a ride" as much as any dog, but she still stands back from open windows.

i agree my bichon was rescued 2 times before i got my baby she was so traumatized she would not let me hold her paw without screaming and had to be held down for shots I think the small kids taunted her and possible neglect but after four years she is a therapy dog , animals do suffer but they are resilliant beings

My wife bought a rescue yellow lab ( ... er ... to replace me ).

He has an uncertain history, but -- for my money -- he has PTSD. It manifests itself in severe Separation Anxiety Disorder.

He follows her all around the house. She can't be out of sight without him NEEDING to find her. He must sleep in CONTACT with her (making OUR nights together rather interesting, or ... uninteresting).

When she visited, last weekend, and a few of us went to lunch, he waited in the car. For 45 minutes, he stood in the passenger seat, and just STARED at the doorway to the restaurant.

He never "gets over it," but he WILL get so exhausted from his own anxiety that he conks out.

I feel horribly for him, because -- clearly -- I think I understand his suffering.

But ... like her son, and like her husband (that's me !) ... my wife is sure "he's okay."

This time ... and those times, too ... there's nothing I can do.

It takes a special dog to be a therapy animal for us PTSD patients.

Similarly, it takes a special owner to be a GOOD owner TO a dog with an anxiety disorder, or a traumatic past.

I wish Sammy (and I) had chosen a bit more thoughtfully ;-)

Woof.

My best boy (whom I lost a couple months back) came to us after being returned to the pound two or three times. He had been caught living on the streets (he was always a runner, so I suspect he ran away from his first home). When we found him I was commited to the idea that we would be his home for good.

He had some foibles that looked more like skills if you understood them in the context of how he had lived: stealing food is either bad or smart (certainly makes no sense to wait if you are truly hungry). Being the first to growl and throw a fit can be smart, cause you never know, that other guy might be a really bad dude (all his friends were female dogs). And if it thunders, RUN FOR THE HILLS (maybe that was a foible not a skill).

He was always hand shy though I never hit him. He seemed to have very strong likes/dislikes of people who to my knowlege he had never met (but looked like a good guy or bad guy he already knew). He always hated lab coats because I think he felt we might be taking him to the pound (the vets kind of looks and smells like the pound).

The day we got him my daughter had her sights set on getting a Dalmatian in the pound. My response before going there was "we will see" (seemed somewhat unlikely). I went ahead to look at the possible choices before she got there. Lucky the Dalmatian was the only dog not barking and throwing a fit. He just sat, kind of sad looking, tilted his head, and howled like snoopy (the beagle on Peanuts). Because barking dogs is one of my fears, he was the only guy I would have considered taking home.

Yep, my dog and I shared many things and being tuned up and highly sensitive to noise were just a couple of examples...

Glad the NPR story elicited our own here. I'm a huge dog lover, so I wouldn't wish PTSD on a dog or a human, as one who has PTSD from combat myself. Sorry these animals have it. I hope for their recovery along with ours. I'm happy for the loving memories you shared. When I was in combat surviving day to day, I had a loyal dog by my side. Just a loyal and very bright mixed breed mutt I rescued from the streets who became my close companion. At the end of every day, it was a great blessing.