spook
n.— «Sandi has a chronic cough after surviving a fire at the track last year. Marco because he’s a “spook,” what the industry calls extremely shy dogs.» —“45-mph couch potatoes” by T.D. Mobley-Martinez Naples News (Florida) Nov. 5, 2006. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
Carmen in Jacksonville, Florida, was told she was pretty as a speck of puff. The more common simile is pretty as a speckled pup or cute as a speckled pup. This is part of a complete episode.
Related
Sarah in Fleming Island, Florida, is curious about the saying sometimes you eat the bear, and sometimes the bear eats you, which suggests “it’s a dog-eat-dog world,” or “eat or be eaten,” or more gently, “you win...