Truck shakes when you pull off too fast! Transmission?

I have a 2001 Dodge Dakota, V6 3.9L, automatic transmission. When I try to take off too fast from a dead stop, my truck refuses, it moves slowly and shakes like crazy. When I take my foot off the gas and try again (more slow this time) it's fine. I can't figure out if this is a problem, or if my truck just doesn't have that much get up and go, you know? I know about this problem and avoid taking off fast, but that's no fun! Sometimes I just want to speed. When I bought my truck last year it did it while I was taking it for a test drive, and the owner told me it was just the back wheels spinning since the bed was so light, and I didn't think anything of it, made sense since its front wheel drive. But I'm starting to think he was probably lying to me (keep in mind I'm a 20 year old girl, haha). Anyway, and answers or insights on this will be much appreciated! Thankyou!