Kismutt Rescue takes in many Puppy Mill dogs who have been surrendered from Puppy Mills in Ontario. When we take in a Puppy Mill dog, we provide medical care, grooming, nutritious food, and a safe, warm place for them to stay until they are adopted.
Rescue is only the beginning of rehabilitating a Puppy Mill dog. It takes a special adopter to continue to provide the TLC these dogs need to bring them to their full potential. To see just some of the successful adoptions of Puppy Mill dogs, please click here http://kismutt.com/pic1.html
Below are some common characteristics we see in puppy mill dogs. However, please don't be "turned off" from wanting to adopt a puppy mill dog, as many of the dogs available for adoption only exbit maybe one or two of these behaviors, and some do not exbit any of the following behaviors.
Common Puppy Mill Survivor Behaviors:
Terror of human’s hands: The only time most mill dogs are moved from their cages, it's a painful experience. The dog may be grabbed by the first reachable part of his body: tail, leg, scruff, and ears. This takes lots of patience and non-threatening touches to overcome. You may have to lie on the floor face down with your eyes averted to get the dog to approach you at all. Let him come near you and sniff. It may take an hour, or days for this to happen. You can sometimes begin by holding the dog, petting him gently for a few seconds, speaking softly, and then place him carefully down. Let him know you do not wish to restrain him. Lengthen the time for this ritual each day. Never raise your voice, clap your hands, or allow loud noises in the home during this adjustment period. You must strive to create a totally non-threatening environment. Behave as submissively as possible. Build trust slowly.
Aversion To Eye Contact: Many puppy mill survivors refuse to make eye contact with humans. This indicates fearful submission, which decreases as the dog comes to realize you will not harm him and begins to trust. Talking to your dog in a soft, calm voice helps speed the process. A dog may not speak English, but the gentle tone of your voice and the fact that he is the focus of your concern will be understood.
The "I'm Afraid Of My Food" Routine: Anytime the cage door is opened on a mill dog, fear is the response, because a rough handling human is behind it. Of course, the cage door must be opened to insert a bowl of food, which may also be used to entice the dog within reach. It's not unusual to see your puppy mill survivor run in the opposite direction when you sit dinner on the floor. Turn your back and walk away until the dog feels "safe" enough to eat. Let him eat undisturbed.
Marking/Housetraining: No puppy mill survivor comes housetrained. Some never grasp the finer points. Most males will mark, and many females, too. Crate training a mill dog is not an easy task. Belly bands (a cloth band which wraps around male dogs covering his penis) will help prevent marking. I have excellent results with this method, and use this as an *aid* until the dog is house broken. Nicely fitted doggie diapers are available from Pet Value. Human diapers can also be used - just cut a hole for the tail. Put your dog on a schedule. Take him outside first thing in the morning, at lunchtime whenever possible, after dinner, before bedtime. If you see him lift his leg in the house, a shaker can (jar filled with small pebbles) or clicker can distract him long enough for you to get him outside. Never raise your voice to a mill dog, hit a mill dog or clap your hands to a mill dog. You will set him back. Instead, enforce good behavior by saying, "Potty outside", or something similar. Use positive reinforcement when the dog does his business outside..."Good boy! Potty outside! Good, good boy!" Lots of petting must follow.
Flight Risk: All puppy mill survivors are high flight risks. Never take your dog outside a securely fenced yard until you are thoroughly bonded. Then if you take your dog outside the fence, double-check to be sure harness is secure enough. I sometimes use a collar and harness, and then run the lead from the collar through the harness for extra safety. If a mill dog gets loose outside a secured area, he will likely run until he drops; catching him will be quite a feat. I have spent hours and hours and hours trying to catch a mill dog....believe me, prevention is by far the best policy!!! Until you are 110% certain the dog has bonded to you, do not let him off leash in an area that is not fenced.
Coprophagy: Stool-eating is common in puppy mill survivors. There is much contention as to the cause. However, most rescuers feel it is a learned behavior. Lack of food in a mill and boredom rank high amongst reasons for this behavior as well. Again, prevention is the best policy. Pick up the yard frequently. Some mill dogs stop this behavior over time.
Fear of Water: Many puppy mill survivors are frightened of water hoses. Puppy millers generally don't bother removing the dogs before hosing down their cages. I have known adopters whose mill dog have become well acclimated to homes, families and leashed walks, only to have the dog bolt when they chanced by a neighbor watering his lawn.
Fear of Stairs: If you have never seen stairs, just think how scary they look? ALL mill dogs have to learn what stairs are, and how to climb them. Generally, a mill dog will learn to climb up, before descend. Always start with the climb up.....once that is mastered you can start the task of learning to go down.
Fear Biting: Fear biting is more common in abuse cases than in puppy mill survivors, but we do see it. 90% of all dogs that bite do so out of fear. Puppy mill survivors, like feral dogs, usually cower in the presence of humans. Fear biting can frequently be overcome with proper training and commitment, but it generally requires a professional animal behaviorist, not to mention a strong commitment from the adoptive family. Sadly, because of both the enormity of the canine overpopulation problem and the abundance of more easily salvageable dogs, most fear biters are put to sleep.
These are a few of the most common puppy mill survivor behaviors and suggestions for working with them. Working with a puppy mill survivor is not an easy undertaking. If you are looking for a ready made family dog, a mill dog is not the dog for you. But for those who have witnessed the miracle of these frightened dogs growing to love and trust, to play with toys for the first time, to learn to take soft beds and good food for granted, it is one of the most joyful and rewarding experiences of our lives. Once a mill dog bonds with you, he is your best friend for life. You may be only one person in this world, but to a mill dog you are the world! Contact me for more info on adoption!