Rescues that come from Puppy Mills (behavior and mental/physical issues)

[jenn D]

I'm not sure how I came across this but in my nightly research I stumbled on some articles that discussed specific issues when adopting a puppy mill dog. As I read the articles I realized Mac exhibits a lot of traits of a dog kept in a mill. It got me thinking about his past. While I will never get the full story of what actually happened to him there are a few things that make me think this could have been his past. First, he is extremely submissive to humans. He's come a long way in the few months we've had him but he still refuses to look humans in the eye, always bows his heads around humans and for the first month and a half seemed extremely scared when put in his crate regardless of positive reinforcements. . He seems more confident and happy around other dogs, much more than around humans. For the first month he wouldn't get up on furniture to sit and he didn't seem to know what a dog pillow was. It took 3 weeks for him to actually realize what kongs were and to eat from them. He was horrible urine soaked and matted when he was rescued. He's around 3-4 and he wasn't fixed.

Anyway reading about dogs taken from mills and their subsequent behavioral and physical issues was eye opening for me. First what horrid, horrid places! Second, it changes how I engage with Mac. I've always been patient but I'm really backing off on the out of our house experiences because he cannot handle them now. When I took him to my local haunts that I do with the other doodles to socialize them (lowes, petsmart, ace hardware, the park)he was extremely overwhelmed . He still went because he is so submissive but he was very wary and afraid. Much so than any other dog I've dealt with.

At least I did a better job at home. I never pressured him to sit next to me. Never reached out to do a bunch of petting. Now he voluntarily lays next to me, touching me of his own volition.

I wonder how many of you have experience rehabilitating puppy mill dogs and your stories/ suggestions. I think helping them to trust is a bit different than another kind of rescue.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Jenn, he could be a mill dog or his early life experiences were not met such as during the fear stages of puppies. Those fear stages really form a dog for life. 

It's really a tough one and I am so glad to hear you are not forcing the issues with him.  He sounds like he is doing remarkable under the past circumstances.

With one of my mill dogs I started taking her out with a Thunder Shirt that Jane, Murphy, and Guinness sent me  and that did seem to help. 

Remember, the dog will let you know.  Follow body language in these situations, take it slow like you already have, and most of all, Accept him for who he is and where he been. 

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

My experience is with mill or abandoned pups more than adults, but even with the pups - if they've missed that early socialization period with humans, it can be a real challenge to build that bond.  They will seek out other dogs before humans.  And because they haven't been in a house/store with all its sights and sounds - there is more fear.  I used to take the pups to Petsmart to walk around and sometimes we got no farther than the door.  You're doing the right thing, I think, by letting the dog guide you. We had one really tough case that I fostered at my house.  I didn't think I reached her.  We ended up having to adopt her with her sister to a wonderful family.  I saw them on a follow-up visit when they were a year old and Jazz got off her bed to come greet me with kisses. Her owner was stunned because she has remained uninterested in strangers. But she remembered :) Her guardian has accepted her as she is and has done a wonderful job with her and her sister.

[Ginny Nightingale]

I once bought a terrier in a pet store--long time ago and I was still uneducated (read STUPID!) about such things as puppy mills--the dog was about 3 months old so I had time to rehab him--but he never really made the complete connections with people--he loved us and was trainable since I had gotten him so early, but was a real guard dog (which I did not want) and did not trust strangers or even people who visited us all the time. He wold destroy any toy and you could not leave things around that he might chew...He would also go lay in his crate at night in the kitchen when I was watching TV in the living room--my doodles sleep all around me in the evening and can't wait for me to sit on the couch so we can have cuddle time....and they never chew anything that is not theirs--very different.

I think you are wonderful for understanding the situation and giving this sweet guy a second chance at happiness.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Interesting thoughts. He is so lucky to have you.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

He is lucky to have you and I am sure you and he will form a very special bond unlike the one with your other dogs.

[The Zoey Files]

Mac is blessed to be with you!

[jenn D]

A new thing for us last night. We had a big thunderstorm. Mac is freaked out by thunder and lightening. He was whimpering in his crate and shaking while it was going on. My boys all sleep in their own crates. So I let him out and he curled up next to me still shaking. How do you soothe a dog who has issues with thunderstorms? He doesn't have a fear of rain as we have had that before. The thunder and lightening were really close so it was loud and the light bright. I believe we have had some thunder and lightening before but it's wasn't during the middle of the night. I don't remember him freaking out then and during that time we were all hanging out in the house (dogs and kids). So I'm wondering if it was he was in his crate and bedtime that set him off. I want to be sympathetic to him but I don't want him sleeping on our bed all the time. I let him sleep up there last night because the thunder and lightening went on for a few hours and it was 1 am when it started.

[Gail and Bailey]

I have the most independent doodle there is and it is always wonderful when she decides to give us the pleasure of cuddling with us.  She was never affected by storms until one night when I took her out for her bedtime potty and a storm came up fast catching us by surprise.  I had just opened the front door and we were walking into the house when a bolt of lightening struck right behind us!  The flash was blinding and the immediate thunder clap was so loud that it shocked us and we froze just inside the door!  We were not hurt but it played havoc with the electricity in our house and we lost some appliances, a computer, TV and all our landscape lights!  

Now to the point of my story.....from that day on,  when there is thunder or lightening Bailey immediately gets as close to me as possible and stays there!  If it is in the middle of the night I will wake to find her on the pillow close to my head.....shaking.  I do not make a big deal out of it.....I just let her stay close where she finds comfort.  You can never know why Mac is scared of the storm but you can be there for him now.  Chances are he finds comfort from the pack when it is during the day but you will be his comfort if the other dogs are in their crates.  Just let him snuggle close and be with you.  Gotta love a big Mac snuggle! 

[jenn D]

Is there any other things I should know about regarding how to help a dog who might have spent the majority of their time in a mill?