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Rehabilitating the Puppy Mill Dog

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Rehabilitating the Puppy Mill Dog Empty Rehabilitating the Puppy Mill Dog

Post  northernwitch 7/24/2010, 10:16 pm



Rehabilitating
a Puppy Mill Dog
Updated 4/1/07


by

Michelle
Bender and Kim Townsend, copyright 2007


Please
do not distribute without attribution


Disclaimer: The
following is the opinion of the authors (Michelle
Bender
of A New Start on Life
http://www.anewstartonlife.com/and Kim Townsend of www.petshoppuppies.com) and
is based on years of experience with puppy mill dogs; we are not
veterinarians or professional trainers. Please note that an adopted
puppy mill rescued dog may be at different stages of rehab so we have
tried to start this from the beginning. Permission is granted to
use this article, unedited, on your website or in print, as long as
credit is linked to this page.


Every
mill survivor is different. What works on one, or many, will
completely fail on others; the only thing that is consistent is that they
will need lots of patience, understanding, love, and probably most
importantly, unconditional acceptance of what they are and what their
limitations may be.


At
first glance a mill survivor may look like many of your friends' dogs;
maybe not a perfect example of the breed, but close. What you won't
see is the condition they were in when they came into rescue. Many
have fur so matted that it all had to be shaved off, and even the short
haired breeds suffer from thin dull coats. Many times removing the
filth and matting have revealed open sores, usually from flea allergies
or sarcoptic mange. Their ears are often full of filth and
usually mites, and some survivors suffer from permanent hearing loss
because of untreated ear infections. Most survivors require
the removal of rotten teeth, even young dogs. Their gums are
usually very infected and the teeth have excessive buildup on them.
Many vets who are not familiar with puppy mill rescued dogs will
miscalculate the age of the dog if using only the teeth as their
guide. Many survivors also suffer from swollen, splayed and sore
feet from so much time walking on wire. While finally getting some
good nutrition and extensive medical care after arriving in rescue, all
too often there remains the psychological damage that can't be fixed with
a bath, medicine, or surgery.


We
would love to say that every puppy mill survivor only needs love to turn
it into a wonderful family pet, but that would be a lie. Love is
definitely needed in large amounts, but so is patience. The damage
done during the years in the mill usually can be overcome, but it takes
time and dedication. It takes a very special adopter for one of
these dogs. Not being "up to it" is no crime, but you
need to be honest with yourself, and us, about your
expectations. These dogs have already been through more than their
share of heartache and if your entire family is not willing to make the
commitment, the dog is better off staying in our care until the perfect
home for them is found.


Handling:

Many
mill survivors have spent their entire lives in the mill with only an
elevated wire cage to call home. Puppies growing up in a mill miss
out on many crucial socialization periods with humans and they never
learn to trust, to love, or to play. They have had minimum physical
contact with people and have virtually no concept of what to expect (or
what is expected of them) when they are placed in a family
situation. Their life in the mill may have been what we would
consider unpleasant, but it is the only life they have ever known.
In the mill, they were probably fed and watered using automatic dispensers,
and their feces and urine was only cleaned after it fell through the wire
that they lived on. Actual human contact normally came when they
were being vaccinated, dewormed, or moved to a new cage to breed or to
whelp puppies.


Many
of the quirks that mill dogs might have will be discovered while the dog
is still in our rescue, but there are things that may develop after the
dog feels a little more comfortable in your home. Most of the dogs
we encounter have had their spirit broken many years before and
aggression is not normally something we encounter; however, there are
memory triggers that the dog may experience after it is settled in your
home, so we will talk briefly about these.


The
physical contact that they have received probably has not been pleasant.
For one thing, because they are not handled enough, they are
scared. Many mills handle their "stock" by the scruff of
the neck. They have work to do, and don't really want to stand
around holding some stinky little dog any longer than necessary. It is
not uncommon for these survivors to be sensitive at the backs of
their necks, after all, touch there brings the unexpected. Many
mill dogs will try to always face you, not trusting you enough to give
you easy access to them from behind. NEVER startle a mill survivor
from behind: you will lose any trust that you may have gained.
Always make sure that they are anticipating being picked up and
consistently tell them what you are going to do with the same word, like
"up". It is not uncommon for a mill dog to drop their
bellies to the floor when they know you are going to pick them up, some
will even roll on their backs, often urinating in the process. This
is a submissive move on the dog's part, and while it may be frustrating
trying to pick up a dog in this position, these dogs will seldom show
aggression in their lives. It is okay to pick up a dog while they
are in this position, but if time is not of the essence, encourage the
dog to come to you by sitting a few feet away and calling him. The
most common posture we see in mill dogs is the "freeze;" the
dog will initially try to escape you, but when they realize there is
no escape, they simply freeze up--rigid, like a statue--and accept their
"fate." This is a good time to really praise the dog--scratch
his back or ears and speak gently to him--it goes a long way towards
teaching him that human contact can be a good thing.


Always
be gentle and try to avoid picking them up until you see that they are
receptive to it. It's almost a “hostage” type situation to these
dogs. Imagine how you would feel if taken hostage at
gunpoint. The gunman may never harm you in any way, but you are
aware of the danger the entire time, and you don't have the ability to
leave when you want. No matter how nice the gunman is to you, you
will never enjoy the experience and will always watch for an escape
route; however, you can turn the tables around and see a ray of
hope. Imagine the gunman has been captured and you decide to visit
him in jail. Now you are in control. You call all the shots,
and you have the ability to leave at any time. The bottom line is
that these dogs have to progress at their own pace. Anything you
force them to do will not be pleasant to them; let them visit with you on
their terms, whenever possible..


Learning about the House:

Many
times when you bring a mill survivor into your home, it is their instinct
to hide in a quiet corner. Any new dog that you bring into your
home should be kept separated from other family pets for 7
days. During this time it is fine to crate or confine them to a
quiet area. After that, though, they should have exposure to the
household. If crating, the crate should be in a central
location. The ideal spot is one where there is frequent walking and
activity. This allows the dog to feel safe in the crate, yet
observe everyday activity and become accustomed to it; they need to hear
the table being set, the dishwasher running, phones ringing, and people
talking.


Very
few mill dogs know what a leash is. After the quarantine, when the
dog is out of the crate and supervised, it is not a bad idea to let them
drag a leash around with them. Let them get used to the
feel. It is easy to fall into the mindset that they must be
pampered and carried everywhere, but leash training is important.
It will make your life easier to have a leash trained dog, but it
will also offer your dog confidence in the future.


Gaining Trust:

A
mill dog has no reason to trust you. Your trust needs to be earned,
little by little. Patience is a very important part of rehabbing a
mill survivor. We have seen a lot of mill dogs that don't want to
eat whenever people are around. It is important that your mill dog
be fed on a schedule, with you nearby. You don't have to stand and
watch over them, but you should be in the same room with them. They
need to know that their yummy meal is coming from you. For the
majority of mill dogs, accepting a treat right out of your hand is a huge
show of trust. Offer treats on a regular basis especially as a
reward. Don't concern yourself too much if your dog does not eat
for a few days. Because most of our mill rescues have been fed with
self-feeders and confined to small places, it is not uncommon for them to
be a little overweight. If there is no vomiting or diarrhea and
your dog is otherwise acting healthy, a few days of nibbling at their
food while they learn to live by your schedule, is not going to hurt
them. It is important to teach them that food is fed on a schedule and
you should not be leaving food down at all times.


While
you shouldn't force yourself upon your dog, she does need to get used to
you. Sit and talk quietly while gently petting or massaging your
dog. It is best to do this an area where she, not
necessarily you, is the most comfortable. She probably
won't like it at first, but given time she’ll adjust. Some dogs
sadly, never will adjust, and we'lll talk more about them later.


Never
allow friends to force attention on a mill survivor. Ask them not
to look your dog directly in the eyes. It is not uncommon for mill
dogs to simply never accept outsiders. Let your dog set the
pace. If the dog approaches, ask them to talk quietly and hold out
a hand. No quick movements. Ask that any barking be ignored.
Remember that these dogs bark to warn and scare off intruders. If
you acknowledge the barking you may be reinforcing it with
attention. If you take your guest outside, you have just reinforced
to your dog that barking will make the intruder go away.


Housebreaking:

A
child spends the first one to two years of their life soiling their
diaper and having you remove the dirty diaper and replace it with a clean
one. A puppy mill dog spends its entire life soiling its living
area. Potty training a child and housebreaking a puppy mill dog are
the exact same procedures...you are UN-teaching them something that they
have already learned is acceptable. A regular schedule, constant
reinforcement, praise, and commitment on your part are musts! Would
you scream at your child, march him to the bathroom and make him sit on
the toilet AFTER you discovered he soiled his diaper? A dog is no
different in this sense; scolding them after the deed is done is of no
benefit to anyone.


The
two most important things you can do are to get your new dog on a regular
feeding schedule (which will put them on a regular potty schedule) and to
observe them closely after feeding time.


Getting
them on a premium, low residue food is very important. This will
produce a stool that normally is firm (very easy to clean up) and only
one or two bowel movements a day are normal. Low cost or over the
counter foods have a lot of fillers, and it is very hard to get a dog on
a regular cycle using these foods.


Before
you even begin to housebreak them, you must learn their schedule.
Most dogs will need to “go” right after eating. As soon as they are
finished eating, command "outside". Always use the
exact same word in the exact same tone. Watch them closely outside
and observe their pattern as they prepare to defecate. Some will
turn circles, some will scratch at the ground, some may find a corner,
some may sniff every inch of the ground, some will get a strange look on
their face...every dog is different and you have to learn to recognize
how the dog will behave just before he goes; this way you will recognize
it when he gets ready to go in the house.


We
could give you a million tips that our adopters have found to work best
for them, but as we have said, every dog is different. As long as
you always keep in mind that housebreaking and potty training are one in
the same, you should eventually see results. Never do to a dog what
you would not do to a child. It may take a week, it may take a
month, it may take a year...and sadly, some dogs will never learn.
Never give up and never accept “accidents” as a way of life. In
most cases, the success of housebreaking depends on your commitment.


While
we have focussed mainly on bowel movements, urinating in the house is
just as hard to correct as defecating in the house (if not worse).
Below we will discuss "marking," which many people associate
only with male dogs. We will go into that in more detail, but if
urinating in the house remains a problem for your dog, we highly
recommend crate training. This can be researched online in more
detail, but if crate training is not working because your dog is soiling
in the crate, you should discontinue the training immediately--as you are
only reinforcing that it is okay to soil their area.


In
general, if you can understand your dog's bowel patterns, you will
usually find that they urinate before or after a bowel movement.
Reinforce the positive and work on the negative, as most dogs will
understand "outside" and associate it with both
urinating and defecating. Of course, in the meantime, you will want
to protect your carpets by either removing any that can be rolled up, or
confining the dog to a tiled floor when you aren't holding it on your
lap. This should only be done during the training process, as
socialization is just as important as house training and often tiled
floors are in areas that we don't spend a lot of time.


Marking:

Puppy
mill survivors all have one thing in common...they were all used for
breeding. A dog that marks its territory is 'warning' other dogs
that this is its area...stay away! However, in a puppy mill
situation, the dog's area is normally a 2X4 cage with other dogs in and
around their 'territory'. It becomes a constant battle of
establishing territory and it is not uncommon to see male and female
survivors with marking problems.


Normally,
marking is seen in dogs with a dominant nature. This is good in the
sense that these dogs can normally withstand verbal correction better
than submissive dogs. The word 'NO' will become your favorite word
as you try to deal with the problem of dogs that mark. Don't be
afraid to raise your voice and let the dog know that you are not
happy. Always use the exact same word and don't follow 'NO' with
"now what has mommy told you about that, you are a bad dog."


Dogs
that are marking do not have to potty...taking them outside will not
help. You have to teach them that it is not acceptable to do this
in the house. The only way to do this is to constantly show your
disappointment and stimulate their need to 'dominate' by allowing them
more time outside, and even to areas where you know other dogs have
been...like the park, or the nearest fire hydrant.


While
you and your survivor learn about each other, and your survivor develops
a sense of respect towards you, you will have to protect your home from
the damage caused by marking. Here are a few tips that you will
find helpful.


1.
White vinegar is your best friend. Keep a spray bottle handy at all
times. Use the vinegar anytime you see your dog mark. The
vinegar will neutralize the smell that your dog just left behind.
Using other cleaning products may actually cause your dog to mark over
the same area again. Most cleaning products contain ammonia...the
very scent found in urine. Your dog will feel the need to mark over
normal cleaning products, but normally has no interest in areas
neutralized by vinegar.


2.
Potty Pads....your next best friend. These can be found in any pet
store, but most 'housebreaking pads' are treated with ammonia to
encourage a puppy to go on the pad instead of the carpet; since we are
trying to discourage your dog from marking, these aren't always the best
choice. You might check at a home medical supply store. The
blue and white pads used to protect beds usually work best. Staple,
tape or pin these pads (white side facing outward) to any area that your
dog is prone to mark (walls, furniture, etc.). Do not replace the
pads when your dog soils them...simply spray them down with
vinegar. These are not a solution to the problem, but will help
protect your home while you deal with the problem.


3.
Scotch Guard. Scotch Guard is really nothing more than a paraffin
based protector. It puts a waxy substance down which repels water
and spills (and in our case, urine). You can make your own product
by filling a spray bottle about 1/2 full of hot water. Shave off
slivers of paraffin wax into the bottle (about 1/4 a bar should be fine)
and then microwave until you don't see the slivers anymore. Shake
and spray this onto the fabric areas you want to protect, such as the
base of the sofa and the carpet below doorways or areas your dog is
apt to mark. It may make the area stiff feeling at first but it
will normally 'blend' in with normal household temperatures and
humidity. (note: This is also great for high traffic areas of
your home or along the carpet in front of the couch). After the
first use, you will need to microwave the bottle and emerge the spray
mechanism in a bowl of hot water so that any wax residue will melt.


With
the use of vinegar and/or homemade scotch guard, you should test a small
area of the fabric/fiber that you will be using the product on and make
sure it does not discolor, stain, or bleed. I have never had any
problems, but it is always best to check beforehand.


4.
Belly Bands. Sometimes these can be a (male) mill dog owner’s best
friend. Belly bands can be easily made at home out of things you
probably already have. Depending on the size of your dog you can
use the elastic end of tube socks, the sleeve of a sweatshirt,
etc. Simply fit the material to your dog and then place a female
sanitary napkin under the penis. Another easy way is to measure
your dog, cut the fabric and sew on Velcro to hold it in place.
There are also many sites on the Internet to order these if making them
yourself is just not up your alley. Just remember to take the belly
band off every time you bring your dog out to potty. Again, this is
not a solution, but a protective measure.


Quirks:

Poo-poo,
shoo-shoo, ca-ca, doo-doo, #2, feces, poop, stool...whatever 'pet' name
you give it, it's still gross! But nothing is more gross than
owning a dog who eats poop!

Coprophagia is the technical term, but for the purpose of this article,
we're just going to call it the 'affliction'.

Dogs of all breeds, ages and sizes have the affliction but in puppy mill
rescues, it is not uncommon at all to find dogs afflicted with this
horrible habit. As in any bad habit, the cure lies in understanding
the unacceptable behavior.

There are three primary reasons that a puppy mill survivor is
afflicted. We'll start with the most common, and easiest to remedy.

1. It tastes good and they are hungry! Rescues that have come
from a mill where dogs were not fed properly often resort to eating their
own or other dog's feces as a source of food. These types of
situations will usually remedy themselves when the dog realizes that he
is always going to get fed. It is also easy to discourage this
behavior by adding over-the-counter products to their food which are
manufactured for this purpose. Ask your vet which products are
available and you will normally see results in 2-4 weeks.

2. Learned behavior. This is usually the cause of puppy mill
dogs that have the affliction. There are several reasons why a dog
learned to behave like this, but the most common cause is being housed
with dominant dogs who fight over food. These dominant dogs will
often guard the food dish and prevent the more submissive dogs from
eating even if the dominant dog is not hungry. Food aggression in
caged dogs is usually fast and furious and often results in severe injury
to the submissive dogs. Because the dominant dog is often eating
much more than is needed, the stool is virtually undigested and contains
many of the nutrients and 'flavors' of the original meal; therefore
almost as tasty to the submissive dog as if he'd ate the real
thing. Puppies that were raised with a dominant mother or dominant
litter mates also pick up this habit very early--in this case, it is a
little harder to treat, but it can usually be done.

This eating pattern is usually maintained throughout the dog's life, so
the age of your dog will play a big role in how hard it is to correct the
behavior. It's become habit...and as the saying goes, "Old
habits are hard to break".

Dogs with the affliction will actually go hunting for a fresh stool when
you take them outside. The key is to give your dog something better
to hunt for. Pop some unbuttered/unsalted microwave popcorn and
sprinkle it on the lawn before taking your dog out in the morning.
You may find something that he likes better and is as readily available
and affordable. The good thing about popcorn is what your dog
doesn't eat, the birds will. We can almost guarantee that once your
dog has learned to search out the popcorn, he'll pass those fresh turds
right up, LOL! It may take weeks or months before your dog
'unlearns' to seek out stools but most dogs are receptive to this
training. You may have to sprinkle the lawn with popcorn the rest
of your dog's life...but the trouble is well worth just one 'popcorn
kiss' as opposed to a lick on the face right after he eats a tasty turd.

3. As mentioned above, Coprophagia means 'eating poop'.
Coprophagia is a form of a much more serious problem called Pica.
Pica is the unnatural compulsion to eat foreign objects. Dogs
suffering from Pica will eat not only stools, but rocks, dirt, sticks,
etc. Remember the kid in school who ate paste and chalk and “other
unspeakables?’ Pica is a psychological disorder which is much more
in depth and serious than anything we can discuss in this guide.

A good rescuer will observe dogs prior to placement and will recognize
the seriousness of this problem. A dog suffering from Pica should
never be placed in an inexperienced home or any home that is not aware of
the problem and the dangers. Dogs suffering from Pica will often
end up having surgery--.often several times--for objects they have eaten
that can not be digested. If you are the owner of a dog which you
believe suffers from Pica, I suggest you consult your vet; these dogs
often require medication for their disorder and only your vet can guide
you on the best way to proceed.

Before we close this section on Pica, we want to say that true Pica is
rare. Most dogs will chew on sticks or rocks--or sofas and table
legs. However a dog suffering from Pica will not just chew on these
items...they will eat these items any chance they get. Just because
your dog is eating his own stool...and also the bar stool at the kitchen
counter...does not mean that he is suffering from Pica. If in
doubt, consult your vet.


The "special" ones:

Occasionally,
we see the survivor who has survived the mill, but at such a great cost
that they can never be "brought around". These are the
dogs that have endured so much suffering that they remind us of children
who are abused, and survive by separating their mind from the body.
These damaged dogs will never fully trust anyone. So where does that
leave these poor souls? Most are still capable of living out a
wonderful life. They need a scheduled environment but most
importantly, a home where they are accepted for who and what they
are. They may never jump up on a couch and cuddle with you, or
bring you a ball to play catch, but you will see the joy that they take in
living each day knowing that they will have clean bedding, fresh food and
water, and unconditional love. To them, those small comforts alone
are pure bliss.


These
"broken ones" are the ones that normally never leave their
foster homes. Ironically, these types of dogs normally do very well
in a group-dog setting. They seem to have shunned the world, and
most certainly mankind, and have created their own little world without
humans. Whenever we suspect that a mill rescue may be "too far
gone" for a fast paced family, we try to place them in experienced
homes; quiet homes; or homes with other dogs. These are by far the
hardest ones for our hearts to accept, but they are also a constant
reminder of why we do what we do.


The educators:

Finding
forever homes for mill rescues is not all we do; we are constantly
reminded of the horrors of puppy mills and the commercialization/farming
of dogs when we see the neglect and abuse these dogs have suffered.
We work not only to adopt dogs, but to educate their new owners about the
truth behind that puppy in the pet store window. We hope that you
will keep a journal or blog on the reform of your puppy mill dog, and we
hope that you will join us in our campaign to educate the public--through
the eyes of the survivors--by always taking the opportunity to further
educate others. Together we have made a difference in the life of
just one dog, but together we can also make a difference in the lives of
hundreds of thousands of dogs still caged in puppy mills. It is
only when the public realizes the connection between pet stores and puppy
mills that we will end the demand, end the supply, and end the abuse!


Copyright
A New Start on Life, 2007








2001-2009 French Bulldog Rescue Network. All
Rights Reserved.
A 501 (c)(3) non-profit Organization


ALL TEXT AND IMAGES PROTECTED BY COPYRIGHT
2001-2009

northernwitch
northernwitch
 
 

Number of posts : 11031
Location : Toronto, Ontario

http://www.pugalug.com

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