Reply #66: Chiming in on behavioral issues here...

[badgerpup]

Friend of mine breeds Shih Tzus...has TWO bitches and a dog for this, and they are well cared for.
One of the bitches came from a puppy mill and as a mother is a total bust...completely ignores her puppies once she's whelped them.

Fortunately, the other bitch is SUPERMOM! :patriot: and takes on and nurses those poor abandoned little guys even when she doesn't have a litter of her own.

Puppy-mill refugee also doesn't really know how to socialize with humans...she'll accept a pat on the head from her owner, but otherwise prefers to be left thehellalone, thank you.

And before you all jump on my friend...she didn't know she was getting a mill puppy...
the bitch was AKC registered and has some very good names (read: Champions- Best of Breed, Best in Show, sort of thing) in her lines.

She put two and two together over time, observing the bitch's behavior towards herself, the two other dogs, and her own puppies.