I wouldn't buy a puppy mill dog, because of health and behavior issues.

[pnwmom]

So how can I tell if a shelter dog originally came from a puppy mill?

[ogneopasno]

1. You adopted a mutt?

[pnwmom]

9. I've tried to. My dog is a mixed breed that I bought from a breeder. But we want

to get him a friend.

[NMDemDist2]

2. i have three dogs, one is purebred from a reputable breeder

one is a mixed pound puppy saved from the pound and one is a puppy mill pup that I fell in love with at the pet store window

yes, he has dual hip dysplasia and is chronically overweight in spite of being on a vet supervised strict diet for years, but he's the best damned dog I've ever owned.

he has the best temperament of any dog I've ever known and I'm over 50 years old and my mother was a nationally recognized AKC breeder of championship animals. My play pen was a dog kennel at a dog show every weekend and by 15 I was a nationally recognized Junior Handler. I say all that just to show I've known a LOT of dogs and my puppy mill boy is a great dog

go to the pound or the PetSmart adoption weekend and find your dog, he won't worry about your history if you don't worry about his......

here's my Bubba, a finer dog you'll never know

[midnight]

6. What a sweetheart.

[NMDemDist2]

19. you have no idea

he is the best dog I've ever had or known

he's getting old now (he's 11) and with his questionable genealogy I expect we'll lose him in a few years and I will miss him horribly.

[Neecy]

16. Bubba's a beauty!

I love the expression - what a sweet boy.

[NMDemDist2]

17. he is sweet and smart and good and willing and friendly and has never

growled or snapped or made a mess on the carpet (well, except that one unfortunate incident with the couch stuffing, but he was a puppy then)

:rofl:

[Alenne]

3. you can't know for sure

The shelter I work for has rescued puppy mill dogs and adopted them out. When you adopt a dog from a shelter you are taking a risk.

I adopted a puppy that I bottled fed from a week old. She come from a hoarder. She will probably go blind one day because some of the dogs from the same house have gone blind. She also will bite a stranger if they try to touch her. But I don't regret adopting her. She's my problem child but none of that matters when she climbs in my lap and licks my face.

[midnight]

4. We went to a puppy mill and bought my baby,

and he has been such a wonderful dog.

[av8rdave]

5. It's hard to tell until you've had them for a while

This is Guiness, a puppy mill dog:



He had some issues with housebreaking, and is still terrified of tall males, but only when they're standing up (weird, I know). He's about 3 now, and has adapted quite nicely other than his aforementioned fear of upright biped males.

This is Murphy, just adopted last week. He, like our first Bichon many years ago, came from a professional breeder that actually cares about his dogs and what kind of homes they go to. There is a big difference in behavior at first, but with enough love and attention, even the puppy mill dogs will grow into good companions.

[femmocrat]

7. You don't.

We adopted a Yorkie who had to be a puppy mill dog. He was adorable and I couldn't resist him. I think he was abandoned because of his health and temperament issues.

We spent a lot of money on his health problems. And he was never allowed out of one room because he would mark and tinkle everywhere in the house. I even took him to obedience classes and he earned a Canine Good Citizen title. We gave him a loving home for the time he had with us.

[MiniMe]

8. I love my puppy mill dog

He spent 6 months in that God awful place, and it was an Amish puppy mill, some of the worst puppy mills around. He was rescued from the puppy mill into the rescue I volunteer for. I fostered him, and my dog got really attached to him, me too. So we kept him. He still has some fear issues with new people, but he has really improved. I would never buy from a puppy mill, but I would from the rescue.

My boy Eddie:

[TahitiNut]

13. Helllooo dere, Eddie! What a good looking boy you are!! Nice puppy!

I love labs. Endlessly.

[MiniMe]

23. And they love you right back!

[wuvuj]

10. I adopted from a shelter...

...4 months or so ago. I chose based on the dogs looks and type I guess. He seemed rather distracted and didn't "connect" well. He gained 10 lbs in the first week...stressed out from life at the pound? He was afraid and paranoid for quite a while...and still has fits of strange behavior at times...where he acts fearful...can't let him off a leash due to having to wait for him to come back. Loves to play...like...he snatches something and I have to go get it. :) Not a boring dog for sure...keeps me busy...he will try to dominate if he can. Seems healthy though...no physical issues.

I read that most people choose dogs based on appearance, not behavior. I did...because I figured I wouldn't be able to really know the dog in the short time I had. You take your chances....

[pnwmom]

12. Welcome to DU, wuvuj! n/t

[flvegan]

11. I wouldn't buy a puppy mill dog because that supports a puppy mill.

A shelter dog, you have no idea the point of origin. Rarely do they ever keep "the papers" with the turn ins.

[Neecy]

14. you can't

But most shelters will give you a two week trial with the dog, and you can have it carefully checked out by your vet for obvious health issues. You can also avoid breeds that are prone to hip/back problems.

As far as behavior issues, I foster and socialize puppy mill dogs. Just as every dog is an individual so are mill dogs - some socialize very well, some have ongoing issues. Most breed rescues use a foster system where the dogs are house trained, crate trained, and evaluated for adoption. Fostering tends to make for a higher success rate than a dog from a shelter, although I've adopted some terrific shelter dogs over the years.

I wouldn't go out of your way to avoid a mill dog. I have several and while it's been a process they're very well adjusted, happy dogs.

[8 track mind]

15. My parents made that mistake

with their border collie. She has hip problems, but no behavior problems. I don't know the history of my adopted border collie other than he was the product of a fling between two working cattle dogs. he's 9 now and no major problems yet. Bast damn dog in the world! :)

[applegrove]

18. I bought a kitten from a pet store I used to frequent. They

encouraged me to go to a vet with the little gal asap. I thought they were reputable. A few months later who shows up at the pet store but another litter of all black kittens have very distinct faces. Exactly like my cat. Then another litter a few months later. Seems their suppliers had a breeding pair of black cats that sold well so they had litter after litter (i think). I only noticed it because I'm one of those people who goes to the pet store if I am at the mall.

[LisaL]

22. I know the pet store next to me would take kittens in, but it didn't pay

for mixed breed kittens.

[roody]

20. Adopt a mutt.

[pnwmom]

24. Puppy mills produce lots of mutts these days, because

there's a lot of demand for mixed breed dogs.

[TankLV]

21. We have adopted our SECOND puppy mill dog - the "mom".

and it was the best decision we ever made - she is sooooo sweet - still somewhat skittish and unsure about hugs since we got her in April - but every day she relearns how to be a golden retriever again.

She spent five to seven years in a trailer being trucked across the country to be bred, then drop here pups by cesarean - we don't know how many litters were forced on her - but the vet said her uturus was pretty screwed-up from all the rapid breeding and c-sections. She must have been held to be mated - that's why she didn't like to be hugged we guess - now she comes up to each of us for smooches and petting...hugs will take longer...

She is soooo gentle and loving - has learned it's OK to sleep on the couch and she now does it herself - but still has to be coaxed onto the bed.

She now exchanges kisses with our Sherman who keeps her groomed in the places she can't reach - like her ears and face...

Even if it's for a short while, it's worth the love they will share with you...

Our last rescue before this one died suddenly from cancer of the blood that went from undetectable to too late in just a couple weeks...