I just got a 7 year old poodle rescued from a puppy mill 1 week ago. She has bonded well with my other dogs but is extremely scared of us (humans). She will follow the lead of my other dogs, but if we try to approach her she runs away from us. In the beginning we had to leave the room when she would eat, but she now lets us in the same room as her.
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The best way to bond with your dog is by taking frequent walks. Don't be discouraged if the dog isn't enthusiastic at first. Just take short walks and be calm and assertive. Good luck!
I take in a lot of rescues and every so often get a real shy one. Sometimes it helps just to almost ignore them and go about your business. It makes them nervous if you keep trying to give them attention. They almost feel they are being chased. Then I just toss treats at them every now and then and try not to look or stare at them.
Every day I toss the treat a lil closer and gradually get it where they take it from my hand. I have one that's been here for 4 years and still can't touch him though. Hope that is not the case with yours. I find cooked kidney cut into small pcs works the best, just something about that kidney they love and it is cheap. Every dog is different. I once had a small nervous mix breed and with it, I just started carrying it around with me every chance I got and that cured it. I found a home for it and did not have the luxury of taking my time.
Some dogs are afraid of people wearing glasses too, so if you were them try taking them off. I even had one that hated men wearing hats. So if one thing does not work just try another. 7 years is a long lonely time for a dog to be in a puppy mill. It's no wonder it's afraid. Good luck.
Congratulations and Thank you so much for adopting a mill dog. I work with mill dogs on a daily basis and most of the previous info is good, but you need to look at it from the dogs point of view
You dog was more than likely kept in a cage that she barely had room to turn around in. She had never stepped on grass and in fact most are afraid of it when they first come out of a mill. The only time these dogs are touched by a person is when they are grabbed by the scruff of their neck usually roughly and given a shot or other treatment or thrown from one cage to another
Crate training is a must for these dogs. You don't say if she is house trained yet or not. Most normal rescues really have little knowledge of working with mill dogs. A word to all those that made the statemnt that the dog is just shy, that is not true. The dog is terrified and rightly so.
And to the one who said to take it for a walk you have to be kidding. How do you take a dog that has never been on a leash or anything for a walk. They totally freak out if you put a leash on them. It is a long process, but a very rewarding one.
One thing you have going for you is your other dogs. Most of the time they are the best teachers. I have two mill dogs that I am fostering right now that was with a big rescue group for 5 months and they didn't get very far with them. I have had them for a month now. When they came to me they would huddle in the back of there crate with total fear in their eyes and shake. They had been worked with by a good foster mom for a large part of the time they was with the group. One of them Mr. B had come a long ways and once he got to know me for a few days was pretty outgoing, but still would not take food from me no matter how hungry he was. Mr. E was still very terrified. To get him out of his crate I had to crawl half way in there and pull him gently out while talking to him all the time.
I kept them crated part of the time, to help with potty training and also their crates are there comfort zone and security. They had frequent potty breaks, and I would let them run around in what ever room I was in with my dogs. My dogs are used to these scared fosters and are very good at bringing them out of their shell. Just today both those dog were on the couch chewing happily on a chew bone and will let me pet them and even jump up for attention. They are still a bit shy when you first reach for them but are a lot better. Mill dogs are a big flight risk amd will take off if they get a chance. Now these two go outside with me off leash to do chorse around the farm or what have you and in and out of the house. Most mill dogs are afraid of doors and going through them also. These two will be headed to a dear friend of mine in another state who will complete their training and give them a home till they are adopted. Working with mill dogs is the greatezxt reward and some are easier than others.
Just keep loving your dog, don't make direct eye contact as that is a treat to them. The fact that she took a treat from you is a big step for her. Just handling her gently and talking quietly to her while putting her in and out of her crate helps to show them that you are the good guy. Some mill dogs will come around if you ignore them, but a lot will just stay aloff if you don't gently force the issue.
They also have tons of health problems and at 7 probably doesn't have very many teeth or what she has are in really bad shape.
Just keep loving her and she will eventually come around and celebrate very little tiny step as it is a big one in her mind.
Thank you for this great advice. Our family just adopted a rescue. Her history is unknown but she was probably a stray. She lets us touch her and she comes along when guided by a leash. But she hids in my daughters' bedroom and only eats when i put the food bowl on the bed with her. Our resident dog seems to comfort her on our nightly walks. She definitely takes her cues from him. I came here hoping to see that her confidence is something that can grow or grow back and your response gives me hope.
Thank you for this great advice. Our family just adopted a rescue. Her history is unknown but she was probably a stray. She lets us touch her and she comes along when guided by a leash. But she hids in my daughters' bedroom and only eats when i put the food bowl on the bed with her. Our resident dog seems to comfort her on our nightly walks. She definitely takes her cues from him. I came here hoping to see that her confidence is something that can grow or grow back and your response gives me hope.
I have 3 rescue cockers. None of them came from a rescue society. They are all dogs I've found on my own and learned to deal with on my own. Little Cocker #1 was sitting beside the road because she was dumped. At 22 pounds she was a full 10 pounds underweight. In the peak of summer her little body was a crust of mats about 2" thick. It took her a whole year to recover. I too put her bed in the back of a closet of her choosing. She would appear at the door and watch.I would talk to her very softly and eventually she began to come around on her own terms. She now tells ME when it's time to go to bed and nags until I do. She then jumps on the bed, grabs her pillow, re-arranges it to her liking, snuggles under the covers and snores like an old man! It's been a GREAT 8 years with many more to come!
Little Cocker#2 came from a puppy mill where she was bred every time she came into heat for the first 3 1/2 years of her life. The pregnancies all ended in a c-section.She came to me with her big, sad brown eyes just hanging out of her head in terror. Having never been out of a crate in a barn she was understandably horrified of our rural lifestyle and people. She still hates men. Both of my little girls went to work with me everyday where she had the advantage of 45 sets of old fingers and soft voices willing to help her transition.
She arrived unable to walk properly as she had been kept in such close, un-clean quarters her feet were so packed with her own feces she could not walk normally. She did not have any sense of play or toys or fun. She had just been abused and bred. One day, after being here 8 months she looked at me and said " HEY! I just realized I'm here to stay and you guys love me!" From that day things haven't done anything but improve. She sleeps in the bend of my knees with her squeaky toys, is my teenager and my silly girl.She's been here 2 years and is just wonderful!
Little Cocker #3.Well, He's been here 9 months now and we're really still working hard at things but it's beginning to improve. I've had a lot of days where I've had my doubts about his success but that has changed. He arrived at age 8 so badly matted it took 5 trips to the Groomer to get him cleaned up. His nails were embedded in his pads so badly he could not walk. it was just too painful. As a result, he was more than 15 pounds overweight. It's a lot for a dog who should weigh 35 pounds! He is blind. The people who had him did not have any patience for him. He had been hit, kicked, pushed, prodded, dragged by his leash and shoved around so much every time you touched him he would drop to the floor and refuse to move.
He has been my biggest challenge but he is beginning to come around. He is beginning to quietly sneak up on me and lightly nose my hand. In 9 months he has learned to ask to go out and to walk the 3 steps to the ground, get in and out of the car, he has learned to respond when I loudly say head. He stops and thinks before he runs into something. He has learned to let me help him and that he isn't going to be hurt.
He has had the benefit of Little Cocker #2. She's a good Mom and he needs that. They've bonded. He's also learned he loves the water and to swim (on a long leash ) I have praised him for even the smallest accomplishment. I always make sure my praise is exaggerated. Every time he walks down those 3 steps by himself I am standing behind him applauding & praising & whistling & cheering as 8 months ago I was dragging him down them on his belly while he had a panic attack.
This is to say, each of my little dog babies are individuals. They have developed and healed at their own pace. Each has suffered a different level and type of abuse.
A week would be a painfully short amount of time to expect any of my little guys to recover. With time and patience they are my greatest friends. I think a year would be a more appropriate time frame. My kiddos would probably agree. Good Luck and hang in there, be patient and gentle, speak softly and use praise.
My dog was rescued as well. You have to think about where he has been. He only knows humans as being 'the bad ones' and mistreating them. If he follows the dogs and gets along with them, that's great! You can use that. Play with your other dogs and slowly try to incorporate your new dog. If he sees you playing with the dogs he trusts, he will come around and see that you are okay. Also, time is huge. Just think, he was mistreated for years. It will take some time to be able to trust humans again. At first, just try to get his attention through playing with the other dogs. Don't force it because he will just get scared and run. Once he starts warming up through the other dogs, begin trying to call him over, play with just him, and get closer to him only. I promise things will be okay. It will just take time! Good luck!
Take small amounts of time each day, doing 3-4 trials of contact with the dog and see how it goes. Try just talking to it to see if it will come to you, try offerring a treat and then a pet, try just petting with a soothing voice. Little increments will add up to a large improvement over time. Sending the dog back will just add to the sorrow the dog has already gone through and continue the anti-social behavior. Give it time!
I had a puppy mill dog also. Sadly she passed at only 5 yrs old from csncer. I had her for 4 years. She was never a cuddly dog.She was afraid to be handled or hugged. I simply accepted this was all she had to give. Her loving stare would have to be enough... And it was. My only regret was she did not have a longer free and happy life.
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