Puppy Mill Dogs

Puppy mills dogs are dogs that were bred over and over again for years and years. They often live in a kennel for literally years. The kennels are not cleaned normally and the living conditions are awful. It is truly atrocious and really sad. On a brighter note after about 5-7 years they are sold off to rescue groups and adopted out to try to blend in to a family home.

This is a huge transition for these dogs. They have lived 5-7 years in a kennel. Literally. They have never been outside and pottyed on themselves for years.

Setting Expectations

With puppy mill dogs and the trauma they have experienced, the training results for a puppy mill dog vs. a Golden Doodle are going to be different. By the end the goal will be to help with the problem behaviors and socialize the dog, give the dog structure, and get the dog setup with a dog workout plan and stimulation plan.

Common Problems For Puppy Mill Dogs

  • Pottying anywhere inside

  • Won’t come up to the owners

  • Won’t walk outside at all

  • Runs around in circles

How To Fix These Issues

Potty Training

Since these dogs have gone their whole life going in a small area the normal potty training things don’t work as well on these dogs. Pads are a good idea for these dogs. There is a whole segment in the potty training section and a video about solving this behavior in there.

Won’t come up to the owners

This is really common due to the dog not having much interaction with humans. So the best way to solve this is to have the dogs on a leash in the house so the owners can slowly pull the dogs to them. Another way to do this is to hand feed the dog their meals for a while. Normally it will take a couple days in a row to get the dog to the point where they will eat from the hand of the owners. The dog may miss a meal or two during this period. Another way is the leaky toddler method. This is where you keep treats and food on you at all times and any time the dog walks up to you, then you feed the dog.

Won’t walk on leash

This isn’t the most fun training but put the dog on a flat collar it can’t slip, put the dog on a soft surface (carpet, grass, etc) and then walk the dog. The longest it has ever taken me to get this done is about 45 minutes until the dog finally walked and didn’t put the breaks on.

Runs around in circles

This happens because the dog was probably in a small kennel run or crate and then never got out. So the only way to appease its mind was to run and pace in circles. This is so sad but this is the result of it. A few ways to fix this is… try anything to break the pattern. If the dog runs around the kitchen table, move the kitchen table. If they just run in circles in place, shake a can of pennies or yell something silly. Another thing that the owner can try is simply exercising the dog as much as possible to get some of that nervous energy out (have them also read the hyper dog guide.) Basically, we need to wear the dog out and undo the neural pathways carved in their minds over time.

QUIZ Questions

Puppy Mill Dog Basics

  1. What is a puppy mill dog and what kind of conditions do they usually come from?

  2. How long do most puppy mill dogs typically live in cages before adoption?

  3. Why is the transition into a family home so difficult for puppy mill dogs?

  4. What kind of expectations should we set for clients adopting puppy mill dogs?

Common Challenges & How to Address Them

  1. Why does normal potty training often not work with puppy mill dogs?

  2. What is the 'leaky toddler method' and how does it help with fearful or avoidant dogs?

  3. What should owners do if their puppy mill dog won’t come up to them?

  4. Why do some puppy mill dogs run in circles, and what is one method to stop the behavior?

  5. What is one simple thing an owner can do in the house to help a dog that runs in repetitive patterns?

Training Tips & Techniques

  1. Why is walking a puppy mill dog on soft surfaces recommended?

  2. What kind of collar should be used when walking a puppy mill dog for the first time?

  3. What’s one tool or tactic that can be used to interrupt repetitive circling behavior?