What is a puppymill?

Puppy mills are basically puppy factories. They are in the business of producing litters of puppies to sell to pet stores and brokers for a huge profit. To make the most profit possible, the adult dogs (producers) are kept in very poor to horrendous living conditions, usually in cages or dog sheds which house many dogs together. The cheapest feed/corn is fed to most of them. Some of these dogs have never walked on grass, some have never been out of their cage, most live in kennel runs with doggy doors into a barn stall, all have never been off of the property. They have never had proper medical care or socialized with humans. They may have splayed feet and cement calluses, missing hair and teeth. They often come into rescue with infections, ear mites, sores and scabs on their bodies from flies, gnats, fleas, dogfights. Many of the females have been bred every six months from birth to about 6 years at which time they are no longer productive and no longer useful to the puppy miller. Some puppy millers will turn the older females into rescue, many times they are simply shot.

What can you expect when you adopt a puppymill dog?

Unconditional love and usually a gentle, quiet temperament. Normally, puppymill dogs are not aggressive, but it does depend on the kennel they come from. They have never seen a toy, a tennis ball, a rawhide, a bone, a brush, a soft bed, stairs, ridden in a car, gone on a walk, swam in a lake. Many have never been petted, had their tummies rubbed and ears scratched. At first, most puppymill dogs are scared of humans and more shy than a normal socialized dog. They will probably always be a little more timid in new situations, but with training, socialization and patience, they develop self-confidence and are wonderful pets. Many puppymill dogs have gone on to win obedience trials.

The perfect family will have a fenced in yard, another dog and no children under the age of 10. These dogs cannot go to homes with an invisible fence as the trauma of being shocked could deter them from going outside at all. They did not have socialization with children as puppies and a noisy child will send a puppymill dog scurrying to a corner of the room or under a table. Having another dog helps the puppymill dog learn how to adjust to life outside the puppy mill. Puppymill dogs tend to take their cues from the resident dog and simple things like drinking water out of a bowl, playing with a ball, learning where the appropriate bathroom areas are, walking on a leash, are all accomplished easier with the help of another dog in the family.

A family that adopts a puppymill dog must be gentle and patient. Not housebroken, they learn quickly but cannot be handled with shouting or aversive training (no choke chains, prong collars, etc.). Positive motivational training and a gentle voice, lots of socialization and visiting new places to desensitize and get over fears of new noises and sights is very important. Puppymill dogs tend to bond very strongly with their owners and having a puppymill dog as a family member is extraordinarily rewarding.