Adopting a Puppy Mill Dog (Part 2 of 2)
Saturday, November 12, 2011
By: Nikki Harris

Think about adopting a puppy mill dog?

Thinking of adopting a puppy mill dog?  Here are some tips to make sure you give them the best start in your home:

• Let the dog interact with you at their own pace
• Sit on the floor, avoid eye contact
• Start with short periods of time, increase gradually
• Expose to the areas gradually
• Noises and smells will be new
• Housetraining
• Create a structure feeding and potty schedule
• Reinforce positives; ignore negatives
• Create a positive key word or phrase, like “Go Potty”, when he or she goes outside to eliminate
• Pair this word and behavior with praise, praise, praise and a small food reward
• Heights and new surfaces are often difficult for puppy mill dogs to accept initially
• Trust
• This dog may never act the same as other dogs, but they will love in their own way
• Expect love and trust to come slowly
• Remember that some have never had a reason to trust humans 
• You may never know what might trigger a memory of the appalling place they were rescued from, so keep this in mind when introducing new people, places and experiences.  GO SLOW!