Hi Bees!
SO and I are looking to adopt a dog! I found the sweetest little tiny girl up for adoption 3 hours from our home that I fell in love with. She's the breed I always wanted, she's a beautiful colour and has a sweet face.
Here's the thing - I've never adopted a dog before and I was wondering if any of you have experience with this?
She was a former mill dog - she was born in a puppy mill and bought by a backyard breeder and she aborted so they tested her for Brucellosis, which THANKFULLY she didn't have. That's all the info on her background I have at the moment. She's not fully potty trained yet, she's only been with the foster home for a week but she's fully crate trained (she loves her crate) and eats well and loves her foster sibling dogs.
Bees she's VERY skittish and nervous of people - her foster mom said they have to corner her to pick her up and they said because of this it's hard to potty train but they're working on it.
So I'm asking for success stories and how you did it. BEES did you adopt a dog with a frightening background like this and how is your dog now?
So far I've had a great experience with the foster mom of this dog. The rescue that she's at has no 'central' location and operates on many volunteer foster parents who take in the dogs. Both the volunteers I've contacted have been VERY helpful and cheery (I've had someone who was NOT in a previous experience with inquiring about another dog, and it was very off putting).
I've been emailing back and forth with her foster mom since Sunday and she's been very pleasant and helpful. I submitted the application Sunday night and she just said to me today that she wants to try to contact my references all within the next few days!
@kayberry: I do breed rescue, have had about 20 dogs as foster dogs.
Mill dogs ARE very hard to potty train because they always urinated or pooped in their kennel. You can'tuse a crate to train them. That's probably the biggest down side.
If you are up to coaxing a shy, sweet dog into living a full life with her own family, good for you!
@FauxPas2012: Thank you! I've worked at a vet clinic before and currently work at a dog daycare - I love dogs!
I've never adopted a dog before (both my parents' dogs were bought as puppies) so I'm worried about training. BUT two of my colleagues are dog trainers and they've assured me that they would work with me and that it's not too hard to overcome.
I know we'll have potty issues - I plan on litter training her/potty pad training.
i adopted both of my pomeranians. the first one was a puppy mill dog. she was very sweet and loving, but ended up having some health issues. we dealed with it though and i had to get her special food and give her medication everyday but she did very well. almost three years ago i adopted my second pomeranian and she was a total snot when i got her. she expected to be carried everywhere and wouldn't listen at all. so, i just started training her like she was a puppy. crate trained her and had to re-potty train her. took some time but now she is in with the normal routine of the household. unforunately i don't have my first pom (she was killed by a pit bull two years ago) but my FI and i got a lab and they are best friends! Good luck! I love the feeling knowing that i gave an abandoned animal a second chance at a good life!
@chkygal02: Aw that's a great story! The dog I want to adopt is 2 and isn't potty trained yet, so I'll definitely have to work on that - once she gets over her fear!
I love my mutt pup! He was from a at-home breeder whose schnouzer bitch got tained so now she produces random mutts so they threw her and the pups out.
Usually adopted dogs take time to adjust. Really thinking about it. Its just like buying it from Petsmart since they are usually mill pups too. PATIENCE IS KEY! When I got Kodes I sat down with him for extended periods of time establishing rules and communication cues.When we got him he was very food aggressive so I had to hand feed him all of his meals until he got over it and recognized me as his master and not his competition. He's my best friend today, listens extrodinarily well, and we coexist very well.
Like petsmart but we all know better than to support the production and distribution of dogs through mills and other terrible living conditions.
@spaglitter: PetsMart has a really firm policy AGAINST selling dogs - they in fact encourage adoption and allow humane societies, shelters, etc to show their adoptable dogs there. They give thousands upon thousands of dollars to homeless animal charities each year. Sorry, but this is misinformation you're spreading. I used to be a trainer for them.
@kayberry: We have a rescue who was never a mill pup, but my parents have two rescued mill mamas :) One of them warmed up right away, the other has been coming around slowly over the last year and jumped right up in my lap for the first time this week! However, I believe she warmed to my parents quickly. Potty training was an issue for the one who warmed up quickly, but the shy one got it right away. I think love and patience are the key! Thank you for saving her :)
I adopted Bailey, a german shepherd/chow chow mix, a few years ago, she was a puppy mill dog (with the tattoo to prove it...my little badass) and was also abused at the home she was in before I got her from the SPCA. Needless to say...she was quirky. Still is, 3 years later. But I love her more than anything in the world and it's been entirely worth it.
We also adopted Charlie just two weeks ago, she's a 1yr old lab/pit mix. She's had a few issues with potty training, but we're working with her and she has been adapting beautifully. I've never had a dog that just freaking LOVED PEOPLE so much. Like you, we got her through a rescue organization that operates solely through fosters, and they have been a godsend. We've called them a few times with questions (is this normal? Did she always do this? etc) and asked for suggestions for trainers and they've been great. Rescue orgs are the best!
Have a lot of patience with your new little girl, she's been through a lot and it will take time for her to be comfortable with you. And don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it!
ETA pictures because I love these ladies:
Bailey
Charlie
AW GO FOR IT!
We adopted our dog who was just a day earlier rescued from a kill shelter where she was scheduled to be put to sleep. She was only 4 months old and wasn't housetrained at all - she had pretty much spent her entire life outside.
We didn't know it until later because she never showed any signs that she wasn't feeling well until the day after we got her home. We tried leaving her in the bathroom overnight the first night with a bed and everything so she didnt get overwhelmed but she was crying so we let her into our room instead and shut our bedroom door. She stopped crying but started itching up a storm for hours. So the next morning we took her to the vet - found out she had worms, intestinal parasites, fleas, many ticks, and a bad ear infection. A few hundred dollars later.... We had to spray down our apartment because of the fleas and she was on antibiotics for weeks. A few days after that first vet appointment - She was acting very lethargic and she didn't move at all for hours.... not even for food. We slept on the floor in the living room with her that night and took her to the vet first thing in the morning - they tested her for Parvo and successfully scared me half to death but thank God that came up negative - and they said she had Kennel cough most likely from her time at the kill shelter before she was rescued. Another dose of antibiotics. It took a few weeks to get her feeling healthy again but she is now healthy and happy. She warmed up to us very quickly and quickly learned to love us just as much as we love her. She's now such a cuddle bug and the best thing to EVER happen to ME!
She was the one who rescued me. She's my entire life and I don't know what i'd do without her. I am 100% in favor or adopting rescue dogs. Theres so many dogs out there that all they need is someone to care for them and love them.
@spaglitter: I don't believe Petsmart sells dogs. They do have adoption events, however.
OP, if you want a good dog forum I'd suggest Dogster! They will answer any questions with amazing expertise. I can't tell you how helpful it was for me as a fist time dog owner with a special needs dog.
You'll need a lot of love, patience, and positive reinforcement, but I think you'll do just fine.
I could have written this exact post about my dog Callie (chihuahua). We adopted her 1.5 years ago. She too was born in a puppy mill where she stayed and had two litters at a very young age before they discarded her at a shelter because the puppies she was producing were too big. She lived in a cage her whole life before went to her foster mom. She was terrified of pretty much all people, especially men.
Her foster mom had about 8-10 dogs that she owned and was fostering, most of them large like great danes. The only way she was able to warm up was through the other dogs. She eventually got used to them, then started trusting the foster mom a little bit. One of the biggest ways she bonded was through sleeping next to her foster mom in bed. She had numerous people apply to adopt her in the 5-6 months she was at her foster mom's. But she was so nervous around new people that either they decided they didn't want her or the foster mom wouldn't let her go to anyone that didn't have a large dog since she seemed to bond through other dogs (just big dogs, though- she still snaps a other little dogs). When we applied, her foster mom drove her an hour to our house for an in-home visit. She threw her in my arms to see what would happen, and to her suprise Callie started licking my face. She had never shown any kind of affection for someone she had just met before. We went in the house and she got pretty skiddish, but showed interest in our Husky/Lab mix Opus. After a 30 minute play date, she warmed up to Opus a little, but not to me that much.
After talking with my husband, we decided that we saw enough potential to do a week long trial run, which was the foster mom's recommendation. She was extremely scared at first. She would only sit on one chair in our house. She refused to eat, refused to drink, refused to go outside. And she wouldn't let us touch her. It was hard. I tried to corner her and pick her up to take her oustide one day and she bit me pretty hard (which was completely my fault for grabbing like I did). Honestly if it weren't for that first little lick on the day I met her, we might have taken her back. My husband wasn't thrilled at having a 'damaged' dog that wasn't friendly. But slowly, she warmed up. I started feeding her out of my hands on the chair because she was scared of her dishes. She began to trust me first, then eventually my husband.
She didn't understand at all that she was supposed to go to the bathroom outside, so we had to get puppy pads and put them by our door. I would take her outside in the yard and she had no idea what she was supposed to do and she was terrified by the new place and new sounds so she would just sink into the grass and cower. Her foster did her best to potty train, but with so many dogs around, she had puppy pads on the floors and a doggie door so they could relieve themselves whenever they wanted. So that's what she got used to, so she didn't understand what we were trying to do. She also had no idea how to walk on a leash. She got all limp and weird. Finally we just took her outside with our other dog on a leash and as soon as she saw him walking, she got the hang of it right away.
Now you'd never guess she was the same dog that we met then. She is truly the center of our universe. With us she is bold, demanding, and so loving. She sleeps next to me under the covers every single night. She loves walks and the dog park (but she only gets to interact in the large dog area- she still tries to bite little dogs). We go on runs together because she has a lot of energy (which has to look ridiculous- who runs with a chihuahua?) She is by my side throughout the day and is constantly demanding attention.
She still has some little flaws that we have come to accept. She is still scared of new people, scared of bicycles, skateboards, etc. It takes about a week of someone staying with us until she will warm up to the point that she'll let them touch her or even come near her. If we go somewhere, we have to board her at our vet where there are cages and a good fence to keep her safe. Our other dog goes to our brother-in-law's house, but we're scared that if she's walking on a leash and somehow gets away from him, she'd never come back. She listens to us very well, but not to anyone else because fear completely takes over. She's still only partially potty trained. We do keep puppy pads in the house at all times for her. If we get up in the morning and take her out right away, give her a potty break during the day, then walk twice at night perfectly on schedule she won't use her mat. But if we stray from that schedule at all, she doesn't have the patience to wait.
So my advice to you is, to consider this dog only if you're willing to take the good with the bad. We love Callie so much that we can work with her little flaws. She's so worth it. It's been one of the most rewarding experiences for me to watch her start off as this shy, scared little thing and turn into the dog she is today. I would do it again in a heartbeat. But, we do have to put up some issues that will never go away. Since the dog you are considering is with a foster family, perhaps they will let you do a trial period like we did. Or at least an extended visit. That way you can get an idea if she is capable of warming up to you. I wish you the best of luck in whatever you decide!
And of course I must post pics of my little girl now:
We adopted our little guy, who is a Cockapoo. He was a rescue from a puppy mill. He was almost exactly one year old when we got him so only being in that environment for a year may have helped make his transition to our home not as bad as the typical puppy mill dog.
He is the sweetest little guy. We didn't have a hard time potty training him, but then again being a stay at home mom, I just made sure I was around to let him out regularly. We has a bit jumpy at first but it was nothing that love couldn't fix. Here is a picture of our Toby.
I adopted a dog that was abused in the past. He had many little quirks (still has some) but the big one was he was fraid of men he didn't know so he would bark and growl. He has gotten much better and most importantly Inow trust him 100% to know what he will and won't do. It took pretty much a full year before he really settled in and completely became himself. He is now the best dog I have ever had, I absolutely adore him!
It can be hard but it is so worth it!
Dakota the day we got her... she was 4 months old.
This was taken about a year or so ago... shes now almost 3. Time flies!
Yay for all the mill adopters!! Ours was rescued from the mill at 4 months, so he got to avoid being a stud dog, but he missed crucial socialization. He was in foster care for 2 months before we brought him home. I took the week off when he came home to try to bond. He was shy and timid, and didn't eat for 3 days (first thing he ate was a pig's ear, which is foster mom told me he loved). Now, he's a total love. He's still very much timid of strangers, and I don't think that will ever change. But if he gets to know people, on his own time, he comes around (the best tip we tell people is that they should ignore him, then he will slowly approach to check the person out, but as soon as a stranger pays any attention to him before he's ready, he gets really scared). DH was scared at first that our dog would never come around to him, but now he's all about daddy. When we take him places where there are lots of people, we pick him up. He's much more tolerant if he feels safe in our arms (it helps that he's just 14 lbs.)
Yes, potty training will be a challange, but if the dog loves her crate, you should be able to crate train as usual. Our dog also loved his crate, so that's what we did. There are some mill dogs that go nuts in crates after all their time in doggy hell, and those dogs shouldn't go into crates and therefore must be potty trained some other way. But it doesn't sound like your dog falls into that category.
I followed the advise of his foster mother and put him on a leash that was teathered to me (usually a belt loop). That helped with potty training at first.
I adopted a retired racing greyhound, five years on the track under his belt, a slew of wins and the reputation for being a brawler with the scars to prove it! I had no idea what to expect, but when we drove up to the foster home and I took a look at that ebony jackal with all his scars and those soulful brown eyes and he looked at me, I kind of made a head motion to the gate like, "Let's get outta here." and he trotted over well, that was that.
When we got home he immediately took a piss on my peace lily, then he trotted outside with our other two dogs, they all sniffed each other and suddenly, he takes of like a shot around the yard at 40 mph like, "Look what I can do!" the other two dogs were looking at him, lumbering after him trying to keep up, that didn't work....they all trundle inside, he figures out where the food and water are, drains both in like four seconds, barfs it all up, we decide maybe eating isn't what we need to be doing just now....let's go hang out downstairs.
GREAT IDEA! The dog doesn't know what stairs are or how they work, so after 15 grueling minutes of me pulling and Mr. 99 pushing, he finally leaps down them, turns around, runs up them, down, up, down, up...collapses on the floor and passes out with his new brothers.
He races in his sleep at night, thumping and scratching the furniture around him, he barks at sirens and bit the cat on the butt, chewed a corner off of my countertops, got an ear infection, and eye infection, dislocated two toes and makes a sound like he's being skinned alive if he's cold....that all happened in three weeks.
Five years later, he's mine all mine, I adore him, love him and can't live with out him...the goofy ones are the best to get, like ugly ducklings, they grow into the most beautfiul and intriguing of swans. Rescued dogs make the best dogs.
Patience, understanding and more patience, that's all you need!
Wow I'm loving all these stories!! This is awesome!
Those of you who say your dogs still have quirks, would you mind saying what some of them are? I realize that she'll probably always be wary of strangers and take time warming up to people and that is okay.
@Nona99: That's so sweet. It's nice to hear the bad with the good - like what you had to go through at first to get where you are now.
I'm really hoping it doesn't take too long to get the basics under her belt (no chewing, pottying only on the pee pads, eating normally sleeping fine in crate etc)
@kayberry: Bailey is definitely quirky. She's scared of hallways. Whenever we're in a new or unfamiliar place, I have to practically carry her down a hallway. It takes a day or so for her to be able to do it herself and even then she BOLTS down them. We've been in our house for 2 years and she still scurries down hallways like something is chasing her. We're guessing it has something to do with enclosed spaces because she also HATES crates/cages. She completely flips her shit if we attempt to get her in one, so we don't even try. Kitchens are another no-go. Apparently the abusive family she was taken from kept her locked in the kitchen 24/7, so she's not a fan. Very sad, but works out nicely for us because she never gets into any trouble in there! She doesn't adapt well to change either. We rearranged the living room and she refused to go in there on her own for a month.
Charlie has one weird little quirk - she won't poop unless she is backed up against the fence so that no one can come up behind her, it's like she's convinced someone is gonna sneak up behind her. It's slightly amusing to watch her sniff along the fence and then turn around and back up until she's about 2 inches away. She never actually poops ON the fence, but she's as close as she can get.
@kayberry: It's all subjective, and people here always have sublime advice in every arena I find, but just remember to trust your judgement. All the books and the people at the rescue foundation told me I was going to need to walk him twice a day, walk, walk, walk! Come to realize, he hates it, doesn't want to go, actually has a great deal of anxiety surrounding leaving our home, being in unfenced areas and outside in general...to the point of hyperventilating with cherry red gums and eyes....so we don't go, he runs in the yard and is as lean as ever, happy as a clam....so don't be afraid to adjust and amend as you go, its a living creature that knows what it needs, it's just a matter of getting you to understand.
@misspeanut: Aww poor thing. Luckily the dog I want to adopt loves her crate so that's not an issue - but I won't know until I get her home right? I'm prepared to deal with quirks I guess. I guess I'll have to find out what hers are.
ETA: that's cute that she does that - at least you'll always know where her poops are in the yard!
@Nona99: That's good too - it is always good to trust your own judgement. Once he's yours you know what's best right?
@kayberry: Mr. 99 gets a little jealous of "The Prince" as he calls him, I'm very connected to that dog and he to me, we kind of orbit around each other as we go through our day and it seems that it takes nothing more than a wilting look from Cairo with a hunching of his body for me to put the book I was reading down, go over to his bed and cover him up with a blanket...actually all the boys in my house get that treatment, Mr. 99 included, but I can see how our freaky mind meld stuff might bother someone.
@Nona99: Haha that's so sweet! I'm a little jealous of SO's relationship with the cat haha! I don't like cats and I really don't love her so I just accept that he does and he wants to snuggle her and hold her and rub on her. That way when I get my dog hopefully he won't be jealous 'cause both of us will have snuggle buddies!
ETA: also I'm excited to see that your pup is a greyhound! The pup I want to adopt is an Italian Greyhound
@kayberry: NICE! Well, there's also a cat who prefers me over everyone, because no one really ever owns a cat and a great pyrenese who actually ignores Mr. 99 totally...so yeah, all four of us are piled on one side of the sofa, Mr. 99 on the other with his lab and our feet meet in the middle...in hindsight I would say we needed to get a larger sofa, but honestly, I didn't realize we were going to be giant breed owners just then!
@Nona99: lol! I knew we were going to have small dogs. I grew up with both and always preferred the little guys. However at the vet clinic I worked at there was a full sized Greyhound who came in that I adored - he was just the sweetest thing. BUT they shed a lot and the size is too much for me. So that's why I went with italian greyhound - same look but much smaller and a lot less shedding!
Here's a pic of her at her foster home : 
@kayberry: So glad you are considering adoption! My husband and I have two shelter pups and they are the most amazing dogs. They were both strays prior to arriving at the shelter, so we are unsure of their background and story. When we got both of them they had been through a lot of stress and change so it took a while for them to settle in. Olive, our Rat Terrier, who we adopted first (4 years ago), was pretty neurotic and stressed for a few months but nothing too bad. It just took some love and a consistent routine and she settled in. Fern, our little mutt, had a similiar adjustment period. Luckily neither of them are scared of people or have any signs that they were mistreated. Olive is a little agressive on the leash (barks/ growls at other dogs, but no attacking), and that is about it. Oh and Fern peed the bed (our bed haha) a few times when we first got her, it was very frustrating. But she stopped after she adjusted to the house.
Please keep us updated. You will not be sorry you adopted, there are so many amazing dogs out there that need homes! We could never buy a puppy after having shelter dogs.
@lovemyolive: Aww what sweet faces! Olive is actually what I want to rename the pup I want to adopt!
Also I will definitely keep everyone posted! Don't worry if I get accepted you'll hear about it! You'll get a huge celebratory post with LOTS of pictures!
love her black tipped ears (: ugh I'm so excited I hope my application is approved!
Did you guys have your references actually called and everything?
@Baimee: Oh I forgot to thank you for that forum!! I'll definitely check it out!
@kayberry: I don't believe anyone ever called my references, but ever rescue is different. They may have checked with my landlord, I can't remember.
She's adorable! She's cute in her thundershirt too. Abner has one for his anxiety and it really does help.
Just for funsies, here's my dog face, Abner:
(it's not an angle thing, his legs really are that long)
The Dogster forums have so much information on them, and people so so genuinely helpful. It's wonderful. Abner has seperation anxiety, there were times when he wouldn't eat, times when he was scared after other dogs attacked him and he became reactive, he once lost 10 pounds in a month, and he has flea allergies like WHOA. Those people really made it possible for me to do this. They were there every step of the way. /end sappy appreciation for Dogster
Keep us updated with your adoption process!
@Baimee: Aww he's so sweet!! And I've just been browsing since I don't have much time to really read but they all seem so genuine and I love the stories!
And is that what it is she's wearing? I didn't know haha! She's very skittish and anxious so it makes sense. Her foster mom has only had her for a week, before that she had to be quarantined in a tiny cage at a vet clinic for 2.5 MONTHS!! while they tested for something highly contagious that she THANKFULLY does not have and before that well.. born at a puppy mill and bought to be a breeder dog but didn't end up that.
SOO she's had a bit of a traumatic experience, the poor thing.
ETA: I will definitely keep you all posted! You'll see a celebratory post and lots and lots of pictures! She's about 3 hours from me so I don't get to meet her just any time - it's a long trip haha
@kayberry: I'd consider investing in a thunder shirt! Maybe ask if it's helping her at all? They're neat and so simple, really!
Poor girl, it sounds like she's ready for a real home. I can't even imagine living the life of a mill dog. It's astounding. I bawl like a baby whenever I see documentaries or youtube videos.
@Baimee: I know, she has had a rough life. I really just want to give her a good and supportive home. She needs a forever place. (: I'm going to look up thunder shirts - it looks cute from the picture
OMG have you seen the one where they rescue lab beagles and it's the first time they've seen outside?!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXcL_gt7L-A
make sure you have tissues - I cried.
Both of my babies are rescues (abandoned). My little girl (lhasa-poo mix) had terrible separation anxiety when we first got her, she literally wailed outside of our door for hours if we didn't let her climb on the bed with us. She also had terrible dandruff. I switched her to homemade organic food with fish oil supplements, which cured everything. We cured the separation anxiety with time. We also got her a little brother because two dogs are always better than one - they play with each other and keep each other company. Dogs are pack animals so the more the merrier!
My little boy we adopted a little over a year ago. He's a lot more upkeep than my girl, because he's a more "high maintenance" breed (mini-schnauzer) and he's definitely not as shy. He is harder to potty-train, he mostly goes outside but sometimes he'll sneak away to find the leg of a table to pee on. He has moderate aggression towards other dogs, which is part behavioral issue and part schnauzer protectiveness/dominance. He's been kicked out of doggie daycare for picking on the more timid dogs with his sister, but they've never had an issue with each other. Usually a holler from me will startle him to stop any negative behavior. We are doing doggy training with him though.
Rescues are the best dogs IMHO. I think they understand that they've been given a second chance so they're loyal little sweeties. No matter how much trouble my two cause, I love them more and more every day. Good luck with yours!
@kayberry: Yes. Yes I have. Oh my GOD. IT IS SO MOVING.
This one makes me sob every time too:
http://youtu.be/_LqSHfkLvHk
@Baimee: Oh man! I'll wait until I'm at home to watch it!
I hope that she doesn't have too much separation anxiety, but I guess I have you who went through that first hand to contact!
At least the thundershirt isn't too expensive. Have you used it before?
I have a rescue puggle that was turned in to a kill shelter by her owner because she couldn't handle or afford to take care of (I'm not sure which) the dogs allergies. By the time she turned her over she was in a physical mess...eyes swollen shut, thickened and raw ears, swollen skin...just a mess. She had to have medical care for a month before she was transferred to the rescue and deemed adoptable.
My other puggle (who also has minor allergy issues comparatively speaking) and I went to meet her the day after she arrived at the rescue. When I completed the paperwork I mentioned that I was already dealing with a puggle with allergy issues so I was familiar. That was serendipity. The lady over the rescue said that she knew I was the right person for her. We brought her home where she ran in, jumped on the couch, and started barking like the happiest dog in the world.
Almost 3 years later she's living a charmed life. She has to eat special food and treats and be careful outside during high pollen times because it will set her off. I give her benadryl and/or chlortrimeton for the itchies and they keep it down. I wouldn't trade her for anything.
Special needs dogs can be very hard to adopt out so kudos for you for wanting to take the steps in providing this beautiful little princess a new home. With time, patience, and love I'm sure you'll both be very happy. :)
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