Adopting a dog.... Dog owners read - need suggestions

[Pumbaa_]

i have a pair of wowzers (west schnauzer crosses) that came from a puppy mill that was raided. 150 adult dogs plus the pups and pregnant females

we were there 4th stop on their journey to a forever home

we were not inexperienced pet owners, these were our 5th and 6th dogs over 30 years. these 2 were the toughest. i don't think they had ever been outside or run, we got them at 5 months old. We did not crate but we did put them in a puppy playpen, thy had to be kept together. They were used to living in an area this size, they ate, slept, and pooped all in the same space. that took a while!

Puppy mill dogs, and at 6 your future dog has had a very tough life, are not regular dogs. most have never been outside for walks or play time. Be patient! Did i mention mine had to learn what stairs were?that was interesting

it is 5 years later and they are the sweetest things. Good luck with your new fur baby!


edited to add: mine came from a puppy mill in Ohio also! what the heck goes on in Ohio??

 

[Pea-n-Me]

i have a pair of wowzers (west schnauzer crosses) that came from a puppy mill that was raided. 150 adult dogs plus the pups and pregnant females

we were there 4th stop on their journey to a forever home

we were not inexperienced pet owners, these were our 5th and 6th dogs over 30 years. these 2 were the toughest. i don't think they had ever been outside or run, we got them at 5 months old. We did not crate but we did put them in a puppy playpen, thy had to be kept together. They were used to living in an area this size, they ate, slept, and pooped all in the same space. that took a while!

Puppy mill dogs, and at 6 your future dog has had a very tough life, are not regular dogs. most have never been outside for walks or play time. Be patient! Did i mention mine had to learn what stairs were?that was interesting

it is 5 years later and they are the sweetest things. Good luck with your new fur baby!


edited to add: mine came from a puppy mill in Ohio also! what the heck goes on in Ohio??

Ohio also has a large Amish population.

Puppies viewed as livestock in Amish community:
http://abcnews.go.com/Business/story?id=7187712&page=1

"When they come out of the rabbit hutches they walk like crabs because they don't know what it's like to walk on a proper surface," Smith said. "They drag their bodies."

 

[Pumbaa_]

i have a fenced yard, after 2 days, my boy wouldn't move. He had so much fun running and playing he overdid it and had sore muscles. He was back to his active self in no time though. The vet likes to comment how muscular he is now

 

[ceecee]

I live in Ohio and have known some people that were puppy mill type breeders they did it for the $ and treated the dogs like farm animals. At least they lived in a barn and not cages but these poor females were over bred and when they were no longer able to bred them they "gave" them away, I always wondered who they gave them to. It's a horrible thing and kudos to you for rescuing one!

 

[lisaross]

Our baby arrived Tuesday night. We have NO idea about her past. We named her Piper. She loves people is so sweet - maybe she lived in a house not really sure. The paper training lasted about 2 hours lol. She goes when we walk her, does not go in her crate. But if we don't walk her every couple of hours while she is out of crate she will have an accident. I think she is just use to going whenever she wants - no idea how she was kept. I am thinking after walking her, let her free roam about 2 hours then crate her for an hour or so then walk her and repeat and gradually let her free roam more and more. She taught herself how to go down the stairs in one day. She is a lovable lap dog!

Any other suggestions on the crate training for a 6 year old?

 

[keahgirl8]

Our baby arrived Tuesday night. We have NO idea about her past. We named her Piper. She loves people is so sweet - maybe she lived in a house not really sure. The paper training lasted about 2 hours lol. She goes when we walk her, does not go in her crate. But if we don't walk her every couple of hours while she is out of crate she will have an accident. I think she is just use to going whenever she wants - no idea how she was kept. I am thinking after walking her, let her free roam about 2 hours then crate her for an hour or so then walk her and repeat and gradually let her free roam more and more. She taught herself how to go down the stairs in one day. She is a lovable lap dog!

Any other suggestions on the crate training for a 6 year old?

Yay! It makes me excited when people adopt dogs. I think you're doing great! It's a process, but if you stick with it, dogs will learn.

 

[ceecee]

Praise her and use treats when she goes outside, that helps with labs because they are usually food driven! May work for your new one too. Love the name Piper!

 

[keahgirl8]

Praise her and use treats when she goes outside, that helps with labs because they are usually food driven! May work for your new one too. Love the name Piper!

Definitely! I've done that with both my dogs and it absolutely works! When she goes potty outside, act like it is the biggest, most amazing thing she's ever done.