I think if people actually had an idea how difficult it is to raise a puppy mill puppy and how behaviorally challenged these dogs can be, they might be less inclined to act impulsively and buy one from a pet store, or flea market, or online or the classifieds.
That is a paraphrased quote from a client of mine who purchased a puppy at a flea market four months ago.
Esthetically, Pepper is the most adorable dog you will ever see. "She is a 'designer' mix. That's what the guy at the flea market told me," my client said proudly when I first met him three months ago. Pepper is a cross between a Staffordshire terrier, a Jack Russel terrier and a blue heeler (Australian cattle dog). She is the size of a Jack Russel, built like a Staffordshire terrier and has the markings of a blue heeler. She is a gorgeous dog, which is why my client and his wife fell for her. But when they brought her home, her physical beauty wore off pretty quickly when they realized the dog had no idea of. . . anything.
The seller of the puppy told my clients that she was three months old. But upon viewing her teeth, it was apparent she was at least six months. Pepper was heartbreakingly terrified of everything - and I am not exaggerating when I say everything. She hid under the couch for an entire week. My clients fed her by lifting the couch, picking her up and putting her in her crate to eat. Once she was in the crate, they had to cover it with a blanket so she would eat. If they didn't, she would stand, shiver and drool endlessly.
All Pepper had ever known before my clients bought her was darkness. We surmised she had never seen the light of day because of her reaction to anything outside, which was to run away from it as fast as possible. Can you imagine what it would be like to run away from daytime?
She had never been touched by humans, except for maybe the basic act of picking her up out of a box and handing her to my client. She would run and hide if anyone even looked in her direction, never mind tried to pet her. She would poop and pee where she stood, never attempting to show the instinctual indication of circling and sniffing. When I placed a collar the weight of a shoelace on her, she froze. She did not move while I discussed the problems her new owners would be having and what they could expect from her. She stood quivering, eyes closed, nose almost touching the ground. After 30 minutes she found the courage to sniff one of the treats I tossed to her and that is when I took the collar off.
At the end of my consultation it was clear I had burst their first-time dog owner bubble. I suggested a visit to the vet to discuss pharmaceuticals or homeopathic remedies to help her cope with her extreme fears. Since Pepper was dog friendly, I suggested they get a second dog that was super social, laid back, wise and gentle to show Pepper how dogs interact with people.
My clients looked at each other and asked me, "Can you take her with you?" I did not judge them for their request.
"No," I said, "I can't. I can help you re-home her once you've given it your best shot. She is a special needs dog. If your daughter was special needs, would you give up on her?" Four months later Pepper has progressed. She now eats like all dogs. She is happy to meet people who come to the house but still won't let anyone new touch her. She still hides under the couch. She still poops and pees where she stands, but her owners have her on a tight schedule and accidents are minimal. She can spend time in the yard without panicking to get out.
Our next challenge will be getting her used to the leash so her owners can take her for a walk. The training is painfully slow.
This is not what anyone expects when they get a dog. Dog ownership is not supposed to be like this. Puppy mill breeders don't care about the quality of life Pepper lives. They don't care about the quality of your life when you have a dog like this. They just want your money.
Joan Klucha has been working with dogs for more than 15 years in obedience, tracking and behavioural rehabilitation: k9kinship.com
