I have a opportunity to rescue a mill dog from a puppymill. The breeder is willing to sell me a 3 or 4 year old maltese because she is not a good 'producer'.
This is a sweet dog. When taken out of cage, she trotted around in a large circle, around and around.. from her years of being in a small cage. Broke my heart. My questions are: Do they adapt to a home life? Can they be housebroken? Any experiences you have had will be most helpful. I am doing much research on the maltese and on the puppymills. Of which I am totally against. I have two dogs now, both shelter dogs. They adapted to my home in a very short time and have had no problems with either. I believe in rescue and not buying from petshops or backyard breeders.
It does concern me that this little female has always lived in a small cage on wire. No choice but to potty in this small area. So I know it will be difficult to housebreak. Limited human contact in her short years although she gave me kisses thru her cage. Out of her cage as I held her, she was a little nervous as I would expect.
I would take her to vet immediatly to be fully checked and spayed before I brought her home. Would not take a chance of bringing her around my dogs without vet ok.
I have a few weeks before I bring her home. As she has one pup now that needs to be weaned before they separate them. They told me they start weaning at 6 weeks and take mother away totally at 8 weeks. Which we all know is too young.
I was told this is her first litter (one surviving pup, she had to have c-secion as pups were too big for her and and two did not survive) Bred twice before which did not take. Which is why they are willing to sell her to me.
So... any advise anyone could give me would be most appreciated.
This is a sweet dog. When taken out of cage, she trotted around in a large circle, around and around.. from her years of being in a small cage. Broke my heart. My questions are: Do they adapt to a home life? Can they be housebroken? Any experiences you have had will be most helpful. I am doing much research on the maltese and on the puppymills. Of which I am totally against. I have two dogs now, both shelter dogs. They adapted to my home in a very short time and have had no problems with either. I believe in rescue and not buying from petshops or backyard breeders.
It does concern me that this little female has always lived in a small cage on wire. No choice but to potty in this small area. So I know it will be difficult to housebreak. Limited human contact in her short years although she gave me kisses thru her cage. Out of her cage as I held her, she was a little nervous as I would expect.
I would take her to vet immediatly to be fully checked and spayed before I brought her home. Would not take a chance of bringing her around my dogs without vet ok.
I have a few weeks before I bring her home. As she has one pup now that needs to be weaned before they separate them. They told me they start weaning at 6 weeks and take mother away totally at 8 weeks. Which we all know is too young.
I was told this is her first litter (one surviving pup, she had to have c-secion as pups were too big for her and and two did not survive) Bred twice before which did not take. Which is why they are willing to sell her to me.
So... any advise anyone could give me would be most appreciated.