My husband and I rescued June about a week ago from the SPCA. She is a four year old Lab and Poodle mix. She has lived all 4 years of her life in a puppy mill. I realize it has only been a short period since we've brought her to her new home and we are prepared to put in lots of time and energy. We're just hoping someone can set us off on the right track as we can already see that she is an extremist.

June is unlike most of the dogs described as puppy mill dogs. She's extremely friendly with humans, curious and I can already tell very intelligent and eager to learn.

We also have a 4 year old mini schnauzer. They are still trying to figure one another out and trying to establish dominance. We were hoping that he could lead by example but she doesn't acknowledge him during walks or dinner or "potty time" or really at all until she thinks he's in her territory.

June has been with us for almost 7 days and she still will not eat her food. It only took her a few days to take treats from my hand but won't touch her food bowl. (The SPCA gave us the food she was eating there- so it's not completely new to her) She DOES drink water like a champ out of the water bowl. We want to crate train June but don't know if this is the best scenario for a puppy mill dog. I have tried feeding her in the crate but she won't touch it. When I am in the room with her, she will lay and sleep in her crate. She sleeps all throughout the night in the crate without a single problem (we have it beside the bed). However, the SECOND I leave the room, she begins to bark. We left her in the crate twice and left the house... we came back to disasters. I was prepared to come back to a mess, but again, she went to the extreme. Not only ripping everything to shreds, but she somehow managed to kick the tray across the room so she was on the ground. She even bent some of the wires of the metal crate with her teeth. I can only imagine the hell she was going through to have done this.

I'm wondering now if she is a candidate for crate training given her past. She's just fine in the crate when I'm around... is this the crate or is it separation anxiety or both?

Any direction about adjusting an adult puppy mill dog will be super helpful. I can only find one detailed article online about adjusting puppy mill dogs and it is over-used and not completely true to our special case.

Thanks in advance.
June & Co.

I'd say the crate with you gone=separation anxiety. Have you tried leaving her out of the crate when you leave? If you can try putting her in a room where there isn't anything to tear up. Try it a couple of times for a short amount of time when you really don't have to go anywhere. Maybe just go to a neighbors for 10 to 15 minutes.
Being in the crate and you not there probablyy reminds her of the puppy mill and she feels abandoned.

It usually takes 2 months for a dog to settle into their new home.
For a dog that has been stuffed in a crate with no attention it's whole life it will most probably take longer.

Giver her some more time to get used to you, with feeding try putting her in a room and leaving her alone with the bowl for a while, she may eat better alone.

With my kids they like having a blanket over their crate so it is not so open, it makes them feel more secure and safe.

Toilet training will probably take a little longer than normal as (I am guessing) the dog has spent the past few years peeing in her own bedding/crate.

Just keep perservering and remember to praise praise praise good behaviour.

Personally, I would not crate training. Poop, anxiety etc.

I would limit her space. Gating off a small room with washable floors.

All her life in a crate- why do it again? I know it is different. I crate my dogs.. I would think it would bring back memories of he past like. So SAD!

By the way she will thank you the rest of her life by being her hero. G-D BLESS!

But a crate is what she is used to, a lot of dogs will find comfort in being in a crate even though they were forced to live in them 24/7. It just becomes natural to them.

Thanks guys!

We tried once gating off a section of the room she feels most comfortable in. She knocked the gate down within seconds and came to find me. While I would much prefer this, I just can't take the risk of the 2 dogs being alone together if she does get out. (Not yet, at least)

I think I'll definitely start trying to cover the crate with a blanket today.

Also, do you think it would be wise to move the crate to whatever room we're in and just have her hang out in there? Or should the crate remain in the same space always so she knows where it is?

I'm just trying to think of ways to make her enjoy her crate more. I feed her treats in there and talk to her (obviously all her toys I put in there were ripped to shreds) But even in the evenings I have to place her in the crate one paw at a time. She just freezes up. I'm trying to get her to understand it's a good place. (The curious part of it is- she seems to actually enjoy it when she's sleeping or when I'm within sight- the goal is to get her to see it's the same place even when I'm not around)

Thanks so much.

But a crate is what she is used to, a lot of dogs will find comfort in being in a crate even though they were forced to live in them 24/7. It just becomes natural to them.

Yes the OP said the dog is fine being crated when she is there.
The problem is crating when she is not there.
She needs to confine the dog to a small room that doesn't have anything to destroy in it and washable floors.
Crating the dog while OP is there is fine but her being in the crate when OP is not is giving her too much anxiety.

Yes, I know. My dogs were shocking with crates when I first started, they cried non stop, now they love going in them because they know thy are going to get food! Haha
You don't have to confine them to a room, a crate is a safer option if you aren't going to be out for hours.
I leave mine in my living room and no matter how dog proof I think I have made it they always find something to knock down and tear up. :)

If the dog doesn't do any damage being left in a room then yes, go for it, I'm just giving tips for the crate option... this technique works for both crate training and general separation anxiety.

I just typed this up for my website, it may be of help to you.


Separation anxiety.

Does your dog cry when you leave the room? Urinate only when you leave the house?
Some dogs do not like being left alone and some will think you are leaving them permanently and not coming back. Here are a few tips to help fix this problem.

When you leave, no matter how long for always have fresh water available. Toys are also a wonderful training tool as it will keep the dog distracted, I use kong toys stuffed with yummy food as a cure for boredom, having special toys or treats that the dog gets only when you go out are also a wonderful idea.

When training my own dogs for separation anxiety I first distract my dogs with their favourite toy and then exit my house through the front door.
I only leave for a minute or two, just long enough so that the dog does not bark or cry.
I then re-enter the house and give them praise for not crying.

Next time I go out I leave for a few more minutes, again only entering the house if the dog is not crying and giving praise.

Increase the amount of time you leave for and always come back before the dog starts crying (you will learn how long that threshold is pretty quickly)

This teaches the dog that you are going to come back and they are not being left alone forever.