Rescuing a puppy farm female

[doggielover]

I wanted some advice if anyone can help me.

I have a female dog called Ellie May she is a Shichon cross between Shih tzu and bichon frise. She is 3 years old now and unknown to me at the time I bought her from a breeder, later to find out he was a puppy farmer. He keeps the dogs in an out building and brings them up to the house for viewing, making you believe they live in a family home.

I have contacted him about buying Ellie Mays mum off him as I felt I would love to give her a loving home. Unfortuatley He won't part with her for another 2 years he said as she is only 4 years old.

I was trying my best to get him to sell her to me but failed. However he said he has a Bichon bitch that is six and half years old called Maisie. She has 3 puppies nursing at the moment but he wants to sell her once the pups have gone. barbaric I know!!!

This has left me wanting to rescue Maise.

I'm not sure what to expect when I get her but I want to make her passage smooth as possible. I am thinking of using a crate covered up like a den, I won't be closing the door. Thinking that could be her safe place.

It is just me and my retired husband in our home and a very quiet Ellie May, we have lots of time on our hands.

Could you give me any advice what to do, what to expect. Should I get her vet checked as soon as I get her or wait until she has settled for a week. Should I get her groomed straight away or wait.

All these questions are buzzing around in my head. I want to do things in the right order so not to cause her any unnessesary anxiety.

 

[gypsysmum]

There are all kinds of puppy farmers. If this puppy farmer does not handle the dogs at all then they will be very nervous of being handled.

Your bitch may also not be house trained and may be scared of things like washing machines, vacuum cleaners etc. Life outside a kennel may be very scary for her.

I assume, from your post, that you have thought about this as you are thinking that a crate might make a good den. This is good thinking and I agree that she may settle better in one.

If she has been treated relatively kindly by him then she may learn quite quickly that life beyond the farm is ok.

One thing you could try is an Adaptil diffuser by her crate. They are very calming and reassuring to dogs.

Whether she needs to see a vet immediately or not will depend on her condition. If she seems ok then leave it until she has settled in but if she seems poorly in any way you might want to go sooner rather than later.

Well done on choosing to rescue her. I know we are told not to do it as it encourages the puppy farmers but it is hard isn't it?

One other thing to be aware of is that two bitches do not always get along. It is a territorial thing. Do have this at the back of your mind so that should the worse come to the worse (the problem is very difficult to cure) you could look on her as a foster dog and find her a good home as an only bitch (just because she may not like your bitch does not mean that she couldn't live with another male dog).

 

[doggielover]

thank you that was very helpful

I took on board your concern about my dog not getting along with another female. I will try my very best to help them but if it just isn't going to work I will find a loving home for her elsewhere.

 

[lurcherman]

You can't save them all, don't get too involved and enjoy the dog you have ...

 

[Biker John]

I agree with Lurcherman, its all to easy to feel sorry for animals in puppy farms, but giving any money to them only leads them to produce more, therefore more bitches lead a horrible life and more puppies are born into it. So I feel people should keep well clear of them.