My Puppy Mill Bichon

by Tammy
(US)

I rescued my own dog from a puppy mill situation when she was 1 year old. And let me tell you that when I got her she was very underweight, had loads of intestinal parisites, worms, scars - and had never been up or down a flight of stairs or had never been on a leash.

Needless to say we both had to basically start from scratch with each other. As time went on I have found that buying a good quality pet food has made a huge improvement in her overall appearance and also in the amount that she defecates.

It may cost a little more than the bargain dog foods but I use Science Diet brand. Her coat is now really healthy and shiny and she doesn't shed that much anymore.

Another way I keep her healthy is by not giving her too many treats. She gets the occasional dog treats but I have noticed that dogs who recieve more treats are often heavier and unhealthy.

Plus, I also try not to encourage bad behavior by only praising her when she shows me good behavior. She is very spoiled but I still treat her like a dog and know that her emotions are not the same as mine.

I think its very important to understand the mentality of a dog and not humanize them so much. She needs discipline and strucutre. I also take her for walks at least 3 times a week. That lets her burn off a lot of her energy and maintains good lean muscle.