Does anyone know the best way to get a puppy mill dog to come near you? Ours won't let us pet him or pick him up?

Let me say first off "Thank You" for taking in an animal that is in great need of a loving home. Puppy mill dogs are as close to feral as you can get. It is cruel that they are kept in cages, not socialized or cared for beyond the food and water.

There are both physical and mental scars that need to be healed. I found a article here dog-care.suite101.com/article.cfm/adopti... that should get you started. Another great article dogs-4life.com/abused-dog-adoption.html This pertains to adoption of a 'puppy mill' dog ilmorescue.org/adopting_the_puppymill_su... And the best for last... anewstartonlife.com/puppymill.htm After reading these great articles, you should have a better understanding of how to go about bonding with these special buddies.

I wish there were more wonderful people like you out there!

Patience. Don't worry about never being able to touch or take it, its not really important at this stage. You have to let it come to you.It will take a while for the dog to trust you and unless you want to take it by force, your just going to have to wait it out.

Don't yell, don't walk heavily and do not do anything startling around the dog. They are always on edge, waiting for the next surprise so it will take a while for the dog to get used to a calm and safe environment. Once your dog gets used to his new home, then you can start introducing yourself.

It isn't used to human contact and other terms of affection so it will see you coming at it as a threat. Just sit on the floor, at its level and be patient. Read a book, knit, do whatever near the dog, but do not focus your attention on it.

Do not expect the dog to jump on your lap. It will take a while for the dog to realize you will not try to capture or hurt it if it comes near you.It will eventually be curious as to what you are doing and will eventually come closer.. This could take days, weeks or months, depending on how severly abused the animal was. But patience really is key.

Do not try to cut corners and force action once YOU feel it is ready, It will jeopardize the whole period of trust and you'll have to start all over again. But once you have gained it trust and the dog feels comfortable with you, it will all be worth it. You get to show this special animal a whole new way of life and not only will it fill his up with joy, it will yours also.

Arghhh.. I do hate puppymills! Thank you for getting he/she out of there. This puppy may just be unsure and scared (shy) of its surroundings and not know whom to trust just yet.

I would just sit on the floor and talk with the puppy and give he/she time to come to you. If this puppy was abuse or frightened in any way before you got it, it has been imprinted to be scared. This can be overcome with time and patience, but watch to see progress in the puppy, and if not you may end up with a bad dog whom you fear.

Puppy mills breed and breed with no care to the outcome of the dogs. Another thing you need to do is have this pup checked by a vet asap, I would be concerned to see if this puppy has maybe some blindness that is creating this fear.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.