Welcome!
This is my long-haired, "tweenie" dachshund, Ozzy. He joined our family exactly one week ago as I write this post. He is 2; he is beautiful, and he is a puppy mill survivor.
I am creating this blog for a number of reasons: first, I want to share and archive Ozzy's journey. And ours. Ozzy comes to our home in hopes that we can mend him, and that he can mend us. Secondly, in my short time researching, the suggestions for training and rehabilitation methods for puppy mill survivors I've found are vague, endless, and at times contradictory. The common thread: what works for one may not work for another. Find what works. It is hard. It takes time. Be patient, loving, slow, deliberate, consistent. This is logical, but frustrating. My bag of tricks to use is far from full, and I don't want to further damage Ozzy out of ignorance. And finding a trainer that we like who has experience with puppy mill survivors is not going to be easy! (We have one lead from the adoption agency we worked with--fingers crossed!!!) So I am hopeful that this blog will elicit conversation, laughs, constructive advice, a shoulder to cry on... And that the story of our journey will be of some help in some way to others who have chosen to open their hearts and homes to puppy mill survivors. Or who love dachshunds.
Necessary "evil":
I suppose I should first make clear that neither my husband nor I are dog trainers or animal behavior specialists. We know what we know through our personal experiences and educating ourselves the best we can. Our journey in no way should be viewed or taken as advice or the "correct" way to do things--it is what it is: an account of our successes and challenges in adopting a puppy mill survivor laced with my own stories.
So. Where to begin? It took us nearly the full week to come up with a name for him. When we stumbled upon 'Ozzy', it just clicked. It will fit no matter what he becomes: loverboy, rough-neck, comedian, shy-guy... And we like all the better known Ozzys out there. Then there's The Wizard of Oz. I am hoping he will find his heart, courage and 'brain' in his journey to learn that there's no place like home. Hope you enjoy!
I suppose I should first make clear that neither my husband nor I are dog trainers or animal behavior specialists. We know what we know through our personal experiences and educating ourselves the best we can. Our journey in no way should be viewed or taken as advice or the "correct" way to do things--it is what it is: an account of our successes and challenges in adopting a puppy mill survivor laced with my own stories.
So. Where to begin? It took us nearly the full week to come up with a name for him. When we stumbled upon 'Ozzy', it just clicked. It will fit no matter what he becomes: loverboy, rough-neck, comedian, shy-guy... And we like all the better known Ozzys out there. Then there's The Wizard of Oz. I am hoping he will find his heart, courage and 'brain' in his journey to learn that there's no place like home. Hope you enjoy!
