Please read the article on puppy mill dogs before you apply for Prada.

Beautiful Prada was rescued from a puppy mill by another rescue organization that took pity on her sad face and depressed appearance. When she first came to FBRN, she slept all the time. The vet initially estimated her age to be 10 years old. We assumed her lack of energy was due to her age, poor diet and lack of medical treatment through churning out many litters of pups. But after a few weeks of R&R and good food, another little Frenchie sprang to life! Her little belly starting filling out, and her energy level rose. With a laugh, our vet revised her estimated age to about 7 years.

Prada has some ongoing minor medical issues as a result of her years of neglect at the puppy mill. She is partially deaf, and her collapsed ear must be monitored and cleaned weekly to avoid ear infections. She also suffers from dry eyes, but this can easily be managed with eye cream. She is an easy patient, so these concerns should be quite manageable.

Prada has reclaimed the puppyhood she never had! She comes running out of her kennel, ready to play. She likes to carry off shoes or anything lying around. She will also chew on pillows and tug at comforters. To keep this adult pup in check, we give her a bone and set her on a comfy blanket on the couch. She will sit there and chew the bone until she is panting. This really seems to curb her inappropriate chewing. Although she has a puppy side to her, she eventually wears out and will sleep on the couch for the remainder of the evening. As with many puppy mill survivors, Prada must be supervised while she is not in her crate. She is crate trained (though sometimes when she first goes in her kennel she whines) and will not soil her crate. Her adoptive family will have to work on her potty training with patience and diligence for smart little Prada to finish getting the hang of it.

Prada gets on with other animals though she hasn’t quite gotten the concept of boundaries. She happily sticks her face in anyone’s bowl and on anyone’s bone. This has caused a few scuffles. She is not aggressive; it’s like she sees the bone and says “Hey, look - a bone!” and doesn’t see the 90lb German Shepherd already enjoying it. When he gives her a warning she acts like he is not talking to her. Because of this, she is fed separately and is always supervised at bone time. These scuffles settle quickly and are typically the result of food/bone. Prada ignored the cat at the vet’s office, so a dog-savvy kitty would probably do fine with her.

Prada is a little too exuberant for young children. She likes to get in your face and kiss you. In order to get her to sit next to you and not climb you like a tree, you have to put her back in her spot multiple times. But, she catches on and says “Oh, she wants me to sit here!” After that, she will sit next to you for hours and graciously accept all the affection you would like to give. Children who are old enough to understand and gently correct her would be fine.

Prada would do best with someone home all day, though she might do ok with a mid-day potty break from a dog walker. Because she is not totally potty trained and cannot hear well, she is not a good office dog. If she is in her kennel during the day and at night, it is important she have free time during the day and evening as much as possible. Frankly, since she was a formerly neglected puppy mill dog, we want her to get all the attention she can.

Here is what her foster mom has to say: “Prada is one of the sweetest dogs we have fostered. She is always happy to see you and still loves you, even after all her doctoring. What we love most about Prada is that her past is her past and she loves the present. Her spirit is a lesson to us every day that we must take advantage of today and let yesterday go.

She has a face only a mother could love, and her foster mother does. She may not be the picture perfect Frenchie you have dreamed of having, but she is a little ray of sunshine to all she encounters. One of my long time friends came to visit one weekend. She never had a dog growing up and never intends to. She fell in love with Prada. I was so shocked. I thought it was testament to what a big heart that little body of hers has.”

If you have a wonderful home for sweet Prada the seven year old puppy, be prepared to come to Northwest Arkansas to get her, because fabulous FBRN Frenchies will not be shipped.