Animal Profile

Aker is at risk due to behavioral concerns. Aker has not acclimated well to the shelter environment and has not been allowed for minimal handling. While he initially presented as loose bodied in kennel and is easily leashed, once out of his kennel, Aker quickly becomes aroused - excessive jumping, leash biting, panting, hyper-salivation, and sensitivity to leash pressure - which makes it difficult to walk him safely even with attempts to redirect him with high value treats, toys, or interrupters when he continues to escalate. On one occasion, Aker had to be double-leashed to be returned to his kennel safely. Medically, Aker is apparently healthy.

Let's get to know each other a bit more...

This pet needs emergency placement. Please click here to go to our emergency placement page for more information. Due to the detailed behavior issues, this animal is only available for foster/adoption through one of ACC's New Hope Partners. If you are interested in adopting or fostering, please fill out the pre-screener form. This animal is not directly available for adoption through ACC and is only available by completing the pre-screener form.Adoption inquiries sent directly to ACC will not receive a response. Pre-Screener Form Aker is at risk due to behavioral concerns. Aker has not acclimated well to the shelter environment and has not been allowed for minimal handling. While he initially presented as loose bodied in kennel and is easily leashed, once out of his kennel, Aker quickly becomes aroused - excessive jumping, leash biting, panting, hyper-salivation, and sensitivity to leash pressure - which makes it difficult to walk him safely even with attempts to redirect him with high value treats, toys, or interrupters when he continues to escalate. On one occasion, Aker had to be double-leashed to be returned to his kennel safely. Medically, Aker is apparently healthy. Aker was surrendered into care as a stray, so his past behavior in a home environment is unknown. Aker has not acclimated well to the shelter environment and is not allowing for minimal handling. He displays significant behavioral challenges, including hyper-arousal, intense leash pulling, and difficulty with impulse control in stimulating environments. He becomes overstimulated quickly, showing signs such as excessive jumping, leash biting, panting, hyper-salivation, and sensitivity to leash pressure. Despite being initially social and food-motivated, Aker escalates when overstimulated and becomes less responsive to redirection, often requiring multiple handlers, specialized equipment, and management tools to ensure safety. Due to these behaviors, Aker is not suitable for a home with children and should be placed with a New Hope rescue partner experienced in managing high-arousal dogs in an adult-only setting.

My medical notes are...

Weight: 87 lbs

Medical Notes

6/1/2025

[DVM Intake] DVM Intake Exam Estimated age: ~ 1 year Microchip noted on Intake? Scanned negative History: Agency Subjective: BAR Observed Behavior - Hyperactive, very sweet, accepts pets, very friendly, leash biting/tugging, excited and jumping, handling and exam are tolerated. Is there evidence of Cruelty? No Is there evidence of Neglect? No Is there evidence of Trauma? No Objective P = 120 bmp R = Eupneic BCS = 5/9 EENT: Eyes clear, ears clean, no nasal or ocular discharge noted Oral Exam: Clean adult dentition, pink mm. PLN: No enlargements noted H/L: NSR, NMA, CRT < 2, Lungs clear, eupneic ABD: Non painful, no masses palpated U/G: Intact male, both testes wnl. MSI: Ambulatory x 4, skin free of parasites, no masses noted, healthy hair coat CNS: Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities Rectal: Externally normal Assessment - Apparently healthy Prognosis: Good Plan: Intake exam and tasks Trazodone 5-8mg/kg PO BID SURGERY: Okay for surgery

Details on my behavior are...

Behavior Condition: 2. Blue

Behavior History
Behavior Assessment

When staff roped the dog and took him out, the dog was jumping on staff hyperactively and head thrashed when they extended the rope to get him at a safe distance. When walking the dog down the hallway he was breaking, head thrashing, and jumping. Staff assisted him into the kennel and used a hook to take the rope off.

Date of intake:: 5/31/2025

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Stray; history unknown

Date of assessment:: 6/2/2025

Summary:: 6/2/25: Aker has not acclimated well to the shelter environment and is not allowing for minimal handling. While he is easily leashed to be removed from the kennel, Aker quickly becomes aroused in the presence of people and during handling. He will jump up and begin leash biting when he feels the slightest tension in the lead, while hyper-salivating, his body stiffening. Due to these concerns, Aker could not receive a handling assessment at this time. 6/1/25: A handling assessment was not attempted to allow Aker time to decompress due to having his medical exam to prevent trigger stacking.

Summary (7):: 06/06/25: Aker is standing at the front of kennel with a loose wiggly frame as handler approaches. He takes treats gently from hand and will sit when cued. Handler spends several minutes playing a pattern game with Aker and will cue him to sit before tossing treats to the back of kennel. After session, handler tosses a handful of treats into kennel and exits room. 6/6/25: Aker is at the front of the kennel with a loose/wiggly body, and eyes appeared to be bloodshot. Aker is offered treats to which he will take but not eat. Aker is left with some more enrichment for him to enjoy but ignores and continues to whine and remain loose when the handler is present. 6/3: A handler approaches Aker to take a picture of him. He greets the handler with a loose body and begins to jump on the kennel door. The handler lures him down several times with treats, but he begins to become aroused, the longer the interaction lingers - red eyes, panting, pacing, and body tensing. He then begins to scale one wall of his kennel, barking. The handler walks away to prevent further stress. 06/02/25 (PM) Aker is at the front of his kennel with a loose frame and wide, dilated eyes. Aker is easily leashed as he attempts to force his way out of kennel, proceeding outside for a walk. As they exit the facility, Aker pulls intensely appearing to be experiencing hyper-arousal as he pulls in he directions of staff and dogs with novel handlers. As Aker is taken up the ramp, he begins to jump excessively while staring at the leash displaying a stiffer frame while panting and hyper-salivating. Leash pressure is applied at this point and Aker is returned immediately to kennel. 6/2/25: Aker greeted handlers at front of kennel and was leashed with ease. He pulled on the way to the BA room and was panting with a flushed face. Aker would sit for cheese but would jump up on handlers if not fed continuously. When standing on all fours he took cheese gently hand fed. Aker displayed sensitivity to leash pressure and would jump up in handler's direction and leash bite. When Aker was no longer able to be redirected with cheese, handler 2 double leashed him. Use of the pet corrector was highly effective. He got distracted by a third handler entering the room. Handler 3 took over from handler 2, who resumed feeding him cheese. Aker was becoming less interested in cheese and continued to pant heavily. Handlers noticed redness in/around his eyes. Handler 3 clipped their leash to a figure 8. Once Aker's kennel was ready, handlers walked him back to kennel double leashed. A hook was used to remove leash that was not pre-clipped without issue.

Date of intake:: 5/31/2025

Summary:: jumps on staff, head thrashing, balking when walking to kennel, used hook to remove lead in kennel

Date of initial:: 6/1/2025

Summary:: hyperactive, accepts pets, leash biting, jumps up

ENERGY LEVEL:: We have no history on Aker, so we cannot be certain of his behavior in a home environment. However, he is a young, enthusiastic, social dog who will need daily mental and physical activity to keep him engaged and exercised. We recommend long-lasting chews, food puzzles, and hide-and-seek games, in addition to physical exercise, to positively direct his energy and enthusiasm.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

Recommendations:: No children (under 13),Place with a New Hope partner

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to how quickly Aker becomes aroused and the level of handling sensitivity displayed in care, we feel that an adult-only home would be most beneficial at this time. Place with a New Hope partner: Aker has not acclimated well to the kennel environment and has allowed only minimal handling since intake. We recommend placement with a New Hope partner who can provide any necessary behavior modification (force-free, positive reinforcement-based) and re-evaluate behavior in a stable home environment before placement into a permanent home.

Potential challenges: : Social hyperarousal,Handling/touch sensitivity,Anxiety,Leash-biting

Potential challenges comments:: Social hyperarousal | Leash Biting | Anxiety: Aker quickly becomes overaroused in the presence of people, jumping up and biting the leash. Positive reinforcement, force-free training should be used to teach Aker to remain calm when people and other exciting things are around. He should be rewarded with treats when calm. If he escalates to jumping or mouthing, people should immediately walk away from and separate themselves from him. Please see handout on Arousal. Handling/touch sensitivity: Aker has been noted to become uncomfortable with handling at times, especially around his neck, with the slightest tension. It is important to always go slow and give him the option to walk away from any social interaction. Aker should never be forced to approach anything that he is uncomfortable with or to submit to petting or handling. It should always be Aker’s choice to approach a new person or thing. He may do best in an initially calm and quiet home environment and should be given time to acclimate to his new surroundings. Please see handout on Handling/touch sensitivity.