Animal Profile

King is at risk due to behavioral reasons. While in care King has been observed to have a low threshold for arousal and be on leash reactive. Noted to jump up on handlers persistently, often with an open mouth. Recently King has been observed to pull hard towards other dogs and people while on leash. This behavior is not able to be redirected easily. During one instance when a handler attempts to move King away from another dog he spins towards the handler and jumps at them with an open mouth. His previous owner describes him as active and social. Medically, King has unspecified dermatitis and otitis externa.

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This pet needs emergency placement. Please click here to go to our emergency placement page for more information. This pet is available only through ACC New Hope partners. To adopt or foster, please complete the pre-screener form below. Inquiries sent directly to ACC will not receive a response. Pre-Screener Form King is at risk due to behavioral reasons. While in care King has been observed to have a low threshold for arousal and be on leash reactive. Noted to jump up on handlers persistently, often with an open mouth. Recently King has been observed to pull hard towards other dogs and people while on leash. This behavior is not able to be redirected easily. During one instance when a handler attempts to move King away from another dog he spins towards the handler and jumps at them with an open mouth. His previous owner describes him as active and social. Medically, King has unspecified dermatitis and otitis externa. King arrived at MACC as an owner surrender. His previous owner describes him as active and social. While in care, King has been to have a low threshold for arousal. Noted to jump up on handlers persistently, often with an open mouth, and begin head whipping back and forth when handlers initiate contact. He has also been observed to pull hard towards other dogs while on the street with a tense forward body. This behavior is not easy to redirect. Due to the detailed behavior, we recommend an experienced adult only home.

My medical notes are...

Weight: 54 lbs

Medical Notes

4/18/2026

Estimated age: owner reports 4 years; exam agrees Microchip noted on Intake? scanned negative History: Owner surrender due to personal issues Subjective: BAR on leash Observed Behavior - Loose body, wagging tail, jumping up on people soliciting attention; very food motivated (devoured baby food, squeeze cheese, tuna); allowed limited exam with lots of wiggling; muzzled as a precaution for tasks, and fought the muzzle, began alligator rolling, but did not escalate Evidence of suspected cruelty seen? – None Objective: BCS 5/9 EENT: Eyes clear, no nasal or ocular discharge noted; AU thickened pinnae and moderate debris, but unable to closely examine due to temperament Oral Exam: Unable to examine due to wiggling and muzzle PLN: No enlargements noted H/L: NSR, NMA (but difficult to hear over him slurping food), MM pink/moist, CRT < 2, lungs clear, eupneic ABD: Non-painful, no masses palpated U/G: Intact male; 2 testicles palpable MSI: Ambulatory x 4, skin free of parasites, no masses noted; alopecia and crusting over intrascapular area CNS: Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities Rectal: Externally clean Wood's Lamp Exam: Not performed Assessment: Dermatitis, otitis- r/o allergies Prognosis: Good Plan: Oral and aural exam (clean AU, +/- ear medications) at time of neuter 150mg trazodone PO BID indefinitely while in shelter SURGERY: Okay for surgery

4/21/2026

Staff note pet pulls hard towards other dogs and is difficult to redirect. He jumps up on handlers persistently with an open mouth. Head whips back and forth when handlers initiate contact. A: low threshold for arousal in shelter P: Advise placement Clonidine 0.3mg 1 tablet po bid while in shelter

Details on my behavior are...

Behavior Condition: 1. Green

Behavior History
Behavior Assessment

Spay/Neuter Status: Unknown

Basic Information:: King is a 4-year-old not altered male MMB who was surrendered due to the client being mentally unstable to care for him.

Previously lived with:: adults, children(5,10), other dogs

How is this dog around strangers?: Reported to be friendly, outgoing and playful

How is this dog around children?: Reported to be friendly, outgoing and playful

How is this dog around other dogs?: Reported to be friendly, outgoing and playful

How is this dog around cats?: Reported to be friendly, outgoing and playful

Resource guarding:: No

Bite history:: No

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: High

Other Notes:: Mouthy with treats Held/restrained: Isn't bothered Disturbed while sleeping: Isn't bothered" Startled: Isn't bothered Pushed off/pull of furniture: Isn't bothered Feet paws are touched: Isn't touched Collar grabbed/touched: Isn't bothered

Has this dog ever had any medical issues?: No

Medical Notes: No

For a New Family to Know: King is reported to be active, playful, fearful, aloof/mellow and quiet. They spend their time where the people are and in the living room. King is reported to love bath time/water. They pull little to mildly on a leash. They were walked 1-2 times a day and has never been crated. Loves car rides. King knows how to sit, stay, paw/shake. The previous owner's favorite thing about King is how he lays on his back.

Date of intake:: 4/17/2026

Spay/Neuter status:: No

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Owner Surrender

Previously lived with:: Adults, children(5,10), other dogs

Behavior toward strangers:: King is friendly and outgoing

Behavior toward children:: King is friendly and outgoing

Behavior toward dogs:: King is friendly and outgoing

Behavior toward cats:: King is friendly and outgoing

Resource guarding:: None reported

Bite history:: None reported

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: High

Other Notes:: Mouthy with treats Held/restrained: Isn't bothered Disturbed while sleeping: Isn't bothered" Startled: Isn't bothered Pushed off/pull of furniture: Isn't bothered Feet paws are touched: Isn't touched Collar grabbed/touched: Isn't bothered King's previous owner describes him as active and social.

Date of assessment:: 4/21/2026

Summary:: Leash Walking Strength and pulling: Hard Reactivity to humans: None Reactivity to dogs: Moderate Leash walking comments: Pulls hard towards other dogs with a tense forward body, not easy to redirect Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): Distracted Call over: Approaches handler readily Sociability comments: Frantic, pacing around the room, jumping up on the desk and knocking everything off, jumps up on handler persistently Soft handling: Over aroused Exuberant handling: Over aroused Comments: Head whipping back and forth with an open mouth, then jumps up on handler with an open mouth. Handler stands up and straight arms him Arousal Jog comments: Follows handler, neutral Knock Knock comments: Approaches handler readily Toy Toy comments: Grips light and engages with the toy, head whips with an open mouth when the assess-a-hand approaches

Summary (7):: 4/29/26: King Dee Dee is at the front of his kennel neutral body. He is easily leashed and removed from kennel. He pulls hard forward out of the room. He is walked on the street where he continues to pull hard. When seeing other dogs, even from a distance, he pulls hard towards them and unable to be easily refocused. At one point, King pulls towards a MOP passing on the sidewalk. His attention can not be refocused and continues to pull so hard he stands on his back legs and whines at times. The MOP is all the way down the block. Another staff member is passing by and helps to coax him back towards to the shelter. King continues to turn back in the direction of the MOP until he enters the shelter. He goes into kennel without issue. 4/27/26: King Dee Dee is at the front of the kennel with a soft body and wagging tail. He does a spin as the kennel is unlocked. King is easily leashed and taken out to the street. On the street, King pulls hard. He will stop and hard stare at dogs that pass by. Handler tries to call him away with squeakers and treats and it is unsuccessful. King is then walked back to the shelter. He pulls hard back to kennel and is returned without issue. 4/27/26: It is reported that King is fixating on other dogs while in the yard. When the handler attempts to move King away, he spins towards the handler and jumps at them with an open mouth. When the handler is attempting to exit the yard he is pushing off the wall and using it as leverage to attempt to get closer to the other dog. 4/22/26: King Dee Dee is at the front with a soft wiggly body and wagging tail. As the kennel is unlocked, King does a few spins. He is easily leashed and pulls hard out of the kennel. King is taken out to the street where he relieves himself. When observing dogs he stares towards them with a tense body and a forward posture. Handler's use squeakers and he is not able to be redirected. He continues to pulls towards areas to sniff and relieve himself. He is taken to the assessment office and greets the assessor exuberantly. He is collared with spray cheese. After his assessment, he is returned to kennel without issue.

Date of intake:: 4/17/2026

Summary:: waggy tail and high energy, pulls hard, licks handler

Date of initial:: 4/18/2026

Summary:: Loose body, wagging tail

ENERGY LEVEL:: King Dee Dee is described as active and enthusiastic. They will need daily mental and physical activity to keep them engaged and exercised. We recommend long-lasting chews, food puzzles, and hide-and-seek games, in addition to physical exercise, to positively direct their energy and enthusiasm. We recommend feeding with puzzle feeders and food-dispensing toys. And we recommend using force-free, reward-based training techniques for King.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

Recommendations:: No children (under 13),Recommend no dog parks,Place with a New Hope partner

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to the low threshold for arousal we recommend an adult only home. No Dog Parks: Due to on leash reactivity, we recommend no trips to the dog park. We recommend placement with a New Hope rescue partner who is able to provide an experienced, adult-only foster home. Force-free, reward based training and/or consultation with a professional trainer/behaviorist is highly recommended.

Potential challenges: : Resource guarding,Mouthiness/poor bite inhibition,On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration,Low threshold for arousal

Potential challenges comments:: Resource Guarding: King is observed to head whip with an open mouth towards the assess-a-hand when it approaches. Nothing should ever be taken directly out of King's mouth, and any time something is removed they should be rewarded with a high value treat or toy. Please see handout on Resource Guarding. Mouthiness: King's previous owner states that he is mouthy when taking treats. King has been observed to take treats with a hard mouth. We recommend giving treats with a flat hand and to use force-free, reward-based training methods to teach DOG to take treats with a softer mouth. Please see handout on Mouthiness. On Leash Reactivity: King is observed to pull hard towards other dogs with a tense forward body. This behavior is not easy to redirect. King will need positive reinforcement, reward based training to teach them to look at you rather than other dogs. We recommend a front clip harness to help manage this behavior. Please see handout on On Leash Reactivity and Barrier Frustration. Arousal: King was observed to jump up on handlers persistently, often with an open mouth, and begin head whipping back and forth when handlers initiate contact. Positive reinforcement training should be used to teach King to remain calm during arousing situations. If they begin to escalate, people should pause the interaction, and create distance from the trigger. Pattern games such as 1-2-3 treat and the cue “mat” can be used to reinforce calm behaviors. Please see handout on Arousal.