Animal Profile
Cooper
Hello, my name is Cooper. My animal id is #243090. I am a male brown dog at the Manhattan Animal Care Center. The shelter thinks I am about 2 years 1 months 1 weeks old.
I came into the shelter as a owner surrender on 12/7/2025, with the surrender reason stated as person health - medical.
Cooper is at risk due to behavioral concerns. Copper came to the shelter as an owner surrender. During his stay in the care center, Cooper hasn't been able to settle and pushes hard when handlers' attempt to leash. Staff have reported hard to leash, leash biting and pulls hard in all directions at random. Cooper jumps on handlers but can be redirected with treats. During Cooper's assessment he was panting, pacing, and whining during the assessment. He would become tense, hover then bite the assess-a-hand when he had a toy in his possession. Owner reported Cooper is social and affectionate dog that be very active and playful. He loves water and bath time. He knows basic verbal cues and loves to play with toys that squeak. Medically, Cooper has otitis externa.
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This pet needs emergency placement. Please click here to go to our emergency placement page for more information. Cooper is at risk due to behavioral concerns. Copper came to the shelter as an owner surrender. During his stay in the care center, Cooper hasn't been able to settle and pushes hard when handlers' attempt to leash. Staff have reported hard to leash, leash biting and pulls hard in all directions at random. Cooper jumps on handlers but can be redirected with treats. During Cooper's assessment he was panting, pacing, and whining during the assessment. He would become tense, hover then bite the assess-a-hand when he had a toy in his possession. Owner reported Cooper is social and affectionate dog that be very active and playful. He loves water and bath time. He knows basic verbal cues and loves to play with toys that squeak. Medically, Cooper has otitis externa. Meet Cooper! Cooper came to ACC as an owner surrender after his family faced major housing and health challenges and could no longer keep him. In the shelter, Cooper is a high-energy, social guy who wants to be close to his people-sometimes *too* close, because he can jump up for attention and get mouthy in an excited way. With treats and clear guidance, he's redirectable and eager to engage. My Ideal Home Cooper needs an experienced, adult-only home that can provide structure, daily exercise, and positive outlets for his energy. He'll thrive with force-free training focused on impulse control (jumping, leash excitement) and calm routines to help him settle. A patient adopter who's comfortable managing arousal and building skills over time will help Cooper shine. Good with Other Pets? Cooper has been reported to be playful with familiar dogs, but he can hard bark and growl at unfamiliar dogs-so slow, controlled introductions are a must, and we do not recommend dog parks. He should not live with cats. Leash Manners Cooper can be very strong on leash, especially in and around the shelter, and may bite at the leash or bounce up when excited. On walks, he can be redirected with treats and does best with a handler who can keep things calm, consistent, and rewarding.
My medical notes are...
Weight: 58 lbs
12/8/2025
DVM Intake Exam Estimated age: 2 years Microchip noted on Intake? Positive (at Shelter, preceding exam) History: None provided BAR MM pink, moist, CRT <2 sec Observed Behavior - Blue; Able to examine, excited Evidence of Cruelty seen - No Evidence of Trauma seen – No Evidence of Neglect- No Objective: P = 120 hr R = 40 rr (panting) BCS 4/9 Wt = 58 lbs EENT: Mild bilateral conjunctival erythema and swelling noted. Nasal planum appears mildly erythematous and swollen. Both external ear canals are mildly erythematous and swollen with a mild amount of dry, white-yellow debris. No nasal or ocular discharge noted. Oral Exam: NSF PLN: No enlargements noted H/L: NSR, no apparent murmur, CRT < 2, Lungs clear, eupneic ABD: Non painful, no masses palpated U/G: MI (2 testicles descended) MSI: Ambulatory x 4, skin free of parasites, no masses noted, healthy hair coat CNS: Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities Assessment: Apparently healthy -*Otitis externa, bilateral*: Based on inflammation and debris noted in both ear canals; suspect bacterial vs other -*Suspect allergic dermatitis*: The combination of clinical signs affecting the ears, eyes, and nose may be indicative of an underlying allergy. Prognosis: Good Plan: Standard Intake Procedures for Dogs Performed Ear cleaning performed bilaterally. Otic medication (Simplera) applied to both ears. SURGERY: Okay for surgery
12/9/2025
Staff note pet is repeatedly pushing to get out of kennel. A: Increased kennel reactivity Plan Advise placement Trazodone 100mg 2 tablets po bid while in shelter
12/16/2025
Staff note pet hypervigilant and pushing out of kennel when leashed. A: Increased anxiety in shelter P: Advise placement Clonidine 0.3 mg 1 tablet po bid while in shelter Gabapentin 300mg 2 tablets po bid while in shelter
12/17/2025
SO: Reported having heavy nasal dc on symptoms board BAR, comes to kennel door wagging tail eent: eyes clear, heavy yellow mucoid nasal dc apparent h/l: eupneic, repeated sneezing appreciated msi: ambulatory x4 neuro: mentation alert and appropriate A: CIRDC P: 275mg doxycycline PO SID x10d
12/26/2025
SO: Last day of treatment for CIRDC BAR, comes to kennel door barking eent: eyes clear, no ocular or nasal dc apparent h/l: eupneic, no coughing or sneezing appreciated msi: ambulatory x4 neuro: mentation alert and appropriate A: CIRDC apparently resolved P: monitor for recurrence of clinical signs
12/31/2025
SO: Out for walk with animal care and got digit caught under door. LF digit 3 bleeding BAR, allows placement of muzzle, but starts flailing for handling. eent: eyes clear, no ocular or nasal dc apparent h/l: eupneic, no coughing or sneezing appreciated msi: ambulatory x4, LF digit 3 bleeding neuro: mentation alert and appropriate A: LF digit 3 wound P: elected sedation to reduce FAS and allow for wound to be addressed 0.6ml dexmedetomidine 500mcg/ml and 0.6ml butorphanol 10 mg/ml IM
Details on my behavior are...
Behavior Condition: 2. Blue
Basic Information:: Cooper is a 3-year-old large mixed breed dog that was purchased when puppy. Surrender reason: wife's health and going to shelter
Previously lived with:: adults and 3 children(10,3,1)
How is this dog around strangers?: friendly and outgoing with children, visitors and strangers
How is this dog around children?: friendly and outgoing with children, visitors and strangers
How is this dog around other dogs?: familiar dogs: playful unfamiliar dogs off leash: hard barks, growls unfamiliar dogs on leash: hard barks, growls
How is this dog around cats?: hard barks and growls
Resource guarding:: none reported
Bite history:: none reported
Housetrained:: Yes
Energy level/descriptors:: high
Other Notes:: Jumps on often for attention. reacts to strangers, traffic, children in a playful manner.
Has this dog ever had any medical issues?: No
Medical Notes: unsure of medical issues, dog was last seen in 2023 at Petco
For a New Family to Know: Cooper is a social and affectionate dog that can be very active and playful. likes to hang around in the living room area. loves water and bath time, allows for family to trim nails. pulls moderate to hard on the leash, getting 2 walks a day for about 40 mins. is already crate trained as well. knows basic commands such as sit and eat. Cooper likes to eat chicken, loves to play with toys and those that squeak. Cooper is a very playful dog who loves to break his toys.
Date of intake:: 12/7/2025
Spay/Neuter status:: No
Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Owner Surrender
Previously lived with:: Adults and 3 children(10,3,1)
Behavior toward strangers:: Cooper is friendly and outgoing
Behavior toward children:: Cooper is friendly and outgoing
Behavior toward dogs:: Cooper is playful with familiar dogs, hard barks and growls towards unfamiliar dogs
Behavior toward cats:: Cooper will hard bark and growl
Resource guarding:: None reported
Bite history:: None reported
Housetrained:: Yes
Energy level/descriptors:: High
Other Notes:: Cooper jumps on often for attention. Cooper reacts to strangers, traffic, children in a playful manner.
Date of assessment:: 1/7/2026
Summary:: Leash Walking Strength and pulling: Hard Reactivity to humans: None Reactivity to dogs: Mild Leash walking comments: Pulls towards dogs with a tense body Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): Highly social Call over: Approaches handler readily Sociability comments: Jumps up on handler often Soft handling: Accepts contact Exuberant handling: Accepts contact Comments: Neutral body Arousal Jog comments: Follows handler readily Knock Knock comments: No approach Toy Toy comments: Becomes tense and bites the assess-a-hand
Summary:: 12/17/25: Cooper greets another dog at the gate with a neutral body. He attempts to push his face through the gate and pawing towards the other dog. 1/15/26: Cooper approaches a decoy dog off leash with neutral body. He circles around the 'dog' sniffing. When the 'dog' falls over, he places his paw on it holding it down. he then bites and hold the dogs face.
Summary (6):: 1/13/26: Cooper is at the front with a soft body and wagging tail. He pulls hard towards the street. Cooper relieves himself. He is offered treats and he takes them gently. Cooper regularly crosses in front of the handlers path as they are walking, almost tripping them. Handler redirects them with treats and he is walked back to the shelter. Cooper is walked back to his kennel and is returned without issue.
Summary (7):: 12/29/25: It has been reported on the whiteboard that Cooper becomes jumpy and mouthy, he is redirectable with treats. 12/27/25: Cooper is at the front of the kennel with a neutral body. He jumps up towards the handler in kennel. Cooper is easily leashed and walked out of the kennel. He walks besides the handler and will jump up with a closed mouth towards the leash. Cooper will at times, walk in front of the handler or will jump up on them. He is easily redirected down with treats. Cooper is then walked back to the shelter and returned to kennel with treats. 12/17/25- Cooper is at the front of his kennel with a neutral body, he is under the weather. He is easily leashed and has a moderate pull exiting the room. He is taken to the play yard for a dog dog. He does his gate greet then he pulls hard to the last pen. He sniffs around and is social with handler. He occasionally jumps on them with his front paws with a soft body. He allows handler to scratch his head, neck and back. He gently takes treats from handler's hand. He is easily clipped and returned to kennel without issue. 12/10/25: It is noted on the whiteboard that Cooper is "hard to leash, leash biting and pulls hard in all directions at random" on 12/9/25. 12/8/25- Cooper is at the front of his kennel with a neutral, when handler attempts to leash Cooper is pushing his head hard to get out, handler is able to leash and he shoves his body out of kennel. He pulls hard towards the passing kennels and is taken for a street walk. He pulls very hard throughout the walk and doesn't settle, handler offers him treats and uses their squeaker but he is pulling in various directions. He is aloof with handler and when people walk pass he pulls towards them with a neutral body. He is taken for his assessment where he is collared. He keeps jumping on handlers throughout and occasionally sniffs around. He pushes his front paws onto handler's desks moving stuff every where. He is easily leashed, pulls hard when returning to his kennel. He readily goes into kennel then spins around to again push himself out. Handler used their knee and was able to fully closer Cooper's kennel door without further issue.
Date of intake:: 12/7/2025
Summary:: Wiggly body, allowed handling, had to be muscled into kennel
Date of initial:: 12/8/2025
Summary:: Able to examine
ENERGY LEVEL:: Cooper 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 additional 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 Cooper.
BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: Level 4
Recommendations:: No children (under 13),No cats,Single-pet home,Recommend no dog parks
Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to poor impulse control we recommend an adult only home. No Cats: Due to hard barking and growling towards cats we recommend a home with no cats. Single-pet home/Recommend no dog parks: Due to the concerning behaviors that Cooper has shown during playgroup (see DOG-DOG SUMMARY), we feel that Cooper should not visit dog parks and be the only resident dog. The Behavior Department recommends that he be socialized in a more controlled setting until his behavior toward other dogs can be further addressed.
Potential challenges: : Resource guarding,Basic manners/poor impulse control,Anxiety,On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration
Potential challenges comments:: Resource Guarding: Cooper was obsvered to become tense, hover and then bite the assess-a-hand when in the possession of a toy. Nothing should ever be taken directly out of Cooper'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. Basic Manners: Cooper's previous owner states that he will jump up on handlers often when seeking attention. Cooper was obsvered to jump up on handlers persistently throughout the assessment. It is recommended that default behaviors such as "Sit" and "Off" are reinforced to substitute any frustration and teach them to control their impulses instead of simply reacting; proper management is also advised. Force-free, reward-based training only is recommended. Please see handout on Basic Manners. Anxiety: Panting, pacing, and whining during the assessment. If Cooper displays anxious behavior in their future home, we recommend puzzle toys, long walks, and giving them other things to focus on to alleviate their anxiety. Positive reinforcement, force-free training should be used. Please see handout on Generalized Anxiety. On Leash Reactivity: Cooper's previous owner states that he will react to strangers, traffic, and children in a playful manner. However, they did not specify how this reactivity presents. Cooper will need positive reinforcement, reward based training to teach them to look at you rather than other stimuli. We recommend a front clip harness to help manage this behavior. Please see handout on On Leash Reactivity and Barrier Frustration.