Animal Profile

Duess is at risk due to behavioral reasons. Duess has been observed to be fearful during her time in the care center. During intake she was observed to hard bark, lunge towards handlers, and thrash intensely while on leash. Throughout her stay she has maintained this behavior. Noted to bare teeth towards handlers when they approach her in kennel. Medically Duess is apparently healthy.

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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 Duess is at risk due to behavioral reasons. Duess has been observed to be fearful during her time in the care center. During intake she was observed to hard bark, lunge towards handlers, and thrash intensely while on leash. Throughout her stay she has maintained this behavior. Noted to bare teeth towards handlers when they approach her in kennel. Medically Duess is apparently healthy. Duess arrived at the Manhattan Animal Care Center as an owner surrender. Duess is showing poor kennel presence with highly Fearful and Defensive behaviors such has growling, baring teeth, and lunging at handlers and staff. Duess will need an experienced adult only home that will give him the appropriate time to decompress.

My medical notes are...

Weight: 63 lbs

Medical Notes

6/30/2025

DVM Intake Exam Estimated age: 1 to 2 years Microchip noted on Intake? Scanned negative History: Owner surrender Subjective: QAR Observed Behavior - Baring teeth while in kennel Is there evidence of Cruelty? No Is there evidence of Neglect? No Is there evidence of Trauma? No Objective P = 100 sedated R = WNL BCS 5/9 EENT: Eyes clear, ears clean, no nasal or ocular discharge noted Oral Exam: Clean adult teeth PLN: No enlargements noted H/L: NR, NMA, Lungs clear, eupneic ABD: Non painful, no masses palpated U/G: Male intact MSI: Ambulatory x 4, skin free of parasites, no masses noted, healthy hair coat. CNS: Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities Rectal: WNL externally Assessment Apparently healthy High FAS Prognosis: Fair to good Plan: Sedated with canine DKM pre mix 1.5 ml IM (Dexdomitor 0.5 mg/ml 0.006 mg/kg + Ketamine 100mg/ml 3mg/kg + Methadone 10 mg/ml 0.2 mg/kg ) Intake tasks Trazodone 200 mg po bid while in shelter Gabapentin 600mg po bid while in shelter Antisedan 0.2 ml IM SURGERY: Ok for surgery

Details on my behavior are...

Behavior Condition: 5. Red

Behavior History
Behavior Assessment

Previously lived with:: 5 adults, 2 children (3,5), 1 male cat

How is this dog around strangers?: Alert barks but is tolerant.

How is this dog around children?: Playful.

How is this dog around other dogs?: Playful with familiar and unfamiliar dogs. Has no off-leash experience.

How is this dog around cats?: Playful.

Resource guarding:: Considers toys items of value but the previous owner never attempted to take them from him.

Bite history:: No bite history.

Housetrained:: Unknown

Energy level/descriptors:: high

Other Notes:: Jumps up often and leash pulls but is unbothered by being moved from furniture, disturbed while sleeping, startled, or by having his paws touched or collar grabbed. Previous owner reported to have never attempted to restrain him. Does not allow nail trimming.

Has this dog ever had any medical issues?: No

Medical Notes: Last vet check was on 06/01/2024.

For a New Family to Know: Dusse is a very active and playful dog who enjoys hugs, bath time, and water as much as catch and bacon treats. He has spent most of his life indoors preferring to stay in the bedroom of his home and is accustomed to going on 3-4 walks a day for 30min at a time. He does not enjoy being in or getting into a car but is crate trained and will do well for up to 9 hours. He knows the cues sit, go, and down. He eats bot wet and dry food preferably Pedigree brand.

Date of intake:: 6/29/2025

Spay/Neuter status:: No

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

Previously lived with:: 5 adults, 2 young children, 1 cat

Behavior toward strangers:: Duess alert barks, is tolerant

Behavior toward children:: Duess is playful

Behavior toward dogs:: Duess is playful with familiar and unfamiliar dogs

Behavior toward cats:: Duess is playful with cats

Resource guarding:: None reported

Bite history:: None reported

Housetrained:: Unknown

Energy level/descriptors:: High Energy

Other Notes:: Jumps up often and pulls while on leash but is unbothered by being moved from furniture, disturbed while sleeping, startled, or by having his paws touched or collar grabbed. Previous owner reported to have never attempted to restrain him. Does not allow nail trimming.

Date of assessment:: 7/1/2025

Summary:: Duess has been observed to be fearful while in the Care Centers. Noted to be lunging at handlers and baring teeth in kennel. Due to the high levels of Fear, Stress, and Anxiety, Duess is not a candidate for handling assessment at this time.

Summary (7):: 7/5/25: When handlers are interacting with a dog in a neighboring kennel, Duess stands and places her front paws on the wall attempting to look over into the neighboring dogs kennel. Handler then kneels and speaks to Duess. She is tense, low body. Handler tosses in a treat and she raises her lip. Interaction is ceased. 7/1/25: Shortly after the previous note another handler approaches Duess. She is laying against the front of the kennel with a tense body and face. When then handler crouches down and speaks in a soft tone Duess begins to bare teeth. The handler reaches out their hand and Duess bares teeth again, showing all the teeth in the front of her mouth. The handler ends the interaction to lower FAS. 07/01/25: Duess lays in front of kennel with whale eyes, loose body. Visiting handler drops treats that Duess ignores. Duess does not react to her kennel door or latch being touched. Duess maintains eye tracking with visiting handler. Visiting handler terminates interaction. 6/30/25: Duess is observed to bare teeth in kennel when medical staff approached.

Date of intake:: 6/29/2025

Summary:: Hard-barking, whale eyed, bare teeth, lunging

Date of initial:: 6/30/2025

Summary:: Baring teeth in kennel, opted to sedate

ENERGY LEVEL:: Her previous owners describe Duess as a high-energy dog. She may have a low threshold for arousal and needs guidance to learn how to appropriately channel that energy when she becomes overstimulated. She will need daily mental and physical stimulation and exercise, and force-free, positive reinforcement-based training may help her to learn impulse control and to train desirable behaviors that can be rewarded.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

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

Recommendations comments:: No Children: Due to fearful/defensive behaviors observed in Care Centers, we reccomend an adult only home. Duess 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: : Basic manners/poor impulse control,Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,Strength/leash pulling

Potential challenges comments:: Basic manners/poor impulse control: Duess's previous owner noted him to have poor manners and impulse control. It is recommended that default behaviors such as "Leave it", "Sit/Stay", "Down" are reinforced to substitute any frustration and teach her to control her impulses instead of simply reacting; proper management is also advised. Force-free, reward based training only is recommended. Please see hand-out on Basic Manners and Impulse Control. Fearful/potential for defensive aggression: Duess has been noted to be growling and lunging on multiple occasions both at intake and during her time in the care center. Her signs of discomfort must be respected; Duess should never be forced to interact, she should always be given the opportunity to walk away from situations or people she finds uncomfortable. We recommend a slow approach and we recommend ONLY force-free, reward-based training methods for Duess, please see handout Fearful and Defensive Aggression. Strength/leash pulling: Duess's previous owner stated Duess is a strong puller on leash. Her adopter must be prepared and able to handle a dog of this strength. It is recommended that she be walked on a front clip harness or head halter, which will help diminish her strength through leverage, and that she be trained using positive reinforcement, reward based training to not pull on leash. Please see hand-out on Leash Manners.