Animal Profile


King Dexter

Hello, my name is King Dexter . My animal id is #218665. I am a desexed male gray dog at the Queens Animal Care Center. The shelter thinks I am about 2 years 2 months old.

I came into the shelter as a aco - impound on 1/14/2025.

King Dexter is on the at risk list due to behavior concerns. King Dexter on intake was control poled and began to lunge at people when being brought in by the police. King Dexter in care has displayed a low threshold for arousal, baring teeth when jumping on handler face level as well as leash biting. King Dexter is social with staff but is easily aroused if not managed properly. Medically, King Dexter 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. King Dexter is on the at risk list due to behavior concerns. King Dexter on intake was control poled and began to lunge at people when being brought in by the police. King Dexter in care has displayed a low threshold for arousal, baring teeth when jumping on handler face level as well as leash biting. King Dexter is social with staff but is easily aroused if not managed properly. Medically, King Dexter is apparently healthy. King Dexter is an enthusiastic and intelligent pup enrolled in our Shelter Scholars program, where he's working on managing hyper-arousal and learning how to channel his excitement in positive ways. Through structured enrichment, confidence-building exercises, and stress-reducing activities, King Dexter is practicing self-regulation and focus, helping him navigate the world with a calmer mindset. Using positive reinforcement training, he's making great strides in learning when to engage, when to relax, and how to respond to exciting situations with more balance. Meet King Dexter! King Dexter is a strikingly handsome and strong young dog with a lot of personality! He is eager to learn and thrives when given structure, training, and enrichment. With the right home and patient guidance, King Dexter has the potential to be an amazing companion. Means of Surrender: King Dexter was surrendered by his previous owner with limited history provided. My Ideal Home: King Dexter would do best in an experienced, adult-only home that can provide him with patience, structure, and ongoing training. His future family should be committed to working on his training needs and helping him build confidence in a stable environment. Good with Other Pets? King Dexter has shown discomfort around other dogs and would need slow, structured introductions. Due to his behavior during playgroup introductions, he may do best as the only pet in the home. Good with Children? Due to his strong personality and history of arousal-related behaviors, King Dexter is recommended for an adult-only home (no children under 13). How is My Health? King Dexter is neutered, up to date on vaccinations, and has been treated for minor medical concerns. He is currently healthy and weighs 61 lbs. Animal Behavior: King Dexter has been working with trainers and behavior staff to improve his manners and leash skills. He has responded well to training sessions and enjoys engagement with handlers. With continued support, he has great potential for improvement in a home setting.

My medical notes are...

Weight: 61 lbs

1/15/2025

DVM Intake Estimated age: 2 years Microchip noted on Intake? No History: Owner surrender, was alligator rolling/biting pole when picked up. Subjective: BARH, no coughing/sneezing/vomiting/diarrhea. Hematuria and pollakiuria noted Observed behavior: Approaches with low wagging tail, hyperactive. Takes treats very gently, allowed all handling. Sedated with dexmedetomidine 10 mcg/kg, butorphanol 0.2 mg/kg IM for diagnostics. Evidence of cruelty seen: No Evidence of trauma seen: No Evidence of neglect seen: No Objective: P: WNL R: WNL BCS: 5/9 OP: Mucous membranes pink and moist. Stage I dental disease. Minor wound R lip, no bleeding EENT: Eyes, ears, and nares clear bilaterally, no discharge noted. PLN: Small/soft/symmetrical/nonpainful CV: No murmurs or arrhythmias, pulses strong and synchronous. RESP: Eupneic, no crackles/wheezes GI: Soft, nonpainful, no palpable masses. UG: male intact, two descended testicles, no discharge INT: Good hair coat, no areas of alopecia or pruritus, no ectoparasites or masses noted. MS: Ambulatory x4, no pain on palpation of epaxials NEURO: Mentation appropriate, cranial nerves intact, no deficits noted. Rectal: Prostate and anal glands WNL Assessment: -Hematuria (r/o trauma during intake vs UTI vs prostatitis) Prognosis: Good Plan: -Send out CBC/Chem/UA, start treatment based on results Surgery: Okay for surgery

1/16/2025

CBC: Hct H 56.7 CHEM: Glucose H 120 T4: wnl UA (catheterized): pH 8.5, protein 3+, blood/hemoglobin 3+, bilirubin 1+, WBCs 6-10, RBCs >100; sperm present Interpretation: -Alkaline urine - ro UTI vs artifact -Hematuria - ro UTI vs BPH vs prostatitis vs other -Proteinuria - ro pigmenturia vs true Plan: Add on urine culture Recommend neuter! CTM while at QACC

1/17/2025

Profuse liquid diarrhea (FS 7) noted on walk this evening. P was reported to have less severe diarrhea yesterday. Start supportive therapy, Proviable and psyllium husk, due to progressive GI signs. To continue for 1 week and reevaluate diarrhea in 3 days.

1/18/2025

Urine culture results: NO GROWTH A: Hematuria r/o prostatitis, BPH, trauma P: Start gabapentin for pain relief and support behavior *Gabapentin 600mg (~20mg/kg) PO q12h *Monitor diarrhea *Neuter as soon as possible

1/18/2025

Progress exam: Coughing/wheezing reported Subjective: BAR, no C/S/V/D present; eating well Objective: EYES: Clear, no discharge LUNGS: Eupneic, no sign of respiratory distress NASAL CAVITY: wet, serous nasal discharge MUSCULOSKELETAL: Ambulatory x4, no lameness or lesions NEURO: Appropriate mentation ASSESSMENT: Presumed CIRDC PLAN: Per standing orders -Move to iso, ppe sign & monitor log placed on kennel -Start doxy 10mg/kg PO q24h x14days & proviable 1 capsule PO q24h x14days -CTM, recheck on 1/27/25

1/21/2025

Progress exam: Subjective: Diarrhea recheck Objective: none seen in kennel or reported on log ASSESSMENT: Presumed Diarrhea appears resolved PLAN: Per standing orders -CTM closely while in shelter

1/21/2025

No further hematuria noted or reported at this time. Neuter scheduled. CTM while at QACC.

1/22/2025

Dog is BAR eating; no coughing or nasal discharge; no diarrhea on presentation P) move to out of MED ISO to ISO

1/24/2025

Behavior team reports concerning level of arousal during behavior assessment, most notably when returning to kennel (enrichment note from 1/23 details) Start clonidine 0.035 mg/kg PO BID and CTM.

1/24/2025

Progress exam: CIRDC recheck Subjective: BAR, no C/S/V/D. Eating great Objective: EYES: Clear, no discharge LUNGS: Eupneic, no sign of respiratory distress NASAL CAVITY: mild clear discharge present MUSCULOSKELETAL: Ambulatory x4, no lameness or lesions NEURO: Appropriate mentation ASSESSMENT: Presumed CIRDC PLAN: Per standing orders -CTM, recheck on 1/29

1/29/2025

[Surgery Template - Dog Neuter] Was this dog a cryptorchid? NO If so describe - Pre scrotal Incision Spermatic Cord Ligation with: 0-0 PDS Sub Q closure: 0-0 PDS CRUCIATE Skin closure? 0-0 PDS INTRADERMAL Green Linear Tattoo Placed near Midline Surgeon: 990665 Additional Note:

3/3/2025

Progress exam: CIRDC recheck Subjective: BAR, no C/S/V/D. Eating well Objective: EYES: Clear, no discharge LUNGS: Eupneic, no sign of respiratory distress NASAL CAVITY: no discharge MUSCULOSKELETAL: Ambulatory x4, no lameness or lesions NEURO: Appropriate mentation ASSESSMENT: Presumed CIRDC appears resolved PLAN: Per standing orders -CTM on daily rounds

Details on my behavior are...

Behavior Condition: 2. Blue

Date of intake:: 1/14/2025

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

Other Notes:: ***1/22/25: On King Dexter's prior handling assessment he was made New Hope Only due to him becoming aroused and began to jump at face level and bare teeth at the helper when they placed him back in his kennel once the handling assessment was completed. Please see the prior handling assessment for more details.***

Date of assessment:: 2/6/2025

Summary:: Leash Walking Strength and pulling: hard pull Reactivity to humans: None Reactivity to dogs: None Leash walking comments: Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): Stays near handler, red dilated eyes, heavy panting Call over: Readily approaches- heavy panting,red eyes , takes treats, tense Sociability comments: Handling Soft handling: Allowed- heavy panting, looks back, distracted Exuberant handling: Allowed- heavy panting, looks back, distracted Handling comments: Arousal Jog: Follow- heavy panting, hard pulls Arousal comments: Knock: Approaches- tries to walk pass helper Knock Comments: Toy:body block and hover over toy Toy comments:

Summary:: Although King Dexter was surrendered by their previous owner, there is no information available regarding their interactions with either familiar or unfamiliar dogs. 01/30/25: When off leash at the Care Center King Dexter is introduced to a greeter female dog. At the gate King Dexter approaches with hackles raised. King Dexter scents the greeter female, tail flagging, before licking his lips. King Dexter begins drooling and creates distance by walking way. King Dexter returns and scents the greeter female again but continues to lick his lips. Due to King Dexter 's discomfort a face to face greet was not conducted.

Summary (4):: 03/13/25:King Dexter is staying in the back of his kennel but will quickly get up and walk to the front, allowing the handler to leash him with ease. He will then be brought to the live room, where a drag leash will be placed on him, allowing him to roam freely. Once in the live room, King Dexter will explore his surroundings while the handler administers treats for different cues. He will show no interest in toys and will pace back and forth throughout the session. Afterward, King Dexter will be safely escorted back to his kennel without any issues. 03/12/25 (Trainer Note): King Dexter was at the front of his kennel with a low wagging tail as the trainer approached. He jumped once, but then stood on all fours to be leashed, where he pulled moderately to the Live room. King Dexter is clipped to a drag leash and he begins to pace around the room and begins to pant. After some encouragement, King Dexter begins to engage with the enrichment. He is able to orient to the handler and TAB between enrichment items . Towards the end of the session, King Dexter takes treats with a very soft mouth and solicits some pets. He is easily leashed and walked back to his kennel. 3/11/25: A staff member reported they observed King Dexter barking in kennel at no obvious trigger. They added nobody was standing in front of kennel at the time. 03/09/25: King Dexter was observed to become fixated on a hose during morning cleaning. he reaches his paws out, fully extending one front leg while biting and screeching toward the hose and water but due to being in the kennel, he does not make contact with any items.

Summary (5):: 03/05/25 (trainer note): King Dexter is standing at the front of his kennel with a loose frame and tail wag and easily leashed and walked to the live room. He explores the room and engages with the various enrichment items. He would sit automatically and was able to practice "take a breath". His body language remained loose and wiggly while orienting towards the handler throughout the session. He was leashed up and taken back to kennel easily. 03/04/25(Trainer Note): King Dexter is standing at the front of his kennel with a loose frame and was easily leashed and pulled moderately to the training room. Once inside, a drag leash was clipped to his collar and he bounced around the room greeting the other people and gets the zoomies. Dexter enjoyed engaging with one of the more complicated puzzle toys and oriented to the handler between enrichment items. King Dexter also worked on taking a breath before being given more enrichment. King Dexter solicited some pets and was leashed up and he he pulled moderately to his kennel where he was easily returned. 02/28/25 (Trainer Note): King Dexter is standing at the front of his kennel with a neutral body as the handler approaches. He is easily leashed and pulls moderately to the canine training room. He allows the handler to attach a drag leash and engages readily with the various enrichment items. King Dexter is able to orient towards the handler and take a breath between each enrichment item. He leans into contact and is returned to kennel without issue. 02/19/25 (Trainer Note): King Dexter is standing at the front of his kennel with a neutral body as the handler approaches. He is easily leashed and pulls moderately to the canine training room. King Dexter readily engages with enrichment and will orient to the handler including a sit with duration before receiving reinforcement. King Dexter began some work with the karunda bed, being reinforced to calm behaviour on the bed, then working on orienting his head up and down using a lure. King Dexter was easily leashed and taken back to his kennel. 02/14/25 (Trainer Note): King Dexter is standing at the front of the kennel with a neutral body as the handler approaches. He is easily leashed and pulls moderately to the canine training room. He is loose and wiggly as he engages in the enrichment items. Handler begins to wait for orienting before reinforcing and then introduces take a breath. King Dexter engages readily and leans into contact. He is returned to kennel without issue. -

Summary (6):: 02/10/25 (playgroup): King Dexter is standing at the front of kennel with a neutral body as handler approaches. He is leashed with ease and displays mild pulling on the walk out to the play yard for playgroup (see Dog-Dog Summary for further details). King Dexter is loose and social with handlers throughout his time in the yard and readily leans into petting along his head, neck, and body. After his session, King Dexter is leashed and returns to kennel safely. 02/05/25 (Trainer Note): King Dexter is at the front of the kennel with a neutral body as the handler approaches. He is easily leashed and pulls mildly to the canine training room. He is loose and wiggly and engages readily in the various enrichment items. King Dexter relaxes slightly, releasing tension from his body. He is able to start orienting towards the handler. King Dexter is easily leashed and returned to kennel without issue. 1/30/25: King Dexter is at the front of his kennel with a neutral body when approached, is easily leashed and walked out of his kennel into the yard for a dog greet. (See Dog-Dog Summary). King Dexter allows all handling around his neck and back, and is brought back to kennel where he pulls moderately into his kennel. King Dexter when leaving, does begin to whine and pant heavily. 1/24/2025: King Dexter greets handler with happy tail awaiting to be taken out to go on his walk. Handler is able to take out King Dexter with no problem and smoothly walk him outside. King Dexter is calm while outside with loose body. Handler is easily able to return King Dexter back to his kennel. 01/23/25: Handlers approach King Dexter's kennel to do his handling assessment. He greets the handlers with a loose body, whining, and pawing at the kennel door. Handler 1 offers him treats and he accepts with a soft mouth before leashing. He is easily leashed and immediately pulls towards the door to leave the room. Handler 1 can redirect him with treats and he sits while eating. Handler 2 can collar him and attach a drag leash before starting his assessment. During his assessment, both handlers see King Dexter's arousal increasing. Once his assessment is complete and he gets his picture taken, King Dexter is leashed and walked back to his kennel. Once in the room and near his kennel, King Dexter stiffens and begins to jump up to face level, lip shortening, face hard, mouth closed. On the second jump up, King Dexter begins baring teeth with his mouth now open towards the handler's hand, flailing as he lands before repeating a second time. The handler quickly muscles him into the kennel. Handler 1 has to muscle him into the kennel while Handler 2 grabs a hook to remove the lead. Once secured in his kennel, Handler 1 sees their glove ripped on the palm area from where King Dexter's teeth made contact but none with skin

Summary (7):: 1/17/2025: King Dexter is sitting at the back of his kennel. Handler approached him and he slowly made his way to the front of the kennel where he was told sit, and waited to be leashed. He was then walked through the shelter and stayed at the handlers side until taken outside for a walk. Other dogs passed by while he was relieving himself and he watched them walk past. He then accepted pets and proceeded to walk back at the handlers side until they reached his kennel. He then entered his kennel with no issues. 1/16/25: King Dexter is at the front of his kennel as handlers approach. He is able to be leashed with ease, and he pulled hard up the stairs to head outside. While on the walk, he would pull and mark his territory every few steps. He would get a tense body frame and would hard stare at a dog that passed on the way back inside. He was able to refocus on the handler when they took a few steps back and whistled to him. He was able to be taken back and enter his kennel with no issues. 01/15/25 (AM): King Dexter greets the handlers standing in front of his kennel door with a loose frame and low whining. When the second handler offers treats, King Dexter frame loosens further and gives light tail wags. After giving dexter treats the handlers switch off and the first handler does the same. King Dexter is easily leashed and escorted to the "BA room". When in the room Dexter begins to explore but quickly proceeds to mark. Dexter circles the room marking where other dogs have marked but continues to fixate on marking the same several spots multiple times. Dexter will only stop the patter when interacted with. Handlers throw treats on the ground which he temporarily consumes before returning to excessive marking. King Dexter engages with the handlers with enthusiasm when offered treats and immediately sits. King Dexter returns back to marking. When the second handler exits the room King Dexter looks up and fixates on the exit that the handler left through. He whines and attempts to pull towards the door. King Dexter then circles the handler and sits beside them. A moment after King Dexter is escorted back to his kennel where he is unleashed and safely secured.

Date of intake:: 1/14/2025

Summary:: was alligator rolling/biting pole when picked up.

Date of initial:: 1/15/2025

Summary:: Approaches with low wagging tail, hyperactive. Takes treats very gently, allowed all handling.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: Level 4

Recommendations:: No children (under 13)

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13)- Due to King Dexter's Potential challenges we recommend King Dexter be placed in an adult-only home at this time.

Potential challenges: : Resource guarding,Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration,Leash-biting,Strength/leash pulling,Low threshold for arousal

Potential challenges comments:: Resource guarding- King Dexter began to body block and hover over toy during handling assessment. Low threshold for arousal/Fearful/potential for defensive aggression/ Leash-biting- On King Dexter intake he was picked up by offices and was placed on a control pole on the dog and he was alligator rolling and lunging at people. The dog got a hold of the pole and rope and was chewing through it resulting in the dog bleeding from the mouth. During King Dexter's handling assessment, he began to become aroused and began to jump at face level and bare teeth at the helper when they placed him back in his kennel once the handling assessment was completed. PLease see the handout on Low threshold for arousal/Fearful/potential for defensive aggression/ Leash-biting. Strength/leash pulling- King Dexter is reported to hard pull on the lead while on walks. Training techniques such as loose leash walking and teaching him to walk calmly beside his handler can help reduce pulling behavior over time. Consistency, patience, and regular practice are key for his progress in mastering leash manners. Additionally, using appropriate equipment such as a front-clip harness or head halter may also aid in managing his pulling behavior during walks. Please see handout on Strength/leash pulling On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration- King Dexter displays on leash reactivity when seeing other dogs on walks.Start by exposing him to his triggers at a distance where he remains calm. Gradually decrease the distance while rewarding calm behavior with treats. Teach King Dexter alternative behaviors, such as focusing on you or performing a "sit" cues when he sees a trigger. Please see the handout on On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration.