Animal Profile

Tobias is on the at-risk list due to behavior concerns. In the care center, Tobias displays severe leash biting and escalation, including jumping toward handlers, fixating on the leash and handler, and being difficult to redirect even with multiple interventions. He has also engaged in mounting behavior during walks and has escalated to the point of thrashing and becoming difficult to handler safely. Tobias is very social with staff but is struggling controlling his arousal levels in the care center. Medically, Tobias is being treated for CIRDC.

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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 Tobias is on the at-risk list due to behavior concerns. In the care center, Tobias displays severe leash biting and escalation, including jumping toward handlers, fixating on the leash and handler, and being difficult to redirect even with multiple interventions. He has also engaged in mounting behavior during walks and has escalated to the point of thrashing and becoming difficult to handler safely. Tobias is very social with staff but is struggling controlling his arousal levels in the care center. Medically, Tobias is being treated for CIRDC. Tobias was found by a Good Samaritan and spent the night safe in a buildings hallway before being brought to QACC. Tobias has not acclimated well to the kennel environment and has shown leash biting behavior and high arousal levels. 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. A volunteer writes: After spending years volunteering, it becomes easier and easier to pinpoint the dogs who are going to need a little more help while in the shelter and to make it out of it. Tobias was on our radar right away, living in a small rollaway kennel in an overcrowded room, already showing so much stress within a few days of his arrival. On our first meeting, he was so riddled with tension and worry that it was nearly impossible to get to know him, his stress manifesting itself in humping and biting the leash. In later days, thankfully now in a much larger kennel, he seemed to calm down a bit, maybe more despondent even, as when I'd pass his kennel he'd be facing his back wall. On our most recent interaction, we start to see a glimpse of the real Tobias...playful and fun, a treat and toy demander, energetic and silly. He is finally able to run around and expend that pent up energy, and we get a peek into how he might be out of such a taxing environment in a real home. It's a sincere reminder not to judge a dog based on the way they present in a kennel!

My medical notes are...

Weight: 56 lbs

Medical Notes

3/10/2026

[DVM Intake] DVM Intake Exam Estimated age: 3yrs based on dentition/conformation Microchip noted on intake? scanned negative History: stray Subjective: BAR Observed Behavior - panting hard, leaning in for pets, sits on cue, tolerated all handling and tasks Is there evidence of suspected cruelty? no Objective: P = 130 R = panting, eupneic BCS 5/9 EENT: Eyes clear, ears clean, no nasal or ocular discharge noted Oral Exam: Adult dentition, staining on molars with chip fracture right maxillary molar 108 PLN: No enlargements noted H/L: NSR, NMA, CRT < 2, Lungs clear, eupneic ABD: Non painful, no masses palpated U/G: MI; 2 testicles descended MSI: Ambulatory x 4, live fleas, no masses noted, patchy alopecia with scabbing around caudal dorsum and base of tail; seems pruritic on palpation in that area CNS: Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities Rectal: externally normal Wood's Lamp Exam: not performed Assessment: Approx. 3yr MI canine Fleas Patchy alopecia (r/o flea allergy dermatitis vs other) Chip fracture 108 Prognosis: good Plan: intake tasks capstar PO trazadone 7mg/kg PO BID indefinitely SURGERY: Okay for surgery

3/18/2026

Pre-surgical exam, anesthesia, and surgery performed by an offsite vet. Medical record uploaded to Vet Documents. Green linear tattoo placed lateral to incision. GIVE: 1 tablet of Rimadyl 100 mg by mouth for 2 days starting the day after surgery. Notes: HWT - Neg

3/19/2026

Post Surgical Exam Attitude/demeanor: BAR Appetite: eating well C/S/V/D: none Incision site: no swelling, bruising or bleeding; sutures appear intact Pain level: appears comfortable Licking, chewing, or biting surgical site noted: not observed Additional notes:none

3/23/2026

Progress exam: CIRDC signs noted on rounds Subjective: BAR, no C/V/D. Sneezing present Objective: EYES: Clear LUNGS: Eupneic, no sign of respiratory distress NASAL CAVITY: mild clear serous discharge MUSCULOSKELETAL: Ambulatory x4, no lameness or lesions NEURO: Appropriate mentation ASSESSMENT: Presumed CIRDC PLAN: Per standing orders -Move to iso, monitor log placed on kennel -Start doxycycline PO SID x10 days -CTM, recheck in 3 days

3/24/2026

Behavior staff requesting behavior modification medication adjustment due to persistent leash biting. P is on ~7mg/kg trazodone PO BID. INCREASE Trazodone to 250mg (~10mg/kg) PO BID TFN ADD Clonidine 0.6mg (~0.02mg/kg) PO BID TFN

3/26/2026

[Post Surgical Exam] Attitude/demeanor: BAR Appetite: eating well C/S/V/D: none Incision site: no swelling, bruising, or bleeding; sutures appear intact Pain level: appears comfortable Licking, chewing, or biting surgical site noted: no Additional notes: None

3/30/2026

Progress exam: CIRDC day 7 recheck Subjective: BAR, no C/S/V/D. AS:3 per log Objective: EYES: Clear LUNGS: Eupneic, no sign of respiratory distress NASAL CAVITY: no discharge present MUSCULOSKELETAL: Ambulatory x4, no lameness or lesions NEURO: Appropriate mentation ASSESSMENT: Presumed CIRDC PLAN: Per standing orders -CTM, recheck in 3 days

Details on my behavior are...

Behavior Condition: 2. Blue

Behavior History
Behavior Assessment

Upon intake dog was friendly and outgoing. He greeted staff with a loose wiggly body, and a wagging tail while jumping up and down trying to lick staff. He was scanned for MC, pet, and leashed with ease but was not collared.

Date of Intake: 3/10/2026

Date of intake:: 3/10/2026

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Stray(Unknown History)

Date of assessment:: 3/28/2026

Summary:: Leash Walking Strength and pulling: Mild Reactivity to humans: Ignores Reactivity to dogs: Ignores dogs in crates Leash walking comments: Attempts to push way out of crate Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): Explores room- panting, whining, pacing, approaches handlers for contact, leans into petting Call over: Readily approaches- whines if handler walks away, jumps on handler Sociability comments: Handling Soft handling: Allowed- panting, leans into touch Exuberant handling: Allowed- rubs on handlers leg, leans in for petting Handling comments: Arousal Jog: Follow- panting Arousal comments: Knock: Whines when helper leaves room, approaches with a loose body Knock Comments: Toy: Mild RG, body block grips toy walks away Toy comments:

Summary:: Due to Tobias entering the facility as a stray, there is no known history of interactions with other dogs prior to intake. 03/12/26: Tobias was introduced to a novel female dog. At the gate, he approached eagerly, pulling toward the gate, and engaged in mutual greetings. As the interaction progressed, Tobias’s excitement grew—he whined, paced, and eventually screeched, tail high and ears back, before climbing the gate. The dogs were then separated concluding the interaction.

Summary (7):: 03/27/26: Tobias is standing in his kennel panting as the handler approaches. He is easily leashed and pulls hard to the canine training room. Tobias engages with the ping pong pattern game, but each time the handler pauses he begins to leash bite. Tobias pulls on the leash, shaking and growling loudly. He trades for treats and toys. Handler uses the ping pong game to keep Tobias engaged. As time continues, he responds less to the treats and grabs the leash more frequently. He at one point does not respond to treats and continues to tug on the leash and growl. The handler begins to walk him back to kennel. As he starts moving, he releases the leash. The handler throws treats out in front to keep him engaged. Tobias enters the kennel and allows handlers to remove the leash without issue. 3/25/25: Staff involved in the 3/24 incident provided additional information, stating that the primary handler was walking Tobias when the secondary handler heard loud growling. The handler went to investigate the source of the noise and observed Tobias begin leash-biting and jumping toward the primary handler’s face. The handler left the dog they were walking in the play yard and went to assist. Tobias was observed jumping toward the primary handler’s hand and was unable to be redirected despite attempts using treats, toys, a poop-bag roll, and a treat pouch thrown toward him. He remained fixated on the leash and on the primary handler. The handler slipped the leash through the parking lot gate and second handler was able to double leash him. Tobias gave no issues being double leashed and walked back to into the Care Center at this point. Was returned to kennel with no further incident. 3/23: Staff report that Tobias was leash biting, and during this, his collar and the slip lead slipped off him. The staff member was able to quickly re-leash him before Tobias could react to being loose. 3/22: ACS staff report that Tobias began leash biting a few minutes into his morning walk. He would continue leash biting, getting close to the ACS's hand. Due to his behavior he is returned to kennel. 3/15/26: Tobias is reported and observed to be humping staff members and volunteers while on walks.

Date of intake:: 3/10/2026

Date of initial:: 3/10/2026

Summary:: panting hard, leaning in for pets, sits on cue, tolerated all handling and tasks

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

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

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to Tobias leash biting and high arousal level, we recommend that he be placed in an adult-only home at this time. Single-Pet Home / Recommend No Dog Parks: Due to Tobias’ reactivity observed in care, we recommend placing him in a home with no other pets and avoiding all dog parks. Place with a New Hope partner: Tobias has not acclimated well to the kennel environment and has shown leash biting behavior and high arousal levels. 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: : Resource guarding,Basic manners/poor impulse control,Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,Anxiety,Leash-biting,Low threshold for arousal

Potential challenges comments:: Resource guarding: Tobias is noted to have mild Resource guarding, body block grips toy walks away.Training should focus on trade-up exercises, reinforcing voluntary relinquishment, and creating positive associations with people approaching his valued items. Please see the handout Resource guarding. Basic manners/poor impulse control: Tobias is noted to jump up on handlers.Reinforcing calm alternatives—such as sitting for attention—can help reduce jumping and improve handler engagement. Please see the handout Basic manners/poor impulse control. Anxiety: Tobias is noted to whine and pace.Providing predictable routines, calming enrichment, and reinforcing relaxed behavior can help him regulate stress and settle more effectively. Please see the handout on generalized anxiety. Low threshold for arousal/leash biting/Fearful/potential for defensive aggression: In the care center, Tobias displays a high arousal level and consistently engages in leash-biting during walks, showing difficulty refocusing once overstimulated. He is noted to growl and jump toward face level while leash-biting, indicating escalating arousa. Training should prioritize low-arousal leashing routines, increasing distance from triggers, using high-value treats for redirection, and gradual desensitization to leash handling to promote safer, calmer transitions. Please see the handout on arousal/leash biting/Fearful/potential for defensive aggression.