Animal Profile

Grumble is on the at-risk list due to behavior concerns. In the care center, Grumble has shown fearful and defensive behavior, including growling, lunging, hard staring, hard barking, head whipping, and biting at the leash. He has also reacted to handling around his collar and body, escalating when touched near his hind end. Grumble is social on his own terms, approaching handlers to solicit brief petting, but is quick to escalate with staff even when doing so. Medically, Grumble is healthy at this time.

Let's get to know each other a bit more...

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 Grumble is on the at-risk list due to behavior concerns. In the care center, Grumble has shown fearful and defensive behavior, including growling, lunging, hard staring, hard barking, head whipping, and biting at the leash. He has also reacted to handling around his collar and body, escalating when touched near his hind end. Grumble is social on his own terms, approaching handlers to solicit brief petting, but is quick to escalate with staff even when doing so. Medically, Grumble is healthy at this time. Grumble was surrendered into care as a stray, so his past behavior in a home environment is unknown. Rumble has not acclimated well to the shelter environment and is only allowed for minimal handling. One being removed from the vehicle after pickup, he began growling at staff. During his medical exam, Grumble began low growling and hard barking when approached; he continued to escalate, and he was easily leashed from the kennel, requiring sedation. During an enrichment session, Grumble was easy to Leash from kennel and was brought to the behavior office. He approached multiple handlers and nudged their hands to solicit brief petting before walking away. When attempting to remove the collar that he was found in, he began grumbling. When a handler reached down to scratch his hind end, Grumble immediately whipped around, growling and lunging at them. They are able to restrain him but he hard-stared, lunged again, and began biting at the leash. Due to his escalation, he had to be double leashed to be returned to his kennel safely. Due to Grumbles' concerning level of escalation towards handlers, we recommend that he be placed in an adult-only home through a New Hope partner that can address his challenges with the use of a certified professional trainer that uses only positive reinforcement.

My medical notes are...

Weight: 89.8 lbs

Medical Notes

7/28/2026

[DVM Intake] DVM Intake Exam Estimated age: 3yrs based on dentition/conformation Microchip noted on intake? scans negative History: Stray Subjective: BAR Observed Behavior - initially comes to front of kennel for attention/food then starts to low-growl when approached and escalates to hard-barking. Sedated for exam- tried to bite syringe pole without warning. Is there evidence of suspected cruelty? no Objective: P = 70 (sedated) R = 18 BCS 5/9 EENT: Eyes clear, ears ceruminous debris AU, no nasal or ocular discharge noted Oral Exam: muzzled for exam; can see mild staining on incisors and canines but could not see molars 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 (prior to sedation), skin free of parasites, no masses noted, healthy hair coat aside from focal area of alopecia on mid-tail with healthy/intact underlying skin CNS: Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities Rectal: externally normal Wood's Lamp Exam: not performed Assessment: Approx. 3yr MI canine Ceruminous debris AU - no signs of inflammation High FAS Focal alopecia mid-tail (r/o previous trauma vs fleas vs other infectious/inflammatory vs other) Prognosis: good Plan: Sedated for exam and tasks with dexdomitor 10mcg/kg + torb 0.2mg/kg + ketamine 2mg/kg IM for estimated weight of 80lbs and achieved adequate sedation Intake tasks Ear cleaning Reversed with equal volume antesedan Start oral trazadone 7mg/kg PO BID indefinitely SURGERY: Okay for surgery

Details on my behavior are...

Behavior Condition: 5. Red

Behavior History
Behavior Assessment

Date of intake:: 7/27/2026

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Stray; history unknown

Date of assessment:: 7/30/2026

Summary:: Due to Grumble's concerning the level of escalation towards handlers, he is not a safe candidate for a handling assessment.

Summary (7):: 07/28/26: Grumble is standing at the front of kennel when handler approaches. He is leashed with ease and pulls hard to the Canine Behavior Office. He approaches multiple handlers and will nudge their hand to solicit brief petting before walking away. Handler touches his collar in an attempt to remove it, but he grumbles so they disengage. Grumble will explore the room, marking as he goes. Handler reaches down to scratch his hind end, and Grumble immediately whips around, growling and lunging towards handler. They stiff-arm him and he will hard stare, lunge again, and begin biting at the leash. He is double leashed and returned to kennel safely. A hook is used to remove both leashes. 07/27/26: Behavior assistance is requested in removing Grumble from the transport van due to growling and conflicted behaviors. When handlers approach and open the van door, Grumble will growl with a slightly tense frame. He sniffs pieces of cheese that are offered but does not eat them. Second handler will squeak their tennis ball and he perks his head, showing some interest. Handler leashes Grumble and he readily exits the van. Handler picks up the drag lead hanging from his collar and unclips it. Grumble pulls hard on the walk to the squeeze gate and while waiting for vaccines will begin hard barking at people walking by at the far end of the hall. A third handler makes a noise to distract him, and he turns around and hard barks at them. Grumble will turn around and mush his mouth against handler's hand and then jumps up onto them anxiously before being guided to the squeeze gate. He thrashes in the squeeze gate when vaccines are administered. Afterward, he is returned to kennel safely.

Date of intake:: 7/27/2026

Summary:: Conflicted, growling

Date of initial:: 7/28/2026

Summary:: Initially comes to front of kennel, growls when approached, hard barks, sedated

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

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

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to Grumble's concerning level of escalation towards handlers, we recommend an adult only home. Place with a New Hope partner: Grumble 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: : Handling/touch sensitivity,Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,Leash-biting

Potential challenges comments:: Handling/touch sensitivity: Grumble began grumbling when handlers attempted to remove the collar he was found in. Please see handout on handling/touch-sensitivity. Fearful/potential for defensive aggression: Grumble has escalated to growling, hard barking, and lunging towards staff during his stay in care. During his medical exam, he required sedation due to hard barking and low growling when approached. During an interaction session with handlers, he escalated to whooping around, growling, and lunging towards the Handler. He continued to hard stare and lunge again and then began biting the leash, requiring him to be double leashed so he could be returned to the kennel safely. Please see handout onFearful/potential for defensive aggression.