Animal Profile

Valor is on the at-risk list due to behavior concerns. In the care center, Valor displays high arousal behaviors including leash biting, hard pulling, jumping, hypersalivation, and lunging or fixating on other dogs while on leash. During one handling interaction, Valor approached an assessor with a stiff body and cornered them until redirected by the handler. Valor is highly food motivated, responds well to reinforcement-based training, engages appropriately with enrichment, and has learned cues such as sit, focus, and breath work. Medically, Valor 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. 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 Valor is on the at-risk list due to behavior concerns. In the care center, Valor displays high arousal behaviors including leash biting, hard pulling, jumping, hypersalivation, and lunging or fixating on other dogs while on leash. During one handling interaction, Valor approached an assessor with a stiff body and cornered them until redirected by the handler. Valor is highly food motivated, responds well to reinforcement-based training, engages appropriately with enrichment, and has learned cues such as sit, focus, and breath work. Medically, Valor is apparently healthy. Valor came into the care center as a stray; his behavioral history in a home environment is unknown. in the care center, he takes treats from handlers and allows minimal handling. 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: When I first meet Valor, he's just recovered from kennel cough, and is eager to get some fresh air. He looks disarmingly cute, carrying a soft toy through the neighborhood. In the play yard, I admire his epic jowls, bouncing as he hops after the ball I toss. He also engages with stuffed toys, but when I call, he runs back to me for pets. I do a consent check, and he leans back in, so we enjoy some cuddle time in between bouts of play. He's a smart boy, showing off cues and expertly catching treats of different densities as they fly at him through the air (great at physics!). He's food motivated and has been quite housebroken. As I admire him splashing and sniffing around the pool, I wonder about his past life. Found tied up in Coney Island, had he been to the beach before? Does he know the feel of warm sand shifting beneath his paws, of salty sea breeze filling his nose with a thousand fascinating scents? I don't know, but I hope that's in his future.

My medical notes are...

Weight: 66 lbs

Medical Notes

5/29/2026

DVM Intake Exam Estimated age: 5-7 years old Microchip noted on Intake? Scanned positive History: Stray Subjective: BAR Observed Behavior - vocal, elected sedation due to behavior assessment Is there evidence of Cruelty? No Is there evidence of Neglect? No Is there evidence of Trauma? No Objective: T = not performed P = WNL R = WNL BCS 3-4/9 EENT: Eyes clear, ears clean, no nasal or ocular discharge noted Oral Exam: Minimal oral exam due to muzzle, incisors and maxillary canine on L side have mild-moderate tartar PLN: No enlargements noted H/L: NSR, NMA, CRT < 2, Lungs clear, eupneic ABD: Non painful, no masses palpated U/G: Male MSI: Ambulatory x 4, skin free of parasites, no masses noted, dull hair coat, mild hyperkeratosis of paw pads, bleeding from pinpoint wound under R eye - bleeding stopped during exam, mildly erythematous skin at muzzle CNS: Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities Rectal: Externally normal Assessment: Mild hyperkeratosis of paw pads Underweight Small wound under R eye Mild dental disease Prognosis: Good Plan: Intake tasks Sedated with dexmedetomidine 0.5mL IM + butorphanol 0.5mL IM, light to adequate sedation - reversed with atipamezole 0.5mL IM SURGERY: Okay for surgery

5/30/2026

Reported to have high levels of arousal and leash biting when attempting to remove from kennel. Start psychopharm: -Trazodone 200mg PO q12h -Clonidine 0.6mg PO q12h

6/4/2026

Progress Exam – CIRDC signs noted on rounds S/O: BAR, jumping and barking at front, no c/s/v/d noted EENT: Eyes clear, moderate mucohemorrhagic nasal discharge noted H/L: Eupneic, normal respiratory rate/effort MSI: Ambulatory x 4, no notable lameness CNS: Mentation appropriate Assessment: CIRDC Plan: Move to iso Placed monitoring log Start doxycycline 10 mg/kg PO SID x 10 days Recheck CIRDC day 10 CTM while at QACC

6/13/2026

Progress exam: CIRDC recheck Subjective: BAR, no C/S/V/D present. AS:3 per log ate medications 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 appears resolved PLAN: Per standing orders -Move out of iso, signage placed -CTM on daily rounds while in QACC

Details on my behavior are...

Behavior Condition: 3. Yellow

Behavior History
Behavior Assessment

Upon intake Valor allowed all handling such leashing to be brought out of crate, scanning for microchip and bringing back to medical for vaccinations. he was then placed into his kennel. All done without any concerns.

Date of Intake: 5/26/2026

Date of intake:: 5/26/2026

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

Date of assessment:: 6/3/2026

Summary:: 06/03/26: A handling assessment will not be condcuted at this time due to Valor allowing minimal touch. 5/29/26: A handling assessment was not condcuted due to being sedated for a medical exam. 5/28/26: Valor is taken to the assessment room for a behavioral assessment. He allowed the assessor to cut his collar but remain stiff body. When getting collared Valor walked towards assessor, cornering them, body stiff, and did not stop until handler pulled back on leash. He was returned to kennel with no issue.

Summary:: Valor arrived to the care centers as a stray, so his behavior with other dogs is unknown. 6/24/26: Valor greets a novel male dog off leash through a barrier. Valor approaches with a neutral body, sniffing and demand barking at the opposite dog who disengages, and seeks attention from the staff. Valor will continue to demand bark and due to his discomfort collaring, he is not let in on leash for a face to face greet.

Summary (6):: 07/09/26 (Trainer Note): Valor was brought into the training room with loose to neutral body. He was receptive to place on mat and trainer was able to take six or seven steps as well as separately move side to side while he maintained position. Trainer was able to also make noise, step up on the climb as well as turn away. Valor was able to maintain place on mat during that time. 06/30/26 (Trainer Note): Valor is lying at the front of kennel moving forward beginning to jump at the door as trainer was leashing. Trainer used treat with a flat palm, he takes treats hard, to lure to leash Valor through the loop. He pulled hard towards the exit and into the training room. Once in the room he began by engaging with place, initially engaging by sitting completely on mat. He transitioned to working on relax on matt but after getting distracted by other stimuli in the room trainer changed to breath work. Valor was able to continuously engage in breathwork for several rounds before going back to his kennel. His kennel return was unremarkable. 06/23/26: Valor is standing at the front of his kennel, jumping up on the kennel door and hypersalivating as the handler approaches. The handler tosses treats to distract him while placing the leash over his head. He then pulls hard on the way to the play yard. While in route, Valor notices another dog and lunges toward them. The handler promptly redirects him into the first available play yard. Once inside the yard, Valor immediately engages with a stuffed toy lying on the ground. The handler asks him to demonstrate sit and focus cues, which he responds to appropriately and is rewarded with a handful of scattered treats. When the session is complete, Valor is brought back to the care center and returned to his kennel safely without any issues. 6/20/26: Valor is standing at the front of his kennel as handler approaches. He is able to be leashed with ease and he then pulls hard on the way outside to the yard for play group. In the yard, he would demand bark at the dog at gate and is comfortable approaching the handlers for treats. Please see dog to dog notes for more details. He pulls on the way back to his kennel and is able to enter with no issues.

Summary (7):: 06/16/26: Valor is at the front of the kennel as the handler approaches. He initially bites the leash as the handler attempts to toss him treats. Valor releases the leash when the handler tosses more treats, and then the handler is able to leash Valor while he eats. Valor pulls hard for the entirety of his walk, sniffing and remaining at the end of the leash. He pulls towards other dogs and stares at them when passing. After his walk, he is brought back inside and the handler clips his leash while he is distracted by a treat scatter. He is returned to his kennel without issue. 06/09/26: Valor is sitting at the front of his kennel as handler tosses treats inside, allowing him to eat them while being leashed. He is then brought outside for an enrichment outing. Once inside the yard, Valor remains on leash due to not having a collar available for a drag leash setup. He explores the yard while relieving himself and eventually steps into the pool, walking around it while sniffing curiously. When the session is complete, Valor is brought back to his kennel safely without any issues. 5/31/26: Valor is standing at the front of his kennel as handler approaches. He is able to be slowly leashed while being distracted with treats and is then taken outside for a walk. On the walk, he would pull towards trees to mark his territory. He has a neutral body frame as he walks ahead of the handler to sniff his surroundings. He has no reactions to dogs or people and is able to return back to his kennel with no issue. 5/30/26: Valor is reported on the whiteboard and by a canine representative to be leash biting when attempting to get him out of kennel for a walk. On the walk, he is observed to fixate on the leash and trying to jump up. 5/28/26 (Assessment): Valor was at front of kennel with a neutral body as handler approached. He was easily leashed and pulled from kennel. While going to the behavior room for an assessment he walked next to handler with slight leash pressure. When getting collared Valor walked towards assessor, cornering them, body stiff, and did not stop until handler pulled back on leash. He was returned to kennel with no issue.

Date of intake:: 5/26/2026

Summary:: Friendly but timid

Date of initial:: 5/29/2026

Summary:: vocal, elected sedation due to behavior assessment

ENERGY LEVEL:: We have no history on Valor so we cannot be certain of his behavior in a home environment. However, he will need daily mental and physical activity to keep him engaged and exercised. We recommend long-lasting chews, food puzzles, and hide-and-seek games, in additional to physical exercise, to positively direct his energy and enthusiasm.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

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

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): We recommend that Valor be placed in an adult-only home at this time. Place with a New Hope partner: Valor came into the care center as a stray; his behavioral history in a home environment is unknown. in the care center, he takes treats from handlers and allows minimal handling. 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: : Leash-biting,Low threshold for arousal

Potential challenges comments:: Leash-biting: Valor is noted to jump up and leash bite. Practice loose-leash walking techniques, and consider using a different type of leash or harness that might be less tempting for him to bite. Consistent redirection and reinforcement of desired behaviors will help decrease his leash-biting tendencies. Please see the handout on leash biting. Low threshold for arousal: During Valor handling assessment When getting collared Valor walked towards assessor, cornering them, body stiff, and did not stop until handler pulled back on leash. He was returned to kennel with no issue.We reccomend maintaining appropriate space, and reinforcing calm, regulated behavior during handling.Please see the handout on arousal.