BRIGITTE aka TROY – A1053865

Troy…May be we should change the name to Helen ? Indeed, Troy is a girl…and a beautiful one although quite beardy and wiry .She is as dark as night, her body is lanky and perched on spindly legs. Her copper eyes are two shining lights. Troy likes to be in the yard even that it was so jammed yesterday with people and other pooches. She evolves calmly, welcomes gently people who come to admire her, slaloms comfortably  between other dogs and settles next to me for caresses and treats. She really blends with the crowd… Ah, treats..She is so fond of them… and will sit to get more.Troy has a lot of weight to catch up with and it is no surprise that she is so hungry. In the street, Troy is a little lost and pulls, going nowhere. She does not chase birds or squirrels.She seems to prefer right now the safety of the yard where she gets the attention of everybody around. Pretty Troy is at the Manhattan Care Center hoping for and dreaming of a loving forever home and family.

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MARCH 2016

BEHAVIOR HISTORY:

Daugher is 8 years old and bite was on the cheeck. The daugther received five stitches.

Owner stated that they had been putting a muzzle on Brigitte since they got her because their neighborhood is very busy and they were nervous of people coming up to pet the dog and how she would react. Brigitte gets territorial in the hall way, elevator and the front door of the building they live in and will start to bark and lunge at people.  When owners have people come over they also keep a muzzle on her but Brigitte had never showed aggression before in the house. Brigitte has had 5 months of professional training to stop the aggression in her territorial areas and owner stated that she has gotten a lot better. Brigitte goes to a doggy day care and to the dog park every weekend and does well in them. Brigitte plays roughly with dogs so owner stated that the doggy day care keeps Brigitte with the other bigger dogs. When walking outside with Brigitte owner will have her sit down if another dog is passing as part of her behavior training. Brigitte has never bitten anyone until last night. Owner says that the children often fall on Brigitte and knock into her and she has never attempted to bite. Last night Brigitte was on the bed with the children and her daughter said she fell into Brigitte and Brigitte bit her face (no adults were present).  Brigitte is very fearful of being brushed and will run away anytime she sees a brush.

PROFILE:

Basic information

Brigitte is a 2 year old spayed Irish wolfhound mix with no known medical conditions. Owner has had Brigitte for 5 months and is surrendering because of a bite. 

Socialization

Brigitte has lived with children ages 8 and up and got along really well with them. Brigitte played gently with the children in the house but was not socialized with other children. Owners did not have Brigitte around strangers much unless Brigitte was wearing a muzzle. Brigitte often went to a doggy dare care and dog parks and got along well with other dogs. Brigitte plays somewhat roughly with dogs so she was placed with bigger dogs. Brigitte has not been socialized with cats. Brigitte recently bit a family member that had fallen on top of her by accident. 

Behavior

During storms and fireworks Brigitte isn’t bothered. Brigitte isn’t bothered when having her food bowl touched or having toys and bones taken away. Brigitte is scared of brushes and will run at the sight of a brush. Brigitte allows to be bathed and enjoys the water but owners have not attempted to trim her nails. When someone unfamiliar approaches Brigitte in an elevator the building hall way and the front door Brigitte will bark and lunge. 

For the new family to know

Brigitte was described as affectionate playful and alert with a high activity level. When home with Brigitte she will follow you around seeking attention. Brigitte enjoys playing with stuffed toys, balls, bones and ropes and loves to play tug. Brigitte is house trained and is well behaved when left in the house alone if there is no food around. If there is food left around the house Brigitte will jump up to eat it.  Brigitte eats a mix of both wet and dry food twice a day and gets lots of treats in between.  Brigitte knows the commands sit, come and stay. For exercise during the week Brigitte goes to the doggy day care and has long walks outside. On the weekend Brigitte goes to the doggy park. Brigitte is very smart and can figure out how to open containers. Brigitte also realized when food is being brought over by plates she will go get her bowl and bring it to. Brigitte pulls lightly on the leash and goes to the bathroom on both grass and cement. Something quirky that Brigitte will do is stop and howl at an ambulance that is placing a person inside. Previous Owners believe Brigitte will do well in a home with a yard for exercise and older or no children.

Owner stated that Brigitte might have a blood disease because almost bled out during her spay surgery and Brigitte gets a lot of random cuts on her body. Owner did a genetic test for Brigitte and found out she is half Doberman pinscher. 

SAFER: EXPERINECED HOME, NO CHILDREN

Bridgette was returned to us after being with her adoptive family for about 5 months. According to the owner Bridgette had lived with children ages 8 and above and got along very well with them. Around strangers Bridgette would have a muzzle on as the owner’s were concerned about her behavior around them. It was reported that Bridgette will lunge and bark at people that were in the hallway, elevator, and front door of their building. Training was sought after for this behavior and was said to have gotten a lot better and does well in her doggy day care and dog barks, but can play a bit rough. Bridgette does come to us with a bite history of biting the owner’s daughter on the cheek after the daughter fell into Bridgette while on her bed. This has occurred many times before but this was the first time that Bridgette bit someone because of it. 

Bridgette was very nervous and fearful when entering the behavior room. Initially, she was not very interested in interacting with the assessor and just sat next to the assessor with her back towards the assessor. After a couple of minutes though Bridgette did rub her head slightly on the assessor and accept some soft petting on the head. She allowed the assessor to conduct all tactile assessment items, but maintained stiff, fearful, and nervous body language throughout most of the assessment. She became very uncomfortable during the tag interaction spinning quickly toward the touch with very stiff body language. Bridgette was tense during both the squeeze and flank items as well. Due to Bridgette’s previous bite history, her nervous and fearful behavior we recommend a future with an experienced adopter and no children. Interactions should also be done slowly and Bridgette given to option to initiate them. 

Look: 2. Dog pulls out of Assessor’s hands each time without settling during three repetitions, body stiff.

Sensitivity: 2. Dog stands still and accepts the touch, her eyes are averted, her tail is between her legs, body stiff, mouth closed, lip long, ears back, lip lick.

Tag: 3. Dog repeatedly spins toward the touch, and repeatedly tries to exit. Dog may be crouching, tail is tucked, mouth closed, body stiff. 

Squeeze 1: 3. Dog closes mouth, becomes stiff.

Flank squeeze 3. Dog closes mouth, begins to purse lips and becomes stiff

Flank squeeze 3. Dog closes mouth, begins to purse lips and becomes stiff

Toy 1. Minimal interest. Dog smells, licks and mouths, then walks away. 

ENRICHMENT:

Bridgette is excitable when removed from kennel.  She pulls hard on leash in the backyard.  She is most interested in sniffing her surroundings and does remain cautious. 

3/29 : Bridgette is easily removed and replaced in kennel.  She allowed the handler to place a colalr on her.  She readily accepted treats.  Bridgette would muzzle-nudge handler to solicit attention. 

04/01 : Bridgette was damnd barking but kept a loose and wiggly body.She kept w jumping back and forth in her kennel. When I tried to open her kennel door she tried to rush out. I was able to get her out after a few attempts. She jump on me a few times but explored her surroundings most of the time. She sits on command for treats. Afterwards she was easy to put in her kennel. 

4/04 : Bridgette was at the front of her kennel and was easy to leash with a soft face and wiggle body. Once in the behavior room, she enjoyed treats and a puzzle toy. She is food motivated and willing to please and knows the commands “sit” and “down.” She would come when called, leaning against me and muzzle punching for more attention. She was easy to put back in her kennel.

VIDEO OCT 2015:

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