Penny is adopted. Penny is a lovely brown and tan entire bitch who we think is around 2 years old, she was found emaciated by the dog warden. We secured her from a holding pound.

She is not keen on bitches and has shown same sex aggression. She is OK with males and is currently living with a male in a foster home. She doesn’t seem bothered by cats but we’re unsure if she can live with them.

Penny loves cuddles and will actively seek affection. She has shown reactivity on walks, but this is getting better and she is easily managed.

Due to her past treatment, she just needs time to adjust and gain confidence. Penny is currently in a foster home with a view to them adopting her.

Penny’s Assessment

Kennel behaviour

Penny was happy to come out of the kennel with us and jumped up straight away for a treat. She showed no reaction to any dogs or anything else in her environment. She walked fairly well on the lead down to the paddock.

Handling

Penny is a very affectionate dog. She enjoys being fussed and petted and follows you around. She was happy to be handled and touch all over and showed no negative reactions at all. Her lead work is fairly good as she wants to be close to you. Once in the paddock, she recalled well for a treat.

Sociability

Penny had a tendency to be a little clingy and wanted to be with us all the time. She appears to want assurance. She appears to have no idea how to play and showed no interest in any toys. She does not have any trained cues but is responsive to treats. She jumps up a little but does show some impulse control when asked. She is soft mouthed at all times and does not snatch for treats. She is very sweet natured and enjoys physical contact.

Arousal/Reactivity

Please give details of reactivity on a scale of 1 to 5 (where 1 = low & 5 = high)
Reactivity – 0
Penny was not reactive to anything at all in her environment during the assessment.

Possession

It appears that no-one as previously played with Penny. It is thought that she has been purely a breeding bitch and she has not learned how to play. This has not affected her relationship with people and she wants to be sociable and affectionate.

Comments

Penny is a lovely dog who is enjoying the attention of people. She is very much a blank page but will enjoy learning and working for people. She is responsive and should be easy to train. She is very affectionate and will bond heavily with a new adopter. Care should be taken to ensure that she does not become too dependent. Creating independence and alone training will be essential for her. She has a very sweet temperament and will be a loving and loyal pet.