BASIC FACTS Breed: Standard Dachshund Color: Longhaired Red Age: Approximately 2.5 years Gender: Male (neutered) Size: 27 pounds House-trained: Yes, fully housebroken Crate trained: No Good with Kids: No — not recommended for homes with young children Good with Dogs: Yes — could be a good fit with other dogs Good with Cats: Unknown Concerns: Resource guarding and reactive aggression (see biography for details). Currently on Reconcile (Prozac) for anxiety. Nighttime sleep issues that come and go. Not suitable for homes with young children. BIOGRAPHY Meet GUS! Gus is one of the most affectionate, goofy, and playful dogs you will ever meet. It absolutely breaks his family’s hearts that they have to rehome him. He is a loyal companion who loves nothing more than being by his people’s side. He comes from a line of show dogs, and is currently living in Brooklyn, New York, but we believe the intensity of city life has been a significant source of anxiety for him. We have seen firsthand what the right environment does for Gus: in quieter, greener settings he is a transformed dog - more relaxed, carefree, and joyful. His family has worked with a behavioral vet who diagnosed Gus with Generalized Anxiety Disorder, characterized by high arousal, low tolerance for stressors, hypervigilance, and hypersensitivity to noise. He is currently on Reconcile (Prozac), which has helped stabilize his baseline anxiety. In the interest of being fully transparent, Gus struggles with resource guarding and reactive aggression. When he has something, he does not want taken from him, it can be hard to redirect without the risk of a snap or bite. Over time, and especially since the arrival of his family’s now 7-month-old baby, they have seen an uptick in resource guarding and unpredictable aggression. When he has something, he does not want taken from him he is unable to be redirected without the risk of a snap or bite - they have had to use high value treats as a distraction to safely get the items. He also can be aggressive when he is physically handled or moved against his will. For example, a bite that broke the skin happened during an unsuccessful attempt to separate/confine him during a guest visit. He uses avoidance behaviors, such as hiding under a bed or table, to avoid being handled. He has never been proactively aggressive, but he needs to be in a home with someone experienced with anxious or strong-willed dogs. When he is outside, he barks and lunges at approaching people on walks. It’s not on every walk or every person. He has never bitten any of them, he is clearly scared and once he is allowed to go up to them and sniff, he calms down. He barks at guests when they come to the home but calms down when he is engaged with and petted, taking a few minutes to become familiar and settle down. When he hears audible noises outside, like the front gate or door being opened, he will bark. He has extreme sensitivity to noises like doorbells and gates. He has a good tolerance for familiar children. He knows the nephews in his family and settles shortly after they arrive and is very sweet to them. . Additionally, he has nighttime anxiety that comes and goes. This manifests in pacing around the house, having a difficult time settling. Anytime he’s stayed with a friend, a dogsitter, or been boarded he’s slept completely fine, so we are hopeful that he will be a different dog in the right environment. Gus is neutered current on vaccinations, microchipped and HW negative. He is currently in Brooklyn, NY and is available for an adoption fee of $400.00. Applications may be submitted via the following website: www.sophiasgracefoundation.org