Cooper (bite history)

Cooper is 9.5 yrs old and joined the QBSDR pack in June 2021, released to us from a boarding facility in Irvine. Before coming to QBSDR, he spent close to 5mos in boarding after his owner became afraid of him. Cooper bit his owner on multiple occasions while guarding the doorway, and had food aggression. He’s worked hard at overcoming those issues while learning how to calm down and trust taking direction from the people in his life. Cooper’s an incredibly sweet and loving dog. He’s also easily excitable and very vocal, with high levels of anxiety. If he hears or encounters things he isn’t familiar with while on leash, he starts panting, pulling, and darting about in an attempt to get away. In order to help him through his anxiety, he shouldn’t be allowed to flee, or be comforted/cottled. Doing so will only makes things worse for him. Instead, he needs someone to be his rock and foundation, someone that can literally stand by his side as he self soothes, allowing the anxiety to pass. Cooper spent most of his life as an indoor dog, so it’s understandable why the world is a big, scary place to him. He’s very under-socialized and is still learning how to accept everything around him without freaking out. Cooper’s not a very confident dog so he requires calm and patience when being worked with. The goal is for him to become curious about the world VS insecure and nervous, which in turn helps build his confidence and a more trusting relationship with the person handling him. Personality wise, Cooper is sweet, gentle, goofy, loving, and expresses his gratitude for those around him with deep gazes. He loves playing with toys, chewing on chews, going on walks, car rides, and dipping his paws in the kiddie pool.  He’s also a treadmill aficionado. Although he has a bite history, we believe Cooper would make a great companion and can be safely placed in a calm home environment with someone who is open to learning how to address Cooper’s reactions while utilizing a basket muzzle.  It’s not an easy feat for a guy like Cooper to find a home, but we know Cooper’s person is out there, and he’s patiently waiting for their paths to cross.