Thor (bite history)

Thor is almost 2yrs old and was saved from the Orange County shelter at the end of July 2021, at the age of 14.5mos old. He was “rescue only” after being given up by his second family for biting, and had spent a month in quarantine before being released to QBSDR. We don’t know the circumstances behind him losing his first home, just that he was rehomed when he was several months old, and originally came from a breeder in Arizona.  The shelter reported that in his second home, he displayed aggressive behaviors toward his owner and visiting nieces and nephews. Thor attempted to bite family members, and when asked to restrain him, his owner went to muzzle Thor, and was bitten on the arm. Considering Thor’s age, he’s what we call a “pandemic dog” since he was bred and purchased during the pandemic. The fact that he was in two homes and the shelter by 13.5mos old, we can speculate that both homes were likely unaware of the needs of the breed and how challenging they can be. It’s without a doubt that Thor took over in his home and did not have the structure, rules, or boundaries he needed. He was also not yet neutered, which contributed to his dominance. As dog lovers, giving a dog total freedom is many times perceived as love and the nice thing to do. Unfortunately for Thor and dogs with temperaments like Thor’s, that total freedom backfires and gives them ample opportunity to create their own rules and take over. When Thor came to QBSDR, he was immediately crate trained, and taught the rest of the rules and boundaries. He had never had anyone he viewed as his leader, and that needed to change for him to have any chance of succeeding. Thor’s a very intelligent boy that’s eager to learn. He’s bright, engaging, and feels really good about himself when he gets rewarded for a job well done. He loves going on walks, car rides, playing with toys, running and playing with other dogs, and has become bros with Luke. In working with Thor, he’s shown that he’s a pushy and sometimes assertive boy who also responds well to minor corrections. He needs a mamaBear/papasBear that will keep him in check. He loves scratches under his chin, ear massages, belly rubs, and depending on the status of his relationship with a person, can sometimes be reactive to being groomed by people he doesn’t yet fully trust. Thor will need to be in a home with people that will be consistent and diligent in maintaining his training, open to using a basket muzzle, and should not be with children under the age of 12.