Formal Case Study: Mozelle

Subject Information

• Name: Mozelle
• Age: 1 year
• Species: Dog
• Breed: Pit Bull mix
• Sex: Spayed female (spayed 2 months prior to the consultation)
• Housing: Mozelle lives in a house with frequent trips to the yard for play and elimination

Presenting Behavior Complaint (from client form)

“Jumping and mouthing at me, my boyfriend and people who come into my home. She has not broken skin (yet!) but it does seem to be escalating and becoming more unpredictable. She is a big dog and getting stronger. I’m worried she will bite.”

Persons involved in care

Alisha is the only caretaker. Her boyfriend is often in the home but is not involved in daily care.

Acquisition and History

Mozelle was adopted by [Local Rescue] at approximately 12 months of age. History is unknown. Mozelle was found as a stray and directly treated for injuries, recovering at Alisha’s house.

Medical and Wellness

• Bilateral femoral fractures at the time of intake, surgically repaired
• Mozelle took [vet prescribed] post-surgery, stopped after 3 weeks
• Mozelle gets [vet prescribed] twice daily
• Diet: Blue Buffalo, 2 cups daily AM and PM
• Eating habits: Sometimes takes food away from her bowl, drops it on the floor, and moves it around with her nose. Doesn’t always finish meals.
• Slightly underweight

Behavioral History

Questions/clarifications from client form or by phone:

Have there been any recent changes in health or new concerns?
“Not that we have noticed. She seems to have recovered from the injuries well.”

What prompted you to seek support for this concern?
“These incidents are increasing/escalating as Mozelle is recovering to include the jumping and mouthing. We began putting her on leash or in her crate for time outs, with varying levels of success. This has improved somewhat with more frequent trazodone administration but I feel like I am drugging her up all the time.”

What were the extent of the injuries inflicted, if any?
“Her mouthing was very hard, leaving deep bruises on my arms but has not broken skin.”

What is her response to new people in the home?
“Unpredictable. She seems to want to greet them but changes her mind?”

What’s her response to dogs she sees on walks?
“We are not taking many walks! Uninterested, pulls to move along.”

Behavioral Timeline

Mozelle was obtained by [Local Rescue] at approximately 12 months of age. She had bilateral femoral fractures at the time of intake. These were surgically repaired, and Mozelle was transferred to Alisha to foster for about 1-2 months of recovery, after which Alisha adopted her. She began showing some mouthing behavior to Alisha and her boyfriend at the time. This generally occurred while on the couch, as she was still not jumping up due to injuries. They managed this by pulling their arms away and ignoring her, crating, or tethering. This can occur a few times a week, more likely in the evening if Alisha has been away from home or when Mozelle is due for another dose of [vet prescribed]. Alisha might have to physically carry Mozelle to her crate if this behavior starts outside in the yard. Frequently, she will try to redirect her when she expects this to start by playing in the yard or taking her on a walk. The early morning (6-7 AM) while she waits for the first dose of trazodone to take effect is another time that Mozelle is more likely to do this, though she is managed with frequent trips outside and going on walks. Mozelle is also more likely to pace, pant, and vocalize at these times.

Intervention Recommendations

Initial Management (before meeting the client team):

• Purchase a muzzle and condition Mozelle to wear it to keep Alisha, Caleb, and their guests safe. (muzzleupproject.com)
• Assessment by the vet for pain and general wellness.
• No new people in the house at this time.

Consult #1 In person

Observations:

Mozelle was on a Freedom Harness and leash held by Alisha, and I was seated. When she came in, she began rolling around on her back, mouthing Alisha’s foot, the yoga mat, and the leash. She did not bark or lunge at me. After 10 minutes, she laid down on her side but continued to pant with a tight face and remained restless. I tossed treats to reward more relaxed postures, but she would get aroused again with each treat. This improved over repetitions for about 5-10 minutes. She then began to bark and look from me to Alisha. This behavior was ignored, and moments of quiet behavior were captured and rewarded using a clicker.

Since Mozelle was not directing behavior toward me, I asked Alisha to drop the leash. Mozelle began to jump and mouth Alisha. Alisha asked for a sit a number of times, but Mozelle did not sit. (Alisha said she knows sit). I asked Alisha to offer a sturdy foraging toy, but Mozelle would not engage with it. She was allowed to drag a leash to be redirected, but the behavior escalated, and she was put on a tether I brought and back-tied to the door. Training continued from there. Mozelle could focus on a toy for about 10-15 minutes.

Though I had approached and interacted with Mozelle during the consultation earlier, when I approached, she quickly retreated to the corner with a tense body and gave a whale eye. When Alisha reached for the tether to unhook her, she turned, bared her teeth, and air snapped toward us. She stopped as soon as we stopped. She was allowed off the tether, gently restrained by her leash by Alisha, and given a spray cheese-filled Kong, which she was happy to lick.

Assessment

Distant Antecedents

We are working under the hypothesis that Mozelle is experiencing pain in her hind end and possibly her neck. She is also fearful and defensive of situations she may anticipate being handled. It’s recommended that Alisha discuss options for additional pain control with the primary vet. I am sending a support letter to her vet with my observations.

Immediate Antecedents

Eye contact, any motion toward “sweet talking”, and social pressure are antecedents. Barking and lunging at a threat makes that threat go away. If Mozelle is experiencing pain, she will be more likely to bark/mouth/lunge when someone approaches.

Negative indicators

• Mozelle is a big and strong dog, and she does have the ability to hurt someone even though, in most circumstances, her biting is not motivated by malicious intent. She would likely need some degree of long-term management to be successful.
• The trigger(s) for the responses may not always be easily identifiable and are wide in scope.
• Multiple behavior/wellness concerns will make components of a training plan more complex.

Positive indicators

• The owner sought support to avoid problems worsening.
• The owner is in agreement about compliance and could dedicate the time and resources necessary for the program.
• Mozelle is a young dog.
• Mozelle is responsive to reward-based training.

Client’s Goals

• To be able to settle in the home
• No more incidents to Alisha or Caleb
• Mozelle feels comfortable when friends come over.

Environmental Modification and Safety Precautions

• Mozelle was leashed for this session.
• Muzzle train using an appropriate and safe muzzle.
• Alisha and her boyfriend will learn about dog body language and thresholds.
• Mozelle shows a number of identifiable stress signs.

Wellness recommendations

• Ensure Mozelle is getting plenty of rest.
• Consider the food Mozelle is eating daily (recommend to speak with vet if considering trialing another food)
• Vet exam for wellness and medication assessment for addressing anxiety and pain.
• There is no recommendation for a vet behaviorist until pain is ruled out/ Client’s vet may refer to VB.

Homework

• Determine Mozelle’s “hierarchy of rewards”
• Begin marker training, mechanics, and reinforcement strategies.
• Respect the growl. Understanding dog body language and backing off when stress is noted.
• Provided a library of support videos and articles to demonstrate training behaviors.
• Train a positive interrupter for when/if Mozelle shows signs of tension/arousal.
• Adding enrichment, especially lick mats, since she loves wet food.
• I coached Alisha to teach Mozelle a hand target for redirection and to teach Alisha the mechanics of training.
• When Mozelle boops Ashelyn’s hand, she is marked and rewarded with a piece of chicken.
• Mat Training: Mozelle is rewarded for going to the mat and looking up at Alisha. No reps of up and down. Alisha will reward captured relaxation when noticed.

Update

Mozelle received the [vet prescribed] for her vet visit. The vet determined that Mozelle was experiencing pain in her left hind leg. The vet has asked Alisha to limit her activities while healing. The vet also noted a badly cracked top left molar to be removed at a different appointment the same week.

Medication changes

[details removed]

Consult #2 In-person ~3 weeks after the vet appointment

At this time, Alisha is frustrated/conflicted about the med switch. She is seeing improvement in behavior but misses the dependable effects of [vet prescribed]. Also relieved to see that Mozelle seems happier, more energetic. There are still times of mouthiness but using positive interrupters and response substitutions work more than half the time.

Goals

• Continue working on foundation behaviors, which can be used as response substitutions.
• Add enrichment plan

Medical and Wellness notes

While Mozelle was under anesthesia for tooth removal, they performed radiographs on both femur bones, which showed signs of bone remodeling. The vet recommends low-impact walks.

Environmental Modification and Safety Precautions

Mozelle was leashed with the handle of the leash placed under a couch leg. She was able to settle on her bed with a pb kong. (muzzle was not needed for this visit, only used for handling)

Skill Building & Behavior Modification

[details removed]

Consult #3- virtual check-in about 1 month later

Alisha reports that Mozelle is eating her meals and seems to be gaining weight. We reassessed anxiety, frustration, and impulse control. Alisha has been logging incidents in the spreadsheet I created and seeing a ~75% decrease in incidents (lunging, mouthiness) and zero bites. They are doing more decompression walks at the golf course. We talked about new enrichment strategies to get mental energy out. Added “Find it” (Alisha hides a treat for Mozelle to find). When playing this game, Mapel is not required to sit or lie down.

Consult #4- in person about 2 weeks later

Goal

Prepare for more vet handling.

Environmental Modification and Safety Precautions

Mozelle was muzzled, not leashed. She is happy to see it come out and to put it on and she is comfortable wearing it.

Skill Building and Behavior Modification

We focused on conditioning Mozelle to body handling for veterinary visits. Mable seemed comfortable with my proximity, able to settle on the mat without signs of stress when I sat in a chair nearby. Coached Alisha on basic handling and went over the next steps for handling.

[details removed]

Recommendations

• Continue working on handling exercises for veterinary appointments, slow and steady.
• Happy Visits! Visit the vet’s office when there is no appointment so she can be more comfortable going to the vet. The staff can toss her treats.

Consult #5- in person about 2 weeks later

Goal

Leash skills and frustration on leash

Environmental Modification and Safety Precautions

We met at a large shaded parking lot so there would be no distractions. Mozelle was in a well-fitting harness and leashed.

Skill Building & Behavior Modification

Leash Manners with distractions [details removed]

Conclusion

Correspondence by phone 2 weeks later
Alisha reports all good things! They have a nice routine for enrichment and training. They are not walking in the neighborhood yet. Alisha has been taking her places only with a good line of sight and few dogs. She has several walking spots, and Alisha lets Mozelle sniff when they go there.

I recommended the following

• Continue tracking behavior, and she will continue with a paper spreadsheet
• Continue working on handling exercises for veterinary appointments, using a muzzle for safety as long as Mozelle is comfortable wearing it.

Resources

• Ciribassi, Horowitz, and Dale (American College of Veterinary Behaviorists) (2014) “Decoding Your Dog: Explaining Common Dog Behaviors and How to Prevent