Adopt Nala

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questions? email beyondthewalkdogs@gmail.com

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Female, Intact*, <1 year old, DOB 7/12/23

Nala is a just shy of a year old, intact, female, Great Dane that loves attention from her people and playing with toys. Nala is beloved by her family, however she had a few incidents in her home relating to her resource guarding that concerned her family (future detail will be provided to approved applicants). Her family jumped right into action and sought professional guidance. Nala has responded positively to behavior modification for resourcing guarding of food and possibly toys. She has also made progress in feeling better about people coming into her home through positive associations and respecting her space. Nala is working on furthering her basic skills of sit, down, place, and leash walking. She is very food motivated. Nala loves toys and playing fetch and tug. Nala doesn't mind spending solo time in her fenced yard or large stand up kennel. 

Nala is seeking a home without children. She requires an adopter that has an adult only home, some experience with large guardian breeds or is willing to learn, and willing to continue her training at her pace. Nala is not a good fit for a city or apartment environment as she needs some space from new people as she continues to learn that new people are friends (town houses with private entrance/exit should be ok). A fenced yard is not required, but please be specific in the application on how you plan to exercise Nala physically and mentally. She will require time to meet any dog walkers, sitters, or boarders on her terms. Nala is welcome to board with Beyond if needed in the future, if her adopter is local, or Beyond can assist in finding qualified professionals near her future adopter. Nala is working on basket muzzle conditioning. 

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Nala has done very well with counter conditioning (positive association) training for people coming near her food and toys and will accept trades for a treat for her toys. She has also worked on counter conditioning  and rewards for alternate, incompatible behaviors when seeing people or dogs walking past her house (pairing a treat with the visual of people/dogs passing and rewarding for coming away from windows). Nala is likely still leash reactive to dogs on walks, but her family will continue to work on her training until an adopter is found. Nala's future person should plan on continuing her training either with Beyond if local or Beyond can offer referrals for nearby trainers employing similar techniques as Beyond (Nala should work with a positive reinforcement or "LIMA" trainer. She is a sensitive dog and will not respond well to heavy handed training. She does though have a prong collar included in her current training for leash walking (not reactivity) and basic cues).

Nala has had limited interactions with other dogs and did not seem interested or accepting of the dog she was around in an on leash test done by her family in the past. Further dog to dog evaluation can be conducted, however it is unlikely that she will be able to assimilate into a home with other animals without extensive training guidance and may not be able to. It is recommended that she be adopted to a home where she is the only pet or safe rotation practices are used with all pets' needs in the home still being met. 

*Nala has no known medical conditions and will require a spay contract. Timing of spay will be determined after a conversation with her future adopter and veterinary guidance. located near newton, nj.

Contact beyondthewalkdogs@gmail.com for any questions on Nala or to apply.

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