Karen

Who is Karen?

 Karen is a clever, happy-go-lucky 12-month-old Mongrel who arrived to the Home as a stray in November 2007. She arrived as a tan and white pup, but her coat now has a lot of black coming through.  It's unclear if her colours will continue to change further!  Karen has not yet been neutered as we'd prefer to wait until she has settled in her new home.  She will be micro-chipped before leaving Battersea Dogs and Cats Home.

What is Karen like?

 As mentioned she is a very clever young lady who can be opportunistic and will push any boundaries set.  On the flip-side of this, owners will be able to take advantage of her quick-thinking to get the most out of training and interaction. One thing is clear though, she will need firm guidelines from Day one. She loves people and enjoys calm, hands-on attention.  But she likes to use her mouth, so expect items around the house to get picked up and explored by her!  With other dogs she is cautious, preferring to observe them until she gets a feel for them and then she will explore.  This is a great approach from a young dog and owners should aim to continue positive dog interactions.  As she matures she will become more confident with dogs so the potential to become a bully with weaker dogs must be worked on.

Why has Karen been seen by the Behaviour Unit in the Home?

The Behaviour Unit wanted to explore further her excessive use of her mouth.  She uses it to control the level of handling and games. If handling gets too much she'll throw a bit of a tantrum and mouth the handlers' hands.  Or if having a game of rough and tumble she'll get overhyped and falls back on her default behaviour of mouthing.  She doesn't aim to bite but has learned, somewhat misguidedly, that her mouth is there to pick things up and to push things away.  When it comes to taking treats from the hand she is gentle. A secondary problem is her potential to be destructive.  This will be done out of boredom or attention-seeking.  This again highlights her keen mental capacity and owners must take on board the real need to keep her mentally challenged and stimulated through toy use or other tactics.  The Behaviour Unit will provide the advice that owners will need to deal with these issues.

What kind of home is Karen looking for?

Karen is suited to a more rural environment with access to quiet areas.  This is for several reasons: she has the potential to chase joggers or cyclists; a need for positive but occasional meetings with dogs; and a need for quiet, open training areas with few distractions.  A house with a garden is essential for burn-offs and house-training.  At the moment Karen appears to go to the toilet on soft surfaces such as carpets or blankets.  Owners will need to restrict access to carpeted rooms with baby-gates or something similar until she is house-trained. As mentioned she will explore and pick things up so rooms that she will have access to may have to be Karen-proofed initially.  Finally her new home should accommodate a Karen-area where she feels happy to be left, such as a utility room with toys or an enclosed patio area.

What kind of owners is Karen looking for?

Owners who are experienced in owning confident dogs are essential.  Preferably we are looking for a multi-caring household with a maximum of 4 people for training and consistency.  Single-carer households will also be considered if they have the time and facilities.  Due to her mouthing we cannot allow Karen to live with children.  Older teens may be considered.  Karen could live with another dog, most likely a mature, easy-going male.  Most importantly Karen is looking for owners who will have fun training her, who will put time into her and who have the time and patience to invest in her initial training. 

There is no question that any time put in will provide great fun and will be well-rewarded.  Karen is at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home in London. Please call the Behaviour Unit on 02076277884 if you are interested in Karen, or email us on [email protected] and quote reference 2007/ 05835. Karen will need some further training in her new home.  To receive advice and guidance regarding this training from the Behaviour Unit staff that have worked with her, potential owners should be prepared to come into the Dogs Home for a minimum of two visits.

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