Character Sheet

Thank you again for giving me the opportunity to meet and work with Oscar today. I know this is a tender and complicated situation, and I want to start by saying how much I appreciate the care and thought you’re putting into supporting him.

Oscar is certainly a scared boy right now, and I want to validate what you’re seeing and feeling. It's very common for shelter dogs to mask parts of their personality—sometimes showing more energy and sociability in the shelter setting, and then shifting once they’re in a new home. The bouncy puppy you met at adoption is still in there, but the fear and uncertainty you’re seeing now could be a result of the chaos of rehoming, or it may reflect a deeper part of who Oscar is. Either way, it doesn’t mean he can’t learn to feel safe and comfortable in your home—but it also doesn’t mean he has to. I’m here to support you, whether that means continuing training or helping with the rehoming process if that ends up being the best fit for everyone.

From our session today, it was clear that Oscar is quite worried about new people and unfamiliar experiences in his environment—even treats tossed toward him felt overwhelming at times. That said, once he warms up, he’s sweet and affectionate. His struggle with how to handle excited energy—leading to mouthing and humping—is not unusual for dogs in this kind of emotional state, or at this age.

His reactivity toward your oldest daughter and husband, while puzzling that he’s singled them out among the family members, likely makes perfect sense to him. It’s not a reflection of anything anyone has done or hasn’t done. It is concerning that it’s both consistent and unpredictable, but it’s a very good sign that he hasn’t escalated to biting.

First and foremost, I want to prioritize safety and peace of mind for your family. One small change that can make a big difference is stashing shelf-stable treats—like Stella & Chewy’s Meal Mixers or Nutribites—just outside the house or in backpacks or cars, so treats can be scattered for Oscar as soon as the door opens. Scatter feeding serves several purposes: it gives Oscar an alternate behavior to focus on instead of reacting, engages his nose (which has a physically calming effect), and helps create positive associations with arrivals. This kind of counter-conditioning can be a powerful emotional shift.

In the home, I recommend using gates and crates to help Oscar and the family feel safe and comfortable. I also suggest having him on a drag line indoors for now—this gives you a safe way to guide him away if needed, and prevents situations like your daughter being cornered.

As Oscar continues to adjust, I’d recommend temporarily “closing” the house to neighbor kids. We can absolutely build a plan to reintroduce that once he’s more settled, but limiting external stimuli now will help keep the environment calmer and safer for him.

If you'd like to move forward with training, we have a few options. I offer private training sessions where we’d work directly with your family on building Oscar’s comfort and managing his environment. Another possibility is a board and train program, either beginning with a private session or jumping right into a structured program. These can be especially helpful for dogs who are struggling to build trust in the home environment. The consistency and decompression time often give dogs (and their humans) a strong starting point for long-term success. All board and train programs come with handoff sessions, written instructions, follow-up videos, and access to a self-led reactivity course.

I’d also recommend my Body Language Webinar, which can help you recognize early signs of stress in Oscar and respond before he escalates. You’re also more than welcome to send me a short video via WhatsApp over the weekend or early next week showing his interactions with the kids—I’d be happy to offer more targeted feedback.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions—whether from you or from the rest of the family. I’m here to support you however you need in the coming days.