Size
(when grown) Large 61-100 lbs (28-45 kg)
Details
Good with dogs,
Story
Meet Big Coco (ACCT-A-213613)! This beautiful brindle girl is a Mastiff x Cane Corso mix who ended up at ACCT when her owner passed away a few years ago and her new owner felt they could no longer care for her. She's understandably overwhelmed and afraid in the shelter, needing a little extra patience and TLC. However, she's also extremely food motivated and has allowed handling with lots of cream cheese as a reward!
Big Coco's owner reported that's she's already housetrained, crate trained, and knows lots of commands. She loves kids and can be wary of strangers as a guard dog. If you can provide a patient home to this sweet, scared girl, come meet her today!
VIDEOS:
Meet Big Coco: https://youtu.be/FFC3s90qrTE?si=voIJx5D5hSfYhOwE
Playing Big Coco: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuy81Bmu_CPbqAYOCQxqfLA
Playgroup 7/18/26: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZJDnY2wYaDA
⭐️ BEHAVIOR NOTES
Behavior eval 7/19/2026:
Kennel Presentation: Super sweet and wiggly gal. Very energetic too! When I approached her kennel, she had a very loose and wiggly body and easily allowed me to leash.
Leash Skills: She pulls quite a bit on leash and would recommend a harness for sure. On the way back from the yard she walked very nicely on leash.
Sociability: In the play yard she like to get zoomies and was very uncoordinated with them- it was very cute! She is very handler oriented and took pets all over from me. She would jump up on me a few times to solicit pets, but it was very gentle. Showed some interest in trotting after the birds in the yard so may have some prey drive. Went to the photoshoot and was pretty jumpy on new handlers with a wagging tail and loose body. Showed us that she knows sit. Was a little fearful during photoshoot with a crouched body so we finished quickly.
Play: Not too interested in toys that I saw
Dog Interaction: nothing today
Return to Kennel: Easily went back into kennel.
Color Level: Giving blue due to pulling on leash and jumpiness
Recommendations and considerations:
Per staff 7/16/2026: Behavior escalated and air snapped at nurse when attempting to restrain for surgery. Can not use for food in that case.
Per staff 7/15/2026: Helped get big coco checked in today. She was laying on the bed when i approached her kennel. She came right to the front with soft eyes, ears to the side and loose body. Easy to leash and came right out of the kennel. Loose wiggly body and zig zagging on the leash.
Lured her on to the scale with food. Asked for a different leash that turns into a harness as she was pulling on the leash. Highly food motivated so we smeared cream cheese on the door and double leashes (one as a harness and a normal slip lead). Vet nurse was quick with vaccines/microchip and big coco did not even flinch while continuing to lick the cream cheese smear off the door. Remained loose and wiggly thought out the entire check in, soliciting attention from everyone in the room. Can be a little snatchy with treats. Retuned to kennel without hesitation and removed leash with hand.
Per staff 7/14/2026: Called to dog intake to help check in Big Coco. She was heavy panting with wide/soft eyes. Food motivated however could not bear hug and the food did not distract long enough to get vaccinations in. She kept pulling hard and putting her self in the corner. Started on meds and will try again later.
Abbreviated owner surrender notes:
- Lived with adults
- Housebroken
- Crate trained
- "Medium energy" and pulls a little on leash
- Knows the following commands: Knows his/her name, Lay down, Down, Sit, No, Off, Stay, Wait, Drop it, Leave it, Go potty, other not listed
- Favorite toys: Rope toys, Balls, Kongs, Stuffed animals and plush toys, Bones or other durable chew toys
- Favorite activities: Playing tug-of-war, Going for walks, Napping, Learning new commands or tricks, Hanging out with owners, Exploring outdoors
- How does your dog usually react towards strangers: Depends on the situation. Coco is just a guard dog if it’s and obvious threat she will let you know but not overpowering you.
- How does your dog usually react towards children: Super friendly/loves them!
- How does your dog usually react towards other dogs: Depends on the situation
- How does your dog usually react towards cats: Don't know - hasn't been around them
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ACCT Philly is located at 111 West Hunting Park Ave in Philadelphia. We are open for adoptions 7 days a week. Please visit www.acctphilly.org/adopt for details.
If you are a rescue interested in pulling this animal, please email our lifesaving team, or visit here if you are not currently a rescue partner: https://acctphilly.org/acct-philly-love-local-partnership-program/
Confirmed placement is considered a confirmation of an actual rescue pull. Possible placement, interested parties, and other "TBD" statuses are not considered confirmed and do not indicate an animal is no longer urgent.
All animals at ACCT Philly are from Philadelphia, as the only open-intake animal shelter in Philadelphia, we are not able to accept animals from outside of Philadelphia. ACCT Philly's Pennsylvania kennel license number is 08313
