Behavior determination: Experience

Alisa 8070 is at risk due to kennel deterioration and stress. Though Alisa remains social with her caretakers outside of the shelter environment, her mental health is at risk as the level of anxiety and frustration displayed in kennel indicates that we can no longer appropriately meet her needs.

A volunteer writes: Alisa is a huge personality in a pint sized body! Upon her arrival, covered in bites, Alisa wanted to remind us she was there. “Hello! Here I am over here!” She seemed to be shouting as she banged her water dish on the side of her kennel. Now, she still solicits attention from her cage, but it’s in a more adorable way… bringing me her stuffie to show it off, or softly propping her tiny paws onto the bars of her kennel, wiggly her micro-sized booty. It’s no secret that Alisa is both a staff and volunteer favorite. In spite of her long stay, she’s maintained being housebroken, is loving and sweet and has a knack for making you feel like you’re the most important person in the world. At times, however, Alisa can be a bit anxious. She’s fearful of loud noises and when we heard fireworks one night in the neighborhood, she wriggled her way in between my body and the back of the bench, begging for protection and reassurance. As I pet and held her to help calm her, one of her ears remained alert, while the other started to relax. Alisa will need someone who can slowly expose her to new environments, have lots of patience and provide fun and rewarding training experiences. I’m quite sure you’ll receive more hugs and kisses in return than you ever could imagine. Please, ask to meet this tiny princess today!!!

Behavior Assessment Date: 10/1/2017 Retest Date: Retest Reason: Next Test Date: Spay/Neuter status: No Means of surrender (length of time in previous home): Stray Previously lived with: Unknown Behavior toward strangers: Unknown Behavior toward children: Unknown Behavior toward dogs: Unknown Behavior toward cats: Unknown Resource guarding: Unknown Bite history: Unknown Housetrained: Unknown Energy level/descriptors: Unknown Other Notes: Alisa arrived at the care center with multiple puncture wounds on her legs – likely consistent with bite wounds. Look: 1. Dog’s eyes are averted, ears are back, tail is down, relaxed body posture. Dog allows head to be held loosely in Assessor’s cupped hands. Sensitivity: 1. Dog leans into the Assessor, eyes soft or squinty, soft and loose body, open mouth. Tag: 1. Dog follows at the end of the leash, body soft. Paw squeeze 1: 1. Dog gently pulls back his/her paw. Paw squeeze 2: 1. Dog gently pulls back his/her paw. Flank squeeze 1: Item not conducted Flank squeeze 2: Item not conducted Toy: 1. No interest. Summary: Assessment date: 8/30/17 Alisa was friendly and playful towards the assessor. Summary: Thrashing at the leash in the crate, no handling conducted Summary: Nervous, did not allow handling. ENERGY LEVEL: We have no history on Alisa so we cannot be certain of her behavior in a home environment. However, she is a young, enthusiastic, social dog who will need daily mental and physical activity to keep her engaged and exercised. We recommend long-lasting chews, food puzzles, and hide-and-seek games, in additional to physical exercise, to positively direct her energy and enthusiasm. IN SHELTER OBSERVATIONS: Since arriving at the Care Center on 8/20/17, Alisa has displayed extreme stress-related behaviors in her kennel. She repeatedly paws at, mouths and tosses her water bowl around the kennel. We have tried to replace the metal bowl with a ceramic one but she shattered that by tossing it as well. She has been provided with a variety of toys, extra enrichment and puzzle boxes several times a day, unfortunately the behavior is not diminishing. Once outside the kennel, Alisa is consistently soft and social with her caretakers. Update 10/09/17: In spite of enrichment and socialization sessions throughout the day during her quarantine period, Alisa’s behavior has rapidly deteriorated the last few days. Staff have noted that she no longer greets them with a wiggly body when her kennel is approached but now spins, barks and lunges at them. She also has begun to regularly pace back and forth, from one run to the other, spin and pant excessively. Alisa remains an extremely social dog once outside her kennel however these stress-related behaviors suggest that her well-being has sharply declined due to being in a kennel environment long term. The Behavior Teams feels that she needs to be placed into a home environment for the remainder of her quarantine. BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION: EXPERIENCE (suitable for an adopter with some previous dog experience, especially with the behaviors outlined below) Behavior Asilomar TM – Treatable-Manageable Potential challenges: Destructive behavior Anxiety Potential challenges comments: _X_Destructive behavior: Alisa has shown destructive behavior in her kennel while at the Care Center. While this behavior may be isolated to a shelter/kennel environment, we suggest to future adopters that Alisa be provided with physical and mental stimulation and with a variety of appropriate and engaging chew toys so she can engage in play behavior without damaging human objects. // _X_Anxiety: Alisa has shown some signs of potential anxiety in the care center, vocalizing (whining, barking) while in her kennel. We cannot be certain whether similar behavior will be seen in a future home environment.

8/20/17 Experience