Date of Intake: 2/10/2018

Spay/Neuter Status: Spayed

Basic Information:: Bella is about two years old. Owner has had her since she was four months old. Bella is a spayed large mixed breed female dog.

Previously lived with:: 2 adults, 1 dog, 1 cat

How is this dog around strangers?: Bella’s first instincts are always to engage in play. She will growl at strangers. Owner noted that this doesn’t happen with some strangers and believes Bella feeds off of whether she or her daughter are nervous around the stranger. If they are nervous, Bella reacts with barking or growling. If they are not nervous, Bella is more likely to behave calmly. If Bella is allowed to play with strangers, she plays a little roughly. Owner noted that she is not mean, but is still known to growl or bark first, then go right back into play initiation.

How is this dog around children?: Bella is more friendly around children than adults. She again immediately wants to engage in play. She has been around children aged 1-8 years old. Bella has not been allowed to play with children.

How is this dog around other dogs?: Bella initially wants to play with other dogs. She sometimes growls or barks, but always goes back to wanting to initiate play. Bella has been brought to a dog park, but when she was unleashed in the run, she jumped the fence out of the enclosed area, so they did not bring her back. Bella tends to play quite roughly when she is able to engage in play. Bella lives with another dog, small mixed breed neutered male named Buddy, and she seems to know that Buddy is family and treats him very kindly. They act independently of each other, but are definitely friends.

How is this dog around cats?: Bella lives with one cat whom she chases around the apartment and tries to engage in play. When the cat wants to play, they will play nicely. Bella adapts to the cat and plays more gently even if the cat swats at her and plays more roughly than Bella. Bella also will lick and clean the cat when the cat allows it.

Resource guarding:: Bella has not shown signs of resource guarding lately. The owner noted that this is something that has improved over time. Bella is more reactive when a toy or treat is taken away. Owner said that she believes Bella sees that as play, so her mind goes to play initiation, which leads to barking, growling, and trying to rough house. Again, owner noted that she never snaps or tries to bite, just tries to play.

Bite history:: Bella has no known bite history. She will mouth people she is playing with, but she does not use her teeth. Owner’s daughter said it’s more of a “gotcha!” moment and that Bella never does it in a mean way. Just a tap and release.

Housetrained:: No

Energy level/descriptors:: Very enegetic. Owner said “hyperactive”

Other Notes:: Bella’s overall instincts tend to be: bark, growl, and play. They note that though she is strong and pulls on the lead and engages in behavior that would otherwise be categorized as “bad,” she never seems to do any of it with malice. She seems protective over her family, but not to the extent that she will hurt others. She just seems to act defensive of them until she gets to know the strangers better.

Has this dog ever had any medical issues?: Yes

Medical Notes: Owner said Bella either had a skin allergy or a food allergy that manifested itself with flaky skin. She changed foods and that helped.

For a New Family to Know: Bella is described as friendly, affection, playful, and excitable. She is generally not as trusting of strangers as she is of her family. She thinks most things that people do mean it’s time to play. Bella’s favorite thing to do is play. She enjoys balls and toys that squeak, though she has a tendency to chew up or destroy those toys. She likes to play fetch and chase. Bella is kept primarily inside. Bella has chewed up dog beds in the past, but lately she has slept on her owner’s bed. Bella’s favorite treat is pig ears. Bella is only partially house trained. When left with a pee pee pad, she will not use it. She will use the bathroom outside, but it typically takes her a while to get to her business. When left alone, Bella barks and whines, is anxious, and has destroyed household items before. In particular, she has destroyed shoes and a dining room table legs. She has improved on that behavior in the year and a half that the owners had her, but she does sometimes have setbacks and destroy items, just not as frequently as she once did. Bella is not crate trained, and when she was placed in a crate once, she broke out and destroyed the crate. Bella has never been left alone in a yard. Bella understands the command “sit.” Bella is used to slow walks on the leash. She has a tendency to pull very hard and be very reactive upon seeing other dogs. Bella has never been walked without being attached to a leash.

Date of intake:: 2/10/2018

Spay/Neuter status:: Yes

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Owner Surrender (In home for 2 years)

Previously lived with:: Adults, a dog, and a cat

Behavior toward strangers:: Barks and growls at first, will then warm up

Behavior toward children:: Friendly

Behavior toward dogs:: Barks and growls but will then play. Got along with the dog she lived with

Behavior toward cats:: Chases playfully

Resource guarding:: Yes, Bella Doll may bark or growl when a treat or toy is taken from her, but the owner notes this may be in a playful manner and this behavior has gotten better recently.

Bite history:: None reported

Housetrained:: No

Energy level/descriptors:: Bella is described as friendly, affection, playful, excitable, and very energetic.

Date of assessment:: 2/12/2018

Look:: 2. Dog’s eyes are averted, body posture is stiff and fearful, tail is low and not moving. Dog allows head to be held loosely in Assessor’s cupped hands.

Sensitivity:: 2. Dog stands still and accepts the touch, eyes are averted, tail is between legs, body stiff, mouth closed, lip long, ears likely back, may lip lick.

Tag:: 3. Dog repeatedly turns quickly away when touched, or repeatedly spins toward the touch, and repeatedly tries to exit. Dog may be crouching, tail is tucked, mouth closed, body stiff.

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. Minimal interest in toy, dog may smell or lick, then turns away.

Summary:: Bella Doll initially approached the assessor cautiously. When the assessor moved, she backed away, barking, but then reproached. She had a tense, trembling body during the assessment but allowed all handling.

Summary:: The previous owner of Bella reports that Bella got along with the dog she formerly lived with. She was reported to initially bark and growl at other dogs, while becoming playful with select dogs. In the care center, Bella has displayed a high level of stress. She has displayed a high amount of discomfort when introduced to helper dogs in our care. It is unknown how this behavior will translate into a home environment. The behavior department recommends allowing Bella a period of decompression before following up on behavior around unfamiliar dogs. Future follow up should be conducted at a slow pace, to dogs who are respectful, calm, and well socialized. Bella Doll should never be forced to interact with other dogs should she appear uncomfortable.

Summary (1):: 2/11: When introduced off leash to the male greeter dog, Bella Doll is fearful, however allows calm approach. When solicited with play, Bella Doll offers correction and retreats.

Summary (2):: 2/12: Bella is tense and uncomfortable with approach. She lip curls when lingering sniff is offered.

Date of initial:: 2/10/2018

Summary:: Bella Doll was quiet and tense.

ENERGY LEVEL:: Bella Doll’s previous owner described her as energetic. 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:: Bella has been observed to jump on a novel person’s lap with soft attention seeking body language, retreat away and bark with a low tail wag, and when coaxed with a soft voice and given time to acclimate, she approached again with a low tail wag and tucked body. When given time to warm up, she has sought attention and given affection to select handlers.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: ADULT ONLY HOME

Behavior Asilomar: TM – Treatable-Manageable

Recommendations:: No children (under 13)

Recommendations comments:: No children: Due to Bella Doll’s history of barking and growling at strangers in the home, as well as how fearful she currently is at the care center, we recommend an adult only home.

Potential challenges: : House soiling,Resource guarding,Fearful/potential for defensive aggression

Potential challenges comments:: House soiling: Bella Doll is noted to have accidents in the house, and will likely need guidance with house training. We recommend positive reinforcement, reward-based training only. Resource guarding: Bella Doll is reported to bark and growl when her treats or toys are taken. For this reason, we advise against ever removing items from Bella Doll’s possession without safely trading for an item or greater or equal value. Fearful/potential for defensive aggression: Bella Doll was reported to initially bark and growl at new people in her previous home. At the care center, she has displayed similar behavior, moving away and barking at people. If prevented from moving away there is a potential to escalate to higher-level warning behaviors and possible fear-based aggression. It is important to move slowly with Bella Doll, to build positive associations (treats/toys/praise), and to allow Bella Doll to initiate interactions with new people. She should never be forced to greet or to interact if she is not comfortable and soliciting attention.