BENJI – 11807

BENJI – 11807

**DOH HOLD, SAFER: NEW HOPE ONLY**

Owner Surrender, 5 Years Old, Male, White Small Breed Mix 14 lbs.

DVM Intake Exam; Estimated age: ~4yrs 0A02076709; Microchip noted on Intake? yes ; History : Owner surrender, on DOH hold; Subjective:  Observed Behavior – QARH. Allowed all handling. Tense and nervous; Objective ; P = WNL R = WNL BCS 5/9; EENT: Eyes clear, ears clean, no nasal discharge noted; Oral Exam: Very mild dental tartar, pink mm ; PLN: No enlargements noted; H/L: NSR, NMA, CRT < 2, Lungs clear, eupnic; ABD: Non painful, no masses palpated; U/G: Male; MSI: Ambulatory x 4, skin free of parasites, no masses noted, healthy hair coat; CNS: mentation appropriate – no signs of neurologic abnormalities; Assessment: Apparently healthy; Plan: Continue to monitor while at BACC; Prognosis: Excellent; SURGERY:  OK for surgery

PROFILE:

Basic Information:

Benji is a 4 year old male that has no previous or current medical issues that the owner is aware of. Owner has had Benji for almost 6 years but had to surrender due to Benji biting the husband.

Previously lived with:  2 Adults, 3 Children

How is this dog around strangers?  Around strangers, Benji will growl and sometimes lunge at them.

How is this dog around children?  Owner had children ages 3,5, and 7 and stated that Benji was always relaxed and respectful around the children.

How is this dog around other dogs?  Owner had another small breed dog in the home that was a female and stated that Benji was always relaxed and respectful around the other animal.

How is this dog around cats?  Owner had a male cat in the home and stated that Benji was relaxed and respectful around the cat in the home

Resource guarding:  Benji is not bothered by having his food taken away but will growl when his treats or toys are taken away.

Bite history:  Benji does have a bite history with his most recent bite being on 11/2/17

Housetrained:  Yes

Energy level/descriptors:  Very High

Other Notes:

Behavior during intake: Benji had a stiff body and was hard barking and lunging at everyone around him. No handling was able to be done due to his behavior.

For a New Family to Know

Benji is described as friendly, affectionate, playful and anxious. he has a very high activity level and likes to play with all types of toys. In the home, he was the type to follow the owner around from room to room and sit on the owners lap. In the home, Benji was fed both wet and dry food (various brands). Benji was kept mostly indoors and is house trained. He used wee wee pads in the home or wait until taken outside. When left alone in the home, he was always well behaved. Owner crate trained Benji and stated that he would spend about 8 hours a day in the crate without any issues. He knows the cues sit, and paw. For exercise, he was taken on brisk walks outside. When on leash, he tends to pull lightly. Owner has never tried to walk him off leash so behavior is unknown.

Behavior Notes: Benji is not bothered by being held/restrained, being disturbed while sleeping, being given a bath, having his coat brushed, or having his nails trimmed. When an unfamiliar person approaches the home or yard, Benji will bark.

BEHAVIOR:

Behavior Assessment Date:  11/13/2017

Date of intake:  5-Nov-2017
Spay/Neuter status:  Yes
Previously lived with:  2 adults, 3 children (ages 3, 5 and 7), small dog, cat
Behavior toward strangers:  Growl, lunge
Behavior toward children:  Relaxed, respectful
Behavior toward dogs:  Relaxed, respectful
Behavior toward cats:  Relaxed, respectful

Resource guarding:  Benji is not bothered by having his food taken away but will growl when his treats or toys are taken away.

Bite history:  Benji has bitten the owner on the hand three separate times resulting puncture wounds.

Housetrained:  Yes

Energy level/descriptors:  Friendly, affectionate, playful and anxious with a very high activity level

Date of assessment:  13-Nov-2017
Summary:

Due to the behavior displayed in shelter, in addition to the concerns noted in his previous home environment, Benji is not an appropriate candidate for a handling assessment.

Date of intake:  5-Nov-2017
Summary:  Stiff, lunging
Date of initial:  5-Nov-2017
Summary:  Tense and snapped

ENERGY LEVEL:  Benji is reported to have a high energy level in his previous home environment

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:  NEW HOPE ONLY
Behavior Asilomar

TM – Treatable-Manageable
Recommendations: No children (under 13); Place with a New Hope partner
Recommendations comments:

_X_Place with a New Hope partner: Due to all noted concerns displayed in a home environment, the behavior department recommends Benji be placed with a New Hope placement partner who is able to provide an experienced adult-only foster home. A period of decompression is recommended to allow Benji to acclimate comfortably to his new environment; force-free, reward based training only is advised when introducing Benji to new and unfamiliar situations. Consultation with a professional trainer/behaviorist is highly recommended for guidance to safely manage/modify any behavior Benji presents with outside of the care centers.
Potential challenges:

Resource guarding

Fearful/potential for defensive aggression

Multiple-bite history/risk of future aggression
Potential challenges comments:

_X_Multiple bite history/risk of future aggression: Benji has a multiple-bite history and escalates quickly to snapping and biting, so this is an established behavior that he offers when he feels threatened. Benji needs careful behavior modification and management to prevent future bites. We recommend only force-free, reward-based training methods for Peanut as more aversive techniques are likely to increase fear and increase the risk of aggression.
_X_Resource guarding: Benji’s previous owner notes that he may growl when his toys are approached. We recommend that Benji be left along while eating, and that food guarding behavior modification steps (available at ASPCApro.org) be utilized if this behavior is problematic in his future home. Nothing should ever be taken directly out of Benji’s mouth, and any time something is removed he should be rewarded with a high value treat or toy. He should be taught the “drop” cue and trade-up games.

Enrichment::
11/6/17

Bite details: Benji has bitten the owner’s husband three times in the last year. Most recently he was lying on the bed when the dog ran up to him and bit him on the back of the hand.
Benji was in the back of the kennel when we came to get him, and he pressed himself into the back wall while we were trying to get him out. He was difficult to remove. Outside we did not take him off-leash, but we allowed him to wander on leash in the pen. We crouched down and called to him but he showed no interest in us. After we had been walking for several minutes he approached and briefly investigated me. I was able to clip him without too much difficulty, and he was easy to return to his kennel. Benji did not display any defensively aggressive behaviors during our interaction, but he appears to be very uncomfortable with handling, so he will be “Behavior walks only” for now.

11/7/17
Benji retreated to the back of his kennel when I came to get him, and he was difficult to remove once I had the rope on him. Outside in the pens he immediately defecated with a tucked tail. When I crouched down to pick it up he came to me and pressed his body into my legs, and I was easily able to attach a collar and drag leash to him in this position. Once I had the collar on he stood at the gate and did not move. When I moved away from him he eventually followed me, and allowed me to pet him lightly on the body. He jumped up onto the bench and remained there with a very tense body, but he continued to allow me to pet him. He was easy to return to his kennel.

11/9/17
Benji remains difficult to remove. He will press his body into the back of his kennel, and he has begun baring his teeth and snapping at the rope as it approaches him. In the pens he allowed me to attach a drag leash but then wandered, and did not accept treats from me or allow me to pet or approach him. He would dodge the rope when I tried to get him back on it, but once he was on he walked well back to his kennel and went in with no issues.

11/12/17
Benji was lying down in his kennel upon approach. When he realized that his kennel door was opened, Benji immediately retreated all the way to the back of his kennel. Benji was difficult to remove from his kennel as he continuously balked at the rope. After many attempts, I was finally able to rope him and bring him to a quiet room. Once in the room, I was able to attach a drag leash without issue. Benji wandered the room with a tense body, and constantly sought out an area to hide. He ignored my presence and kept to himself while he wandered. Benji continued this for the duration of our session. Once the session was over, I was able to rope him, remove the drag leash, and return him to his kennel without issue.

11/13/17
Benji was avoidant of the rope when I was trying to get him on it. Outside in the pens he allowed me to attach a drag leash to him and pet him softly on the body, but he continues to not be social with me. He immediately retreats to a bench and remains there for the duration of our interaction. He was avoidant of the rope again taking him back, but otherwise was not difficult to return to his kennel.

11/14/17
Although he does not resist being touched, Benji continues to avoid interacting with me when I take him out. He still retreats to the back of his kennel and is difficult to remove.

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