Date of Intake: 12/9/2017

Spay/Neuter Status: Not Applicable

Basic Information:: Blade is a 2 year old, tan and white medium mixed breed male. He was not neutered prior to coming into the shelter and has no known health issues or injuries. He was an owner surrender due to behavior concerns in the home, he had been in his previous home for 2 years.

Previously lived with:: In home with owner

How is this dog around strangers?: Blade is friendly and outgoing when meeting new people.

How is this dog around children?: Blade has lived with young children in the home and was playful and relaxed around them.

How is this dog around other dogs?: Blade has interacted with other dogs on the street but has never lived with them. The owner stated he approaches and sniffs them and has never had a negative interaction with them.

How is this dog around cats?: Blade lived with a cat and was not playful with the cat but they co-existed well. The cat has scratched him before so he keeps his distance.

Resource guarding:: Blade’s owner stated he is able to touch his food bowl while he is eating and if he has something in his mouth he will tell him to drop it and he will listen.

Bite history:: Blade bit a family member in his home two months ago. The owner stated Blade becomes reactive to loud yelling and fighting, and the family member was in a verbal altercation when he bit his hand. He has never bitten anyone else before.

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: High

Has this dog ever had any medical issues?: No

For a New Family to Know: Blade’s owner described him as being friendly, playful and excitable. He likes to follow his family around when they are home and likes to play with all kinds of toys and games. He has been an indoor dog, he sleeps on his dog bed, and eats both wet and dry food. He is house trained to go outside on any surface. He knows the commands sit, come and down and walks on leash for exercise.

Date of intake:: 12/9/2017

Spay/Neuter status:: No

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Owner surrender

Previously lived with:: 1 adult, 1 cat

Behavior toward strangers:: Friendly, outgoing

Behavior toward children:: Playful, relaxed

Behavior toward dogs:: Has sniffed while on leash

Behavior toward cats:: Keeps his distance

Resource guarding:: None reported

Bite history:: Blade has bit a family member in his home two months ago. Blade becomes reactive to loud yelling and fighting, and the family member was in a verbal altercation when he bit his hand. He has never bitten anyone else before.

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: Friendly, playful and excitable with a high energy level

Date of assessment:: 12/12/2017

Look:: 2. Dog pulls out of Assessor’s hands each time without settling during three repetitions.

Sensitivity:: 1. Dog stands still and accepts the touch, eyes are averted, and tail is in neutral position with a relaxed body posture. Dog’s mouth is likely closed for at least a portion of the assessment item.

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.

Toy:: 1. Dog settles close, keeps a firm grip and is loose and wiggly. Dog does not place his/her body between you and the toy.

Summary:: Blade was a bit anxious during the handling assessment(pulling toward the door,jumping,and panting). He continued to jump around/on the assessor not responding to handler corrections.

Summary (1):: Blade’s previous guardian reported that he has interacted with other dogs on the street but has never lived with them. They stated he approaches and sniffs them and has never had a negative interaction with them. 12/10: When off leash at the Care Center, Blade enters the yard highly aroused and anxious. He jumps up onto the gate several times while whining. Once introduced to the novel female, Blade becomes persistently sexually motivated- throwing his body on top of the other dog. He is very difficult to re-direct so the session is ended.

Date of intake:: 12/9/2017

Summary:: Reactive upon intake

Date of initial:: 12/9/2017

Summary:: Active, allowed all handling

ENERGY LEVEL:: Blade displays a very high energy level in the care center, easily becoming overstimulated with his arousal increasing and becoming more difficult to manage as time goes on. We recommend appropriate outlets for Blade to direct his energy and enthusiasm.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: NEW HOPE ONLY

Behavior Asilomar: TM – Treatable-Manageable

Recommendations:: No children (under 13),Place with a New Hope partner

Recommendations comments:: Place with a New Hope partner: Due to Blade’s previous bite history in addition to the concerns with his low threshold for arousal, we feel that he may benefit best from placement with a New Hope partner who can further assess his behavior in a more stable home environment.

Potential challenges: : Social hyperarousal,Anxiety,Strength/leash pulling

Potential challenges comments:: Social hyper-arousal: On multiple occassions, Blade has been observed to become highly overaroused in certain situations with handling and in the presence of other dogs. Blade is unable to readily settle on his own though has been receptive to being refocused by handlers. We cannot be certain as to how this might translate in a home environment though there is some potential for Blade to tip over to aggression while in a heigtened state of arousal which makes this a concern. Anxiety: Blade has shown some signs of potential anxiety in the care center, vocalizing (whining, barking, jumping pulling) continually through the SAFER and through play sessions outside. We cannot be certain whether similar behavior will be seen in a new home environment. Strength pulling: Blade is a large, strong dog with the capability to pull over an average adopter. His adopter must be prepared and able to handle a dog of this size and strength. It is recommended that he be walked on a front clip harness/head halter, which helps diminish his strength through leverage, and that he be trained using positive reinforcement, reward based training to not pull on leash.