Date of Intake: 10/6/2017

Spay/Neuter Status: Not Applicable

Basic Information:: Bricks is a 5 year old, tan and white male, who was not neutered before coming into the shelter. He was given to his owner as a gift as a young puppy and has been in her home since. He was surrendered due to the owner moving and her new housing does not allow pets. He was having prior complications with possibly his kidneys, but has been treated with antibiotics and no new health issues since. He saw a vet one month ago.

Previously lived with:: Dogs

How is this dog around strangers?: Bricks is friendly and outgoing with strangers. He will alert bark when people approach his door, but allows them to enter and enjoys attention after he sees who the guests are.

How is this dog around children?: Bricks has spent some time with children but never lived with them. His owner stated he is playful with them, but due to his size can become over excited and knock small children down. He would do best in a home with older or no children.

How is this dog around other dogs?: Bricks has lived with one other, unaltered male of a large breed and was relaxed and playful around him. They got along well and had no reports of aggression.

How is this dog around cats?: Bricks has never spent time with cats.

Resource guarding:: Bricks has no resource guarding with food or treats. There was one past incident one year ago, when an unfamiliar dog came running up to his owner when they were on a walk and he did bite the approaching dog. He has had no other bites with humans or animals aside from this one occurrence.

Bite history:: Bricks has no bite history according to his owner.

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: High

Other Notes:: Bricks has no resource guarding with food or treats, and his owner has bathed and groomed him with ease. She has not trimmed his nails previously. He is not bothered by being pushed off furniture or disturbed while sleeping. He will alert bark when someone approaches the door or yard.

Has this dog ever had any medical issues?: Yes

Medical Notes: Bricks had a bout of blood in his urine, his owner took him to the vet and received antibiotics. The urine cleared up and he has not had any since.

For a New Family to Know: Bricks likes to follow his family around when they are home and sleeps in his owners room. He eats dry food and likes to play with balls, ropes and frisbees. He will play fetch, chase, tug of war, and wrestling. He is house trained to go outside on grass and is well behaved when left alone in the house. He knows the command sit and walks both on and off leash well. He will wander but comes back when called.

Date of intake:: 10/6/2017

Spay/Neuter status:: No

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Owner surrender(since puppy-hood)

Previously lived with:: dogs and spent time with children.

Behavior toward strangers:: Friendly and outgoing

Behavior toward children:: playful but knock them down due to his size.

Behavior toward dogs:: Relaxed and playful

Resource guarding:: None reported

Bite history:: There was one past incident one year ago, when an unfamiliar dog came running up to the owner when they were on a walk and he did bite the approaching dog. Bricks was also in an altercation during a playgroup session in the shelter, resulting in wounds to the other dog.

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: Friendly and affectionate with a high activity level

Date of assessment:: 10/10/2017

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.

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:: Bricks came into the assessment room loose and wiggly, he was friendly and affectionate towards the handlers.

Summary (1):: Although Bricks showed slight sociability while in Playgroup, the Behavior Department recommends Brick be the only resident dog due to his past bite, as well as, his behavior during his recent bite: persistently biting the other dog and ignoring all human interruptions.

Summary (2):: Bricks’ previous owner reported that he has lived with another dog without conflict but has bitten once when an unfamiliar dog approached him and his owner on the sidewalk. 10/8: When off leash at the Care Center, Bricks greets the female helper with a tense posture and raised hackles. He tolerates her pushy solicitations and briefly engages in running chase play before becoming sexually motivated, persistently licking her genital area. He does not attempt to mount.

Summary (3):: 10/10: Bricks is anxious-pacing and whining. He briefly greets the novel female dog before attempting to seek for an exit.

Summary (4):: 10/11: When introduced to a female dog, Bricks displayed a stiff posture, before lunging and biting the other dog. He continued to thrash,and bite her cheeks, despite all interruptions being use. He eventually pinned her down before handlers were able to separate them.

Date of intake:: 10/6/2017

Summary:: Social, allowed all handling

Date of initial:: 10/7/2017

Summary:: Timid and tolerant of handling.

ENERGY LEVEL:: Bricks is reported to have high energy level in line with what has been observed in the care center.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: NEW HOPE ONLY

Behavior Asilomar: TM – Treatable-Manageable

Recommendations:: Single-pet home,Recommend no dog parks,Place with a New Hope partner

Recommendations comments:: _X_Recommend no dog parks/Single pet home: Due to Brick’s previous guardian reporting a previous bite, and his behavior during his recent bite (See Group Notes) the Behavior Department recommends that he does not go to dogs parks and be the only resident dog. _X_Place with a New Hope partner: Due to Brick’s multiple bite history (both involving other dogs), we recommend rescue placement who can further assess this behavior in a more stable home environment. Though he remains social and attention seeking with humans, we believe the behavior management and modification needed is beyond the scope of what we can expect our public adopters to provide.

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

Potential challenges comments:: _X_Multiple bite history: Though Bricks has displayed social behavior towards human handlers – he has been observed to display some concerning behavior towards other dogs. Bricks has bitten two separate dogs on two separate occasions; for these reasons we recommend placement with a New Hope rescue partner.